Instagram Hashtag Strategy: How to Find the Best Hashtags

Hashtags have become a cornerstone of Instagram marketing, allowing users to discover content, brands, and influencers. When used strategically, hashtags can increase your visibility, engagement, and follower growth. However, with millions of posts tagged every day, it’s essential to understand how to choose the right hashtags for your brand and goals.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a powerful Instagram hashtag strategy that will help your posts reach the right audience and drive engagement.

Why Hashtags Matter on Instagram

Hashtags play a critical role in making your content discoverable on Instagram. By including relevant hashtags, you can:

• Increase visibility: Hashtags help your content appear in search results, Explore pages, and hashtag feeds.
• Reach a targeted audience: Using specific hashtags can attract people who are genuinely interested in your content, whether it’s related to your niche, industry, or location.
• Boost engagement: Posts with hashtags receive more engagement than those without, as they are exposed to a wider and more relevant audience.
• Grow your followers: The right hashtags can bring new followers to your profile who are interested in your content and brand.

Types of Hashtags to Use on Instagram

There are several types of hashtags you can incorporate into your posts, and each serves a different purpose. A well-rounded hashtag strategy combines these types for maximum impact:

1. Branded Hashtags: These are unique hashtags that are specific to your brand, product, or campaign. Branded hashtags help create a community around your brand and allow users to find all content related to your business. For example, Nike uses #JustDoIt to promote its products and brand identity.
2. Industry Hashtags: These hashtags are related to your industry or niche and help you connect with other professionals or businesses in your field. Using industry hashtags positions you as a thought leader or expert within your niche.
3. Location Hashtags: If you have a local business or are targeting a specific geographic area, location-based hashtags can help you reach potential customers in your area. For example, #NYC for a business in New York or #LARestaurants for food-related businesses in Los Angeles.
4. Trending Hashtags: Trending hashtags are those that are currently popular and widely used. These hashtags often relate to current events, news, or viral topics. Using trending hashtags can help you capitalize on a larger conversation, though the content must be relevant to the trend.
5. Content-Specific Hashtags: These hashtags describe the content of your post, such as #fashion, #fitness, or #food. Content-specific hashtags help users find posts based on their interests, leading to a more engaged audience.
6. Community Hashtags: Community hashtags connect people with similar interests, hobbies, or causes. Examples include #Foodies, #TravelAddict, or #FitFam. Using these hashtags helps you engage with like-minded individuals and grow your community.

How to Find the Best Hashtags for Your Brand

Now that you understand the types of hashtags let’s dive into the methods for finding the best hashtags for your Instagram posts.

1. Research Your Competitors and Industry Leaders

One of the easiest ways to find relevant hashtags is by looking at what your competitors or industry leaders are using. Analyze their posts and take note of the hashtags they frequently use. This can give you insight into what’s working in your niche and what’s resonating with your target audience.

Action Steps:

• Check the top-performing posts from competitors and influencers in your industry.
• Make a list of common hashtags they use in their captions and explore them to see if they’re relevant to your brand.

2. Use Instagram’s Search Function

Instagram’s search bar allows you to find hashtags based on keywords related to your industry, product, or service. Start by typing a broad keyword, and Instagram will suggest related hashtags. This can help you discover hashtags that you may not have thought of.

Action Steps:

• In Instagram’s search bar, type keywords related to your brand or content.
• Click on the “Tags” tab to see a list of relevant hashtags along with the number of posts using each hashtag.
• Explore these hashtags to determine if they are a good fit for your brand and goals.

3. Analyze Hashtag Performance with Instagram Insights

If you have a business or creator account, Instagram provides detailed analytics that shows how your hashtags are performing. Instagram Insights tracks the reach, impressions, and engagement generated by each hashtag so you can identify which ones are driving the most traffic and engagement.

Action Steps:

• Go to your Instagram business profile and review your post performance in Instagram Insights.
• Check which hashtags led to the most reach and engagement for past posts.
• Experiment with different hashtag combinations and monitor how they perform over time.

4. Use Hashtag Research Tools

There are several online tools and apps available to help you discover the best hashtags for your posts. These tools provide detailed insights into the performance of specific hashtags, including their popularity, competition, and engagement potential.

Popular Hashtag Research Tools:

• Hashtagify: Provides hashtag trends, performance data, and related hashtags.
• RiteTag: Suggests hashtags based on your content and provides real-time performance analytics.
• All Hashtags: A hashtag generator tool that provides popular and relevant hashtags based on your search.
• Ingramer: Offers hashtag recommendations based on your niche and Instagram profile analysis.

These tools can save time and help you find hashtags that have the potential to increase engagement.

5. Analyze Your Audience’s Hashtags

Take the time to understand what hashtags your followers are using. Analyzing the hashtags your audience engages with can help you tailor your content to their interests. By using the same hashtags that your followers are using, you can make your posts more relevant and increase engagement.

Action Steps:

• Monitor the hashtags your followers use in their posts.
• Follow your followers and interact with their content to gain insight into the types of hashtags they prefer.
• Use these hashtags in your posts to build a deeper connection with your audience.

Tips for Creating a Strong Hashtag Strategy

• Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags: While popular hashtags give you the potential for high visibility, niche hashtags can help you reach a more targeted audience. A mix of both will increase your chances of being discovered by the right people.
• Use the Maximum Number of Hashtags: Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags per post. While you don’t need to use all 30, aim to use a combination of relevant hashtags to maximize your reach.
• Don’t Overuse the Same Hashtags: Reusing the same hashtags in every post can appear spammy. Keep your hashtag sets varied to avoid being flagged as repetitive or irrelevant.
• Create a Branded Hashtag: Encourage your followers to use a unique branded hashtag when posting about your product or service. This can help create a community around your brand and make it easier for you to find user-generated content.

Final Thoughts

Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing your Instagram visibility and engagement. By using the right combination of hashtags—whether industry-related, trending, or community-based—you can attract a relevant audience and boost your content’s reach. Remember to do your research, track your results, and experiment with different hashtag strategies to see what works best for your brand.

With a thoughtful Instagram hashtag strategy in place, you can create content that resonates with your target audience and builds a stronger, more engaged community.