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Hashtags on Instagram are an essential part of the social network. They can assist in expanding your audience, fostering high-quality engagement, and ultimately enhancing your brand’s visibility. With the latest Instagram features, hashtags can especially enable sales on the platform. However, to reap these benefits, it’s crucial to have the right strategy and, most importantly, the best Instagram hashtags.
For brands, hashtags represent a facet of Instagram marketing that can sometimes be perplexing. Initially, it’s challenging to identify existing trends and formats. Moreover, hashtag strategies need to be tailored, presenting additional hurdles for e-commerce businesses looking to invest in Instagram.
Today, we’ll explain how to create an effective hashtag strategy for your Instagram account. This includes delving into hashtag research, determining the types of hashtags that align with your e-commerce objectives, and establishing personalized hashtag strategies to implement.
What is an Instagram hashtag?
A hashtag is a keyword preceded by the pound symbol (#). Hashtags are used on social media to categorize content. Their usage is particularly prevalent on Instagram, where they structure the entire platform and act as drivers for growing your community.
The right # (hashtag) on Instagram allows you to highlight a post, a marketing campaign, or a trend.
How do hashtags work on Instagram?
Hashtags on Instagram are used to categorize content to make it discoverable. They are associated with posts and become clickable phrases and topics. Any word or phrase can be turned into a functional hashtag as long as it is preceded by the pound symbol #. (Note: for more information on how to form a hashtag, refer to our other guide on the topic: Hashtags: A Guide for E-commerce and Social Media.)
When a user clicks on a hashtag, they are redirected to a page that displays all public content associated with that hashtag. To find content on Instagram, users can click on hashtags or search using Instagram’s search engine.
Since the use of hashtags is centered around discovering content, the best Instagram hashtag can help you reach your target audience, even users who have never interacted with your brand before. Recognizing their significance on the platform, Instagram has expanded the functional aspect of hashtags.
Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels also feature a hashtag sticker that users can click to be redirected to corresponding content.
Users can also follow hashtags they’re interested in to ensure that content from those hashtags regularly appears on their own feed.
Lastly, hashtags can also be smartly used in your Instagram advertising campaigns.
However, the crucial point to understand in choosing your Instagram hashtags is that they represent the primary means of communication with the Instagram algorithm. The hashtags you use enable the algorithm to understand who you are and what you offer. And on a social network that operates mainly on content recommendation, this is rather crucial.
Recommended reading: How to get 10,000 Instagram followers – 10 essential tips
Which hashtags to use to reach my audience?
It’s crucial to know which terms to use to develop a strong strategy for popular hashtags on Instagram, capable of maximizing your reach and increasing engagement.
Firstly, it’s about selecting relevant hashtag categories based on the objective of your post. There are different types of hashtags, each serving its purpose.
Brand Hashtags
Your brand hashtag, exclusive to your online store, should be included in your Instagram profile’s biography. Its use can help increase brand awareness and encourage user-generated content sharing. Examples of brand hashtags include #petitemendigote from the Petite Mendigote brand.
You can also create exclusive hashtags that help build a community, allowing members to identify themselves, such as #wellafamily or #reccbabes.
Location-based Hashtags
While not applicable to all e-commerce merchants, if you sell products that can appeal to local audiences, use them to your advantage. For instance, if you sell cups or other souvenir items with different French city names, use hashtags like #paris or #lyon to reach the right audience.
Location-based hashtags are also perfect for promoting your marketing events: trade shows, pop-up shops, parties, tours… whether you’re an organizer or participant, don’t hesitate to engage local populations to expand your audience.
Entertainment Hashtags
These hashtags aren’t meant to grow your audience but to develop your relationship with your existing audience. They’re not directly related to the brand itself but often tailored for the situation described in the post. For instance, fashion brands use the hashtag #springbeforespring right after the end of sales to draw attention to new collections.
Popular (Mass Appeal) Hashtags
These are generally general hashtags usable for almost all types of posts. They are frequently used, which also means they are often searched and viewed. They can significantly boost the reach of your posts by making them accessible to established audiences. For example, #NewCollection and #MadeInFrance.
Timely Hashtags
Maybe you want to communicate with your followers in real-time, reminding them it’s good to enjoy a sunny day (#spring) or the Monday morning coffee to kickstart the week (#mondaymotivation). Timely hashtags can be related to holidays, specific times of the year, or even moments of the day. Users appreciate current content and are likely to search for posts related to holidays or certain seasons.
Further read: 5 best practices to increase your sales during the holidays
Trending Hashtags
Hashtags come and go, much like fashion trends. Sometimes, trending hashtags result from massive usage originating from viral content. However, in many cases, these hashtags will be related to current news events.
While this type of popular hashtag can have short-term impact, they won’t yield long-term results. Yet, if used correctly, they can show good performance in terms of reach and engagement. For instance, you can show your brand’s commitment to a highlighted cause by a current event: #blacklivesmatter or #amazonrainforest.
Niche Hashtags
Some products target audiences with specific interests, known as niche audiences. For example, buyers interested in healthy eating might search for terms like #organic or #healthyeating. Use these niche hashtags to reach a targeted audience.
Special Event Hashtags
Sometimes, hashtags act as tags signaling users about events you organize on your online store. Are you about to hold a contest? Hashtags like #contest, #instacontest, and #instagramcontest can help you reach a targeted audience. Similarly, hashtags like #sales and #promotions can help you reach deal-seekers and signal to your followers that you have special offers online. You can also create exclusive hashtags for a marketing campaign.
The effectiveness of each type of hashtag will vary depending on the type of e-commerce site. For instance, an e-commerce site with national or international reach might not see the interest in using location-based hashtags; and B2B merchants with a strictly professional tone might not want to use entertainment hashtags. Choose those that align best with your brand and audience. Also, remember that many French users use hashtags in English. It’s natural for brands to follow suit. The ideal approach is to create a mix of both while checking the relevance of the language each time.
230 best Instagram hashtags by niche
While there might be numerous aspects to consider when using hashtags on Instagram, let’s start with an accessible entry point. Below, you’ll find the best hashtags categorized by niche or category so you can begin crafting your hashtag strategy today.
General Instagram Hashtags to Use
- #photooftheday
- #picoftheday
- #nofilter
- #igersfrance (meaning Instagrammers)
- #love
- #nature
- #instagood
- #instaphoto
- #instaphotos
- #instapic
- #instadaily
- #selfie
- #instamood
- #bestoftheday
- #Paris
- #France
- #Photography
- #photo
- #lifestyle
- #happy
- #friends
Instagram Hashtags for Likes and Followers
- #followme
- #follow4follow
- #followtofollow
- #f4f
- #likeforfollowers
Note: No guarantee on the quality of followers or likes you’ll receive.
Instagram Fashion Hashtags
- #outfitoftheday
- #lookoftheday
- #instastyle
- #fashion
- #outfit
- #outfitoftheday
- #shoppingaddict
- #lookgoodfeelgood
- #instaoutfit
- #outfitdaily
- #styleinspiration
- #fashiongram
- #instafashion
- #ootd
- #ootdfashion
- #fashionista
- #style
- #fashionstyle
- #fashionblogger
- #look
- #model
- #streetstyle
- #streetwear
- #styleblogger
Instagram Food and Gastronomy Hashtags
- #food
- #meal
- #recipe
- #yum
- #delicious
- #smoothie
- #smoothies
- #juice
- #bonappetit
- #balanceddiet
- #healthyeating
- #homemade
- #homemadecooking
- #eatwell
- #eatbetter
- #eatgood
- #eatsmart
- #healthy
- #eathealthy
- #vegetarian
- #glutenfree
- #passionfood
- #healthyrecipe
- #organic
- #vegan
- #glutenfree
Instagram Travel Hashtags
- #travel
- #travelgram
- #traveling
- #worldtraveler
- #vacation
- #travels
- #landscape
- #paradise
- #nature
- #tourism
- #tourist
- #traveler
- #traveling
- #relax
- #passiontravel
- #paradise
- #travel
- #travelphotography
- #trip
- #instatravel
- #dreamtrip
- #familytravel
Instagram Pet Hashtags
- #pets
- #dog
- #dogsofinstagram
- #dogs
- #doglovers
- #happydog
- #dogstagram
- #smalldog
- #puppies
- #mydog
- #mycat
- #kittens
- #cat
- #cats
- #instacat
- #animallovers
- #pets
- #petstagram
- #petsofinstagram
- #puppylove
- #catsofinstagram
- #dogsofinstagram
- #dogstagram
- #doglife
- #catlife
- #instapet
Instagram Tech and Gadgets Hashtags
- #innovation
- #mobile
- #tech
- #technology
- #technologies
- #apple
- #android
- #applevsandroid
- #techie
- #VR
- #virtualreality
- #gadgets
- #gadget
- #latesttech
- #ilovemygadgets
- #gadgetsgalore
- #wearabletech
- #startup
- #geek
- #digital
- #techie
- #frenchtech
- #instatech
- #future
Instagram Sport and Entertainment Hashtags
- #fitness
- #workout
- #exercise
- #fitnessmotivation
- #training
- #strengthtraining
- #sportaddict
- #instafitness
- #fitness
- #instafit
- #gym
- #fitnessaddict
- #cardio
- #nopainnogain
- #trainhard
- #yogainspiration
- #yogalife
- #sport
- #motivation
- #fit
- #healthy
- #nopainnogain
- #running
- #body
Instagram Contest Hashtags
- #contest
- #contestinstagram
- #contestgames
- #contestgame
- #gift
- #gifts
- #raffle
- #winning
- #instagiveaway
- #giveaway
- #instacontest
- #contestentry
- #winit
- #freebie
- #giveaway
- #contest
- #game
- #repost
- #instacontest
Instagram Wedding Hashtags
- #wedding
- #weddingdress
- #bride
- #groom
- #bridesweddings
- #futurebride
- #bohowedding
- #wedding
- #weddingdress
- #weddinghair
- #weddingring
- #weddingmakeup
- #shesaidyes
- #heasked
- #weddingstyle
- #loveislove
How to Find the Best Instagram Hashtags for Your Brand
Hashtag research is a crucial aspect of content publishing on Instagram. It helps identify popular and high-performing hashtags, keeps track of current trending hashtags, and provides new hashtag ideas you might not have considered.
There are several strategies you can employ to search for the best Instagram hashtags for your brand, whether to enhance your current hashtag list or find fresh topics. Let’s review each of these strategies:
Follow Instagram Recommendations
When you type a hashtag into the Instagram search bar, the platform’s algorithm provides you with new suggestions.
Analyze Competitors
Analyzing your competitors’ marketing strategies, including their hashtag strategy, is beneficial. Search for hashtags they repeatedly use, and you’ll likely discover some expressions you can add to your list.
Follow Influencers
Influencers, including micro-influencers, have a dedicated audience, making their hashtag and keyword lists effective. Look at their hashtags and test the ones that seem most relevant.
It’s worth noting that 8 out of 10 users have made purchases based on influencer recommendations, and Instagram is the most influential social media platform for influencer marketing.
Search on Twitter
For real-time hashtag trends, Twitter’s “Trending for You” section provides insights into what people are sharing.
Note that hashtags serve different purposes on Instagram and Twitter. Twitter hashtags are news-focused. Use Twitter for research rather than blindly copying hashtags to Instagram.
Hashtag Research Tools
While the aforementioned methods require manual research, hashtag research tools can provide current Instagram hashtag insights and more established hashtags beneficial for your e-commerce activity.
Here are some hashtag research tools to get you started:
- Sistrix: Offers a free Instagram hashtag generator. Enter a keyword, and Sistrix presents a list of top Instagram hashtags generated by its algorithm, which works across more than 15 billion keywords.
- TagFinder: Another free tool specialized in Instagram hashtags with a French interface. It uses Google Translate for hashtag translations, providing ideas to verify on Instagram before use.
- Keyhole: Covers Instagram hashtag research, providing extensive information about each hashtag, including the number of users who added it to their posts, its reach, impressions, and unique posts containing the hashtag for popularity evaluation against competitors.
- Hashtagify: Shows overall and recent popularity trends of specific hashtags, displaying related terms and hashtags other users include in their posts. You can track a hashtag’s popularity over time, helping decide which terms to eliminate from your list.
- RiteTag: A tool that suggests relevant hashtags based on your text or images. It can be integrated into several social media management tools to offer suggestions when creating posts.
How Many Instagram Hashtags Should I Use?
You can use up to 30 hashtags per Instagram post. However, knowing how many you can use doesn’t determine how many you should use—an important distinction.
Various studies offer different insights. What’s certain is that incorporating a few hashtags in each post is beneficial. According to AgoraPulse, Instagram posts with hashtags receive 70% more likes.
Regarding the recommended number of hashtags, opinions differ. Some marketers suggest focusing on the best hashtag, while others suggest using all 30. Therefore, the ideal number of hashtags for your posts should derive from analyzing your engagement data and conducting tests. Quality over quantity tends to yield better results.
Select hashtags that best reflect your business, using them consistently. Additionally, consider competition for each keyword. Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes fresh content. Search your keyword on Instagram to see the number of associated posts. A hashtag with several million posts might drown your post, whereas one with around 500,000 offers more visibility. A hashtag with 10,000 posts might be interesting for a specific niche. Mix levels of competition for better results.
Should My Instagram Hashtags Be Visible in My Post?
No one wants to read a long (or even short) list of hashtags before accessing content. These blocks of hashtags are visually unattractive and challenging to read.
Therefore, many brands opt to hide hashtags strategically beneath the “more” tag. Some go further by adding extra spaces after the “more” tag to aesthetically separate hashtag blocks from the main description. Others place hashtags in a separate comment—although this might decrease hashtag effectiveness.
The best approach is to ensure hashtags are separated from the description by at least one line and hidden under the “more” tag. This maintains focus on the caption, increasing the likelihood of it being read.
An exception is using one or two hashtags for branding or entertainment purposes. In this case, include them in the first sentence for better visibility. Users are more likely to read them.
While some accounts apply this strategy, there’s no evident reason to use more than one line separation for hashtags. If users click “more,” they shouldn’t have to endlessly scroll to access comments, as this might discourage them from leaving their own comment.
Evaluate Your Instagram Hashtag Strategy
All marketing efforts should be tracked and evaluated whenever possible, and the same applies to hashtag strategies. Assessing the effectiveness of hashtags can be challenging, especially when they’re used in groups. It might be difficult to identify which ones are effective and which aren’t. Fortunately, there are various ways to measure the impact of your strategy.
Firstly, you need to track the growth of your Instagram account. You can do this with Instagram statistics, although many third-party social media management platforms provide more detailed insights.
Look for increases in impressions, reach, and likes on your profile and posts. Particularly, examine statistics related to the discovery of your content. Have you noticed a notable improvement since implementing a new strategy? Ideally, you should observe a monthly increase in performance indicators. If not, try making necessary adjustments.
Additionally, use hashtag research tools to monitor the hashtags you regularly use. Ensure they’re gaining popularity rather than losing it. Tools like Keyhole can help track your branded hashtag’s usage, reach, impressions, and interactions from other profiles with your content. This can help evaluate your branded hashtag’s effectiveness and whether it’s organically growing in popularity.
Third-party tools can also provide data on your hashtag usage and results. Sprout Social, for example, offers comprehensive hashtag statistics, displaying engagement generated by hashtags and their frequency of use.
Further read: Instagram Apps: 24 Best Tools for More Sales and Followers
Instagram Hashtag Tools: Streamline Your Process
Whether you’re using just your best Instagram hashtag or all thirty, typing them out can be tedious, especially without the help of auto-correct. Any community manager will confirm this is not the most enjoyable task.
Thankfully, there are tools to streamline this process. Here are some recommended ones:
- PreviewApp: Lets you save sets of hashtags within the app, apply them to content, and then export posts directly to Instagram with hashtags already inserted. The app also tests your hashtags to determine which yield better results.
- Later: With its caption-saving feature, Later allows you to add descriptions with hashtags to new posts. You might want to change the saved hashtags, but this feature can be useful if you consistently use multiple hashtags.
- Hashtags for Likes – Tag Pro: An app that assists in searching, copying, and pasting Instagram #hashtags on mobile devices. You can create custom lists containing multiple hashtags and directly copy-paste them onto Instagram.
If you’re not inclined to invest in a tool solely for hashtag management, the most cost-effective solution is using a social media management tool. You could manually save your most-used hashtag list in a spreadsheet and employ a social content scheduling software like Agora Pulse, Hootsuite, or Sprout Social. You can create posts and paste hashtags or groups of hashtags into their descriptions, and these tools will handle direct posting to Instagram at the specified time.
Recommended Reading: What is the best social media platform?
Did you know that certain hashtags are banned on Instagram? It’s not always about explicit language or obscenities (though those are definitely on the list).
Instagram regularly detects and bans hashtags associated with offensive content. Some are obvious, like #nasty, but others like #fitnessgirls might be used innocuously. Instagram won’t display any new content under a banned hashtag.
These hashtags can be temporarily or permanently banned. If you use them, your posts might be hidden and won’t appear on your followers’ feeds or in search results linked to those hashtags. Even using a single banned hashtag could nullify all the efforts you put into your post.
When compiling your list of hashtags to use, in addition to reviewing the banned hashtags list, ensure to visit the parent page of each hashtag and check if the following message appears:
“Recent posts from #hashtagenquestion are currently hidden because the Instagram community has reported content that may not meet its guidelines.”
Conclusion: Finding the Right Hashtags on Instagram
Instagram hashtags are an essential component of Instagram marketing. Without a strategy in place, your marketing might not reach its full potential on the platform. Use the tools and most-used hashtag suggestions shared in this guide to create a personalized list of high-potential hashtags—to increase your reach and maintain an engaged audience. Ensure to make necessary adjustments based on your monitoring and analysis to achieve the best results.
