Did you know that studies show that adding at least one hashtag to all of your Instagram posts will, on average, generate over 12% more Engagement? Hashtags are huge! But you have to be smart about how you use it.
In case you don't know, hashtags are words or phrases preceded by the # sign, with no spaces or special characters. They work like hyperlinks, and their main objective is to segment the contents that are published. For example, if you use the #Love hashtag on several posts, you will see those identical posts plus others from public accounts that have used the same hashtag whenever you click on it. Technically, you can use up to 30 in each post.
In case you didn't know, these are the three main advantages of using hashtags on Instagram.
1. They allow users to find your posts quickly and help them go viral.
2. They increase visibility and the reach of your message, and ultimately, they cause an increased number of followers
3. There's a direct link between hashtags and Engagement. The more hashtags you use, the more visible your publication is, and the more likely someone will interact with it.
Now that you know why you should not dismiss hashtags again, here's how to use them effectively:
• Determine your niche before defining your hashtags.
• Research what hashtags your competition, your followers, and industry influencers use.
• Imagine hashtags as keywords. For example, if your niche is Interior Design, hashtags like #roomdecor or #roominspiration will attract people seeking inspiration for their rooms.
• Use popular hashtags, but only if they are content-related. For instance, #love is among the most effective hashtags on Instagram, but it wouldn't make much sense to use it in posts that don't relate to love.
• Try to use less generic and more specific hashtags. You can segment your content using hashtags that are related only to you, like #organicfood #organicchia
• You can use capital letters at the beginning of each word to make the hashtag easier to understand
• Avoid tildes and "special characters". Hashtags with characters other than roman letters don't position themselves optimally. The ones with emojis are not effective.
• Keep your hashtags short and easy to remember. Avoid fancy words.
• Add variety to your hashtags and test responses.
• Keep in mind that posts should be public so that users can find them more easily.
• Use hashtags on your Instagram stories too, so they have a greater reach.
• Use an app for hashtag ideas (like TagOMatic).
• Take advantage of events that create their hashtag. Use their hashtag to get seen by those who are following that event.
In conclusion, consistently use hashtags in your posts to attract followers who did not know you exist. When they click the hashtag, there is a much greater chance of your posts being seen and page being followed. Use the tips above to grow your views! Good luck!
