Tags on instagram to get followers

To leverage tags on Instagram effectively to get more followers, the straightforward path involves a strategic blend of popular, niche, and trending hashtags, coupled with thoughtful user tagging. Here’s a quick guide to kickstart your growth:

• Research Relevant Hashtags: Don’t just guess. Use tools or Instagram’s own search to find what hashtags are already performing well in your niche. Look for famous hashtags on Instagram to get followers that resonate with your content and audience.
• Mix Hashtag Types: Don’t rely solely on popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers. Combine broad appeal tags e.g., #photography with specific niche tags e.g., #streetphotographylondon and even hyper-specific tags #streetphotographylondon_nikon.
• Utilize All 30 Hashtags: Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. Use them! This maximizes your discoverability.
• Placement Matters Sometimes: While putting hashtags in the caption or first comment both work for discoverability, many users prefer putting them in the first comment to keep the caption clean.
• Geo-tagging: Always add your location if relevant. This helps local users find you.
• Tagging Users: Who should I tag on Instagram to get more followers? Tag relevant accounts brands, collaborators, people in your photo only when appropriate. Over-tagging irrelevant accounts can be seen as spam.
• Analyze Performance: Use Instagram Insights to see which posts and hashtags are driving the most engagement and reach. This data helps you refine your strategy. For a powerful edge in understanding and implementing these strategies, consider checking out this 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool which can help you streamline your social media efforts and identify the best hashtags.

This approach goes beyond simply throwing random words into your posts. It’s about being discovered by the right audience – those genuinely interested in your content, leading to not just more followers, but more engaged followers. Understanding what to tag on Instagram for followers is crucial for organic growth and building a sustainable presence on the platform. It’s not about quick hacks, but about consistent, intelligent effort.

Understanding the Power of Hashtags for Instagram Growth

Hashtags are the lifeblood of discoverability on Instagram.

Think of them as the platform’s internal search engine, categorizing content and making it searchable for users interested in specific topics.

Without them, your posts would largely remain unseen by anyone beyond your existing followers.

The strategic use of hashtags on Instagram to get followers is paramount for organic growth.

What are Hashtags and How Do They Work?

Hashtags are keywords or phrases preceded by the “#” symbol e.g., #travelphotography, #halalrecipes. When you include a hashtag in your post, that post becomes indexed under that specific hashtag. Users can then search for that hashtag, or even follow specific hashtags, allowing them to discover new content related to their interests. For content creators, this means that every time a user searches for or follows a hashtag you’ve used, your post has a chance to appear in their feed or search results, significantly expanding your reach beyond your direct follower count. Data consistently shows that posts with at least one hashtag receive significantly more engagement than those without. For instance, a report by Social Insider found that posts with hashtags gain 12.6% more engagement than those without.

The Role of Hashtags in Discoverability

Discoverability is the cornerstone of gaining new followers. If people can’t find your content, they can’t follow you. Hashtags serve as crucial conduits for this discovery. They allow Instagram’s algorithm to understand the topic of your content and present it to users who have shown interest in similar themes. This goes beyond simple searching. Instagram’s Explore page heavily relies on understanding user interests, often influenced by the hashtags they engage with. By strategically employing best hashtags on Instagram to get followers, you’re not just casting a wider net. you’re casting a smarter net, ensuring your content lands in front of an audience predisposed to appreciate it. This increases the likelihood of gaining genuine, engaged followers rather than just random numbers.

Hashtags vs. User Tags: A Key Distinction

While both “hashtags” and “user tags” involve the “@” symbol for user tags, they serve fundamentally different purposes.

Hashtags are for categorization and discoverability, linking your content to broader topics and communities.

User tags, on the other hand, are about direct attribution and notification.

When you tag another user @username in a photo or video, that user receives a notification, and the post may appear on their profile under the “Tagged Photos” section. Tailwind schedule

This is crucial for collaborations, giving credit, or highlighting individuals in your content.

Understanding this distinction is vital for maximizing your Instagram strategy. both have their place but for different reasons.

Crafting Your Hashtag Strategy for Follower Growth

Developing an effective hashtag strategy is less about random guesswork and more about data-driven decisions and understanding your audience.

It’s about finding the sweet spot between popular visibility and niche relevance.

Researching High-Performing Hashtags

The first step in any successful hashtag strategy is thorough research.

You wouldn’t launch a product without market research, and hashtags are no different.

You need to identify what hashtags on Instagram to get followers are already performing well within your specific niche.

• Instagram’s Search Bar: This is your simplest and most direct tool. Start typing a keyword related to your content e.g., “Islamic art”. Instagram will suggest related hashtags and show you how many posts are associated with each. This gives you a quick overview of popularity.
• Competitor Analysis: Look at what hashtags successful accounts in your niche are using. What hashtags are they consistently employing that seem to drive engagement? Don’t copy blindly, but use them as inspiration for your own research.
• Industry-Specific Terms: Think like your target audience. What terms would they search for to find content like yours? If you’re a modest fashion blogger, beyond #modestfashion, consider terms like #hijabstyle, #abayafashion, or #modestwear.
• Third-Party Tools: Many tools exist some free, some paid that can help you find trending hashtags, analyze hashtag performance, and suggest related tags. While we encourage the use of ethical and effective marketing tools, it’s always wise to investigate their features before committing. These tools can often provide insights into hashtag density, competition, and potential reach.

Balancing Popular, Niche, and Trending Hashtags

A common mistake is to only use famous hashtags on Instagram to get followers.

While popular tags offer massive reach, they also come with immense competition.

Your post might get lost in a sea of millions of other posts. A smart strategy involves a balanced mix: Tag finder for instagram

• Popular Hashtags 1-5 million+ posts: These offer broad visibility and can expose your content to a vast audience. Use a few e.g., #travel, #photography, #food but don’t rely solely on them. Your post might have a short lifespan in these feeds due to high volume.
• Niche-Specific Hashtags 10k – 500k posts: These are where your target audience often resides. They have a more engaged and relevant audience. For example, if you post about halal cooking, #halalrecipes or #islamicfoodblog might be more effective than just #food. These are often the best hashtags on Instagram to get followers who are genuinely interested in your specific content.
• Hyper-Niche/Community Hashtags Under 10k posts: These are extremely specific and often foster strong communities. While their reach is smaller, the engagement rate from users following these tags can be incredibly high. Examples include #muslimahfashion or #islamicquotesdaily. These are excellent for building a loyal following.
• Trending Hashtags: Keep an eye on what’s trending, especially if it aligns with your content. This could be related to current events, holidays, or viral challenges. Using trending hashtags can give your posts a temporary boost in visibility, but ensure relevance. If it doesn’t fit, don’t force it.

The ideal mix might look something like 5-10 popular, 10-15 niche, and 5-10 hyper-niche/community hashtags.

Experiment and analyze what works best for your content.

Optimizing Hashtag Placement and Quantity

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post.

The consensus among growth hackers is: use as many as you can, as long as they are relevant.

More relevant hashtags generally mean more opportunities for discovery.

• In the Caption: Placing hashtags directly in your caption is the most straightforward method. However, some find it makes the caption look cluttered.
• In the First Comment: Many creators opt to put their hashtags in the first comment immediately after posting. This keeps the caption clean while still allowing the hashtags to function for discoverability. Instagram’s algorithm treats hashtags in the first comment the same way it treats them in the caption.
• Mix and Match: Some advise putting a few key, highly relevant hashtags in the caption and the rest in the first comment. This can be a good compromise.
• Readability: Regardless of placement, ensure your hashtags are easy to read. Avoid keyword stuffing in a single sentence. Break them up with line breaks or periods.

The goal is to maximize your chances of being seen by what to tag on Instagram for followers who are actively seeking content like yours.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with placement and quantity to see what yields the best results for your specific account.

Beyond Hashtags: Leveraging User Tags for Growth

While hashtags are crucial for discoverability, user tags offer a powerful, direct way to gain visibility and build relationships on Instagram.

Knowing who should I tag on Instagram to get more followers is a strategic move.

When to Tag Other Users and When Not To

User tagging is about relevance and respect. Resize photo for instagram without border

When used correctly, it can significantly amplify your reach. When misused, it can backfire.

• Tagging Featured Accounts: If your content features another person, a brand, a location, or an organization, tag them! This is common courtesy and often leads to them sharing your post to their audience, exposing you to their followers. Examples include tagging a restaurant you reviewed, a modest fashion brand whose clothes you’re wearing, or a collaborator on a project.
• Collaborative Content: If you’re creating content with another creator, always tag them. This is essential for cross-promotion and helps both parties reach new audiences.
• Giving Credit: If you’re inspired by someone’s work or featuring their product, tagging them is a great way to give credit and potentially get noticed by them.
• Location Tags: Always add a location tag if your content is tied to a specific place. This helps local users find you and your content. Local businesses and events benefit immensely from this.
• When NOT to Tag: Do not tag irrelevant accounts in an attempt to gain their attention. This is seen as spamming and can lead to users blocking you or reporting your content. Never tag popular accounts just to get noticed if your content has no direct relevance to them. This practice is ineffective and damages your reputation.

The Benefits of Being Tagged by Others

Being tagged by other users is a powerful form of social proof and exposure. When another account tags you:

• Increased Visibility: Your content or profile is exposed to their audience, many of whom may not have heard of you before. This is particularly valuable if the tagging account has a larger following.
• Social Proof: A tag from a reputable account can lend credibility to your profile. It suggests that you are part of a community, recognized by others, or producing valuable content.
• Direct Referrals: People who see you tagged in a post may click on your profile directly, leading to new followers who are already primed to be interested in your content.
• Networking Opportunities: Being tagged can open doors for collaborations and partnerships with other creators or brands who discover you through the tag. This can significantly accelerate your growth.

Encourage your community to tag you when they use your products, create content inspired by you, or simply enjoy your work.

This organic form of promotion is highly effective.

Leveraging Mentions in Stories and Comments

Beyond direct tags in posts, mentions in Instagram Stories and comments also play a role in visibility and engagement.

• Story Mentions: When someone mentions your account in their Instagram Story, it creates a direct link to your profile. You receive a notification, and you can even reshare their Story to your own, further amplifying the content. This is fantastic for user-generated content, testimonials, or shout-outs. Actively engage with Story mentions by reposting and thanking the user.
• Comment Mentions: When users mention you in comments, it brings your profile to the attention of others engaging with that specific post. This can spark conversations and draw new visitors to your profile. Respond to these mentions to foster community.

While not as direct for discoverability as hashtags, user tags and mentions are invaluable for building relationships, leveraging existing networks, and amplifying your reach through genuine social interaction.

Analyzing and Optimizing Your Tagging Strategy

Growth on Instagram isn’t a “set it and forget it” game.

To truly get followers and sustain growth, you need to constantly analyze what’s working and what’s not and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Using Instagram Insights to Track Hashtag Performance

Instagram Insights is your free, built-in analytics tool available for Business and Creator accounts that provides crucial data on how your content performs, including how people are finding your posts.

• Reach from Hashtags: For individual posts, Insights will show you how many accounts were reached through hashtags. This is a direct measure of your hashtag effectiveness.
• Top Posts by Reach: Identify which of your posts generated the most reach, and then examine the hashtags used on those posts. This helps you understand which combinations or types of hashtags are most effective for your audience.
• Audience Demographics: While not directly about hashtags, understanding your audience demographics age, gender, location can help you refine your content and the language of your hashtags to better resonate with them.

Regularly reviewing these insights e.g., weekly or bi-weekly allows you to identify trends and make data-backed decisions. Specs for instagram post

If certain popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers consistently underperform for your content, it might be time to swap them out for more niche alternatives.

A/B Testing Hashtag Sets

A/B testing also known as split testing involves trying different versions of your content to see which performs better.

For hashtags, this means using different sets of hashtags on similar types of posts and comparing their performance.

• Control vs. Variable: On one post, use your standard set of hashtags your “control”. On a similar subsequent post, change a few of those hashtags your “variable”.
• Track Key Metrics: Monitor reach from hashtags, engagement rate likes, comments, saves, and follower growth for both posts.
• Isolate Variables: To make your A/B testing effective, try to change only one or a few variables at a time. For instance, test changing only the popular hashtags, or only the niche hashtags.
• Consistent Content: Ensure the content itself is as similar as possible between the test posts to minimize other influencing factors.

By systematically A/B testing different combinations of hashtags, you can gradually refine your strategy, discovering which specific best hashtags on Instagram to get followers truly resonate with the Instagram algorithm and your target audience.

Adapting Your Strategy Based on Trends and Algorithm Changes

A static hashtag strategy will eventually lead to diminishing returns.

• Stay Updated with Algorithm News: While Instagram doesn’t reveal all its secrets, they often provide general updates on how the algorithm prioritizes content. Follow reputable industry news sources and official Instagram announcements.
• Monitor Industry Trends: What are the new hot topics in your niche? What keywords are gaining traction? Integrate relevant new trends into your content and hashtag strategy. For example, if “sustainable living” is trending, ensure you’re using relevant hashtags like #ecofriendly or #zerowaste if it aligns with your content.
• Observe Competitors: Keep an eye on successful accounts in your niche. Are they suddenly using different types of hashtags? Are they experimenting with new content formats that integrate hashtags differently?
• Be Flexible: Don’t be afraid to scrap an entire set of hashtags if they’re no longer performing. The goal is continuous improvement.

Optimizing your tagging strategy is an ongoing process of learning, testing, and adapting.

By regularly analyzing data, experimenting with new approaches, and staying agile, you can ensure your hashtags continue to be powerful tools for gaining new followers on Instagram.

Common Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to fall into common hashtag traps that can hinder your growth rather than help it.

Avoiding these pitfalls is as crucial as implementing best practices.

Using Irrelevant or Spammy Hashtags

This is arguably the biggest mistake you can make. Relevant hashtags on instagram

The temptation to use famous hashtags on Instagram to get followers, even if they’re unrelated to your content, can be strong, but it’s a short-sighted approach.

• Why it’s harmful:
  • Algorithm Disfavor: Instagram’s algorithm is designed to promote relevant content. If you consistently use irrelevant hashtags, the algorithm will recognize that your content isn’t truly serving the audience searching for those tags, potentially deprioritizing your posts.
  • Poor User Experience: Users searching for a specific hashtag will be annoyed if your content doesn’t match their interest. This leads to negative engagement e.g., swiping past quickly, hiding your post, which signals to Instagram that your content isn’t valuable.
  • “Shadowbanning” or reduced reach: While Instagram denies formal “shadowbanning,” consistently misusing hashtags can lead to your content being less discoverable in hashtag feeds.
  • Damaged Reputation: Your brand will be seen as spammy and untrustworthy, making it harder to attract genuine followers.
• Examples of misuse: Using #travel if your post is about cooking, or #fashion if it’s about gardening. Always ask yourself: “Would someone searching for this hashtag genuinely want to see my post?” If the answer is no, don’t use it.

Over-Reliance on Only Popular Hashtags

While popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers offer massive potential reach, they also come with massive competition.

• The “Needle in a Haystack” Problem: When you use a hashtag with millions of posts, your content will likely get buried within minutes, if not seconds. It’s like shouting into a stadium – you’re heard by many, but remembered by few, if any.
• Low Engagement Rate: Even if your post is briefly seen, it’s unlikely to generate significant engagement from a broad, often fleeting audience. You’re better off reaching a smaller, more targeted group who are genuinely interested.
• Missed Niche Opportunities: By focusing only on broad terms, you miss the opportunity to connect with highly engaged communities built around niche-specific hashtags. These are often the best hashtags on Instagram to get followers who become loyal fans.

A balanced approach that includes a mix of popular, niche, and hyper-niche hashtags is always more effective for sustainable growth.

Not Using Enough Hashtags or Too Many Irrelevant Ones

There’s a sweet spot for hashtag quantity, and missing it can hinder your performance.

• Not Enough: If you only use 2-3 hashtags, you’re missing out on numerous opportunities for discovery. Instagram allows up to 30 for a reason – to maximize your chances of being found. Every relevant hashtag is a potential doorway to a new audience.
• Too Many Irrelevant: As discussed above, using too many irrelevant hashtags is detrimental. This is different from using the maximum relevant hashtags. Quality over quantity, but when the quality is there, quantity helps.
• The “Magic Number”: While 30 relevant hashtags are often recommended, the “magic number” can vary by account and industry. Some studies suggest 11-15 is optimal for engagement, but for pure discoverability, leveraging the full 30 relevant tags is generally beneficial. Experiment to find what works best for your content.

The key takeaway is relevance. If you have 30 relevant hashtags, use them.

If you only have 15 truly relevant ones, stick to those.

The goal is to maximize your visibility to the right audience without resorting to spammy tactics.

Advanced Strategies for Instagram Tagging

Once you’ve mastered the basics, there are more nuanced strategies you can employ to further enhance your Instagram tagging efforts and accelerate follower growth.

Creating Your Own Branded Hashtag

A branded hashtag is unique to your account, business, or campaign.

It’s an excellent way to foster community and gather user-generated content. Related hashtag generator

• How it works: Choose a hashtag that is short, memorable, and clearly represents your brand e.g., #YourBrandName, #YourBrandCommunity.
• Benefits:
  • Community Building: Encourages your audience to use the hashtag when sharing their content related to you, creating a searchable feed of user-generated content. This can be powerful social proof.
  • Campaign Tracking: Great for contests, challenges, or specific campaigns.
  • Brand Identity: Reinforces your brand’s presence and makes it easier for followers to find content associated with you.
  • Content Curation: Provides a central place to discover and re-share content from your community.
• Promotion: Include your branded hashtag in your bio, on your website, in your posts, and encourage followers to use it.
  • Example: If you’re a modest fashion blogger named “Modesty Maven,” you might use #ModestyMavenStyle or #ModestyMavenCommunity. This is what to tag on Instagram for followers to rally around your brand.

Following Relevant Hashtags for Content Ideas and Engagement

Instagram allows users to follow hashtags, not just accounts.

This means content tagged with those hashtags will appear in their feed, even if they don’t follow the original poster.

As a creator, you can leverage this feature in reverse.

• Content Inspiration: Follow hashtags relevant to your niche. This allows you to see what kind of content is performing well, what questions users are asking, and what trends are emerging within those communities.
• Engagement Opportunities: Engage with other content within these hashtag feeds. Leave thoughtful comments, answer questions, and connect with other creators and potential followers. This active engagement can lead to new followers discovering your profile through your comments.
• Identify Influencers/Collaborators: Following relevant hashtags can help you discover other creators in your niche who might be good collaborators.
• Stay Current: It keeps you informed about discussions and hot topics in your industry, ensuring your content remains fresh and relevant.

Leveraging Hashtag Analytics Tools

While Instagram Insights provides basic data, dedicated hashtag analytics tools offer deeper insights and can significantly enhance your strategy.

• Finding Trending Hashtags: These tools often have real-time data on currently trending hashtags, which can be invaluable for timely content creation.
• Competition Analysis: They can show you the competition level for specific hashtags, helping you decide if your content can stand out.
• Hashtag Performance Prediction: Some tools attempt to predict the potential reach or engagement for a given hashtag, helping you choose the most impactful ones.
• Related Hashtag Suggestions: Beyond basic suggestions, these tools often provide a comprehensive list of closely related hashtags, expanding your options.
• Track Your Hashtag Performance: Many allow you to input your posts and track the performance of the specific hashtags you’ve used over time, providing a more detailed view than Instagram’s native insights.

While some advanced tools come with a cost, the investment can pay off in faster, more targeted growth.

They help take the guesswork out of finding the best hashtags on Instagram to get followers and allow for a more data-driven approach.

Beyond Tags: Holistic Growth Strategies for Instagram

While tags are undeniably powerful tools for discoverability, they are just one piece of the puzzle.

Sustainable Instagram growth, which leads to engaged and loyal followers, requires a holistic approach that extends beyond just what to tag on Instagram for followers.

Consistent High-Quality Content Creation

This is the bedrock of all Instagram success.

No matter how perfectly you tag, if your content isn’t compelling, inspiring, or useful, people won’t stick around. Post whole photo on instagram

• Value Proposition: What unique value do you offer? Are you educating, entertaining, inspiring, or solving a problem for your audience?
• Visual Appeal: Instagram is a visual platform. Invest time in good photography/videography, appealing aesthetics, and consistent branding.
• Authenticity: Be yourself. People connect with genuine personalities. Share your journey, your insights, and your unique perspective.
• Niche Focus: While it’s tempting to try and appeal to everyone, focusing on a specific niche allows you to create highly relevant content for a dedicated audience. This makes it easier for people to understand why they should follow you.
• Regularity: Consistency in posting keeps your audience engaged and signals to the algorithm that you’re an active and valuable contributor. While daily posting isn’t always necessary, aim for a schedule you can realistically maintain.

Engaging with Your Audience and Community

Instagram is a social platform.

Engagement is a two-way street, and it’s vital for building a loyal following.

• Respond to Comments and DMs: Acknowledge and respond to every comment and direct message you receive. This shows appreciation and encourages further interaction.
• Ask Questions: In your captions and Stories, ask questions that invite your audience to share their thoughts and experiences.
• Host Q&A Sessions: Use Instagram Stories for interactive Q&A sessions, allowing your audience to submit questions and you to answer them directly.
• Go Live: Live videos are excellent for real-time interaction and building a stronger connection with your audience.
• Engage on Others’ Posts: Don’t just post and leave. Actively engage with content from other creators in your niche, and with your followers’ posts. Leave thoughtful comments, not just emojis. This increases your visibility and helps you build relationships.
• User-Generated Content: Encourage your audience to share their content related to your brand or niche e.g., using your products, trying your recipes, applying your tips and then re-share it with credit!.

Utilizing Other Instagram Features Stories, Reels, Live, Guides

Instagram is constantly rolling out new features.

Leveraging these can significantly boost your reach and engagement beyond static posts.

• Instagram Stories: Use Stories daily for behind-the-scenes content, polls, quizzes, Q&As, link stickers, and quick updates. They’re excellent for fostering a more casual, immediate connection.
• Instagram Reels: Reels are currently a massive driver of discovery on Instagram. Short, engaging video content is highly favored by the algorithm and can expose your content to a vast new audience on the Reels tab and Explore page. Focus on trending audios and engaging visuals for best results.
• Instagram Live: Go live for in-depth discussions, interviews, Q&As, or simply to connect with your audience in real-time. Live content often gets priority in followers’ feeds.
• Instagram Guides: Use Guides to curate useful content your own or others’ into digestible formats. This can position you as an authority in your niche.
• Direct Messages DMs: While not a “feature” in the same way, using DMs for personal interactions, building relationships, and answering specific questions is incredibly powerful.

By combining a smart hashtag strategy with compelling content, genuine engagement, and a willingness to explore all of Instagram’s features, you build a robust presence that attracts not just more followers, but a dedicated and supportive community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hashtags on Instagram to get followers?

The “best” hashtags are highly specific to your niche and audience. They are a mix of popular, niche-specific, and hyper-niche tags that are relevant to your content. For example, for a modest fashion account, #modestfashion popular might be combined with #hijabstyle niche and #abayadubai hyper-niche.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?

You can use up to 30 hashtags per post.

It’s generally recommended to use as many relevant hashtags as possible, up to the limit, to maximize discoverability.

Should I put hashtags in the caption or first comment?

Both methods work effectively for discoverability.

Many users prefer putting hashtags in the first comment to keep the caption clean and focused on the content. Register link in bio

What is the difference between hashtags and user tags?

Hashtags # are used for categorization and discoverability, allowing users to find content related to a specific topic. User tags @ are used to directly mention or attribute another Instagram account.

How can I find trending hashtags on Instagram?

You can find trending hashtags by using Instagram’s search bar it suggests popular tags as you type, by observing what popular accounts in your niche are using, or by using third-party hashtag research tools.

Do hashtags really help in getting more followers?

Yes, absolutely.

Hashtags are a primary mechanism for discoverability on Instagram, allowing users who don’t already follow you to find your content when they search for or follow specific topics, which directly leads to new followers.

What should I tag on Instagram for followers?

You should tag relevant hashtags related to your content’s topic, niche, location, and community.

Additionally, you should tag relevant users people, brands, collaborators who are directly featured in or related to your post.

Who should I tag on Instagram to get more followers?

You should tag individuals or brands directly involved in your post e.g., people in the photo, brands whose products you’re featuring, collaborators. This exposes your content to their audience and often leads to them resharing your post.

Can using too many hashtags harm my Instagram account?

Using too many irrelevant or spammy hashtags can harm your account by reducing your reach and potentially leading to “shadowbanning” reduced discoverability. However, using the maximum of 30 relevant hashtags is generally beneficial.

How do I know which hashtags are performing best for me?

You can use Instagram Insights available for Business and Creator accounts to see how many accounts were reached through hashtags for each post, helping you identify which tags are most effective.

What is a branded hashtag and why should I use one?

A branded hashtag is a unique hashtag specific to your business, brand, or campaign e.g., #YourBrandName. It helps build community, track user-generated content, and reinforce your brand identity. Recommended number of hashtags on instagram

Should I use location tags on my Instagram posts?

Yes, if your content is relevant to a specific geographical location, always use a location tag.

This helps local users discover your content and is particularly beneficial for local businesses.

Is “shadowbanning” real, and how can I avoid it with hashtags?

While Instagram denies official “shadowbanning,” consistently misusing hashtags e.g., using irrelevant, broken, or spammy tags can lead to reduced discoverability in hashtag feeds.

Avoid it by using only relevant and active hashtags.

How often should I change my hashtags?

It’s good practice to rotate your hashtags regularly, especially if you’re noticing a drop in performance.

A/B test different sets to see what works, and adapt your strategy based on algorithm changes and trends.

Can I use the same set of hashtags for every post?

While convenient, using the exact same set of hashtags for every post can sometimes be less effective over time.

It’s better to tailor your hashtags to each specific post’s content and to vary them slightly to reach different segments of your audience.

How do I find niche-specific hashtags?

Start with broad keywords related to your niche and use Instagram’s search bar to find related, more specific hashtags.

Look at what successful accounts in your niche are using, and explore third-party hashtag tools for deeper insights. Reach hashtags for instagram 2021

What are some popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers?

Popular hashtags are very broad and generic e.g., #love, #instadaily, #photooftheday, #travel. While they offer massive reach, they also have very high competition. Use them sparingly and always combine with niche-specific tags.

Does engagement on other people’s posts help with follower growth?

Yes, actively engaging with other accounts liking, commenting thoughtfully, saving helps increase your visibility within the community.

Other users may discover your profile through your comments, leading to new followers.

Should I use hashtags in my Instagram Stories?

Yes! Hashtags in Stories can significantly increase their reach, exposing your content to users who follow those specific hashtags, even if they don’t follow your main account.

You can use one clickable hashtag sticker or type out multiple in the caption.

What are broken or banned hashtags?

Broken or banned hashtags are those that Instagram has restricted or removed due to their association with spam, inappropriate content, or community guideline violations.

Using them can negatively impact your post’s visibility.

It’s crucial to periodically check if the hashtags you use are active and not banned.

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