What is the easiest way to enhance the reach of your posts on Instagram?
Simple. Just add hashtags to your photos and videos!
Before you start thinking of the hashtags to use though, let us first go through the rules of hashtagging to ensure that you follow the best practices in the game.
According to Instagram Help Centre,
• Make sure your profile is set to public, as private posts with hashtags are restricted within your followers. This defeats the purpose of hashtags in the first place.
• Numbers are allowed in hashtags but not spaces and symbols. Thus, remember to avoid fancy characters like @, #, $, %, &, or *!
• Hashtags will only work by tagging your own posts. You can’t tag other people’s posts too.
• There is a maximum of 30 hashtags per post.
• You can use hashtags in your comments and not just in your caption.
Oh yes, I’ve got some good news to share!
An Instagram update has been prompted after hearing user’s frustrations and now, emojis can be included in hashtags. #:)
Using Popular Or Trending Hashtags
A writer at Post Planner discovered the “25 Most Popular Instagram Hashtags For Getting New Followers.”
The first being #love with more than 696 million Instagram posts. Runner up is #instagood with about 314 million posts followed by #tbt which also stands for Throwback Thursday, with about 272 million posts. The statistics were reported in November 2014.
You can also check for other popular hashtags in different industries by using Tags For Likes.
Alternatively, you can check out your competitors’ and other related accounts for references. However, remember not to copy and paste directly. Instead, select a few hashtags that you think would be the most appropriate.
Combine With Niche Hashtags
Although it is good to use popular hashtags in all your posts, having relevant and quality content is still the most important.
Popular hashtags can be too crowded and competitive. Within seconds, your post might be buried under the posts of other users’ photos and videos.
Instead, combining niche or long-tail hashtags with popular hashtags will ensure that your post is picked up on other search results.
Less common hashtags can be rather specific. For example: besides #Art, you can include #RealismArt or #Impressionists or #OilPaintings. Narrow your options down and you can attract more specific target audiences!
Create Your Own Hashtags
If you have just started your brand or business account on Instagram, it is all right to include maybe 10 to 15 hashtags in a post. I understand that hashtags are used to try and gain as many followers as possible.
But after acquiring a certain amount of followers, do consider using a unique branded hashtag that can set you apart from other businesses.
A branded hashtag makes it easier to view all the related posts, even those uploaded by your customers and loyal fans. You can also encourage them to use it often!
Your personal hashtag should be of relevance to your brand and easy to remember. Avoid long and lengthy hashtags. No one wants to go through the trouble of decoding a complicated hashtag.
What are some of the unique hashtags used by your favourite brand?
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