Using the Right Hashtags: A Guide

Mastering the art of hashtag use is crucial for increasing the visibility and engagement of your Instagram posts. When used correctly, hashtags can help your content reach a broader audience and attract more followers. Here’s a comprehensive guide to using the right hashtags for your posts, ensuring that your content is seen by all the right people!

1. Understand Your Message

Before you can choose the right hashtags, you need to understand the core message of your content. Ask yourself: What is this post about? What keywords or phrases best describe it? Identifying 2-3 key terms that your audience is likely to use when searching for similar content is the first step. These keywords will form the foundation of your hashtag strategy.

For example, if you’re posting about digital marketing strategies, your key terms might be “digital marketing,” “online marketing,” and “social media tips.” These terms reflect the main themes of your content and are likely to be searched by users interested in this topic.

2. Conduct a Search

With your keywords in hand, it’s time to find effective hashtags. Head to Instagram’s explore page and type your first keyword into the search bar with a # at the beginning. This will show you a list of related hashtags and their popularity. For example, if your keyword is "Marketing," you might start by searching #MarketingTips or #DigitalMarketing.

Take note of the suggestions that appear, as well as the number of posts associated with each hashtag. This number gives you an idea of how popular the hashtag is and how often it’s used. The goal is to find a mix of popular and niche hashtags that can help your content stand out without getting lost in a sea of posts.

3. Choose Your Hashtags

Select a mix of hashtags that are both relevant to your content and popular enough to increase visibility. Aim for a combination of widely-used hashtags and more niche ones to balance reach and specificity.

For instance, if your post is about the latest trends in digital marketing, you might choose hashtags like #DigitalMarketing (popular), #SocialMediaTrends (moderately popular), and #MarketingStrategies (niche but relevant). This approach ensures that your post reaches a broad audience while also targeting specific groups interested in your content.

4. Add a Few More

In addition to your core content-related hashtags, consider adding a few broader ones related to your overall product, service, brand, or industry. This will maximise your reach and help attract a wider audience. For example, if you’re a marketing agency, you might add hashtags like #MarketingMadeEasy, #MarketingAdvice, #MarketingSupport, and #MarketingAgency.

Broader hashtags can help you tap into larger conversations and trends within your industry. They also provide context for your content, making it easier for users who are generally interested in your field to find and engage with your posts.

Putting It All Together

Here’s a practical example. Let’s say you’re sharing a post about social media marketing tips for small businesses. Your hashtags might look something like this:

• #SocialMediaMarketing

• #DigitalMarketing

• #MarketingTips

• #SmallBusinessMarketing

• #SocialMediaStrategy

• #MarketingMadeEasy

• #MarketingAdvice

• #MarketingSupport

Conclusion: Give It a Try

Hashtags are a powerful tool for helping Instagram’s algorithm understand the content you’re sharing and making it easier for users to find your posts. However, they’re nothing to stress about. Put yourself in the user’s shoes and think about what you would search for if you were looking for that particular piece of content.

By understanding your message, conducting thorough hashtag research, choosing a balanced mix of hashtags, and adding a few broader ones, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your Instagram engagement and reaching a wider audience.

Try these tips on your next post and see the difference. You’ve got this!