Unlocking the Hidden Secrets of Instagram Hashtags – Comprehensive Guide to Professional Hashtagging
February 1, 2023 By: Ellen BartolinoInstagram hashtags are a powerful tool for expanding the reach of your posts and connecting with a wider audience. Hashtags are keywords or phrases that start with the “#” symbol, and when clicked on, they lead users to a collection of public posts that include that same hashtag. As an expert in the field of Instagram, I’ve been using hashtags for over 10 years, and I’ve seen firsthand the impact they can have on your account.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hashtags and how to use them effectively. From uncovering the most popular hashtags to finding the best hashtags for your specific niche, I’ll share all of my insider tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Instagram account.
II. Top Instagram Hashtags and How to Use Them
A. Discover the Power of Product or Service Hashtags
Hashtags related to the product or service you offer can help you reach a wider audience. For example, if you’re a bakery, you might use hashtags like #bakery, #bakedgoods, or #pastrylove. If you’re a clothing brand, you might use hashtags like #fashion, #style, or #apparel. The key here is to think about the keywords that people might use to search for your products or services and use those hashtags in your posts.
B. Uncover Niche Hashtags for Maximum Reach
Niche hashtags are specific hashtags that relate to your specific industry or area of expertise. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer, you might use hashtags like #weddingphotography, #brideandgroom, or #justmarried. These hashtags help you connect with other users who are interested in your specific niche, which can lead to more engagement and followers.
C. Join Industry Communities With Community Hashtags
Community hashtags are hashtags that bring together people with a shared interest. For example, if you’re a yoga instructor, you might use hashtags like #yogaeverydamnday, #yogainspiration, or #yogalove. By using these hashtags, you can connect with other yoga enthusiasts and be a part of a larger community.
D. Leverage Special Event or Seasonal Hashtags
Special event or seasonal hashtags can help you reach a wider audience during specific times of the year. For example, if you’re a fashion blogger, you might use hashtags like #NYFW (New York Fashion Week) or #fallfashion during the fall. These hashtags can help you reach users who are interested in the latest fashion trends and events.
E. Localize Your Content With Location Hashtags
Location hashtags can help you reach a local audience and connect with other users who are interested in your specific area. For example, if you’re a restaurant in San Francisco, you might use hashtags like #sfrestaurants, #sanfranciscoeats, or #bayareafoodie.
F. Keep Up with the Latest Trends Using Daily Hashtags
Daily hashtags are hashtags that change every day, and they’re a great way to keep up with the latest trends and reach a wider audience. For example, some popular daily hashtags include #TBT (Throwback Thursday) and #MotivationMonday.
G. Connect With Relevant Phrase Hashtags
Phrase hashtags, or multi-word hashtags, can be very powerful for connecting with your target audience on Instagram. These hashtags help you describe your content in more detail and make it easier for users to find you. When using phrase hashtags, it’s important to use terms that are relevant to your content, as well as terms that your target audience is searching for.
Examples of quality phrase hashtags for different niches include:
- Beauty and skincare hashtags:
- #SkincareRoutine
- #BeautyTips
- #GlowingSkin
- #SkincareJunkie
- #SkinCareGoals
- #BeautyBlogger
- #SkincareProducts
- #SkincareLovers
- #BeautyGuru
- #SkincareAddict
- Fitness and health hashtags:
- #HealthyLiving
- #FitnessMotivation
- #WorkoutRoutine
- #FitFam
- #HealthyEats
- #FitnessJourney
- #WorkoutGoals
- #FitLife
- #HealthyLifestyle
- #FitnessFreak
- Travel hashtags:
- #TravelGoals
- #Wanderlust
- #TravelTheWorld
- #TravelPics
- #AdventureSeeker
- #TravelLovers
- #ExploreMore
- #Travelgram
- #GlobeTrotter
- #TravelAddict
By including relevant phrase hashtags in your posts, you can connect with your target audience and increase the chances of your content being discovered. So take the time to research and choose the best phrase hashtags for your niche.
H. Get Creative With Acronym Hashtags
Another way to make your Instagram posts stand out is to use acronym hashtags. These hashtags use letters to spell out a word or phrase. For example, #TBT (Throwback Thursday) is a popular acronym hashtag used by people to share memories from the past.
Acronym hashtags are a fun and creative way to connect with other users on Instagram and add a personal touch to your posts. Here are ten examples of quality acronym hashtags for different niches:
- Fitness: #FITFAM #FITNESSGOALS #GYMLIFE #HEALTHYHABITS #MOTIVATIONMONDAY
- Fashion: #OOTD #WIWT #STREETSTYLE #FASHIONBLOGGER #FASHIONDIARY
- Food: #FOODPORN #FOODIE #FOODSTAGRAM #EATCLEAN #YUM
- Travel: #WANDERLUST #TRAVELBUG #TRAVELGRAM #INSTATRAVEL #TRAVELGOALS
- Beauty: #BEAUTYBLOGGER #MAKEUPADDICT #BEAUTYGRAM #GLAM #SELFCARE
- Technology: #TECHNOLOGY #TECH #INNOVATION #DIGITAL #TECHNEWS
- Art: #ART #ARTIST #CREATIVE #DESIGN #ILLUSTRATION
- Music: #MUSICLOVER #MUSIC #MUSICIAN #LIVEMUSIC #MUSICFESTIVAL
- Photography: #PHOTOGRAPHY #PHOTO #PHOTOGRAM #PHOTOGRAPHER #PHOTOOFTHEDAY
- Pet: #PETSOFINSTAGRAM #PETLOVERS #PUPPYLOVE #CATSOFINSTAGRAM #DOGSOFINSTAGRAM
By incorporating acronym hashtags into your posts, you can add a playful and creative touch to your content while also reaching a larger audience. Try experimenting with different acronym hashtags to see what resonates with your audience.
Have Fun With Emoji Hashtags!
Emoji hashtags are a creative and fun way to reach a new audience and connect with like-minded people on Instagram. Emoji hashtags are simply hashtags made up of one or more emojis, like 🍔🍟 or 💄👠. To use emoji hashtags, simply type the emojis into the hashtag section of your post and add any other hashtags you want to use.
Here are ten quality emoji hashtags to get you started in various niches:
- 🚗💨 for car enthusiasts
- 💪🏋️♂️ for fitness enthusiasts
- 📸🌄 for photography enthusiasts
- 💇♀️💄 for beauty enthusiasts
- 🍕🍔 for foodies
- 🌴☀️ for travelers
- 🎨🎬 for artists
- 🎶🎤 for musicians
- 💻🎮 for gamers
- 📚📖 for book lovers
Optimizing Your Instagram Posts with Effective Hashtag Strategies
Now that you know the various types of hashtags and how to use them, it’s time to focus on optimizing your Instagram posts for maximum engagement. Here are a few effective strategies to consider:
Monitor Insights to Find Out Which Tags Perform Best
Instagram’s built-in insights tool can help you determine which hashtags are driving the most engagement on your posts. Simply go to your profile and click on the post you want to analyze. Then click on “View Insights” and scroll down to “Discover” to see which hashtags are performing the best. This information can help you optimize your hashtag strategy for future posts.
Utilize Instagram Stories to Take Advantage of Additional Tags
Instagram Stories allow you to use up to ten hashtags in a single post, whereas you’re only allowed to use 30 hashtags in a regular post. This makes Instagram Stories a great place to try out new hashtags and see which ones are driving the most engagement.
Avoid Banned, Spammy, or Irrelevant Tags
It’s important to avoid using banned, spammy, or irrelevant hashtags on your Instagram posts. Not only can this decrease your engagement, but it can also get your account banned by Instagram.
Understand How Individual Hashtag Pages Work
Individual hashtag pages are pages dedicated to a specific hashtag on Instagram. When you click on a hashtag, you’ll be taken to its individual page, which is a collection of all the posts that use that hashtag. Understanding how individual hashtag pages work can help you optimize your hashtag strategy and reach a wider audience.
Don’t Overuse Repetitive Tags
Overusing the same hashtags on every post can come across as spammy and decrease your engagement. Mix up your hashtags and use a variety of different tags to reach a wider audience.
Make Sure You Know What a Tag Really Means
Before you start using a hashtag, make sure you know what it means and that it’s relevant to your post. For example, if you’re posting a picture of your cat, don’t use the hashtag #marketing, as it’s not relevant to your post.
IV. Optimizing Your Instagram Posts with Effective Hashtag Strategies
G. Save Time by Saving Popular and Relevant Tags For Future Use
One of the most efficient ways to streamline your hashtag use on Instagram is to save your most popular and relevant hashtags for future use. This way, you can easily copy and paste your saved hashtags into your posts without having to spend time searching for new ones.
To save hashtags, you can simply copy and paste them into a notepad or document on your computer. Another option is to save them directly within the Instagram app by creating a collection of hashtags. This can be done by going to the “Discover” page, searching for a hashtag, and then tapping and holding on it. From there, you can add it to an existing collection or create a new one.
Saving popular and relevant hashtags for future use is a great way to save time, ensure consistency in your hashtag use, and ensure that you’re always using the most effective tags for your content.
V. Most Popular Instagram Hashtags in 2023
A. Discover The 100 Most Popular Instagram Tags
In 2023, Instagram has 100 of the most popular hashtags that you can use to increase your reach and engagement. Some of the most popular hashtags of 2023 include:
- #love
- #instagood
- #photooftheday
- #beautiful
- #happy
- #fashion
- #art
- #nature
- #picoftheday
- #food
These popular hashtags are a great place to start when optimizing your posts for maximum engagement. By using these hashtags, you can reach a large and diverse audience and increase the chances of your content being seen and shared.
B. Get More Likes and Followers with These Handy Tags
In addition to the most popular Instagram hashtags, there are also hashtags that can help you get more likes and followers. These hashtags include:
- #followforfollow
- #likeforlike
- #instafollow
- #instalike
- #likesforlikes
- #followers
- #followback
- #likeback
- #likes
- #follower
Using these hashtags can help you increase your visibility and reach on Instagram, leading to more likes, comments, and followers.
C. Showcase Your Love for Pets Using Pet Lover-Specific Tags
If you’re a pet lover, you can showcase your love for your furry friends using pet-specific hashtags. Some popular pet hashtags include:
- #pets
- #petsofinstagram
- #dogsofinstagram
- #catsofinstagram
- #cute
- #love
- #animal
- #dog
- #cat
- #petstagram
Using these hashtags can help you connect with other pet lovers on Instagram and increase the chances of your pet-related content being seen.
D. Share Your Travel Experiences with Travel Lover-Friendly Tags
If you love to travel, you can share your experiences and connect with other travel lovers using travel-specific hashtags. Some popular travel hashtags include:
- #travel
- #traveling
- #travelling
- #vacation
- #holiday
- #travelgram
- #trip
- #adventure
- #explore
V. Most Popular Instagram Hashtags in 2023
E. Stay On Trend in the Fashion Industry with These Tags
- #fashion
- #style
- #fashionista
- #fashionstyle
- #fashiongram
- #fashionable
- #fashiondesigner
- #fashionblogger
- #fashiondaily
- #fashionweek
F. Get Fit Faster with Fitness Influencer-Recommended Tags
- #fitness
- #fit
- #workout
- #gym
- #fitnessmotivation
- #fitfam
- #health
- #exercise
- #fitlife
- #fitnessmodel
G. Promote Contests and Giveaways Through These Specialty Tags
- #giveaway
- #contest
- #win
- #competition
- #free
- #enter
- #chance
- #participate
- #prize
- #gift
H. Take Advantage Of Reels With These Recommended Reel-Specific tags
- #reel
- #reels
- #instareel
- #reelitfeelit
- #reellife
- #reelvideo
- #reelcontent
- #reelpost
- #reelfeatures
- #reeltime
I. Satisfy Taste Buds Everywhere With Foodie-Approved tags
- #food
- #foodie
- #yum
- #delicious
- #eat
- #foodporn
- #hungry
- #instafood
- #tasty
- #foodstagram
VI. The Purpose and Benefits of Using Instagram Hashtags
Instagram hashtags serve multiple purposes and provide several benefits. By using relevant hashtags, you increase your visibility, reach a wider audience, and drive more engagement. The more hashtags you use, the more likely you are to be discovered by people who are searching for content similar to yours. By using a combination of popular and niche hashtags, you can attract new followers, increase your brand recognition, and grow your business.
VII. Don’t Always Use The Most Popular Instagram Hashtags
Although popular hashtags have the potential to reach a large audience, they also have a lot of competition. Using only the most popular hashtags can result in your content getting lost in the crowd, and therefore not getting seen. To maximize your exposure, use a combination of popular and niche hashtags that are specific to your niche, brand, and content. This way, you can increase your visibility, reach a more targeted audience, and drive more engagement.
VIII. Keep Track of Trending Hashtags
Trending hashtags are constantly changing, so it’s important to keep track of what’s popular and what’s not. You can use tools like Hootsuite to see what hashtags are trending, and also monitor your insights to see which hashtags are driving the most engagement. By staying up-to-date on trending hashtags, you can optimize your hashtag strategy and reach a wider audience.
IX. You Can Now Follow Any Hashtag
In 2021, Instagram introduced the ability to follow hashtags. This means that you can now follow any hashtag that interests you and see a feed of content that has been tagged with that hashtag. This is a great way to discover new content, connect with others in your niche, and stay on top of the latest trends. To start following a hashtag, simply search for the hashtag you’re interested in and tap the “Follow” button.
X. Maximize Your Influencer Marketing Efforts with Strategic Hashtag Usage
If you’re looking to maximize the impact of your influencer marketing efforts, using hashtags is a must. There are a few key strategies you can use to ensure that your campaigns are as effective as possible.
A. Utilize the Influencer Recruitment Strategy Playbook for 2023
There are a number of different approaches to recruiting influencers, and each will have different results. In order to maximize your chances of success, it’s important to be familiar with the different options and to understand which will be best for your particular needs.
One approach that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the influencer recruitment strategy playbook. This is a comprehensive guide that provides detailed information on the best practices for recruiting and working with influencers. By following the guidelines and recommendations in this playbook, you can increase your chances of success and ensure that your influencer marketing campaigns are as effective as possible.
B. Measure the ROI of Your Social Media Campaigns
Another important aspect of maximizing the impact of your influencer marketing efforts is measuring the return on investment (ROI) of your campaigns. This means tracking the impact that your campaigns are having on your business goals, such as increased sales or increased brand awareness.
There are a number of different tools and metrics that you can use to measure the ROI of your social media campaigns, including social media analytics platforms and ROI calculators. By using these tools and regularly monitoring the performance of your campaigns, you can make informed decisions about which strategies are working best and which areas need improvement.
C. Expand into Social Commerce Easily
One of the biggest benefits of influencer marketing is the ability to reach a large, engaged audience and drive sales. By partnering with influencers who are passionate about your brand and products, you can tap into the power of social commerce and expand your reach in a natural and effective way.
D. Elevate Brand Awareness Through Social Customer Care
Influencer marketing can also be a valuable tool for building brand awareness and establishing a positive reputation in the minds of your target audience. By partnering with influencers who are respected and trusted by their followers, you can build trust and credibility with your target audience, and drive increased brand awareness over time.
E. Learn From Other Brands on Social Media
Finally, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in influencer marketing. By following other brands and influencers on social media, attending industry events and conferences, and reading industry blogs and publications, you can stay ahead of the curve and continue to improve your influencer marketing efforts over time.
F. Connect With Targeted Audiences Across Platforms
In order to reach your target audience effectively, it’s important to connect with them on the platforms where they spend the most time. By using a combination of social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, you can build a comprehensive, multi-channel marketing strategy that will reach your target audience wherever they are.
G. Support Users through Authentic Engagement
Finally, one of the keys to successful influencer marketing is building authentic, meaningful relationships with your target audience. This means actively engaging with your followers, responding to their comments and questions, and providing them with valuable content and resources that they will find helpful.
By following these best practices and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the influencer marketing world, you can maximize the impact of your campaigns and drive real results for your business.
XI. Frequently Asked Questions About Using Hashtags on Instagram
A. What are the Most Popular Instagram Hashtags?
The most popular Instagram hashtags can vary depending on the time, current events, or trends, but some of the most used tags include #love, #instagood, #photooftheday, #beautiful, and #fashion. It’s always a good idea to include a mix of popular and niche hashtags to reach a wider audience.
B. What Hashtags are Trending on Instagram Right Now?
You can easily find the trending hashtags on Instagram by checking the “Explore” section or by searching for a keyword related to your post. To stay up-to-date with the latest trends, you can also use social media monitoring tools such as Hootsuite or Brand24.
C. How Can I Find the Most Effective Hashtags?
To find the most effective hashtags, you can analyze your competitors’ strategies, see what your audience is already using, utilize Instagram’s related hashtag feature, create a branded tag, or harness Hootsuite’s powerful hashtag generator. You can also monitor your Insights to see which tags perform best for your account.
D. What Kinds of Content Gets the Most Attention?
Visual content, such as photos and videos, tend to get the most attention on Instagram. But, it’s not just about having high-quality visuals, it’s also about the story you’re telling, the hashtags you’re using, and the time you post. By combining all of these elements, you can increase your chances of getting more engagement on your posts.
E. What Does the Hashtag Sign Look Like?
The hashtag sign looks like the symbol “#”. To use a hashtag on Instagram, simply add the symbol before a keyword or phrase without any spaces. For example, if you want to use the hashtag #travel, you would write #travel in your post.
F. Which Hashtags Will Help Me Gain More Followers?
To gain more followers on Instagram, it’s important to use a mix of popular and niche hashtags that are relevant to your content and target audience. You can also join industry communities with community hashtags, leverage special event or seasonal hashtags, and get creative with acronym hashtags. By using these strategies, you can increase your visibility and reach a wider audience on Instagram.
G. How Do I Save Time When Creating Posts?
To save time when creating posts on Instagram, you can save popular and relevant hashtags for future use. You can also utilize a tool such as Hootsuite to manage multiple social media accounts and schedule posts in advance. This can help you save time and stay organized while maximizing your Instagram presence.
XIII. The Top 20 Influencers to Follow on Instagram in 2023
- Kylie Jenner
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ariana Grande
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
- Kim Kardashian
- Neymar
- Selena Gomez
- Taylor Swift
- Lionel Messi
- Beyonce
- Justin Bieber
- Katy Perry
- Rihanna
- David Beckham
- Nicki Minaj
- Drake
- Shaquille O’Neal
- LeBron James
- Kevin Hart
- Ellen DeGeneres
XIV. Unlocking the Value of Strategically Using Hashtags on Instagram
In conclusion, using hashtags on Instagram is a powerful tool to reach a wider audience, connect with communities, and increase engagement on your posts. By understanding the different types of hashtags and utilizing them effectively, you can unlock the full potential of your Instagram marketing efforts. Whether you’re a small business, influencer, or just looking to grow your personal brand, hashtags are a must-have in your strategy.
Remember to stay on top of trends, analyze your competitors and audience, and continuously monitor your results to ensure that you’re using the best hashtags for maximum engagement. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to unlock the value of Instagram hashtags and take your presence on the platform to new heights. Happy hashtagging!
Author Bio
Ellen Bartolino
Ellen is a seasoned author and communication expert, with a particular focus on Instagram. Her extensive knowledge of the platform has allowed her to create engaging and effective content for businesses and individuals alike. Ellen has a proven track record of crafting compelling Instagram captions and influencer marketing.