The real question is how best to put that knowledge to work for you. What are the best hashtags to use? And at what point does an overabundance of hashtags become annoying?
Promoting your content and finding success on Instagram requires knowing the ideal quantity of hashtags to use in a post. Increase your exposure and interaction with your intended audience by using the appropriate quantity of hashtags.
Although Instagram’s organic search algorithm is known to undergo periodic updates, there are a few universal truths about how to make the most of hashtags that have stood the test of time.
Instagram: How Many Hashtags Should You Use?
Recent trends and Instagram’s creators page suggest that between three and five hashtags is optimal. It’s worth noting that this advice recommends using both broad and specific hashtags.
Utilizing a Combination of Popular & Specialized Hash tags
Hashtags that cater to a certain niche might be useful. You should select a hashtag that is popular enough to attract attention but narrow enough to prevent your message from being lost in the noise.
Using both popular and less-used hashtags in your photos might increase your exposure on Instagram. Hashtags in a certain niche may not be widely used, but they can help you reach a targeted audience.
Hashtags are designed to help people find posts that are relevant to their interests. By employing a mixture of 2-3 specialty and 2-3 popular hashtags, you will be making effective use of the platform.
Avoid complexity at all costs. You should use hashtags if you believe that a smaller, more specific audience will benefit from them. However, go with your gut if you have any suspicions that a specific group of people might not enjoy your work.
Before using a hashtag, make sure you know why you’re using it. Ask yourself if the user cares about seeing your post in their feed by putting yourself in their shoes.
Where Do the Big Brands Stand?
The usage of hashtags is often kept to a minimum by major businesses. They avoid utilising generic hashtags in favour of those that are more closely associated with their brand, specialty, or offerings.
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co., and Philips are just some of the famous businesses who utilise less than 5 hashtags in their Instagram postings.
Hashtag Organization and Research Techniques for Business Use.
You need to perform some homework and classify hashtags into relevant groups before you can utilise them successfully for your business. Here’s the procedure:
Look for generic hash tags: To begin, research the most general Instagram hashtags that are relevant to your brand’s niche. Create a to-do list and number it “1.”
Next, narrow your search by finding a term that has half as many postings as the more general hashtags. Put a “2” next to this set. Cut the list in half again, and again, until you have five lists of hashtag categories, one for each level of specificity.
Take notes: Keep track of the best hashtags you discover along the road. Write down how popular they are and whether or not they are relevant to your company.
Pick your hashtags: There are now five distinct hashtag groups from which to chose when penning your next caption. According to Instagram’s rules, you should pick one hashtag from each group to ensure an equitable distribution of both popular and less-used tags.
If your article fits neatly into three distinct but similarly sized specialised communities, feel free to use hashtags from all three. This is only a thought experiment meant to illustrate the fact that not all of your hashtags will appeal to the biggest potential audience.
When Do Hashtags Become a Problem?
Instagram users can only use 30 hashtags total (including caption and comments) per post. You will not be able to publish a caption or remark containing more than 30 hashtags.
There are benefits to using hashtags in your captions, but using too many might have unintended consequences.
Your Caption Reads Like Junk Email and is Unattractive
Envision stumbling across a post on Instagram where the description consists entirely of hashtags. In fact, it might cause you to reevaluate whether or not you want to interact with that post or even continue following that user.
Message Watering Down
If you use too many hashtags, people may become confused and your brand may appear less reliable. Overuse of hashtags might make you appear needy for attention and unsure of your own message or identity. This might hinder your ability to build trust with your target market and reduce the likelihood that they will consider you a reliable resource.
Hashtags may be a useful technique for increasing your Instagram following, but you should only use them when appropriate. It’s important to keep in mind that, even when it comes to Instagram hashtags, quality trumps quantity every time.
It’s High Time You Learn Proper Hashtag Etiquette!
You can’t have much of an Instagram presence without using hashtags, but don’t let them consume you. You can learn to use hashtags like a pro with just a little bit of planning and imagination.
Don’t overthink how to use hashtags effectively. You’re on the correct road if you’re aiming for certain communities and consciously use hashtags. So go in and try out some new hashtags, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself while doing so!