How to Add Hashtags to Instagram Post: A Complete Guide
Hi everyone, welcome to our blog where we share tips and tricks on how to grow your Instagram account. In this article, we will show you how to add hashtags to your Instagram post, why they are important, and how to use them effectively.
Hashtags are words or phrases that start with a # sign and are used to categorize and organize content on Instagram. They help users find posts that are relevant to their interests, and they help creators reach more people who might be interested in their content. Hashtags are one of the most powerful tools for increasing your engagement, visibility, and followers on Instagram.
How to Add Hashtags to Your Instagram Post
Step 1: Choose the Right Hashtags for Your Post
The first step to adding hashtags to your Instagram post is to choose the right hashtags for your post. You want to use hashtags that are relevant, specific, and popular enough to attract your target audience. You also want to avoid using hashtags that are too broad, too niche, or too spammy.
There are different types of hashtags that you can use for your post, such as:
- Industry hashtags: These are hashtags that relate to your niche or industry, such as #fashion, #travel, or #fitness. They help you reach people who are interested in your topic.
- Community hashtags: These are hashtags that relate to a specific community or group of people, such as #womeninbusiness, #vegan, or #bookstagram. They help you connect with people who share your values or passions.
- Brand hashtags: These are hashtags that relate to your brand name, slogan, or campaign, such as #nike, #justdoit, or #shareacoke. They help you build brand awareness and loyalty.
- Trending hashtags: These are hashtags that are currently popular or viral on Instagram, such as #throwbackthursday, #blacklivesmatter, or #covid19. They help you join the conversation and get more exposure.
- Location hashtags: These are hashtags that relate to a specific location or place, such as #newyork, #paris, or #disneyland. They help you reach people who are in or interested in that location.
You can use a combination of these types of hashtags for your post, depending on your goal and audience. You can also use tools like Display Purposes, All Hashtag, or Hashtags for Likes to find relevant and popular hashtags for your post.
Step 2: Add the Hashtags to Your Post
The second step to adding hashtags to your Instagram post is to add the hashtags to your post. You can add up to 30 hashtags per post, but you don't have to use them all. According to Later, the optimal number of hashtags per post is 11.
You can add the hashtags either in the caption or in the first comment of your post. There is no definitive answer on which option is better, but some pros and cons of each option are:
- In the caption: This option makes your hashtags more visible and clickable, which can increase your reach and engagement. However, it can also make your caption look cluttered and less appealing.
- In the first comment: This option makes your caption look cleaner and more focused on your message. However, it can also make your hashtags less visible and clickable, which can decrease your reach and engagement.
You can also use a combination of both options by adding a few relevant hashtags in the caption and the rest in the first comment. This way, you can balance the visibility and aesthetics of your post.
Why You Should Add Hashtags to Your Instagram Post
Hashtags Increase Your Reach and Visibility
One of the main benefits of adding hashtags to your Instagram post is that they increase your reach and visibility on the platform. When you use a hashtag, your post becomes part of a larger collection of posts that use the same hashtag. This means that users who search for or follow that hashtag can see your post in their feed or explore page.
This can help you reach more people who are interested in your topic, niche, or industry, and who might not have found your account otherwise. According to Sprout Social, posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than posts without hashtags. This can lead to more likes, comments, shares, and followers for your account.
Hashtags Help You Connect with Your Audience and Community
Another benefit of adding hashtags to your Instagram post is that they help you connect with your audience and community on the platform. When you use a hashtag, you are not only sharing your content, but also joining a conversation and a community around that topic. This can help you interact with other users who share your interests, values, or passions.
This can help you build relationships, trust, and loyalty with your audience and community, and establish yourself as an authority or influencer in your niche or industry. According to Hootsuite, 83% of Instagram users discover new products or services on the platform, and 80% of users decide whether to buy a product or service by using Instagram. This means that by using hashtags, you can increase your chances of converting your followers into customers or clients.
How to Use Hashtags Effectively on Instagram
Use a Mix of Broad and Specific Hashtags
One of the best practices for using hashtags effectively on Instagram is to use a mix of broad and specific hashtags for your post. Broad hashtags are hashtags that have a large number of posts associated with them, such as #love, #food, or #photography. Specific hashtags are hashtags that have a smaller number of posts associated with them, such as #veganpizza, #goldenretrieverpuppy, or #nightphotography.
Using a mix of broad and specific hashtags can help you reach a wider and more targeted audience for your post. Broad hashtags can help you reach more people who might be interested in your general topic or niche, while specific hashtags can help you reach more people who might be interested in your specific content or offer. For example, if you are posting a photo of a vegan pizza, you can use hashtags like #pizza, #vegan, #veganfood, #veganpizza, #plantbased, #dairyfree, etc.
Use Relevant and Trending Hashtags
Another best practice for using hashtags effectively on Instagram is to use relevant and trending hashtags for your post. Relevant hashtags are hashtags that are related to your content, niche, industry, or audience. Trending hashtags are hashtags that are currently popular or viral on Instagram. Using relevant and trending hashtags can help you increase your relevance and exposure on the platform.
Using relevant hashtags can help you reach more people who are looking for or interested in your content, niche, industry, or audience. For example, if you are posting a photo of a travel destination, you can use hashtags like #travel, #wanderlust, #bucketlist, #travelgram, etc. Using trending hashtags can help you join the conversation and get more exposure on the platform. For example, if you are posting a photo of a Halloween costume, you can use hashtags like #halloween2021, #halloweencostume, #trickortreat, etc.
Use Branded and Custom Hashtags
A third best practice for using hashtags effectively on Instagram is to use branded and custom hashtags for your post. Branded hashtags are hashtags that relate to your brand name, slogan, or campaign. Custom hashtags are hashtags that you create for a specific purpose or occasion. Using branded and custom hashtags can help you increase your brand awareness and engagement on the platform.
Using branded hashtags can help you build brand recognition and loyalty among your followers and potential customers. For example, if you are posting a photo of a product from your brand, you can use hashtags like #[yourbrandname], #[yourbrandslogan], #[yourbrandcampaign], etc. Using custom hashtags can help you create buzz and excitement around a specific event or promotion. For example, if you are hosting a giveaway or contest on Instagram, you can use hashtags like #[yourbrandname]giveaway, #[yourbrandname]contest,#[yourbrandname]winneretc.
A Detailed Table Breakdown Related to the Topic
To give you a better idea of how to add hashtags to your Instagram post, here is a detailed table breakdown that shows the types of hashtags we discussed above, some examples of each type of hashtag,and the benefits of using each type of hashtag.
How many hashtags should I use per post?
You can use up to 30 hashtags per post on Instagram, but you don't have to use them all. According to Later, the optimal number of hashtags per post is 11. However, this may vary depending on your niche, industry, and audience. You can experiment with different numbers of hashtags and see what works best for you.
Where should I put the hashtags on my post?
You can put the hashtags either in the caption or in the first comment of your post. There is no definitive answer on which option is better, but some pros and cons of each option are:- In the caption: This option makes your hashtags more visible and clickable, which can increase your reach and engagement. However, it can also make your caption look cluttered and less appealing.- In the first comment: This option makes your caption look cleaner and more focused on your message. However, it can also make your hashtags less visible and clickable, which can decrease your reach and engagement.You can also use a combination of both options by adding a few relevant hashtags in the caption and the rest in the first comment. This way, you can balance the visibility and aesthetics of your post.
How do I find the best hashtags for my post?
You can find the best hashtags for your post by using tools like Display Purposes, All Hashtag, or Hashtags for Likes. These tools can help you find relevant and popular hashtags for your post based on your keywords or niche. You can also do some research on Instagram by searching for hashtags that are related to your topic or industry and seeing what other users are using. You can also check out what hashtags your competitors or influencers in your niche are using and get some inspiration from them.
How do I create my own hashtags?
You can create your own hashtags by using a word or phrase that relates to your brand, campaign, or purpose. You can use your brand name, slogan, or a catchy word or phrase that represents your message or offer. You can also use a combination of words, numbers, or symbols to make your hashtag unique and memorable. For example, you can create hashtags like #[yourbrandname]giveaway, #[yourbrandname]contest,#[yourbrandname]winneretc. for a giveaway or contest on Instagram.
How do I track the performance of my hashtags?
You can track the performance of your hashtags by using tools like Instagram Insights, Sprout Social, or Iconosquare. These tools can help you measure the reach, impressions, engagement, and clicks of your hashtags. You can also see which hashtags are driving the most traffic, conversions, and sales to your website or landing page. You can use this data to optimize your hashtag strategy and improve your results.
How do I avoid getting shadowbanned by Instagram?
Shadowbanning is a term that refers to the practice of Instagram limiting the visibility of your posts or account without notifying you. This can happen when you violate the Instagram Community Guidelines or Terms of Use, such as by spamming, using bots, or posting inappropriate content. One of the signs of shadowbanning is that your posts do not appear in the hashtag search results or explore page.
To avoid getting shadowbanned by Instagram, you should follow these tips:- Use relevant and appropriate hashtags for your content and niche.- Avoid using banned or broken hashtags that are associated with spam or inappropriate content. You can check if a hashtag is banned or broken by searching for it on Instagram and seeing if it shows any posts or a warning message.- Avoid using the same hashtags over and over again for different posts. This can make your account look spammy and trigger Instagram's algorithm. You should vary your hashtags and use different ones for different posts.- Avoid using too many hashtags per post. This can also make your account look spammy and lower the quality of your content. You should use only the necessary and relevant hashtags for your post.
How do I make my hashtags more engaging?
You can make your hashtags more engaging by using these tips:- Use catchy and creative hashtags that stand out and capture attention. You can use puns, rhymes, alliterations, or acronyms to make your hashtags more fun and memorable.- Use emojis in your hashtags to add some personality and emotion to your post. You can use emojis that relate to your content, niche, industry, or audience. For example, you can use hashtags like #🍕lover, #🐶mom, #🌎traveler etc.- Use questions in your hashtags to spark curiosity and conversation among your followers. You can use questions that relate to your content, niche, industry, or audience. For example, you can use hashtags like #whatsyourfavoritepizza, #howdoyoutrainyourdog,#whereareyougoingnext etc.
How do I use hashtags for different types of posts?
You can use hashtags for different types of posts by using these tips:- For photos: You can use hashtags that describe the content, theme, mood, style, or location of your photo. For example, if you are posting a photo of a sunset at the beach, you can use hashtags like #sunset, #beach,#goldenhour etc.- For videos: You can use hashtags that describe the content, theme, genre, format, or purpose of your video. For example, if you are posting a video of a makeup tutorial, you can use hashtags like #makeup,#tutorial,#beauty etc.- For stories: You can use hashtags that relate to the content, theme, topic, or occasion of your story. For example, if you are posting a story of a birthday party, you can use hashtags like #birthday,#party,#celebrate etc.- For reels: You can use hashtags that relate to the content, theme, trend, challenge, or music of your reel. For example, if you are posting a reel of a dance challenge with a popular song,you can use hashtags like #[songname], #[dancechallenge], #[reels] etc.
How do I use hashtags with other features on Instagram?
You can use hashtags with other features on Instagram by using these tips:- With filters: You can use hashtags that relateto the filter or effect that you use on your post. For example, if you use a filter that makes your photo look vintage, you can use hashtags like #vintage, #retro, #nostalgia etc.- With stickers: You can use hashtags that relate to the sticker or emoji that you use on your post. For example, if you use a sticker that shows your mood, you can use hashtags like #happy, #sad, #angry etc.- With polls: You can use hashtags that relate to the question or option that you ask on your poll. For example, if you ask your followers to choose between pizza or pasta, you can use hashtags like #pizza, #pasta, #food etc.- With quizzes: You can use hashtags that relate to the question or answer that you ask on your quiz. For example, if you ask your followers to guess your favorite color, you can use hashtags like #color, #quiz, #guess etc.
Conclusion
Hashtags are one of the most powerful tools for growing your Instagram account. They can help you increase your reach, visibility, engagement, and followers on the platform. They can also help you connect with your audience and community, and build your brand and business.
To add hashtags to your Instagram post, you need to choose the right hashtags for your post, add them to your caption or comment, and use them effectively. You also need to follow the best practices and avoid the common pitfalls of using hashtags on Instagram.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to add hashtags to your Instagram post. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. And don't forget to check out our other articles on how to grow your Instagram account.
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