To amplify your reach and engagement on Instagram, the most direct path is mastering the art of hashtag strategy.

Think of hashtags as the digital breadcrumbs that lead new eyes to your content, helping you connect with audiences beyond your immediate followers. It’s not just about stuffing as many as possible.

It’s about precision, relevance, and understanding how the Instagram algorithm prioritizes discovery.

This guide will walk you through the essential tactics, from identifying trending tags to leveraging niche-specific keywords, ensuring your posts get the visibility they deserve.

For those looking to streamline their content strategy and discover even more growth opportunities, check out this 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool that can help you with scheduling, hashtag research, and analytics, ultimately helping you find the best hashtags to get more followers on Instagram and what hashtags get most likes on Instagram.

By focusing on what hashtags to use on Instagram to get likes and optimizing for what are the best hashtags to use on Instagram to get followers, you’re setting yourself up for sustained organic growth.

Table of Contents

The Foundation: Understanding Hashtag Categories

To truly master Instagram hashtags, you need to think beyond just throwing in a few popular terms.

It’s about creating a balanced mix that caters to different levels of search volume and audience intent.

This strategic blend is what will help you gain traction and attract both new followers and increased likes.

Broad & Popular Hashtags

These are your high-volume, high-competition tags. They expose your content to a massive audience, but standing out can be tough. Think #instadaily, #photooftheday, #travel. While they can provide initial bursts of visibility, they also mean your content will quickly be pushed down by the sheer volume of new posts.

Purpose: Wide reach, brand awareness.
Strategy: Use sparingly, or in conjunction with more specific tags. They’re good for getting in front of a lot of eyeballs quickly, but don’t expect sustained engagement from them alone. For example, a travel blogger might use #travel but pair it with #travelgram and #wanderlust.
Data Insight: Posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than those without, according to a study by Simply Measured. Popular hashtags contribute to this initial boost.

Niche-Specific & Community Hashtags

This is where the magic happens for long-term growth. These hashtags target a smaller, more engaged audience that is genuinely interested in your specific content. If you’re a food blogger, #halalrecipes, #iftarideas, or #muslimfoodies will bring in people actively searching for that content.

Purpose: Targeted engagement, attracting genuinely interested followers.
Strategy: Research what your ideal audience is using. Look at competitors, industry leaders, and even your own followers to see what tags they interact with. For instance, a modest fashion brand might use #modestfashion, #hijabstyle, #islamicfashion.
Benefit: While the reach might be smaller, the quality of engagement likes, comments, saves is often significantly higher, leading to more loyal followers. A report by Sprout Social found that engagement rates are higher for brands using niche hashtags.

Branded & Campaign Hashtags

These are unique to your brand or a specific campaign you’re running. #YourBrandName or #YourProductLaunch2024. They’re crucial for building community, tracking campaign performance, and encouraging user-generated content.

Purpose: Brand building, community engagement, campaign tracking.
Strategy: Promote your branded hashtags across all your platforms. Encourage followers to use them when they share content related to your brand. For example, if you launch a new range of ethical products, you might create #EthicalLivingWith.
Impact: Nike’s #justdoit is a classic example. It’s not just a slogan. it’s a call to action and a community builder, generating millions of posts.

The Art of Hashtag Research: Finding What Works

Finding the best hashtags isn’t about guesswork. it’s about strategic research.

Just like a skilled artisan selects the perfect materials, you need to select the perfect keywords that resonate with your audience and the Instagram algorithm.

This is how you discover what hashtags get most likes on Instagram and ensure you’re using what are the best hashtags to use on Instagram to get followers.

Analyzing Competitors & Industry Leaders

One of the easiest ways to find relevant and effective hashtags is to observe what successful accounts in your niche are using. Best instagram scheduler 2021

Pay attention to accounts with high engagement rates, not just large follower counts.

Manual Observation: Spend time browsing posts from your competitors or influencers in your industry. Look at the hashtags they use on their most popular posts.
Identify Trends: Notice if certain hashtags appear repeatedly across multiple successful posts. Are they using a mix of broad and niche tags?
Example: If you’re a Muslim lifestyle blogger, look at popular accounts focusing on Islamic home decor or halal food. See which hashtags they use for specific posts that get high engagement. Are they using #muslimhomedecor, #islamicart, or #halallifestyle?

Utilizing Instagram’s Native Search & Suggestions

Instagram itself is a powerful tool for hashtag research.

The search bar can provide valuable insights into popular and related hashtags.

Search Bar Exploration: Start typing a relevant keyword into the Instagram search bar and select the “Tags” tab. Instagram will show you a list of hashtags related to that keyword, along to the number of posts they’re used on.
“Related” Hashtags: After clicking on a specific hashtag, scroll down to see the “Related” hashtags section. This uncovers a treasure trove of tags that are semantically linked and often highly relevant to your content.
Example: Searching for #islamicquotes might reveal related tags like #musliminspiration, #deenoverdunya, or #islamicreminder, each with varying post counts, allowing you to choose based on your reach goals.

Leveraging Hashtag Research Tools

While manual research is essential, dedicated tools can significantly streamline the process and provide deeper data.

These tools offer advanced analytics and suggestions that go beyond what Instagram’s native search can provide.

Tailwind: This tool and others like it can help you discover optimal hashtags based on your content, analyze their performance, and even suggest combinations. Some tools provide “smart” suggestions, indicating whether a hashtag is “niche,” “best,” or “good” based on engagement potential. Our growth marketing tool 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool is a great example of this, offering features that help you find the best hashtags for your content and track their effectiveness.
Display Purposes/All Hashtag: These are free web-based tools that generate relevant hashtags based on a seed keyword, categorizing them by popularity.
Benefits: These tools often provide metrics like average likes, comments, and estimated reach for specific hashtags, helping you make data-driven decisions. For instance, data from HootSuite indicates that using the right tools can increase engagement by up to 20%.

Strategic Implementation: How Many & Where?

Once you’ve done your research and identified a strong set of hashtags, the next step is strategically implementing them. It’s not just about using a lot of hashtags. it’s about using the right number in the right places to maximize your visibility and engagement. This directly impacts what hashtags get most likes Instagram and helps you answer what hashtags to use on Instagram to get likes.

The Optimal Number of Hashtags

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but more isn’t always better.

The sweet spot varies, but current data suggests a range that balances visibility with avoiding the perception of “spam.”

General Consensus: Many social media experts and studies suggest using anywhere from 5 to 11 hashtags for optimal engagement. While some accounts still use 30, it can sometimes make your caption look cluttered or even get flagged by Instagram’s algorithm if perceived as spammy.
Experimentation is Key: What works for one account might not work for another. Monitor your insights to see which number of hashtags yields the best results for your specific audience and content.
Data Point: A study by TrackMaven found that 9-11 hashtags yielded the highest engagement rates on average, though results can vary by industry. Later.com also suggests that 11 hashtags is a good benchmark.

Placement Matters: Caption vs. First Comment

There’s an ongoing debate in the Instagram community about where to place your hashtags: directly in the caption or in the first comment. Both have pros and cons. Best hashtags search

In the Caption:
- Pros: Immediately visible, potentially indexed faster by Instagram’s algorithm. Simpler workflow, as you don’t need to post a separate comment.
- Cons: Can make your caption look messy and less aesthetically pleasing, especially if you use many hashtags.
- Recommendation: If you choose to put them in the caption, consider adding a few line breaks dots or dashes before the hashtags to push them down, making your main caption easier to read.
```
Your captivating caption here.
.
#hashtag1 #hashtag2 #hashtag3 #hashtag4 #hashtag5
```
In the First Comment:
- Pros: Keeps your caption clean and focused on your message. Many major brands and influencers use this method.
- Cons: Requires a quick extra step immediately after posting. There’s a slight delay before they appear, which theoretically could impact immediate discoverability, though this is often negligible.
- Recommendation: Post your photo/video, and immediately after, type or paste your hashtags into the first comment. This is a widely accepted and often preferred method for aesthetic reasons.

Consistency and Relevance

Regardless of the number or placement, consistency and relevance are paramount.

Consistent Usage: Regularly using relevant hashtags trains the Instagram algorithm to understand your content, making it more likely to show your posts to interested users.
Highly Relevant: Every hashtag you use should directly relate to your image, video, or the overall theme of your post. Using irrelevant but popular hashtags e.g., #fashion on a food post can lead to a “shadowban” or simply attract the wrong audience, leading to low engagement.
Example: If you’re sharing a picture of a homemade halal dessert, use #halaldessert, #muslimbaker, #eidrecipes rather than general #food or #dessert only. This targets your ideal audience more effectively.

Advanced Hashtag Strategies for Maximum Impact

Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to level up your hashtag game.

These advanced strategies will help you dig deeper into Instagram’s discovery engine, ensuring you’re not just getting likes, but attracting genuinely interested followers and turning them into loyal community members.

This is how you really find what are the best hashtags to use on Instagram to get followers.

The Tiered Hashtag Strategy

Instead of just a mix of popular and niche, consider a more structured “tiered” approach, balancing reach and relevance.

This strategy aims to capture users at different stages of their search journey.

Tier 1: Broad & High Volume 1-2 hashtags, 500K+ posts: These are your ultra-popular tags that bring immediate exposure. Think #islamicart or #halalfood. While competitive, they can get your content in front of a lot of people quickly.
Tier 2: Mid-Volume 3-5 hashtags, 50K-500K posts: These are more specific but still have significant reach. #muslimlifestyle, #hijabfashioninspiration, #iftarideas. These often have a more engaged audience.
Tier 3: Niche & Low Volume 3-5 hashtags, 10K-50K posts: Highly specific, targeting a very particular audience. #ramadanprep, #modestootd, #propheticmedicine. These drive the most qualified traffic and often lead to higher engagement and followers.
Tier 4: Super Niche & Brand-Specific 1-2 hashtags, <10K posts or unique: These are your community-building hashtags, like #MyBrandCommunity or #YourCityMuslims.
Benefit: This tiered approach ensures you get broad exposure while also targeting highly relevant users who are more likely to convert into followers and engage with your content. Studies suggest that mixing hashtag popularity leads to better discovery rates.

Hashtags for Instagram Reels & Stories

Hashtags aren’t just for static feed posts.

They’re equally, if not more, important for Reels and Stories, which Instagram is heavily prioritizing for discovery.

Reels: You can use hashtags in the caption of your Reel, just like a regular post. Given the emphasis on short-form video discovery, relevant hashtags can significantly boost your Reel’s reach on the explore page. Focus on trending audio and relevant, specific hashtags. For example, a halal travel Reel might use #halaltravel, #muslimtraveler, #islamiclandmarks.
Stories: While not as powerful for long-term discovery as feed posts or Reels, you can add up to 10 hashtags to your Stories using the hashtag sticker or by typing them out. This can increase visibility for those browsing specific hashtags on their stories feed. Use them to provide immediate context or participate in trending topics. For example, a “What I Eat in a Day” Story might include #halalmeals or #muslimhealth.
Engagement Boost: Reels and Stories with relevant hashtags often see higher view counts, which can indirectly lead to more profile visits and followers. Instagram has clearly stated its focus on video content, making hashtag optimization crucial here.

Monitoring Performance & Adapting

Hashtag strategy isn’t a one-and-done task.

The Instagram algorithm changes, trends shift, and your audience evolves. Best hashtags to get more likes on instagram

You need to constantly monitor what’s working and adapt.

Instagram Insights: If you have a business or creator account, use Instagram Insights to track your posts’ reach and impressions from hashtags. Look for posts where hashtags contributed significantly to your reach.
Analytics Tools: Use third-party tools like the aforementioned 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool that provide deeper insights into which specific hashtags are driving the most engagement and reach for your posts.
A/B Testing: Experiment with different sets of hashtags. On similar content, try using a slightly different mix of tags and compare their performance over time.
Trend Awareness: Stay updated on current trends and viral moments. Incorporating relevant trending hashtags when appropriate and authentic can give your content a temporary boost in visibility. For instance, during Ramadan, #RamadanMubarak or #IftarVibes would be highly relevant.
Example: You might notice that your posts using #modestfashion are performing well, but #fashionstyle isn’t. This data tells you to lean into the niche. Or perhaps you discover that #islamicparenting brings in more saves and shares than #parentingtips, indicating a highly engaged sub-community. This continuous feedback loop ensures your hashtag strategy remains effective and contributes to growing your followers and likes.

Avoiding Common Hashtag Mistakes

While hashtags are powerful tools, misusing them can actually hinder your growth. Avoiding these common pitfalls is just as important as knowing the best strategies. It’s about knowing what not to do when trying to figure out what hashtags get most likes on Instagram.

Using Banned or Broken Hashtags

Instagram periodically bans or restricts hashtags that are associated with inappropriate content, spam, or community guideline violations.

Using these can hurt your visibility and even lead to a shadowban.

How to Check: Before using a hashtag, search for it on Instagram. If you see a message like “Recent posts from #hashtag are currently hidden because the community has reported some content that may not meet Instagram’s content guidelines,” avoid it.
Impact: Using banned hashtags can make your posts undiscoverable for anyone searching for that hashtag, and in severe cases, it can reduce the visibility of your other content or even lead to temporary account restrictions.
Example: Hashtags like #beauty or #streetart have, at times, been temporarily restricted due to misuse, often without clear public announcements. Always verify.

Overstuffing or Irrelevant Hashtags

The temptation to use all 30 available hashtags or to include popular but irrelevant tags can be strong, but it’s a counterproductive strategy.

Overstuffing 30+ often: While Instagram allows 30, using too many can look spammy to both users and the algorithm. It dilutes the power of your relevant hashtags and can make your content seem less authentic.
Irrelevant Tags: Using hashtags that have nothing to do with your content e.g., #cars on a post about a new mosque is a surefire way to attract the wrong audience. These users will likely scroll past, signal disinterest to the algorithm, and won’t engage, which can negatively impact your post’s overall performance.
Algorithm Impact: Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes quality and relevance. Posts with irrelevant hashtags are less likely to be pushed to the Explore page for genuinely interested users.
User Experience: For the end-user, a post filled with unrelated hashtags is a poor experience and can deter them from engaging with your content or following your account.

Ignoring Hashtag Trends or Over-relying on Them

Trends are a double-edged sword.

Ignoring them means missing opportunities, but over-relying on them without authenticity can backfire.

Ignoring Trends: If you never incorporate trending hashtags like #Ramadan during the holy month, or #EidMubarak during Eid, you miss out on massive waves of temporary but highly relevant traffic.
Over-reliance/Inauthenticity: Using trending hashtags purely for visibility, even if they don’t genuinely relate to your content, can make your brand seem inauthentic or desperate for views. For example, using a trending pop culture hashtag on a serious Islamic reminder post would likely confuse or alienate your audience.
Short-Term vs. Long-Term: Trending hashtags offer short-term boosts. Your core, evergreen, and niche hashtags are what build long-term, loyal followers. A healthy strategy balances both.
Best Practice: Use trending hashtags sparingly and only when they truly align with your content or message. For example, during significant Islamic events, leverage #Eid, #JummahMubarak, or #MuslimTikTok if applicable for broader reach among the Muslim community.

Leveraging User-Generated Content UGC with Hashtags

User-Generated Content UGC is a goldmine for engagement and community building, and hashtags are the key to unlocking its full potential.

Encouraging your audience to create content using your specific hashtags is a powerful way to expand your reach organically and build trust. Best hashtags for instagram followers and likes

This is a subtle yet highly effective way to gain more followers and likes on Instagram.

Creating Branded Hashtags for UGC Campaigns

A branded hashtag is unique to your business or campaign and serves as a rallying point for your community.

It encourages your audience to share their experiences related to your brand.

Brainstorm Unique Tags: Create a hashtag that is memorable, easy to spell, and clearly associated with your brand or a specific campaign.
- Example 1 Product-focused: If you sell modest activewear, you might use #MyModestMovement or #ActiveMuslimah.
- Example 2 Community-focused: For an Islamic book club, #BookwormsOfDeen or #ReadWith.
Promote Everywhere: Don’t just put it on Instagram. Feature your branded hashtag on your website, email newsletters, in your physical store if applicable, and across all your social media platforms.
Call to Action: Explicitly ask your followers to use your hashtag when they share content related to your brand. For instance, “Share your favorite outfit using #MyModestMovement for a chance to be featured!”

Running Contests and Giveaways with Hashtags

Contests and giveaways are fantastic drivers for UGC and significantly boost engagement, especially when tied to a specific hashtag.

Clear Rules: Define clear rules for participation:
- “Follow our account”
- “Like this post”
- “Tag a friend”
- “Share a photo/video using # and tell us why you love .”
Compelling Prizes: Offer prizes that are genuinely appealing to your target audience. For instance, a gift basket of halal snacks, a modest fashion voucher, or a collection of Islamic books.
Promote Widely: Announce your contest across all your channels and encourage participants to share it.
Example: A halal cosmetics brand could run a “My Halal Glow” contest: “Show us your best look using our products! Tag us and use #MyHalalGlow to enter to win a year’s supply!” This not only generates content but also authentic testimonials. Data shows that accounts running hashtag contests typically see 70% faster growth than those that don’t.

Curating and Showcasing UGC

The final, crucial step is to actively curate and showcase the amazing content your community creates.

This validates their effort, strengthens community bonds, and encourages more UGC.

Reshare on Your Feed/Stories: Regularly share the best UGC on your main feed or your Instagram Stories. Always tag the original creator.
- Example: “We love seeing how you style our new abayas! 😍 Thanks to @modestmuse for sharing this beautiful look using #MyModestMovement.”
Create a Highlight Reel: Dedicate a highlight on your profile to “Community Features” or “Our Customers” where you save inspiring UGC.
Website/Email Integration: Consider featuring UGC on your website product pages or in your email marketing. This acts as social proof and drives conversions.
Benefit: When users see their content being featured by your brand, it creates a sense of pride and belonging. It also provides authentic social proof to potential new followers, showing them that real people love and use your products/services, directly influencing others to follow and engage. This organic amplification is far more powerful than traditional advertising for building trust and gaining a loyal following.

Islamic Considerations for Hashtag Strategy

As Muslim professionals, our online presence should always reflect our values.

While the goal is growth, it must be growth that aligns with Islamic principles.

This means being mindful of the content we associate ourselves with and the messages we inadvertently endorse through our hashtag choices.

This is crucial when considering what hashtags to use on Instagram to get likes and grow your following responsibly. Best hashtags for instagram to increase followers

Avoiding Haram or Dubious Hashtags

It is imperative to steer clear of any hashtags that promote or are associated with haram forbidden activities, content, or values. This includes:

Podcast & Entertainment: Hashtags related to explicit podcast, dancing, or entertainment industries that often promote immorality. While some forms of nasheeds are permissible, be cautious of secular podcast tags.
Immodesty & Sexuality: Any tags linked to immodest clothing, sexual content, dating, or promiscuity.
Gambling & Riba: Hashtags promoting gambling, lotteries, or interest-based financial services.
Alcohol & Narcotics: Any tags associated with alcohol consumption, illicit drugs, or related lifestyles.
Idol Worship & Polytheism: Hashtags that promote shirk, idol worship, or practices contrary to Tawhid monotheism.
Blasphemy & Disrespect: Tags that disrespect Islam, Allah SWT, the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, or Islamic symbols.
Alternatives: Instead of generic “party” tags, focus on #halallifestyle, #islamicgatherings, #muslimcommunityevents. Rather than “fashion” if it implies immodesty, opt for #modestfashion, #hijabstyle, #islamicdress. Always choose tags that reflect Islamic values and inspire good.

Focusing on Beneficial & Halal Content

Our content and its associated hashtags should always aim to be beneficial nafi’ and permissible halal. This means promoting goodness, knowledge, positive values, and responsible living.

Islamic Education: #IslamicReminder, #QuranQuotes, #HadithOfTheDay, #DeenOverDunya, #MuslimScholars.
Halal Lifestyle: #HalalFoodie, #MuslimWellness, #IslamicParenting, #ModestTravel, #EcoMuslim.
Community Building: #MuslimCommunity, #IslamicUnity, #MuslimsAroundTheWorld.
Positive Mindset: #IslamicInspiration, #TrustInAllah, #Sabr, #Gratitude.
Productivity & Work: #MuslimProductivity, #EthicalBusiness, #HalalEarnings.
Discouraged Alternative Industries: Instead of promoting interest-based financial products, promote #HalalFinance, #IslamicBanking, #EthicalInvesting. Instead of general entertainment, focus on #IslamicArt, #QuranRecitation, #IslamicPodcasts.

The Intention Behind Your Hashtags

As Muslims, our intentions niyyah are paramount. When choosing hashtags, ask yourself:

What is my intention? Am I seeking to educate, inspire, or connect with Muslims and non-Muslims in a positive way?
Does this hashtag reflect Islamic values? Does it promote modesty, piety, truthfulness, and goodness?
Will it lead to good? Will it attract an audience interested in beneficial content, or one seeking to engage in impermissible activities?
Avoiding Show-Off Riyaa: While we want engagement, our primary intention should not be show-off or seeking undue praise. We should strive for sincerity in our efforts, remembering that our actions are for Allah SWT.

By adhering to these Islamic considerations, we can ensure our hashtag strategy not only helps us grow our online presence but does so in a manner that is pleasing to Allah SWT and beneficial for the wider Muslim community.

This approach leads to a more blessed and sustainable form of growth.

The Future of Hashtags: Beyond Keywords

While keywords remain foundational, the platform is moving towards a more semantic understanding of content, where context and visual cues play a larger role.

Understanding these shifts is crucial for staying ahead of the curve and ensuring your content continues to be discovered.

This will help you continuously adapt your strategy for what hashtags to use on Instagram to get likes and attract followers.

The Rise of AI and Contextual Understanding

Instagram’s algorithm is becoming increasingly sophisticated. It no longer just reads hashtags.

It “sees” your content, understands its context, and can even infer topics without explicit tags. Best hashtags for more likes

Image Recognition: Instagram’s AI can recognize objects, scenes, and activities in your photos and videos. If you post a picture of a mosque, the algorithm likely understands it’s a mosque, even if you don’t use #mosque.
Video Analysis: For Reels and Stories, AI analyzes audio, on-screen text, and visual elements to understand the content. This means using relevant on-screen text or speaking about your topic clearly can also contribute to discoverability.
Impact on Hashtags: This doesn’t mean hashtags are obsolete, but it means their role is shifting from being the sole source of categorization to one of many signals. Relevant hashtags still help the algorithm confirm its understanding and provide clear signals to users.

Hashtags as Community Builders More Than Discovery

While discovery remains a primary function, hashtags are increasingly becoming tools for community building and fostering engagement within specific niches.

Niche Communities: Users actively follow hashtags related to their interests. For example, a Muslim revert might follow #RevertToIslam or #NewMuslimJourney to find support and content.
Micro-Communities: Brands and creators are establishing their own micro-communities around unique hashtags e.g., #OurHalalKitchen, #MuslimahEntrepreneurs. These aren’t necessarily for discovery by new audiences as much as they are for fostering a sense of belonging among existing and highly engaged followers.
Engagement Driver: When users follow a hashtag, your content can appear directly in their feed, even if they don’t follow you. This transforms hashtags into a form of passive subscription to a topic.

The Evolution of the Explore Page

The Explore page, Instagram’s prime discovery hub, is becoming more personalized and less reliant on generic, high-volume hashtags.

Personalized Feeds: The Explore page is tailored to each user’s past interactions, interests, and saved content. If a user frequently engages with Islamic content, they’re more likely to see new Islamic content on their Explore page, regardless of how popular the specific hashtags are.
Reels & Video Priority: Instagram continues to prioritize video content on the Explore page. Optimizing your Reels with relevant hashtags, trending audio where permissible and appropriate, and compelling visuals is key for discovery.
Beyond Hashtags: While hashtags still play a role, Instagram’s AI is also learning to suggest content based on captions, comments, and even the accounts you follow. This means a holistic approach to content creation—high-quality visuals, engaging captions, and meaningful interactions—is more important than ever.

In conclusion, while hashtags will continue to be a vital component of Instagram strategy, the future points towards a more intelligent, context-aware platform.

This will not only ensure you get more likes but also attract a loyal and engaged following.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hashtags to use on Instagram to get followers?

The best hashtags to get more followers are a strategic mix of niche-specific, mid-volume, and popular tags that are highly relevant to your content and target audience. For instance, if you share Islamic reminders, use #IslamicReminder, #DeenOverDunya, and #MuslimsOfInstagram.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram for best results?

While Instagram allows up to 30, it’s generally recommended to use between 5 to 11 hashtags for optimal results.

This range provides good discoverability without making your post look spammy.

Do hashtags in the first comment work as well as in the caption?

Yes, placing hashtags in the first comment works effectively for discoverability and is a popular method to keep your caption clean and readable.

Just ensure you post them immediately after your main post.

What kind of hashtags get the most likes on Instagram?

Hashtags that attract the most likes are typically those that bring in a highly engaged, niche audience directly interested in your content. Best hashtags for instagram post likes

These are often mid-volume to niche-specific tags rather than extremely broad ones.

Should I use trending hashtags?

Yes, you can use trending hashtags, but only if they are genuinely relevant to your content and align with your brand’s values.

Using irrelevant trending tags can lead to lower engagement and can sometimes be perceived as spammy.

How can I find niche-specific hashtags?

You can find niche-specific hashtags by researching competitors, using Instagram’s native search bar looking at “Related” hashtags, and utilizing third-party hashtag research tools like Tailwind.

Can using too many hashtags hurt my engagement?

Yes, using too many irrelevant hashtags or consistently using the maximum of 30 can sometimes make your post appear spammy to the algorithm and users, potentially leading to lower engagement.

Is there a difference in hashtag strategy for Instagram Reels vs. Feed Posts?

While the principles are similar, Reels benefit greatly from hashtags in their captions due to Instagram’s emphasis on video discovery.

Also, consider trending audio and on-screen text for Reels.

How often should I change my hashtags?

You don’t need to change them for every post, but it’s good practice to rotate your hashtag sets every few posts or weeks.

Continuously monitor their performance and adapt your strategy based on analytics. Best free instagram scheduler 2021

What is a “shadowban” and how do hashtags relate to it?

A shadowban is when Instagram restricts the visibility of your content without notifying you.

Using banned or broken hashtags, or consistently using irrelevant/spammy hashtags, can contribute to a shadowban.

Should I use both English and Arabic hashtags if my audience is bilingual?

Yes, if your target audience is bilingual, using a mix of relevant English and Arabic hashtags can significantly broaden your reach within the Muslim community. For example, #QuranQuotes and #آيات_قرآنية.

How do I know if a hashtag is banned or broken?

Search for the hashtag on Instagram. If a message appears stating that “Recent posts from #hashtag are currently hidden because the community has reported some content that may not meet Instagram’s content guidelines,” then it’s banned or restricted.

What are branded hashtags?

Branded hashtags are unique tags specific to your business, campaign, or community e.g., #MyModestMovement, #HalalEatsNYC. They help build community and track user-generated content.

Can I use the same set of hashtags for every post?

While convenient, using the exact same set of hashtags for every post can sometimes be flagged by the algorithm as repetitive.

It’s better to have several sets and rotate them, or slightly vary them based on the specific content of each post.

How can I track the performance of my hashtags?

You can track hashtag performance using Instagram Insights for business/creator accounts which shows impressions from hashtags, or by using third-party analytics tools like Tailwind that offer more detailed data.

Is it better to use very popular hashtags or very niche ones?

A balanced strategy is best.

Use a few very popular hashtags for broad reach, and several niche-specific hashtags to attract highly relevant and engaged followers. Best hashtags for instagram to increase followers and likes

Should I include emojis in my hashtags?

While some users do, it’s generally best to avoid emojis within the hashtag itself as it can make them harder to search for and less effective. Emojis can be used around hashtags in your caption for visual appeal.

Do hashtags affect how my content appears on the Explore page?

Yes, relevant and well-performing hashtags are one of the key factors that help Instagram’s algorithm understand your content and place it on the Explore page for users who have shown interest in similar topics.

What should I do if my hashtags aren’t getting me results?

If your hashtags aren’t working, re-evaluate your strategy:

Research: Conduct fresh research for more relevant and diverse hashtags.
Analyze: Check your Instagram Insights to see which tags contributed to reach.
Experiment: Try different combinations, numbers, and placements caption vs. first comment.
Content Quality: Ensure your content itself is high-quality and engaging, as even the best hashtags can’t fix poor content.

Can hashtags help me reach a global audience?

Yes, by using widely recognized English hashtags, or by incorporating popular hashtags in other languages relevant to your target global audience e.g., #Islamic, #Muslim, #Deen, you can expand your reach internationally.

Best hashtags to get more likes and followers on instagram