The Best Hashtag for You

When posting on Instagram®, you need to get familiar with hashtags and how to use them, so your post can reach as many people as possible.

If you don't accompany your carefully curated post with a hashtag, you're limiting its exposure to those that currently follow you.

According to Fohr, a post with at least one hashtag averages 12.6% more engagement than a post without.

Simply, using hashtags on Instagram® is the best way to get discovered by new audiences and contribute to online discussions about specific issues.

Let's take a look at three tips you can utilize to find the right hashtag for you. 

Include Hashtags That Your Audience Is Following

Did you know that you can follow hashtags on Instagram®? It's a fantastic way of tailoring your feed to things that interest you.

People who follow hashtags see the top posts that have been posted with that specific tag, as it acts like a directory of all the photos and videos within that particular niche. 

So if you know that your audience follows hashtags of #VeganCakes, you need to make sure you use the relevant tag within your posts.

Not only will this direct new people to your account, but it also offers a description of what you're posting, so you need to make sure your hashtags are relevant to what you're posting. 

Be Careful Your Hashtag Doesn't Overshadow Your Post

Although hashtags can get your content in front of potential clients, you need to be smart about how you use them on Instagram®.

If your hashtag isn't specific enough, it's likely to get lost in amongst all of the other posts that are circulating at the same time. 

What's more, if you use too many hashtags, they will drown out your post's message, and it won't be clear to your followers what the intention of your post is.

Getting hashtags right requires a bit of research, so don't be tempted just to flood every post with tags that aren't relevant to your niche, as they will simply overshadow the content you're posting. 

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Make Sure Your Hashtag Is Relevant to Your Product or Service

While it might seem obvious to say so, you should only use hashtags that are relevant to your product, service, or business more generally.

Just because you see a particular hashtag trending, you shouldn't be tempted to include it in your post if it has no relevance to your product or service. 

Many small businesses effectively utilize community or branded hashtags that are specific to their community or brand.

Encouraging your followers to post using branded hashtags is a super-effective way of increasing your brand awareness and giving people trust and faith in your company.

By carefully selecting hashtags for your posts on Instagram®, you expand their reach and potential engagement, meaning that you can ultimately increase the business opportunities you generate through social media.