Instagram remains one of the top social planforms with over 1 billion active users! That’s why using hashtags on Instagram has many benefits for brands and businesses. Learn about the different types that are out there and some best practices to implement below.
4 Benefits to Using Instagram Hashtags:
1. Increase brand exposure and discovery
2. Encourages audience interactions with your social content and profile
3. Helps you keep an eye on competitor’s content
4. Discover content inspiration and research what others in your industry are sharing
Best Practices for Instagram Hashtags:
1. How many hashtags should you use in social posts? In a post’s caption, it’s recommended to use only 1-3 hashtags. If you enter more hashtags in the first comment of your post, then up to 30 are accepted. However, the average Instagram (IG) post uses around 10 hashtags.
2. Use hashtags in the first comment of your IG posts: Too many hashtags in a post caption can look messy and overwhelming. Instead, share your hashtags in the first comment of the post so they don’t distract from the message you’re trying to get across.
3. Find the best hashtags for your business: An easy way to do this is to look at the accounts you already follow and note which hashtags they’re already using. Another great way is to begin brainstorming hashtags and type them into the Instagram search bar. As you type, related hashtags will also show up.
4. Follow specific hashtags: Instagram offers the ability to follow any hashtag’s search results. When you do this, these posts appear in your feed, alongside all the other posts from accounts you follow. This is a good tactic to use for following industry or community hashtags to stay in the know.
5. Encourage the use of branded hashtags for your business: Help IG users find your own posts easier by creating your own hastag (ie: #strategy3degrees). Once it’s created, make sure to start using it in every relevant post, and you can even add it into your bio so your followers can utilize them.
6. Use hashtags in your IG stories: Stories disappear after 24 hours, but don’t discount the use of hashtags in them. These will help your stories show up in the search results and are another easy way of getting more interested followers. Pro tip: Hide your story hashtags behind a sticker or slide them off to the side so they’re out of view.
Have questions about using Instagram and hashtags? #HitUsUp to learn more via call, text, or email! We’re happy to help.