To find the best hashtag suggestions for Instagram, think of it like this: you wouldn’t just randomly pick tools from a toolbox without knowing the job. Similarly, effective Instagram growth isn’t about guesswork. it’s about strategic hashtag selection. You need to identify what resonates with your target audience and gets your content discovered. The best way to start is by researching what high-performing accounts in your niche are using. Look at your competitors’ posts and see which hashtags are consistently driving engagement for them. Furthermore, explore Instagram’s own search bar—typing in a keyword often reveals related hashtags with their post counts, giving you a sense of their popularity. For example, if you’re a food blogger, searching “#halalfood” will bring up related terms like “#halalrecipes,” “#halaleats,” and “#halalcooking,” showing you their reach. You can also leverage free tools like Hashtagify.me or even Instagram’s “Related Hashtags” feature when you’re drafting a post. This targeted approach is far more effective than just guessing which hashtag is best for Instagram. For those serious about scaling their content visibility and gaining deep insights into their audience’s preferences, exploring advanced analytics and scheduling tools can be a must. It’s like having an insider’s cheat sheet for growth. 👉 Discover a Free Growth Marketing Tool to streamline your strategy. Ultimately, learning how to find the best hashtags for Instagram involves a blend of competitive analysis, keyword research, and utilizing built-in platform features to ensure your content reaches the right eyes.

Table of Contents

Unlocking Visibility: How to Find the Best Hashtags for Instagram

Getting your content seen on Instagram can feel like shouting into the void without a solid hashtag strategy.

It’s not just about slapping on a few popular terms.

It’s about being strategic, relevant, and consistent. Buffer and hootsuite

Think of hashtags as the digital breadcrumbs that lead interested users directly to your content.

A well-researched hashtag strategy can significantly boost your reach, engagement, and ultimately, your follower count.

According to a study by TrackMaven, posts with at least one hashtag receive 12.6% more engagement than those without. This isn’t just a trivial add-on. it’s a fundamental pillar of Instagram growth.

Understanding Hashtag Categories

Effective hashtag use isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

You need a mix of different types to maximize visibility. App instagram planner

Broad/Popular Hashtags: These are high-volume, widely used tags e.g., #travel, #food, #fashion. While they offer massive reach, the competition is fierce, meaning your post might get buried quickly. Use them sparingly and in conjunction with more niche tags.
Niche-Specific Hashtags: These are more targeted and relevant to your specific content or industry e.g., #halalfoodie, #sustainablefashion, #islamicart. They might have lower volume but attract a highly engaged and relevant audience, increasing your chances of conversion.
Community Hashtags: These are used by specific groups, communities, or movements e.g., #muslimahfashion, #islamicfinance, #hijabstyle. Engaging with these builds a sense of belonging and connects you with like-minded individuals.
Branded Hashtags: Unique to your business or campaign e.g., #YourBrandName, #YourProductLaunch. These are crucial for tracking campaigns, encouraging user-generated content, and building brand recognition.
Location Hashtags: Crucial for local businesses or events e.g., #LondonFood, #NYCPhotography, #DubaiEvents. These connect you with users in a specific geographical area, driving local engagement and potential foot traffic.

Researching Your Competitors’ Hashtags

One of the quickest ways to kickstart your hashtag suggestions for Instagram research is to observe what’s working for others in your niche. Your competitors aren’t just competitors. they’re valuable sources of data.

Identify Top Performers: Find accounts in your niche that have high engagement rates and a consistent flow of new followers. These are your benchmarks.
Analyze Their Top Posts: Scroll through their recent posts and identify which ones have the highest engagement likes, comments, saves, shares. Look specifically at the hashtags they used on those successful posts.
Look for Consistency: Are there certain hashtags they use repeatedly across their best-performing content? These are likely their core, high-value tags.
Don’t Just Copy, Adapt: While it’s great to see what works, don’t just blindly copy. Analyze why those hashtags are effective for them and how they relate to your unique content. Perhaps they use a mix of broad and niche tags that you can emulate with your own specific twist. According to a study by Sprout Social, posts with relevant hashtags see a 70% higher discoverability rate than those without.

Leveraging Instagram’s Native Features for Hashtag Discovery

Instagram itself offers powerful, often overlooked, tools for how to find the best hashtags for Instagram.

Instagram Search Bar: Type in a keyword related to your content in the search bar e.g., “Islamic calligraphy”. Instagram will suggest popular hashtags related to that term, often displaying the number of posts associated with each, giving you an idea of their volume. This is your primary source for relevant terms and a great starting point for which hashtag is best for Instagram.
Related Hashtags Feature: When you click on a hashtag within a post, Instagram shows a “Related” section at the top. This is a goldmine for discovering complementary and tangential hashtags that users interested in the original tag might also be searching for.
Hashtag Analytics Business Accounts: If you have an Instagram Business or Creator account, you can see insights for individual posts, including how many impressions came from hashtags. This data is invaluable for understanding which of your chosen hashtags are actually driving discovery. Regular analysis here will show you which hashtag is best for Instagram for your specific content.

Utilizing Third-Party Tools for Advanced Hashtag Research

While manual research is essential, dedicated tools can significantly streamline the process and offer deeper insights.

Tailwind: Tools like Tailwind and many others offer hashtag suggestions based on your content, analyze hashtag performance, and even suggest optimal times to post. This kind of platform can save hours of manual research and help you refine your strategy based on real data. Remember to leverage that 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool to streamline your strategy!
Keyword Research Tools: Tools traditionally used for SEO keyword research like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even Google Keyword Planner can be adapted to find relevant terms that people search for online. These terms can then be converted into hashtags. For example, if “halal cosmetic brands” is a trending search term, #halalcosmetics or #halalbeauty might be effective hashtags.
Hashtag Generator Tools: Websites like Hashtagify.me or All Hashtag can generate a list of related hashtags based on a seed keyword, showing you their popularity and relevance. Some even categorize them by popularity, helping you create a balanced mix.

Crafting Your Hashtag Strategy: Best Practices

It’s not just about finding hashtags. it’s about how you use them. A well-crafted strategy ensures maximum impact.

Apps for planning instagram feed

Quality over Quantity: While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, using all 30 isn’t always the best approach. Focus on using 5-15 highly relevant hashtags. Studies vary, but many suggest that 9-11 hashtags tend to perform optimally for engagement. Relevance is key here.
Mix Popular and Niche: As discussed, combine high-volume popular tags with highly specific, lower-volume niche tags. This balances broad reach with targeted engagement. For instance, #islamicart broad + #moroccanlanterns niche + #geometricdesign more niche.
Vary Your Hashtag Sets: Don’t use the exact same set of hashtags for every post. Instagram’s algorithm might flag this as spammy, and you’ll limit your reach. Create several different sets e.g., 5-7 sets of 10-15 hashtags that you can rotate.
Placement Matters Sometimes: While most users place hashtags in the caption, some prefer putting them in the first comment to keep the caption clean. Both methods work for discoverability. choose what looks best for your brand’s aesthetic.
Monitor and Adapt: Hashtag trends change. Regularly review your Instagram Insights to see which hashtags are driving impressions and engagement. Drop the underperforming ones and test new ones. This continuous refinement is crucial for long-term success. Data shows that accounts that regularly refine their hashtag strategy see up to a 15% increase in non-follower reach over time.

Hashtags for Specific Content Types

Different types of content benefit from different hashtag approaches. Tailoring your hashtag suggestions for Instagram to the specific format of your post is vital.

Reels and Videos: These often benefit from trending audio hashtags if relevant to your content and permissible, popular challenge hashtags, and highly engaging, short-form video-related tags e.g., #reelstrending, #shortvideo, #tutorial.
Stories: While less discoverable via hashtags than feed posts, adding 1-3 highly relevant hashtags can still increase visibility if people are actively browsing those tags. Location tags are particularly powerful for Stories.
Products/Services: Focus on transactional hashtags e.g., #shoplocal, #handmadegifts, #customjewelry – though jewelry itself should be approached with Islamic guidelines in mind, focusing on permissible forms and modest representation, brand-specific hashtags, and solution-oriented tags e.g., #halalskincare, #ethicalfashion.
Educational/Informative Posts: Use hashtags that reflect the topic and the audience’s intent to learn e.g., #islamicknowledge, #productivityhacks, #mindfulness, #financialliteracy – focusing on halal finance principles.

Avoiding Common Hashtag Mistakes

Even with the best intentions, some common pitfalls can derail your hashtag efforts.

Using Banned Hashtags: Instagram occasionally bans hashtags associated with spam or inappropriate content. Using them can hide your posts or even lead to shadowbanning. Always double-check by searching for a hashtag before widespread use. if it doesn’t show up or has a warning, avoid it.
Irrelevant Hashtags: Don’t use popular but irrelevant hashtags just for views. This frustrates users and can harm your credibility with the algorithm, which favors relevant content.
Overuse of High-Volume Tags: While #love or #photooftheday might get you initial views, your post will quickly disappear in the deluge. Balance them with more specific tags.
Neglecting Niche Hashtags: These are your powerhouses for connecting with a truly interested audience. Don’t underestimate their value compared to broad, competitive tags.
Ignoring Analytics: Without checking your post insights, you’re flying blind. You need to know which hashtags are working and which aren’t to refine your strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hashtag suggestions for Instagram?

The best hashtag suggestions for Instagram are a mix of broad, niche-specific, community, branded, and location-based tags highly relevant to your content and target audience. For example, if you post about halal food, a good mix might be #halalfood broad, #halaleats niche, #muslimfoodies community, #yourbrandname branded, and #londonhalal location.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?

You can use up to 30 hashtags on Instagram, but many experts recommend using between 5 and 15 highly relevant hashtags for optimal engagement and discoverability. Hashtag finder free

The key is relevance and quality over sheer quantity.

Which hashtag is best for Instagram to get more followers?

The “best” hashtag to get more followers is a highly relevant, niche-specific hashtag that your target audience actively searches for.

While popular hashtags offer broad reach, niche hashtags attract a more engaged and relevant audience, increasing your chances of gaining followers genuinely interested in your content.

How do I find popular hashtags for my niche?

To find popular hashtags for your niche, use Instagram’s search bar to look up keywords related to your content, check the “Related” section when you click on a hashtag, and analyze what hashtags successful competitors in your niche are using on their top-performing posts.

Should I put hashtags in the caption or comments?

Both placing hashtags in the caption and in the first comment work for discoverability. Adjust photo size for instagram

Many users prefer putting them in the first comment to keep the caption clean and focused on the content, but from an algorithmic standpoint, there’s no significant difference in performance.

Do hashtags work on Instagram Stories?

Yes, hashtags work on Instagram Stories, though their discoverability impact is less significant than on feed posts.

Adding 1-3 highly relevant hashtags and especially location tags to your Stories can still help increase visibility if users are actively browsing those tags.

Can I use the same hashtags for every post?

No, it’s generally not recommended to use the exact same set of hashtags for every post.

Instagram’s algorithm might flag this as spammy, and it limits your reach by not exposing your content to different audiences. Rotate through several relevant hashtag sets. Trending hashtags tool

What are banned hashtags and how do I avoid them?

Banned hashtags are terms that Instagram has blocked due to misuse, spam, or inappropriate content.

Using them can result in your post being hidden or even a shadowban.

To avoid them, always search for a hashtag on Instagram before using it.

If it doesn’t show up or shows a content warning, do not use it.

How can I track the performance of my hashtags?

If you have an Instagram Business or Creator account, you can track the performance of your hashtags by checking the insights for individual posts. Instagram scheduler facebook

Look for “Impressions from Hashtags” to see how many views your post received directly from your chosen tags.

What is a branded hashtag?

A branded hashtag is a unique hashtag specific to your business, brand, or campaign e.g., #YourBrandName, #YourProductLaunch. They are used to track campaigns, encourage user-generated content, and build brand recognition.

Are long-tail hashtags better than short, broad ones?

Long-tail hashtags more specific, multi-word phrases like #halalburgersinlondon are often better than short, broad ones like #food because they target a more specific and engaged audience. While they might have lower search volume, the users who find them are more likely to be genuinely interested.

How often should I update my hashtag strategy?

You should regularly review and update your hashtag strategy, ideally on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Hashtag trends change, and monitoring your analytics will show you which tags are performing well and which need to be replaced. Hashtags for marketing

Can using too many hashtags hurt my reach?

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, using too many irrelevant or low-quality hashtags can potentially dilute your message and even be perceived as spammy by the algorithm, which might negatively impact your reach. Focus on highly relevant tags.

What’s the difference between broad and niche hashtags?

Broad hashtags are very general and high-volume e.g., #travel, #fashion, offering wide reach but high competition. Niche hashtags are specific to a particular topic or community e.g., #islamicarchitecture, #modestfashion, offering lower volume but higher relevance and engagement from a targeted audience.

How do I find trending hashtags?

You can find trending hashtags by observing what’s being used by popular accounts in your niche, checking Instagram’s “Explore” page for trending topics, and using third-party tools that identify trending tags.

Be mindful of relevance and ensure they align with your content and values.

Should I use location hashtags?

Yes, especially if you are a local business or if your content is relevant to a specific geographical area. Location hashtags e.g., #DubaiStreetFood, #LondonArt help you connect with users in that specific area, driving local engagement and potential customers. Timing instagram posts

Is it okay to use English hashtags if my content is in another language?

It depends on your target audience.

If you want to reach a broader, English-speaking audience, using English hashtags is effective.

However, if your primary audience speaks another language, you should also use hashtags in that language to maximize relevance and reach within that community.

Do hashtags affect my Instagram explore page visibility?

Yes, hashtags are a primary factor in getting your content discovered on the Instagram Explore page.

Instagram’s algorithm uses hashtags to categorize your content and show it to users who have shown interest in similar topics, significantly boosting your discoverability. Top hashtag generator

What is a “shadowban” related to hashtags?

A “shadowban” is when your posts become invisible to non-followers or disappear from hashtag searches, without you being explicitly notified by Instagram.

It’s often linked to using banned hashtags, spammy behavior, or violating community guidelines.

How can I integrate hashtags naturally into my captions?

Instead of just listing hashtags at the end, try to weave 1-3 highly relevant hashtags naturally within your caption. For example, instead of just saying “Beautiful sunset,” you could say “Enjoying this breathtaking #sunsetview. What’s your favorite time of day?” This makes the caption more readable and less cluttered.

Tailwind app pricing

Hashtag suggestions for instagram