Hashtags can be a great way to boost your engagement and get your content in front of new people. While they are not a guaranteed method, it only takes a few minutes to add them, so why not do the research and curate some tags to get your posts to new potential followers? Today, I’m sharing my tips for boosting your hashtag strategy on Instagram.
As many of you know, hashtags can be quite the mystery. We know we should use them, but why? Do they work on a consistent basis? In my experience, no. But, can they be worth it when they do take off? Absolutely, 100% yes. Today, I’m sharing my hashtag strategy with you. Below are tips that have worked well for my personal brand. Let’s jump in!
Use all or close to 30 hashtags
First things first, let’s get this straight. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags. My strategy? Use all 30! I’ve heard differing opinions here and have experimented with using less hashtags in the past, but 28-30 seems to be the sweet spot for me.
Vary your hashtags
Next up – try varying your hashtags. My posts seem to perform better when I vary my hashtags. I’ve noticed that using the same set of hashtags on every post does not yield strong results. Instead, I try to shuffle around and recycle hashtags that work well for me. I vary the order in which I use my hashtags, but really try to steer clear of using the same hashtag at all in back-to-back posts.
Psst… I’ve got a secret to share. Take this with a grain of salt, but I’ve even heard that Instagram occasionally shadow-bans people when they repeatedly use the same hashtags. Either way, I like to use different hashtags on all of my posts. My reasoning is that if I am trying to reach new people whenever I do post, I need to switch up my hashtags!
Add your hashtag set immediately after posting your content
Another great tip is to try adding hashtags immediately after you content is shared. If you wait to add your hashtags until long after your post is live, it is likely your post won’t be seen. This is because posts can be easily buried in tags that have millions of users tagging them at once. If you’re using a hashtag with 1M+ posts, and you don’t add it in until 10 minutes after your post goes live, chances are that many users have also shared posts and yours will now be at the bottom of the pile. Try adding your hashtags IMMEDIATELY for maximum exposure!
Consider how many people are using each tag
Next, consider how many people are using each tag when you post. When you use really popular hashtags (500K+, 1M+), you run the risk that your post will be buried along the million other posts in that category! Try varying your tags with some under 100k posts and some with less than 10k posts and see how your hashtags perform!
Keep your tags relevant to your content
When creating a post, you should tailor your hashtags CAREFULLY to your content. Instagram can sniff out when tags aren’t relevant to the content you are sharing. And, you are missing out on those who might’ve been searching specifically for an influencer who specializes in that subject. For example, a some good relevant hashtags for this post would be #tipsfornewbloggers #hashtagstrategy #instagramtipsandtricks.
Use tools to help you generate hashtags
Next up – try using different tools and resources to help you generate your hashtags. One of my favorite websites EVER is displaypurposes.com. I use this tool ALL the FREAKIN’ TIME to help me generate each hashtag used for my posts.
When I use Display Purposes, I switch to manual mode as it allows me to select my own hashtags from the pre-populated lists that appear. In this example, I entered #instagramstrategy and #floridablogger. Once I input those terms, I received a HUGE list of hashtag options (beyond what you can see here).
Another thing I love about Display Purposes is that it also tells you how relevant the hashtag is and what the popularity of the tag is. Using this data will help you gauge whether or not you want to use the tag. I typically play around with different tags here, usually typing in about 5-7 terms and building out my 30 hashtags from there for each post!
Add your tags in the comments
Last but not least – try adding your hashtag set in the comments instead of the caption. This tip isn’t necessarily a way to drive more traffic to your content, but rather to keep your captions and content aesthetically pleasing. I personally prefer to add my tags in as the first comment on any new post. I do this instead of including them in the caption as I believe it just looks cleaner. On my Instagram, I also share a lot of longer-form captions. A hashtag set would take up valuable space and characters from those captions, so they are better left for the comments! Placing your tags in the caption or comments does not have any weight on the post’s performance.
Examples of hashtags from real posts
To wrap up here, I thought it might be helpful to include some hashtags and five recent posts that performed strongly based on hashtags. Feel free to use any of the tags below! You can always go on my profile and scroll the comments to see the tags I use. If it helps you, feel free to grab some and use them!
Post 1:
Hashtag set 1:
#beachystyle #floridastyle #tiedyedress #beachyhair #beachywaves #whatiwore #tiedyefashion #floridablogger #bohofashion #floridaliving #beachinspo #beachlife #beachvibes #summervibes #beachcoverup #beachlover #bestofthesunshinestate #beachdestination #beachdress #resortwear #beachlifestyle #beachblogger #whitepurse #clearwaterbeach #lovefl #floridabeaches #stpetebeach #beachwaves
Post 2:
Hashtag set 2:
#fortdesoto #fortdesotobeach #floridabeaches #fortdesotopark #gulfofmexico #fortdesotoflorida #stpetersburgflorida #tampabay #tiedyesweatshirt #tiedyefashion #tiedyehoodie #tiedyesweats #tiedyeset #blacksunglasses #nosering #nosepiercing #beachphotoshoot #beachphotography #photoshootpose #portraitphotography #outdoorphotography #photoshootideas #growyouraudience #buildyourbusiness #monetizeyourplatform #instagramtips #entrepreneurlife #growthhacks
Post 3:
Hashtag set 3:
#fashionpass #discoverunder5k #whatiwore #casualoutfit #casualstyle #lookoftheday #outfitideas #styledbyme #whatiworetoday #howtostyle #floridalife #southernblogger #microinfluencer #floridainfluencer #affordablefashion #miamiblogger #tampablogger #blondegirl #pinkdress #beachliving #beachlife #beachlifestyle #coastalliving #instagramtips #marketingstrategy #marketingtips #digitalmarketing#orlandoblogger
Post 4:
Hashtag set 4:
#floridabackyard #backyarddesign #backyardgarden #backyardgoals #backyardoasis #backyardpatio #backyardbbq #chaiselounge #beachtowel #beachtowels #beachpants #summerstyles #aldifinds #aldiumbrella #dailyvitamins #screentime #screentimelimits #computersetup #workfromhomelife
Post 5:
Hashtag set 5:
#connectingcreativecuties #curateyourownfeed#influencermarketingtips #influencertips #businessblogger#tipsforblogging #businessbloggingtips #bloggingtipsandtricks #discoverunder100k #instagramstrategy #creativesofinstagram #pursuewhatislovely #herestothecreatives #creativityeveryday #colorfulcontentcreators #ihavethisthingwithcolor #fpme #rainbowfeed #rainbowfeeds #colorfulblogger #muralstagram #muralsoftheworld #ihavethisthingwithpurple #sequindress #stpeteart #stpetecommunity #stpeteart #visitstpetersburg #visitstpeteclearwater #visittampabaymeetings
Will you use any of these hashtags moving forward? I hope these tips help you to reach new audiences! Feel free to share any tips of tricks that have made a difference for you below!
Are you a new blogger or content creator looking for more resources? Check out these recent posts:
- Boost Your Engagement on Instagram Stories
- Grow Your Following
- Negotiate with Brands
- How to Find and Pitch Brand Contacts
- Pitching Techniques: How to Land the Perfect Pitch Every Time
- How I Build My Content Calendar
- 9 Blogging Essentials You Need
- How to Maintain Relationships with Brands
- Pitching to PR Contacts (+ How To Find Them)
- Boost Your Instagram Story Engagement
- Pitching to Brands as an Influencer (+ real email templates that I actually sent!)
- The Tea on Instagram Giveaways
- Influencer Marketing Platforms to Help You Make Money
