And how to make the most of Hashtags for your brand!
If you’re new to Instagram or are just getting into Instagram for business, then you might be wondering what the fuss is all about when it comes to Hashtags.
Unlike Facebook, Instagram allows you an opportunity to get into the feed of people who don’t follow you by using Hashtags.
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post so you can reach more people. But how do you make the most of Hashtags? Here are a few simple tips to get started.
Where to put them
There is a forever changing debate about the best spot to place your Hashtags. The general placement is either in the post itself or in the first comment (or a mixture of both, with 3 hashtags in the post and the rest in the comment).
There’s no one way that works and it may be a trial and error with your audience, but it also depends on the scheduling tool you use to what you can do. I personally post one or two hashtags in the post, then put the rest in the first comment.
What type of Hashtags should I use?
This is the age-old question. What type of hashtags should you use? It really depends on your type of account, your ideal market, and your location.
Look for Hashtags that are relevant to your industry, your ideal audience, and your location. Using a mixture of all three is the most effective method for reaching your ideal audience.
It’s ideal to have a mix of hashtags of varying popularity, you should pick hashtags that range from a few thousand to a few 100 thousand.
Avoid using hashtags in the millions, unless you’re a larger account.
What Hashtags to avoid
Keep away from Hashtags that are single words like #happiness and #coffee these types of one word hashtags tend to attract a lot of fake followers and accounts that use bots to gain followers, which are best to avoid.
Although Instagram came out and declared once and for all that shadowbanning wasn’t a ‘thing’, there are still Hashtags out there that you should avoid. Don’t use hashtags that have been hidden from the Instagram Community.
Hashtags are regularly reported by Instagram users for inappropriate content and will be hidden by Instagram. Instagram will alert you when the Hashtag you’re viewing is restricted, by displaying a message like this one when you look at the recent tab for that particular Hashtag.
The list of banned Hashtag is forever changing, so it’s best to regularly check by searching each hashtag directly within Instagram.
Mix it up
It’s a good idea to use a variety of hashtags and mix it up. Don’t use the same 30 hashtags for each post.
The reason? It shows Instagram that you’re putting thought into your posts and you’re being social. Instagram is a social network after all.
Have a handful of hashtags that relate directly to your product/brand, then create a Hashtag bank.
A Hashtag bank is a selection of hashtags you can use for particular types of posts so you have a selection of Hashtags ready to go for each type of post. This will help you to use a variety of Hashtags which will keep Instagram happy.
Make sure you’re regularly keeping an eye out for new hashtags that are up and coming or relate to your industry, to ensure you’re using the most relevant hashtags for your industry or your ideal audience. There are alway’s up and coming new Hashtags or trends in hashtags, so regularly research new ones.
Connect with Others
Hashtags are also a great tool to reach out and keep in touch with your ideal audience but commenting on other posts using Hashtags. To read more on this head over to my blog: Being Social on Instagram is good for Business.
Hashtags are a great way to help you get yourself and your brand out and seen on Instagram. Instagram is a fabulous social network, so Hashtags alone aren’t the only answer, being social is a big key to Instagram success.
For more tips on how to make the most of Instagram for your business, read my blog: 10 Tips to Instagram Success.
