Best hashtags for instagram to increase followers

To uncover the best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers, you need a strategic approach that goes beyond simply picking popular tags.

It’s about understanding your niche, analyzing what your audience searches for, and leveraging a mix of tag types for maximum visibility. Here’s a quick guide:

• Niche-Specific Hashtags: Start with highly relevant tags that describe your content accurately. For example, if you post food content, use #halalfoodie, #iftarideas, or #muslimfoodblogger, not just #food.
• Mix of Popularity: Combine high-volume, broad hashtags e.g., #instafood with medium-volume, specific tags e.g., #londonhalalfood and low-volume, ultra-niche tags e.g., #homemadebiryani. This diversification exposes your content to different layers of Instagram’s discovery algorithm.
• Location-Based Hashtags: If your content has a geographical element, include city or region-specific hashtags like #DubaiMuslims, #NYCfood, or #MalaysiaTravel.
• Branded Hashtags: Create a unique hashtag for your own brand or campaign. This helps build community and makes it easy for followers to find your content.
• Trend and Event Hashtags: Keep an eye on trending topics, holidays, or events relevant to your niche e.g., #EidMubarak, #RamadanKareem, #BlackFridayDeals.
• Avoid Banned Hashtags: Regularly check for hashtags that Instagram has banned or restricted. Using them can actually hurt your reach and visibility.
• Utilize Analytics: Track which hashtags perform best for your posts. Instagram Insights for Business/Creator accounts provides valuable data on reach and impressions from hashtags. Tools like 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool can help you research, organize, and analyze hashtag performance efficiently.

A common mistake is thinking “what hashtags get most likes Instagram” is the sole objective.

While likes are great, the true goal is reach and engagement from your target audience.

You want to use hashtags that bring in people genuinely interested in your content, whether it’s best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers and likes, or best food hashtags Instagram to get followers.

This structured approach helps you not only get more popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers, but also attract a loyal and engaged community.

Remember, while there’s no magic app to increase followers on Instagram ethically, a smart hashtag strategy is one of the most powerful organic growth tools.

The Science of Instagram Hashtags: Beyond the Basics

Understanding how Instagram’s algorithm interprets and utilizes hashtags is crucial for any content creator aiming to boost their reach and followers. It’s not just about slapping on a few keywords.

It’s about strategic placement, relevance, and a into your audience’s behavior.

Think of hashtags as the digital breadcrumbs that lead interested users directly to your content.

When used correctly, they categorize your posts, making them discoverable to people who aren’t already following you but are searching for content like yours.

This is where the magic happens, transforming casual browsers into engaged followers.

How Instagram Uses Hashtags for Discovery

Instagram’s explore page and search functions are heavily reliant on hashtags.

When a user searches for a specific topic or clicks on a hashtag from a post, Instagram’s algorithm pulls up relevant content.

This means your posts have a higher chance of appearing if you use the right combination of popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers, niche-specific tags, and even location-based ones.

Furthermore, Instagram uses hashtags to understand the context of your post, helping it determine who might be interested in seeing it. This goes beyond simple keyword matching. it’s about semantic understanding.

The Algorithm’s Preference for Relevant Hashtags

The Instagram algorithm prioritizes relevance. Best hashtags for more likes

Stuffing your posts with irrelevant, overly general, or even “best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers” if they don’t truly relate to your content, can actually hurt your reach.

The system is designed to reward authentic engagement and quality content.

Using hashtags that accurately describe your image or video signals to Instagram that your content is valuable for users searching for those terms.

This increases the likelihood of your post being featured on the Explore page or appearing in hashtag feeds, directly impacting your ability to get followers.

Decoding Hashtag Categories: Your Arsenal for Growth

To truly master Instagram growth, you need to understand the different categories of hashtags and how to strategically combine them.

It’s like building a balanced investment portfolio – you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

A diverse mix of hashtags ensures your content is visible across various search queries and user behaviors, maximizing your chances of attracting new followers.

This comprehensive approach is far more effective than just trying to guess what hashtags get most likes Instagram.

Broad/General Hashtags: The High-Volume Players

These are the widely used, high-volume hashtags that attract a massive audience. Think #travel, #food, #photography, #fitness. While they offer immense reach potential, the competition is fierce. Your post might get lost in a sea of millions of other posts using the same tag.

• Pros: Enormous potential reach, exposure to a very large audience.
• Cons: Extremely high competition, short lifespan of visibility, harder to stand out.
• Strategy: Use these sparingly and always combine them with more specific tags. They act as a wide net, but you need narrower nets to catch your ideal audience. For example, a food blogger might use #food alongside #halalfoodie.
• Data Insight: Posts with even one very popular hashtag over 1 million uses often see a temporary spike in impressions, but sustained engagement comes from more targeted tags.

Niche-Specific Hashtags: Targeting Your Ideal Audience

These are the backbone of effective hashtag strategy. Niche-specific hashtags are highly relevant to your content and target a smaller, more engaged audience. For a food blogger, this could be #halalrecipes, #iftarprep, #muslimchef, or #organicfoodlover. These users are actively seeking your specific content, making them more likely to follow and engage. Best hashtags for instagram post likes

• Pros: Attracts highly relevant and engaged followers, lower competition, better conversion rates from viewer to follower.
• Cons: Smaller overall audience reach compared to broad tags.
• Strategy: Identify 5-10 core niche hashtags that perfectly describe your content and target audience. Research what best food hashtags Instagram to get followers your competitors or similar accounts are using. Tools can help you discover variations and related tags.
• Example: Instead of just #art, consider #abstractart, #contemporarypainting, #mixedmediaartist, #digitalartportrait.

Location-Based Hashtags: Hyper-Localizing Your Reach

If your content, business, or audience has a geographical component, location-based hashtags are non-negotiable. This applies to local businesses, travel bloggers, event organizers, or anyone wanting to connect with a community in a specific area. Think #LondonFoodie, #NYCPhotography, #DubaiLife, #MalaysiaEats.

• Pros: Attracts local followers and customers, highly relevant to people in a specific area, excellent for local business growth.
• Cons: Limited to a specific geographical area.
• Strategy: Use both city-specific and broader regional tags. For a cafe in Brooklyn, use #BrooklynCafe, #NYCfood, #WilliamsburgEats. You can also combine with niche tags, e.g., #halalfoodNYC.
• Statistic: Studies show that posts with location tags see 79% higher engagement than those without.

Branded Hashtags: Building Community and Recognition

A branded hashtag is unique to your brand, business, or campaign. It helps in building a community around your content and encourages user-generated content. Examples include #YourBrandName, #YourCampaignSlogan, or #YourUniqueContentSeries.

• Pros: Fosters community, encourages user-generated content, increases brand recognition, makes it easy for followers to find all your related content.
• Cons: Requires consistent promotion to gain traction.
• Strategy: Promote your branded hashtag in your bio, captions, stories, and even offline marketing materials. Encourage your audience to use it when they share content related to your brand.
• Tip: If you’re a food blogger, it could be #YourNameRecipes or #HalalKitchenAdventures.

Trend & Event Hashtags: Capitalizing on Momentum

These hashtags are time-sensitive and relevant to current events, holidays, or trending topics. They offer a fantastic opportunity to ride the wave of popular conversations. Think #RamadanKareem, #EidMubarak, #NationalCoffeeDay, #SmallBusinessSaturday.

• Pros: Can provide a significant boost in reach during a relevant period, taps into trending conversations.
• Cons: Short shelf-life, requires quick adaptation to current trends.
• Strategy: Stay updated on current events and holidays relevant to your niche. Don’t force irrelevant trends. authenticity is key. Use tools or Instagram’s own suggestions to find trending tags.
• Caution: Ensure the trend aligns with your brand values and content. Avoid using trends that are negative or controversial.

The Art of Hashtag Selection: Your Recipe for Engagement

Choosing the best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers isn’t just about picking random popular ones.

It’s an art that combines research, relevance, and strategic deployment.

The goal is to attract followers who are genuinely interested in your content, leading to higher engagement and a more loyal community.

This process requires a bit of detective work and ongoing optimization.

Researching Hashtags: Tools and Techniques

Effective hashtag research is the cornerstone of a successful Instagram strategy.

You need to know what your audience is searching for, what your competitors are using, and what’s currently trending in your niche.

• Instagram Search Bar: Start directly on Instagram. Type in keywords related to your content in the search bar under the “Tags” tab. Instagram will suggest related hashtags along with the number of posts for each. This gives you an immediate sense of their popularity. For example, searching “halal food” will show you #halalfood millions of posts, #halalfoodie hundreds of thousands, #halalfoodlondon tens of thousands, and so on. This helps you identify broad, medium, and niche tags.
• Competitor Analysis: Look at what hashtags successful accounts in your niche are using. Don’t just copy. analyze their patterns. Are they using a mix of broad and niche? Are there specific branded hashtags? This can give you insights into what works for a similar audience.
• Hashtag Generators & Tools: Several third-party tools, like the one we linked earlier 👉 Free Growth Marketing Tool, can help you find relevant hashtags. You input a keyword, and they suggest a list of related hashtags, often categorized by popularity, competition, and relevance. Some even show you their estimated reach and engagement potential. These tools are invaluable for discovering long-tail and niche hashtags you might not think of otherwise.
• Related Hashtags: When you click on a hashtag on Instagram, you’ll often see a “Related” section at the top. This is a goldmine for discovering new, relevant hashtags that users interested in that topic also follow or use.

The Optimal Number of Hashtags: Quality Over Quantity

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but that doesn’t mean you should always use all of them.

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The “optimal” number is a hotly debated topic, but consensus leans towards quality over sheer quantity.

• Recommendation: Aim for 8-12 highly relevant hashtags. Some experts suggest even fewer, like 5-7. The key is relevance.
• Why Not 30? While using all 30 won’t necessarily penalize you, it can sometimes look spammy, and Instagram’s algorithm might prioritize posts with a more focused set of tags. Studies from platforms like Later and Sprout Social suggest that posts with a moderate number of well-chosen hashtags often outperform those stuffed with 30. For instance, a 2021 study by HubSpot indicated that posts with 11+ hashtags saw higher engagement, but the drop-off for using all 30 could be marginal if they are all highly relevant. It’s more about effective use.
• Testing is Key: The best approach is to experiment with different numbers e.g., 5, 10, 15 and analyze your Instagram Insights to see what works best for your specific audience and content type.

Placement Matters: Caption vs. First Comment

Where you place your hashtags can affect the aesthetics of your caption and how users interact with your post. There are two main strategies:

• In the Caption: This is the most straightforward method. Your hashtags are immediately visible below your caption text.
  • Pros: Simplest to implement, ensures hashtags are instantly associated with your post.
  • Cons: Can make your caption look cluttered, especially if you use many hashtags.
  • Tip: If you choose this, use a few line breaks or dots before your hashtags to push them down, making your caption cleaner.
• In the First Comment: Many users prefer this method for a cleaner caption. You post your content, then immediately add your hashtags as the first comment.
  • Pros: Keeps your caption clean and readable, often preferred aesthetically.
  • Cons: Requires an extra step immediately after posting. If you don’t post it quickly, another comment might get there first.
  • Does it Affect Reach? Instagram has stated that it doesn’t matter where the hashtags are placed. the algorithm treats them the same for discoverability purposes as long as they are on the post. A 2020 experiment by Hootsuite and Instagram found no significant difference in reach between the two methods. Choose what you find most manageable and aesthetically pleasing.

Avoiding Common Hashtag Mistakes: The Pitfalls to Sidestep

While hashtags are powerful growth tools, misusing them can hinder your progress and even lead to penalties from Instagram’s algorithm.

Avoiding common pitfalls is as important as implementing best practices.

Think of it as steering clear of digital speed traps that could slow down your journey to increased followers.

Banned Hashtags: The Silent Killer of Reach

Instagram frequently bans or restricts certain hashtags, often due to misuse e.g., spam, inappropriate content, or violating community guidelines. Using a banned hashtag can significantly reduce your post’s visibility, making it virtually undiscoverable.

In severe cases, repeated use could even lead to your account being shadowbanned where your content is hidden from non-followers without notification.

• 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 Community Guidelines,” or if the hashtag shows zero posts, it’s likely banned or restricted.
• Examples of past banned tags: #streetphoto, #newyears, #beautyblogger some variations, #brain. These often change, so always double-check.
• Action: If you find a banned hashtag you’ve used, edit your past posts to remove it. For future posts, always verify before adding it to your list.

Over-Generalization vs. Hyper-Niche: Finding the Balance

Using hashtags that are too broad e.g., #love, #happy means your content gets lost in billions of other posts. Conversely, using hashtags that are too niche e.g., #myblueteacupcollectionfrom1987 might mean almost no one is searching for them, limiting your reach. Best hashtags for instagram to increase followers and likes

• The Problem: Overly general tags lead to low visibility due to immense competition. Hyper-niche tags lead to low visibility due to lack of search volume.
• The Solution: The sweet spot is a mix of broad, medium, and niche hashtags that are relevant to your content.
  • Broad: Use 1-2 very popular, relevant tags e.g., #photography
  • Medium: Use 3-5 moderately popular, specific tags e.g., #portraitphotography, #streetphotography
  • Niche: Use 3-5 highly specific tags e.g., #blackandwhiteportrait, #urbanphotographyNYC
• Example for a food blogger: Instead of just #food, try #halalfood broad, #londonhalalfood medium, #halalbrunchspots niche. This multi-layered approach casts a wider net while still focusing on your target audience.

Irrelevant Hashtags: A Fast Track to Low Engagement

• The Problem: Instagram’s algorithm detects relevance. If your content doesn’t match the hashtags, it won’t be shown to interested users. Even if it is, users who click on the hashtag and find irrelevant content will quickly move on, leading to low engagement rates. This signals to Instagram that your content isn’t valuable for that hashtag, hurting your future reach.
• The Solution: Every single hashtag you use should directly relate to the content of your post, your niche, or your target audience. Ask yourself: “Would someone searching for this hashtag genuinely want to see my post?” If the answer is no, don’t use it.
• Long-Term Impact: Consistently using irrelevant hashtags can train the algorithm to deprioritize your content in general search and explore functions, making it harder to get discovered organically in the long run.

Advanced Hashtag Strategies: Elevating Your Game

These techniques go beyond simple keyword matching and delve into audience behavior, competitive analysis, and consistent optimization.

Hashtag Stacking: The Tiered Approach

Instead of a random assortment, think of your hashtag strategy as tiered.

This involves using a combination of different popularity levels to maximize reach and relevance.

• Tier 1: Broad/High-Volume 1-2 hashtags: These have millions of posts and give you broad visibility. Examples: #islamicquotes, #halalfood, #travel.
• Tier 2: Medium/Niche-Specific 3-5 hashtags: These have tens or hundreds of thousands of posts and target a more specific audience. Examples: #muslimlifestyle, #halalcertified, #muslimtraveler.
• Tier 3: Micro-Niche/Long-Tail 3-5 hashtags: These have thousands or even hundreds of posts and are ultra-specific, attracting highly engaged users. Examples: #islamicremindersdaily, #londonhalalfoodie, #travelmuslimah.
• Tier 4: Branded/Community 1-2 hashtags: Your unique hashtag or a popular community hashtag. Examples: #YourBrandName, #MuslimCreatives.
• Tier 5: Location-Specific 1-2 hashtags: If relevant. Examples: #DubaiMosque, #MalaysiaFoodScene.

This stack ensures you tap into large audiences while also drilling down to highly relevant users who are more likely to convert into followers.

A study by TrackMaven now part of Sprinklr found that posts with a diverse range of hashtag popularity often perform better than those with only popular or only niche tags.

Utilizing Instagram Insights for Hashtag Performance

If you have an Instagram Business or Creator account, you have access to invaluable analytics that can reveal which hashtags are actually driving results. This data is gold for optimizing your strategy.

• Accessing Insights: Go to your post, tap “View Insights,” and scroll down to the “Impressions” section. You’ll see a breakdown of where your impressions came from: Home, Explore, Profile, Other, and Hashtags.
• Interpreting Data: The “Hashtags” metric tells you how many impressions your post received specifically because of the hashtags you used.
• Actionable Steps:
  • Identify Winning Hashtags: Note which posts received a high number of impressions from hashtags. Then, go back and see what specific hashtags were used on those posts. Create a list of your top-performing hashtags.
  • Optimize Your List: If certain hashtags consistently yield low impressions, consider replacing them with others. Continuously refine your hashtag list based on this feedback loop.
  • Test and Iterate: Don’t just set and forget. Regularly test new combinations, track their performance, and adjust your strategy accordingly. This iterative process is crucial for sustained growth.

Competitor Hashtag Analysis: Learning from the Best

Your competitors or similar accounts in your niche are a rich source of hashtag inspiration.

They’ve already done some of the heavy lifting in identifying what resonates with your shared target audience.

• Identify Top Performers: Find accounts that are successfully growing and engaging their audience.
• Examine Their Hashtags: Look at their recent posts, especially those with high engagement. What hashtags are they consistently using?
• Categorize and Analyze: Group their hashtags into broad, niche, location, and branded categories. Are there any trends in their usage?
• Adapt, Don’t Copy: Don’t just copy their list verbatim. Use their strategy as a starting point, then customize it to fit your unique content and audience. For example, if a popular vegan food blogger uses #plantbasedrecipes, a halal food blogger could adapt it to #halalplantbased or #veganhalal.
• Discover Gaps: Are there any relevant hashtags your competitors aren’t using that you could leverage to stand out? Perhaps a specific sub-niche or a trending local event.

Ethical Growth and Avoiding Unislamic Practices

As Muslim professionals, our approach to growth on any platform, including Instagram, must always align with Islamic principles.

This means prioritizing ethical conduct, avoiding deception, and seeking blessings through permissible means. Best hashtags for instagram post likes and followers

While the desire to increase followers is understandable, certain methods are strictly against our values and ultimately detrimental.

The Impermissibility of Artificial Growth: Buying Followers & Bots

The idea of “best hashtags on twitter to get followers” or “is there any app to increase followers on Instagram” often leads people down a path of artificial growth, such as buying followers or using engagement bots.

These practices are not permissible in Islam and are highly discouraged for several reasons:

• Deception Ghurur/Taghrir: Buying followers or using bots creates a false impression of popularity and influence. It is a form of deception, misleading your audience and potential collaborators about your true reach and engagement. Islam forbids all forms of deception and fraud in dealings.
• Lack of Barakah Blessing: Growth achieved through illicit or deceptive means lacks barakah. While you might see numbers increase, this growth will not be sustainable, meaningful, or blessed. True success, both in this life and the Hereafter, comes from honest effort and permissible actions.
• Ineffectiveness in the Long Run: Instagram’s algorithm is increasingly sophisticated at detecting fake followers and bot activity. Accounts engaging in such practices often face penalties, including reduced reach, shadowbanning, or even permanent account deletion. The “followers” you buy are not real people. they will never engage with your content, purchase your products, or become loyal community members. This leads to a skewed engagement rate e.g., 100,000 followers but only 50 likes per post, which is a clear red flag to real users and brands.
• Wasting Resources Israf: Spending money on fake followers or bot services is a wasteful expenditure of resources Israf, which is also prohibited in Islam. That money could be invested in quality content creation, genuine marketing efforts, or charitable giving.

Better Alternatives: Organic & Ethical Growth

Instead of resorting to impermissible shortcuts, focus on genuine, organic growth strategies that are both effective and blessed:

1. High-Quality Content: This is the absolute cornerstone of any successful Instagram strategy. Produce aesthetically pleasing, informative, and valuable content that genuinely resonates with your target audience. For a Muslim audience, this could mean visually appealing Islamic reminders, halal recipe videos, modest fashion inspiration, or reflections on daily life through an Islamic lens.
2. Strategic Hashtag Use: As discussed extensively, this is your most powerful organic tool. Research and implement relevant, mixed-popularity hashtags to attract the right audience.
3. Authentic Engagement:
   • Respond to Comments & DMs: Show your audience you care. Engage in conversations.
   • Engage with Other Accounts: Actively comment on, like, and share content from similar accounts and potential followers in your niche. This builds relationships and visibility.
   • Collaborate: Partner with other Muslim creators or businesses who share your values. Cross-promotion can introduce your content to new, relevant audiences.
4. Utilize Instagram Features:
   • Reels & Stories: These formats are highly prioritized by Instagram’s algorithm for discovery. Use them creatively to showcase your content, share behind-the-scenes glimpses, or conduct Q&A sessions.
   • Live Videos: Connect with your audience in real-time, answer questions, and build a stronger sense of community.
   • Guides & Carousels: Offer valuable, multi-slide content that educates or inspires.
5. Cross-Promotion: Share your Instagram content on other platforms where you have a presence e.g., your blog, YouTube channel, Facebook group, or even WhatsApp groups.
6. Patience and Consistency: Organic growth takes time and consistent effort. There is no quick fix, but the rewards of a genuinely engaged and loyal community are far more valuable and blessed than any artificially inflated numbers. Focus on serving your audience with beneficial content, and Allah SWT will grant success in His own time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers?

The best hashtags combine broad, niche, location-based, and branded tags. Aim for a mix of 8-12 relevant hashtags like #yournichecommunity e.g., #halalfoodie, #broadtopic e.g., #travel, #specificsubniche e.g., #muslimtraveler, and #yourlocation e.g., #londonlife.

What are the best hashtags for Instagram to increase followers and likes?

To increase both followers and likes, focus on highly relevant hashtags that attract your target audience.

Use a blend of popular, medium-volume, and niche-specific tags that accurately describe your content, as this ensures the right people discover your posts and are more likely to engage.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, it’s generally recommended to use between 8 and 12 highly relevant hashtags per post.

Quality and relevance are more important than quantity for driving genuine engagement and attracting interested followers.

What are the best food hashtags Instagram to get followers?

For food content, use a mix of general food hashtags like #foodie #instafood, niche food hashtags like #halalfood #veganrecipes #homecooking, specific cuisine hashtags like #biryani #pastalovers, and location-based food hashtags like #londonfoodie #nycfood. Aspect ratios for instagram

What hashtags get most likes Instagram?

Hashtags that get the most likes are often those that are highly relevant to your content and attract an engaged audience. These are typically a mix of popular e.g., #photography, medium-volume e.g., #streetphotography, and niche-specific tags e.g., #urbanphotography that resonate with your target demographic.

Is there any app to increase followers on Instagram?

There are no legitimate apps that can magically “increase followers” on Instagram ethically.

Apps that promise rapid follower growth typically use bots or provide fake followers, which violate Instagram’s terms of service and can harm your account’s long-term health and credibility. Focus on organic growth strategies.

What are popular hashtags on Instagram to gain followers?

Popular hashtags to gain followers often include broad terms related to large communities or interests like #travel, #fashion, #fitness, #art, #nature, #food, and #photography. However, using these alone isn’t enough. combine them with more specific and niche hashtags for better targeting.

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

The best hashtags for gaining followers are those that bring your content in front of genuinely interested users.

This means using a strategic mix of broad, niche, branded, and location-specific tags that accurately describe your post and appeal to your ideal audience.

What are the best hashtags on Twitter to get followers?

On Twitter, hashtags function differently than Instagram. They are often more about trending topics and real-time conversations. To get followers, use hashtags relevant to current events, news, or industry discussions, and actively participate in those conversations. Think #currentaffairs #tech #business #politics.

Should I put hashtags in the caption or first comment?

Instagram has stated that it doesn’t matter for discoverability whether you put hashtags in the caption or the first comment.

Many users prefer putting them in the first comment for a cleaner caption aesthetic, but either method works.

How often should I change my hashtags?

It’s beneficial to rotate your hashtags regularly, ideally every few posts, to test new combinations and avoid looking spammy to the algorithm. Adjust pic for instagram

Keep a core set of high-performing hashtags but experiment with new ones to broaden your reach.

Can using too many hashtags hurt my reach?

While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags, using too many irrelevant ones can hurt your reach.

It’s generally better to use a smaller number 8-12 of highly relevant hashtags, as this signals strong topic relevance to the algorithm.

What is a branded hashtag?

A branded hashtag is a unique hashtag specific to your brand, business, or campaign e.g., #YourBrandName, #YourCampaignSlogan. It helps build community, encourages user-generated content, and makes it easy for followers to find all your related content.

How do I find relevant niche hashtags?

To find relevant niche hashtags, use Instagram’s search bar by typing in keywords related to your content and checking the “Tags” section for suggestions.

Also, analyze what similar successful accounts in your niche are using and explore related hashtags.

Do location-based hashtags help increase followers?

Yes, location-based hashtags are highly effective for attracting local followers and customers.

If your content or business has a geographical component, using city, region, or neighborhood-specific hashtags can significantly boost your local visibility.

What is a shadowban and how does it relate to hashtags?

A shadowban is when Instagram secretly limits the visibility of your content to non-followers.

Using banned or inappropriate hashtags is one common reason accounts might get shadowbanned, as it violates community guidelines and can reduce your organic reach. Aspect ratio video instagram

How can I track the performance of my hashtags?

If you have an Instagram Business or Creator account, you can track hashtag performance through Instagram Insights.

Go to a specific post’s insights, and you’ll see a breakdown of impressions, including how many came directly from hashtags.

Should I use trending hashtags?

Yes, using relevant trending hashtags can provide a significant boost in reach by tapping into popular conversations.

However, only use them if they genuinely relate to your content, and be mindful of their short shelf-life.

What is hashtag stacking?

Hashtag stacking is a strategic approach to using hashtags that involves combining different popularity levels – broad, medium, niche, micro-niche, branded, and location-based – in a single post to maximize reach and relevance simultaneously.

Can old posts benefit from new hashtags?

Yes, you can edit old posts to update or add new hashtags.

While it won’t give them the same initial boost as a new post, it can help them get discovered by new audiences if the updated hashtags are relevant and performing well.