If you are using Instagram for business, you are likely aware of the importance of hashtags.
However, the essential question is, how can you use them to your advantage? Which hashtags are the most suitable? And when does the use of hashtags become excessive?
Understanding the optimal number of hashtags to use in your Instagram post is crucial to promoting your content and achieving success on the platform. Using the right number of hashtags can increase your reach and engagement with your target audience.
Although "the gram" is widely recognized for making frequent modifications to improve its organic search algorithm, some fundamental principles regarding effective hashtag usage are considered timeless.
To effectively expand your brand's Instagram presence in 2023, it's crucial to find the right number of hashtags to use and position them appropriately in your posts. Read on to learn how to use hashtags properly.
Table Of Contents:
- Myths About Hashtag Usage On Instagram
- How Many Hashtags Should You Use On Instagram?
- How To Research And Organize Hashtags For Your Brand?
- What Happens When You Add Too Many Hashtags?
- It's Time To Master The Art Of Hashtag Usage!
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
You can directly jump to a section of your choice or keep scrolling.
Myths About Hashtag Usage On Instagram
Myth 1: Instagram hashtags are an advertising tool on the platform
Reality: Hashtags provide context about the post and its content to the algorithm that promotes organic reach.
Myth 2: Using as many hashtags as possible is an effective approach.
Reality: Using too many hashtags can harm your post's performance by choosing irrelevant hashtags that someone may have intentionally muted. To reach your target audience, you should use relevant hashtags and follow some best practices for your Instagram hashtags strategy.
When in doubt, stick to the most relevant hashtags for your post. Avoid using any hashtags that are only loosely related to your content.
How Many Hashtags Should You Use On Instagram?
According to Instagram's creators' page and recent trends, 3 to 5 hashtags are the sweet spot. It's important to note that this guide emphasizes the use of niche hashtags in addition to more general ones.
Adopting A Combination Of Niche & Well-known Hashtags
When it comes to hashtags, niche can be advantageous. You want to use a hashtag that has a built-in audience but is not so broad that your post gets lost in the crowd.
Combining the usage of niche and well-known hashtags in your posts, can enhance your discoverability on the platform. While niche hashtags may not be mainstream, they are effective in attracting interested users to your content.
The purpose of hashtags is to connect users with the content they are interested in. You will be using the platform's intended function by using 2-3 niche and 2-3 mainstream hashtags in a balanced mix.
When in doubt, simplicity is key. If you think a smaller, more targeted audience would benefit from your hashtags, go for it. But if you are unsure or think your content may not resonate with a particular audience, trust your instincts.
Always consider the context when using hashtags. Put yourself in the user's shoes and ask whether they would be interested in seeing your post in their feed.
What Do Major Brands Do?
Major brands tend to limit their hashtag use to a minimum. They don't use many hashtags but instead focus on using hashtags that are specific to their brand, niche, or products.
Examples of major brands that use less than 5 hashtags in their Instagram posts include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co., and Philips.
How To Research And Organize Hashtags For Your Brand?
To effectively use hashtags for your brand, it's important to do some research and organize them into relevant categories. Here's how to do it:
- Find broad hashtags: Start by finding the broadest possible hashtags that fit into your brand's subject matter on Instagram. Make a list and label it "1".
- Find relevant keywords: Next, find a relevant keyword with half the amount of posts as the broad hashtags. Label this list "2." Keep halving until you end up with 5 lists of hashtag categories, ranging from broadest to most niche.
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Make notes: Make notes for the most promising hashtags found along the way, including how popular they are and how applicable they are to your brand.
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Choose hashtags: You now have 5 categories of hashtags to choose from when writing your next caption. Choose 1 from each category to make an even distribution of niche and well-known hashtags, as Instagram guidelines recommend.
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Use niche hashtags: If you have a post with content at the intersection of 3 equally-sized niche communities, it's fine to use all three of those niche hashtags in your post as well. This is just an exercise demonstrating how not all of your hashtags will cover the widest-possible demographics.
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What Happens When You Add Too Many Hashtags?
Instagram has a limit of using 30 hashtags in a single post combining the caption and comment. If you include more than 30 hashtags on a single post, your caption or comment won't be posted.
While it may seem like a great way to expand your reach and get noticed, there are some downsides to overloading your captions with too many hashtags.
Your Caption Looks Spammy & Unappealing
Imagine scrolling through your Instagram feed and coming across a post with a caption that's nothing but a sea of hashtags. It's not exactly inviting, is it? In fact, it might make you think twice about engaging with that content, let alone following that account.
Dilutes Your Message
Using too many hashtags can dilute your message and make your brand look less trustworthy. When you add too many hashtags, you run the risk of coming across as desperate for attention and not having a clear message or identity. This can make it harder for your audience to connect with your brand and see you as a credible source of information or products.
So, while hashtags can be a powerful tool for growing your Instagram presence, it's essential to use them wisely and avoid the temptation to add too many. Remember, quality over quantity triumphs even when it comes to Instagram hashtags.
It's Time To Master The Art Of Hashtag Usage!
Hashtags greatly impact your Instagram presence, but don't let them overwhelm you. With a little bit of strategy and creativity, you can be hashtagging like a pro in no time.
Don't stress too much about the perfect hashtag strategy. As long as you are targeting specific communities and using hashtags intentionally, you are on the right track. So go ahead and start experimenting with different hashtags, and remember to have fun with them!
If you need an easy way to measure the performance of your most engaged Instagram hashtags, Statusbrew can be your reliable tool. Start exploring the world of Instagram hashtag insights with Statusbrew today!
Statusbrew is an all-in-one social media management tool that supports Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and even Google My Business.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Here are some commonly asked questions about how many hashtags to use on Instagram:
How many hashtags to use for Instagram Reels?
Instagram limits the number of hashtags you can use in Reels to 30. The Instagram @creators account recommends using 3 to 5 hashtags in Reels and says that using 10 to 20 hashtags won't do you any good.
How many hashtags to use for the Instagram Story?
You can add up to 10 hashtags in an Instagram Story. However, it has been observed that the most effective Instagram Stories use just one super-relevant hashtag. So, you can safely add about 1 to 2 relevant hashtags in your Story.
How many hashtags are too many on Instagram?
According to the Instagram @creators account, using 10 to 20 hashtags won't be of any help. Going overboard with hashtags not only looks spammy but can also dilute your message and make your brand appear less trustworthy. So, choosing them wisely and using only the most relevant ones is important.
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