Did you know that Instagram posts with at least one hashtag receive 70% more likes? This staggering statistic highlights the undeniable influence of hashtags in amplifying your content's reach on one of the world's 4th most popular social media platforms.
What are Hashtags?
Hashtags, symbolized by the # sign, are essentially Instagram's sorting hat. They categorize content, making it discoverable to all users interested in a particular topic. The purpose of hashtags goes beyond mere organization; they are the lifelines of content visibility and engagement on Instagram. On December 12, 2017, Instagram implemented a significant update that revolutionized the use of hashtags. By incorporating hashtags, your posts become searchable and can appear in the feed of those who follow or search for that hashtag, regardless of whether they follow you.
Why Use Hashtags?
According to a research by Statista, posts with 3-4 hashtags had an average engagement rate of 3.41%, significanly highlights the importance of using hashtags on Instagram. The benefits of using hashtags on Instagram are varied:
Increased Exposure & Discovery:
Hashtags significantly boost your content's visibility. Posts with relevant hashtags can appear on the Explore page, leading to higher engagement rates and the potential to attract new followers.
Target Audience Engagement:
Using the right hashtags can connect you with your target audience, even if they haven't connected with you before. This can lead to more engagement and potentially more customers for your brand or business
Community Building:
Hashtags are a gateway to communities. By using or creating branded hashtags, you can foster a community around your brand, encouraging user-generated content and interactions
Campaign Tracking:
Hashtags are invaluable for tracking the success of marketing campaigns. They allow you to monitor conversations and gauge audience interest.
Incorporating hashtags into your Instagram strategy is not just about getting more likes; it's about creating opportunities for your content to be seen and interacted with by a broader audience. It's about building a community and establishing a presence in the digital world. It's crucial for UK businesses to stay abreast of the latest changes to Instagram's algorithm.
Demystifying Hashtags
Types of Hashtags
Hashtags on Instagram serve as a beacon, guiding users to your content. There are several types of hashtags used for different purposes:
- Popular Hashtags: These are widely used and have a high volume of content associated with them, like #love or #instagood
- Niche Hashtags: More specific to your content's subject matter, niche hashtags help you reach a targeted audience, such as #travelblogger or #foodieadventures
- Branded Hashtags: Unique to your brand, these hashtags can be used for campaigns or general branding, like Nike’s #JustDoIt
- Location Hashtags: Geotags that help users find local content, such as #NYCeats or #LondonFashion
Hashtag Research
Effective hashtag research can place your content in front of the right audience. Here are some tips and tools:
- Competitor Analysis: Look at hashtags used by competitors with successful engagement.
- Instagram Search Suggestions: Use the search bar to find related hashtags and see their popularity.
- Dedicated Hashtag Research Tools: Tools like Hootsuite Analytics and TagsFinder can help identify trending and relevant hashtags
The Art of the Hashtag Mix
A strategic mix of hashtags can maximize your content's reach:
- Popular Hashtags: Attract a broad audience.
- Niche Hashtags: Engage with a specific community.
- Branded Hashtags: Foster brand identity and loyalty.
Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes can hinder your hashtag strategy:
- Irrelevant Hashtags: Ensure relevance to the content to maintain user trust.
- Overstuffing Hashtags: Too many can appear spammy and reduce engagement.
- Using Banned Hashtags: Check Instagram's banned list to avoid being shadowbanned
Power Up Your Hashtags
Hashtag Tracking and Analytics
To track hashtag performance on Instagram, utilize Instagram Insights for business accounts or other analytics tools like Brand24 or Sprout Social. These tools provide data on engagement, reach, and how hashtags contribute to your content's visibility. By analyzing this data, you can identify which hashtags are driving the most interaction and refine your strategy accordingly.
Engaging with Hashtags
Building a community through hashtags involves more than just adding them to your posts. Follow relevant hashtags to stay connected with industry trends and participate in hashtag challenges to increase your visibility. Engage with users who use your hashtags by liking and commenting on their posts, which encourages a reciprocal relationship and fosters community growth.
Creating Branded Hashtags
Branded hashtags are a powerful way to boost engagement and create a sense of community around your brand. Keep your branded hashtag short, memorable, and relevant to your brand identity. Promote it consistently across your marketing channels and encourage your audience to use it. Engage with posts that feature your hashtag to show appreciation and support user-generated content.
Staying Updated
In the ever-changing landscape of social media, staying updated on trending hashtags is crucial. Regularly research and incorporate trending hashtags relevant to your content to tap into current conversations and increase your content's reach. Adapting your strategy to include these hashtags can help you stay relevant and visible in the world of Instagram.
By leveraging these strategies, you can enhance your Instagram presence, foster a vibrant community, and keep your content strategy fresh and effective. Remember, hashtags are more than just a tool for discovery; they're a way to connect, engage, and grow on one of the world's most influential social platforms.
What are the benefits of following trending hashtags on Instagram
Following trending hashtags on Instagram can provide several benefits to your account and content. Here are some of the key advantages:
- Increased Exposure
- Targeted Audience Engagement
- Content Research and Inspiration
- Competitor Analysis
- Improved Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Enhanced Brand Awareness
- Increased Engagement
- Cross-Promotion Opportunities
- Real-Time Feedback
- Improved Hashtag Strategy
Now posts and stories that use specific hashtags will feature in the user’s newsfeed accompanied by the content they are already following. In case, a user follows a hashtag, Instagram’s algorithm will then decide which stories and posts to feature in the user’s feed related to the hashtag. This presentation of stories depends on some factors like quality, freshness, and engagement. This new algorithm change is assisted by machine learning (ML).
Note: If you are a small business in the UK and want to gain the most out of Instagram, you can buy Instagram followers in the UK quite cheaply. This new change has left a lot to inquire about how Instagram will decide the relevancy factor and whether a certain user or not will like the post.
For instance, people will use #Goatfor posts that are intended for the "greatest of all time" in any field, and on the other hand, it will also be used with posts related to goat, the four-legged dairy animal. One plus point that we can see here is the button provided in the app above each post so, that the users can mark it as irrelevant.
You can follow the specific topic with hashtags now. Using this option you are not unfollowing the post but, it certainly helps Instagram’s algorithm to come up with such posts that are of any interest to the user with the specific hashtag.
This update has also divided the Instagram following page into two categories:
- hashtags
- and people.
Before this change, people had to search or click on a hashtag for viewing the stories and posts that fell under the hashtag. This latest update allows people to follow the most trending hashtags and also receive content that matches their interests.
MARKETING IMPLICATION:
When seeing this update from the marketing proposition, brands have started to feel close to their targeted audience. With the inclusion of hashtags in the newsfeed, brands reach will automatically be inflated. The perfect way to market your brand is to create relevant and authentic posts against a hashtag. However, to increase your organic reach in the UK, you must buy Instagram likes in the UK to build on your audience.
At the start of this algorithm change, Instagram was flooded with spam. However, as time passed the authorities were able to abnegate the irrelevant posts, and the spam doors were also closed. Those brands that want to dominate content-related and trending posts will have to be friends with quality. Throwing a post that is high in quality will definitely draw engagement.
Also Read: Tiktok Cringe Hashtags Trends
How Irrelevent Hashtags can Destroy your Brand Engagement?
With trending hashtags your post will be included in the users’ feeds on a large scale. This will bring more brands to an engaging hashtag to be able to broaden their posts. However, this way you can fall into the trap of irrelevant posts as well. For instance, a hashtag has become a hit and is top trending but, it doesn’t relate to your business in any sense. If you still try to capitalize on this hashtag, you will end up doing damage to your brand. Spammy and irrelevant posts are the reason people start stepping back from your posts and consequently your brand.
Also, due to irrelevancy, it may affect your future posts too, as they will not be displayed in the hashtag feeds. So, you need to be sensible in your approach. Also, why would you spend money on social media growth services, when your marketing strategy isn’t well thought out? As social media continues to evolve, businesses must stay vigilant once their content appears on hashtag-curated feeds. Those brands that have successfully executed their branded hashtag campaigns are seeing an expanded impact as a result of the latest updates.
With increased ability to track engagement and dialogue, digital marketers can refine their strategies. Through sponsored posts, Instagram's advancements have enabled brands to connect with their audience more effectively by using high-quality, strategically crafted content. Taking a targeted approach is essential for brands seeking to stand out online.
CONCLUSION:
As we've explored, hashtags are a pivotal element in navigating the vast ocean of content on Instagram. They are not just markers but powerful tools that can increase the reach and impact of your posts if applied correctly, connect you with your target audience, and build a community around your brand.
Key Takeaways
- Hashtags categorize content, making it discoverable to a wider audience.
- A strategic mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags can optimize your content's visibility.
- Effective hashtag research and avoiding common pitfalls are essential for a successful Instagram strategy.
- Tracking hashtag performance and staying updated with trends are crucial for ongoing engagement and growth.
Bonus Tip
For a deeper dive into hashtag mastery, consider creating a 'Hashtag Library' — a curated list of hashtags relevant to your brand and industry. Regularly update this library based on performance analytics and trending topics to ensure your content remains at the forefront of discovery.
