Instagram likes hashtags 2021

To truly understand “Instagram likes hashtags 2021” and leverage them effectively, you’ll need to focus on relevance, niche, and trending topics.

While the pursuit of “likes” can sometimes feel like a fleeting chase, it’s crucial to remember that true value on any platform comes from genuine connection and meaningful content, not merely vanity metrics.

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In 2021, the algorithm prioritizes authentic engagement over simply high like counts, so consider hashtags less about “getting likes” and more about “reaching the right people” who will genuinely appreciate and interact with your posts.

This shift in mindset is vital for long-term, sustainable growth.

The Evolving Landscape of Instagram Hashtags in 2021

In 2021, the Instagram algorithm significantly refined its understanding of content and user intent. While hashtags remained a fundamental component for discoverability, their effectiveness hinged less on sheer volume and more on relevance and strategic placement. This shift meant that simply stuffing posts with generic, high-volume hashtags became less impactful than using a curated selection of niche-specific, targeted ones. The algorithm began to prioritize genuine engagement, pushing content that sparked conversations and interactions, rather than just accumulating fleeting likes.

The Algorithm’s Shift Towards Relevance

Instagram’s core objective is to keep users engaged on the platform.

To achieve this in 2021, the algorithm heavily favored content that was relevant to a user’s interests and past interactions.

This meant that hashtags acted as powerful signals, guiding the algorithm to connect content creators with their ideal audience.

• User Behavior Analysis: The algorithm meticulously analyzed what users engaged with, what hashtags they followed, and what accounts they interacted with most.
• Content Categorization: Hashtags became crucial for Instagram to accurately categorize content, ensuring it was shown to users genuinely interested in that specific topic. For instance, using #HalalTravel would signal the algorithm to show your post to users interested in halal-friendly tourism, rather than just general travel.

Beyond Vanity Metrics: Engagement is King

While the title “Instagram likes hashtags 2021” might suggest a focus on pure like counts, the reality in 2021 was that engagement metrics trumped vanity metrics. A post with fewer likes but high comment activity, saves, and shares was often prioritized over a post with many likes but minimal interaction.

• Comments and Saves: These signals indicated strong user interest and value. A comment showed a user was willing to interact, while a save meant they found the content useful enough to revisit.
• Shares: Sharing content directly amplified its reach and indicated high user satisfaction.
• Time Spent on Post: The longer a user spent viewing a post, whether it was an image, carousel, or video, the more valuable the algorithm perceived it to be.

The Niche Advantage: Why Specificity Wins

In 2021, generic hashtags like #love or #happy offered minimal value for discoverability. Instead, niche-specific hashtags were the real power players. These hashtags, though often having lower search volumes, attracted a highly engaged and relevant audience.

• Targeted Audience Reach: Using hashtags like #MuslimAuthors or #IslamicArtistry ensured your content reached individuals genuinely interested in those specific areas, leading to higher conversion rates from viewer to follower or customer.
• Reduced Competition: Niche hashtags often have less competition, making it easier for your content to stand out and be discovered.
• Increased Engagement Potential: When your content reaches a highly targeted audience, the likelihood of them engaging with it liking, commenting, saving significantly increases.

Strategizing Hashtag Usage for Maximum Impact in 2021

In 2021, a haphazard approach to hashtags was a surefire way to get lost in the noise. A strategic, well-researched approach was essential for cutting through the clutter and connecting with your ideal audience. It wasn’t about using more hashtags, but using the right hashtags.

Researching Relevant Hashtags

Effective hashtag strategy in 2021 began with meticulous research.

This wasn’t a one-and-done task but an ongoing process to adapt to trending topics and algorithm changes.

• Competitor Analysis: Look at what hashtags successful accounts in your niche were using. Tools like Instagram’s native search bar or third-party analytics platforms could reveal frequently used and high-performing hashtags.
• Audience Insights: Understand what hashtags your target audience was already following or engaging with. Polls, Q&A stickers in Stories, and direct interaction could provide invaluable insights.
• Related Hashtags: When you type a hashtag into Instagram’s search bar, it often suggests related hashtags. This was a goldmine for discovering complementary and slightly more niche terms. For example, if you searched for #MuslimLifestyle, Instagram might suggest #IslamicInspiration or #ModestFashion.

Categorizing Hashtags: Broad, Niche, and Hyper-Niche

A balanced hashtag strategy in 2021 involved a mix of different hashtag types to maximize reach while maintaining relevance. Instagram landscape aspect ratio

• Broad/Community Hashtags 1-2: These are popular, high-volume hashtags relevant to your overall industry or community. While competitive, they can still provide broad visibility. Examples: #Islam, #MuslimsOfInstagram, #Halal
• Niche-Specific Hashtags 5-10: These are more targeted to your specific content topic, attracting a more engaged audience. Examples: #IslamicFinanceTips, #ModestSwimwear, #HalalCuisine
• Hyper-Niche/Branded Hashtags 1-3: These are highly specific, often long-tail hashtags, or unique hashtags for your brand or specific campaigns. Examples: #YourBrandNameTips, #QuranReflectionsDaily, #MyHalalKitchen

Placement and Quantity: Less is Often More

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, the consensus in 2021 from many successful accounts and data analyses suggested that quality over quantity was paramount. Many found success using between 5 and 15 highly relevant hashtags.

• In the Caption: Placing hashtags directly in the caption was the most common method. However, embedding them within a relevant sentence or placing them at the end of the caption, perhaps after a few line breaks, helped maintain readability.
• In the First Comment: This was a popular strategy for a cleaner caption aesthetic. The algorithm still recognized hashtags placed in the first comment immediately after posting.
• Relevance is Key: No matter the quantity, ensuring every single hashtag was genuinely relevant to the content of the post was critical for the algorithm to correctly categorize and distribute it.

The Role of Trending and Seasonal Hashtags in 2021

Staying abreast of trending and seasonal hashtags was a vital tactic for increasing timely visibility in 2021. This allowed content creators to tap into ongoing conversations and capitalize on moments of heightened user activity.

Capitalizing on Current Events and Holidays

Timely content often saw a surge in engagement.

Incorporating relevant trending or seasonal hashtags could significantly boost a post’s reach.

• Islamic Holidays: Hashtags like #EidMubarak, #RamadanKareem, #JummahMubarak were incredibly powerful during their respective periods, attracting a massive, engaged audience.
• Global Events: Depending on the niche, incorporating hashtags related to major global events, if relevant to your content, could also provide a boost. For example, #ClimateAction if discussing sustainable halal practices.
• News and Pop Culture with caution: While trending news could offer visibility, it was crucial to ensure the content remained respectful, aligned with Islamic values, and didn’t venture into areas of gossip or sensationalism.

Using Instagram Explore Page for Trending Ideas

The Instagram Explore page was a goldmine for discovering what was currently trending and what types of content were getting high engagement.

• Topic Exploration: By observing the categories and popular posts on the Explore page, creators could glean insights into trending visual styles, content formats, and, crucially, the hashtags being used by top-performing content.
• Algorithm Signals: The Explore page itself was a reflection of the algorithm’s current priorities, offering clues about what types of content and hashtags were currently being favored for wider distribution.

Leveraging Micro-Trends and Niche Communities

Beyond broad trends, identifying and participating in micro-trends within specific niches could yield significant results in 2021.

• Community Challenges: Many niche communities on Instagram started their own challenges or themed weeks. Participating in these with relevant hashtags could greatly enhance visibility within that specific group. For example, #ModestOutfitChallenge or #IslamicCalligraphyArt.
• User-Generated Content: Encouraging your audience to use a specific hashtag for their content, like #MyHalalJourney or #IslamicParentingTips, not only boosted your brand’s visibility but also fostered a stronger sense of community.

Analyzing Hashtag Performance in 2021

The adage “what gets measured gets managed” was particularly true for hashtag strategy in 2021. Regularly analyzing hashtag performance was crucial for refining tactics and optimizing future posts.

Instagram Insights: Your First Stop for Data

Instagram’s native analytics, Insights, provided valuable data on hashtag performance, showing how many impressions your posts received from hashtags.

• Impressions from Hashtags: This metric directly showed how many times your post was seen because someone discovered it via a hashtag. Tracking this over time helped identify which hashtags were most effective.
• Reach vs. Impressions: Understanding the difference was key. Impressions are the total number of times your content was displayed, while reach is the number of unique accounts that saw your content. A high impression count from hashtags, coupled with a good reach, indicated effective hashtag usage.
• Top Posts by Hashtag: By analyzing which posts gained the most hashtag impressions, creators could identify patterns in successful hashtag combinations and content types.

A/B Testing Hashtag Sets

Just like any other marketing component, hashtags benefited from A/B testing.

This involved experimenting with different sets of hashtags to see which combination yielded the best results. Instagram layout sizes

• Varying Quantity: Experiment with different numbers of hashtags e.g., 5, 10, 15 to see if there’s an optimal range for your specific content and audience.
• Mixing Broad and Niche: Try different ratios of broad, niche, and hyper-niche hashtags.
• Tracking Over Time: Consistency was key. Track the performance of different hashtag sets over several posts to gather meaningful data before making conclusions. A single post’s performance could be an anomaly.

External Analytics Tools for Deeper Insights

While Instagram Insights provided a good starting point, many external analytics tools offered more granular data and competitive analysis for hashtag performance.

• Hashtag Performance Tracking: Tools could track the reach, engagement, and even follower growth attributed to specific hashtags over time.
• Competitor Hashtag Analysis: These tools could reveal what hashtags your competitors were using and how they were performing, offering strategic insights.
• Trend Identification: Some tools offered advanced features to identify emerging hashtag trends before they became oversaturated, giving you a competitive edge.

Common Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid in 2021

Even with the best intentions, certain hashtag practices could inadvertently hinder visibility and engagement in 2021. Avoiding these pitfalls was as important as employing effective strategies.

Over-Saturating with Irrelevant Hashtags

One of the most common mistakes was stuffing posts with hashtags that had little to no relevance to the actual content.

This could confuse the algorithm and, worse, irritate your audience.

• Algorithm Penalties: Instagram’s algorithm in 2021 was smart enough to detect irrelevant hashtag usage. This could lead to a decrease in organic reach as the platform deemed your content less valuable or even spammy.
• Poor User Experience: Users encountering irrelevant hashtags are likely to scroll past, reducing engagement and potentially leading to unfollows. Imagine a post about Islamic finance tagged with #FitnessGoals – it just doesn’t make sense.
• Wasted Opportunities: Every irrelevant hashtag used is a missed opportunity to use a relevant one that could genuinely attract your target audience.

Using Banned or Broken Hashtags

Certain hashtags could be banned or restricted by Instagram due to their association with inappropriate or harmful content.

Using these could severely impact your post’s visibility.

• Shadowbanning Risk: While not officially confirmed by Instagram, many creators reported that using banned hashtags could lead to a “shadowban,” where their content’s reach is severely limited without official notification.
• Checking Hashtag Status: Before using a hashtag, it was a good practice to search for it on Instagram. If you see a message stating “Recent posts from # hashtag are currently hidden because the community has reported some content that may not meet Instagram’s community guidelines,” avoid it.
• Staying Updated: The list of banned hashtags could change. Regularly reviewing your go-to hashtags and checking their status was a wise preventive measure.

Repetitive Hashtag Blocks

While saving common hashtag sets could be a time-saver, using the exact same block of hashtags for every single post was a detrimental practice in 2021.

• Algorithm’s Perception of Spam: The algorithm could flag highly repetitive hashtag usage as spammy behavior, reducing the organic reach of your posts.
• Lack of Relevance: Not every post you create will be relevant to the exact same set of hashtags. Using a generic block for diverse content inherently leads to irrelevance for some posts.
• Missed Niche Opportunities: A static hashtag block prevents you from adapting to trending topics, specific content themes, and hyper-niche communities that could offer significant, targeted reach for individual posts. Always tailor your hashtags to the specific content of each post.

Beyond Hashtags: Holistic Instagram Growth in 2021

While hashtags were a crucial element of Instagram discoverability in 2021, they were just one piece of a larger puzzle.

True, sustainable growth on the platform involved a holistic approach that prioritized authentic engagement and valuable content.

High-Quality, Value-Driven Content

The bedrock of any successful Instagram strategy in 2021 was content that genuinely resonated with and provided value to the audience. Instagram new hashtags for likes

This meant moving beyond aesthetically pleasing but empty posts.

• Educate: Share knowledge, tips, and insights relevant to your niche e.g., #IslamicParentingTips, #HalalInvesting101.
• Inspire: Share stories, quotes, and visuals that uplift and motivate e.g., #QuranicInspiration, #MuslimRoleModels.
• Entertain with caution: While entertainment could be engaging, ensure it aligns with Islamic principles. Focus on wholesome, constructive humor or creative storytelling.
• Connect: Share personal experiences within limits of modesty, ask questions, and invite dialogue.
• Visual Appeal: High-resolution images and videos were still paramount. Investing in good lighting, composition, and editing made a significant difference.

Engaging with Your Community

Engagement was a two-way street in 2021. Simply posting and hoping for likes wasn’t enough.

Active participation in the community was essential.

• Respond to Comments and DMs: Promptly and thoughtfully engaging with comments and direct messages fostered a sense of community and showed appreciation for your audience.
• Engage on Other Accounts: Actively liking, commenting on, and sharing content from other accounts in your niche, especially those of your target audience, increased your visibility and established genuine connections.
• Use Interactive Stickers: Instagram Stories offered a wealth of interactive stickers like polls, quizzes, and Q&As, which were excellent for sparking direct engagement and gathering audience insights.

Consistency and Authenticity

The Instagram algorithm in 2021 rewarded consistency.

Regular posting, even if it wasn’t daily, signaled to the algorithm that your account was active and valuable. Authenticity was also crucial for building trust.

• Consistent Posting Schedule: Develop a realistic posting schedule and stick to it. Whether it’s three times a week or once a day, consistency helps the algorithm know when to expect your content and keeps your audience engaged.
• Authentic Voice: Be genuine in your content and interactions. Audiences can spot inauthenticity from a mile away. Share your unique perspective, your struggles, and your triumphs within appropriate boundaries.
• Avoid Engagement Pods and Artificial Boosts: While the allure of quick likes can be strong, participating in engagement pods or using services that provide artificial likes and followers was strongly discouraged. These methods are against Instagram’s terms of service and can lead to penalties, including reduced reach or even account suspension. Focus on organic, sustainable growth.

The Pitfalls of Chasing “Likes” for Likes’ Sake in 2021

While the title “Instagram likes hashtags 2021” focuses on likes, it’s crucial to acknowledge the deeper, often detrimental, implications of solely chasing vanity metrics.

In 2021, and indeed always, the pursuit of superficial validation on social media can be counterproductive to genuine growth and, more importantly, to one’s spiritual well-being.

The Illusion of Popularity

Focusing intensely on accumulating likes can create an illusion of popularity that doesn’t translate to real-world impact or meaningful connections.

A high like count doesn’t necessarily mean a high level of influence or genuine engagement.

• Empty Metrics: A post with 1,000 likes but zero comments or saves indicates a lack of true engagement. The algorithm in 2021 increasingly de-emphasized such empty metrics.
• Comparison Trap: Constantly comparing one’s like count to others can lead to feelings of inadequacy, envy, and a relentless pursuit of external validation, detracting from focus on beneficial content.

Ethical Considerations: The True Value of Content

For a Muslim professional, the ultimate goal of any online presence should be to share beneficial knowledge, inspire positive action, and foster community in a way that aligns with Islamic principles. Instagram image aspect ratio

Chasing likes can distract from this higher purpose.

• Intent Matters: Is the content being created to serve Allah and humanity, or merely to gain applause from strangers? The intention behind the content is paramount.
• Prioritizing Impact Over Popularity: Instead of asking “How can I get more likes?”, a more beneficial question is “How can my content be more impactful, beneficial, and insightful for my audience?”
• Authenticity and Truthfulness: Focusing on honest, authentic content, even if it doesn’t always go “viral,” builds genuine trust and a loyal audience over time. It’s about building a legacy of good, not just fleeting fame.

The Detrimental Effects of Artificial Boosts

The temptation to buy likes or use automated services for engagement was present in 2021, but these methods were consistently a bad idea.

• Violating Platform Guidelines: Instagram’s terms of service explicitly prohibit the use of bots and artificial engagement. Violations can lead to shadowbanning, reduced reach, or even permanent account suspension.
• Damaged Credibility: Audiences are increasingly savvy. A sudden, unexplained surge in likes from inactive or suspicious accounts can damage your credibility and erode trust.
• Skewed Analytics: Artificial likes provide no meaningful data for content optimization. They inflate metrics, making it impossible to understand what truly resonates with a real audience. This makes it harder to learn and improve.

The Alternatives: Focusing on Genuine Growth

Instead of chasing fleeting likes, redirect energy towards strategies that yield genuine, sustainable growth and positive impact.

• Meaningful Connections: Engage in genuine conversations in comments and DMs. Collaborate with other authentic creators.
• Valuable Content Creation: Invest time in crafting posts that educate, inspire, or solve a problem for your audience.
• Building a Community: Foster a sense of belonging among your followers. Encourage discussion, share user-generated content, and create spaces where your audience feels heard and valued.
• Focus on Impact: Measure success not just by likes, but by comments, shares, saves, and direct messages indicating that your content made a difference in someone’s life. This aligns far better with an Islamic ethos of benefiting others.

Future-Proofing Your Instagram Strategy Beyond 2021

A truly robust strategy must be adaptable and focused on timeless principles of content creation and community building, rather than just chasing the latest hack.

Embracing New Features and Formats

Instagram is perpetually rolling out new features.

Staying agile and experimenting with these new formats is key to maintaining visibility and engagement.

• Reels and Video Content: By 2021, short-form video content like Reels had become incredibly popular and algorithmically favored. Creators who adapted and consistently produced engaging video content often saw significant boosts in reach.
• Guides and Shopping Features: As Instagram expanded into more utility-based features, understanding and utilizing Guides for curated content or shopping features for relevant ethical products e.g., modest wear, Islamic books could provide new avenues for connection and impact.
• Live and Stories: These ephemeral formats continued to be powerful for real-time engagement, Q&As, behind-the-scenes content, and fostering a deeper connection with your audience.

Diversifying Your Content Strategy

Relying solely on one type of content or one platform is risky.

A diversified approach ensures resilience against algorithm changes and caters to different audience preferences.

• Mixed Media: Don’t just stick to photos. Experiment with carousels, short videos, long-form IGTV though less popular in 2021, and infographics.
• Cross-Platform Presence: While Instagram might be a primary focus, consider how content can be repurposed or tailored for other platforms like YouTube for longer educational videos, TikTok for very short, engaging clips, or a personal blog/website for deeper dives. This also provides owned media, a crucial aspect of not being solely reliant on third-party platforms.
• Email List Building: This is perhaps the most crucial “future-proofing” strategy. Building an email list allows you to directly communicate with your most engaged audience members, regardless of what happens with Instagram’s algorithm or even the platform itself. It’s an asset you own.

Focusing on Long-Term Relationship Building

Ultimately, the most sustainable and rewarding approach to any social media presence is building genuine, long-term relationships with your audience. This goes far beyond likes and hashtags.

• Community First: Shift the mindset from “how many followers can I get?” to “how strong can I make my community?” This involves listening to your audience, addressing their needs, and making them feel valued.
• Thought Leadership: Establish yourself as a reliable source of beneficial information or inspiration within your niche. When people trust your content, they will seek it out, regardless of fluctuating algorithms.
• Ethical Influence: Use your platform to promote goodness, knowledge, and positive change, aligning with Islamic teachings of beneficial knowledge ilm nafi. This kind of influence is far more enduring than superficial popularity based on likes.

Measuring Success Beyond Likes in 2021

In 2021, and moving forward, a mature approach to Instagram analytics involved looking beyond the superficial “like” count. Instagram grid aspect ratio

True success metrics revealed genuine audience engagement, content effectiveness, and business impact.

Engagement Rate: The True Pulse of Your Content

The engagement rate became a far more telling metric than raw like counts.

It provided insight into how interested your audience was in your content.

• Calculation: Likes + Comments + Saves + Shares / Follower Count * 100. Some variations exist, but the core idea is measuring interaction relative to reach or followers.
• Why it Matters: A high engagement rate indicated that your content was resonating with your audience. It told Instagram that your posts were valuable, which could lead to increased organic reach.
• Benchmarking: While averages vary by industry and follower count, a healthy engagement rate in 2021 was often considered to be above 1-3% for larger accounts and potentially higher for smaller, niche communities e.g., 5-10% or more.

Saves and Shares: High-Value Interactions

While likes are easy to give, saves and shares require more effort and signify a deeper level of appreciation and value from the user.

• Saves: When a user saves your post, it means they find it so valuable that they want to revisit it later. This is a strong signal to Instagram that your content is high-quality and useful. Posts with high save rates were often prioritized by the algorithm.
• Shares: Sharing your content directly to Stories, DMs, or other platforms amplified your reach to new audiences. This peer-to-peer recommendation was incredibly powerful for organic growth.
• Content Strategy Implications: Tracking saves and shares could reveal what types of content e.g., educational carousels, inspirational quotes, practical tips resonated most deeply with your audience.

Website Clicks and Conversions: The Ultimate Goal

For many creators and businesses, the ultimate goal of Instagram is to drive traffic or conversions to an external site.

Tracking these actions was crucial for measuring real business impact.

• Link Clicks in Bio: Optimizing your “link in bio” and tracking its clicks through Instagram Insights or third-party link tools like Linktree or similar alternatives was essential.
• Shopping Tags and Product Stickers: For those selling halal products, using Instagram’s native shopping features to tag products directly in posts and Stories allowed for seamless conversion tracking.
• DM Inquiries and Leads: Sometimes, the conversion isn’t a direct sale but an inquiry via DM that leads to a later sale or collaboration. Tracking these qualitative interactions was also important.

Follower Growth and Retention

While not directly tied to a single post’s performance, overall follower growth and, more importantly, follower retention, were vital long-term metrics.

• Net Follower Gain: Track the number of new followers versus unfollows over time. Steady, consistent growth is a positive sign.
• Follower Demographics: Understanding who your followers are age, location, interests through Instagram Insights helped refine content strategy to better serve them.
• Audience Loyalty: Are your followers consistently engaging with your content? This indicated a loyal community, which is far more valuable than a large but disengaged following.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Instagram likes hashtags for 2021?

The “best” Instagram likes hashtags in 2021 were those highly relevant to your specific content and niche, rather than generic, high-volume ones.

Focus on a mix of niche-specific, community, and hyper-niche hashtags that accurately describe your post.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram in 2021 for maximum likes?

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, in 2021, many creators found optimal results using between 5 and 15 highly relevant hashtags. Quality and specificity trumped sheer quantity for organic reach and engagement. Instagram hashtags for more reach

Does using popular hashtags guarantee more likes on Instagram in 2021?

No, using popular hashtags does not guarantee more likes.

While they offer high visibility, they are also highly competitive.

In 2021, niche and relevant hashtags often yielded better engagement from a targeted audience, which is more valuable than just a high like count.

Should I put hashtags in the caption or first comment in 2021?

Both methods were effective in 2021. Placing hashtags in the caption directly beneath your text, often after a few line breaks, or immediately in the first comment after posting, worked for discoverability.

The choice often came down to aesthetic preference.

Did Instagram’s algorithm change regarding hashtags in 2021?

Yes, Instagram’s algorithm continuously evolves.

In 2021, there was a noticeable shift towards prioritizing genuine engagement and relevance.

Hashtags became crucial for the algorithm to understand your content’s topic and show it to users who were genuinely interested, leading to higher quality interactions rather than just passive likes.

How do I find trending hashtags for my niche in 2021?

You can find trending hashtags by observing the Instagram Explore page, checking the “Related Hashtags” section when you search for a hashtag, analyzing what successful accounts in your niche are using, and utilizing third-party hashtag research tools.

Are “likes for likes” or “follow for follow” strategies effective for hashtags in 2021?

No, “likes for likes” or “follow for follow” strategies were generally ineffective and often detrimental in 2021. They provide artificial engagement that Instagram’s algorithm can detect, potentially leading to reduced organic reach or even shadowbanning. Focus on genuine interaction. Instagram hashtags number

Can using the same hashtags every time hurt my Instagram reach in 2021?

Yes, using the exact same block of hashtags for every single post could be detrimental in 2021. The algorithm might flag this as spammy behavior, and it also prevents your content from being discovered by new, specific audiences related to unique post topics.

How can I track the performance of my hashtags in 2021?

You can track hashtag performance using Instagram’s native Insights feature.

It shows you how many impressions your posts received from hashtags.

For deeper analysis, third-party analytics tools offer more granular data on reach, engagement, and follower growth attributed to specific hashtags.

What is a “shadowban” and how does it relate to hashtags in 2021?

A “shadowban” is a speculated phenomenon where Instagram secretly limits the reach of your content without official notification.

While Instagram has not officially confirmed it, many creators believed that using banned or irrelevant hashtags could trigger a shadowban, severely impacting visibility.

Is it better to use broad or niche hashtags for likes in 2021?

In 2021, it was generally better to use a mix, but lean heavily towards niche hashtags. While broad hashtags offer wide visibility, niche hashtags attract a highly engaged, targeted audience, leading to more meaningful interactions and potentially higher quality “likes” from relevant users.

Should I create my own branded hashtag in 2021?

Yes, creating your own branded hashtag is highly recommended.

It helps build community, encourages user-generated content, and makes it easy for your audience to find all content related to your brand or specific campaigns.

Do hashtags work on Instagram Stories in 2021?

Yes, hashtags on Instagram Stories could increase your visibility. Instagram hashtags for marketing

You could add up to 10 hashtags one interactive hashtag sticker and nine text hashtags. If your Story was featured on a hashtag’s Story page, it could gain significant extra views.

How do hashtags help with the Instagram Explore page in 2021?

Hashtags were crucial for getting content onto the Instagram Explore page in 2021. The algorithm used hashtags to categorize your content and match it with users’ interests, increasing the likelihood of your post appearing on their personalized Explore feed if it showed high engagement.

What’s the impact of location hashtags on likes in 2021?

Location hashtags or tagging a location were very effective in 2021 for reaching a local audience.

If your content was relevant to a specific geographical area, using a location hashtag could significantly boost its visibility among users interested in that region, potentially leading to more local likes and engagement.

Should I use hashtags with numbers or emojis in 2021?

Yes, you could use hashtags with numbers or emojis in 2021, provided they were relevant and commonly used.

However, it’s generally better to prioritize clear, keyword-rich hashtags that are easily searchable and descriptive of your content.

Did Instagram’s removal of public like counts affect hashtag strategy in 2021?

While Instagram removed public like counts in some regions, it didn’t fundamentally change the internal algorithm’s reliance on likes as an engagement signal.

For creators, it shifted the focus away from vanity metrics towards more meaningful engagement comments, saves, shares and overall content quality.

Hashtag strategy remained crucial for discoverability.

Are there any specific tools to help manage Instagram hashtags in 2021?

Yes, many tools were available in 2021 to help manage Instagram hashtags. Instagram feed video specs

These ranged from simple mobile apps for hashtag suggestions to more advanced platforms offering competitive analysis, performance tracking, and content scheduling with hashtag integration.

What is the ideal character length for effective hashtags in 2021?

There wasn’t a strict “ideal” character length in 2021. The effectiveness of a hashtag depended on its relevance and search volume.

Longer, more descriptive hyper-niche hashtags could be highly effective for attracting very specific audiences, while shorter, broader ones provided wider but more competitive visibility.

How frequently should I update my hashtag list in 2021?

You should regularly update your hashtag list in 2021, ideally on an ongoing basis.