Are you a content creator or brand looking to take your Instagram game to the next level with hashtags? You’re in the right place! Hashtags are one of the simplest yet most powerful tools for boosting your reach and engagement on the platform. But with so much conflicting advice out there, it can be tough to know how to use them effectively. Don’t worry—by the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to choose the best Instagram hashtags, how many to use, and where to place them to get your content in front of the right audience. Plus, we’ve included a list of the top trending hashtags to kickstart your strategy.
Why Instagram Hashtags Matter
Instagram hashtags act as a tool to categorize your content and make it discoverable to users interested in similar topics. When done right, hashtags can help you reach a much broader audience, boost engagement, and even grow your follower count.
According to data, posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than those without any. But that doesn’t mean simply adding random hashtags will help. To truly leverage hashtags, you need a strategic approach that focuses on relevance, targeting, and consistency.
How to Use Instagram Hashtags Effectively
1. Choose the Right Types of Hashtags
Not all hashtags are created equal. Understanding the different types can help you reach the right audience and maximize engagement. Here are the five main types of hashtags you should be using:
- Branded Hashtags: These are specific to your brand or campaigns, like #Nike or #JustDoIt. They help create a sense of community around your brand.
- Industry Hashtags: These relate to your niche, like #SocialMediaMarketing or #TravelBlogger. They help you connect with users interested in your industry.
- Community Hashtags: These are broader and help you tap into large, engaged communities, like #FitFam or #VanLife.
- Location-Based Hashtags: If you have a local business, use location-specific tags like #NYCRestaurants or #LondonBoutique to reach local audiences.
- Descriptive Hashtags: These describe the actual content of your post, like #VeganRecipes or #FitnessTips, making it easier for users searching for specific topics to find your content.
Using a variety of these hashtags ensures you’re reaching both broad and targeted audiences.
2. Use the Optimal Number of Hashtags
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but you don’t need to use all of them. In fact, research from Later suggests that using around 20 hashtags gives you the best reach, while Instagram’s own recommendation is 3-5.
Tip: Focus on quality, not quantity. Mix broader hashtags (like #food) with niche hashtags (like #veganfoodblog) to maximize reach and engagement.
3. Where to Place Hashtags: Caption vs. First Comment
There’s an ongoing debate about where to place hashtags—in the caption or in the first comment. The good news? Both options work!
Placing hashtags in the first comment keeps your caption clean and focused, which many users prefer. However, it’s important to add hashtags as soon as you post to maximize reach.
Pro Tip: If you want to keep your captions clean but don’t want to forget to post hashtags, use a scheduling tool like Later or Hootsuite to schedule your first comment with the hashtags.
4. Monitor and Adjust Your Hashtag Strategy
Hashtag performance changes over time, so it’s important to monitor what’s working and make adjustments as necessary. Use Instagram Insights or third-party tools like Later to track which hashtags drive the most impressions and engagement.
Action Step: Regularly review your hashtag performance and swap out underperforming hashtags for new ones to keep your strategy fresh.
Top Instagram Hashtags for 2024
To help you get started, here are some of the most popular hashtags to use in 2024. These are categorized to help you find the right fit for your content:
General Popular Hashtags
- #love (2.1B posts)
- #instagood (1.8B posts)
- #fashion (1.1B posts)
- #photooftheday (1B posts)
- #photography (1B posts)
Engagement Booster Hashtags
- #like4like (514M posts)
- #instalike (493M posts)
- #followforfollow (211M posts)
Niche Hashtags
- Fitness: #fitnessjourney (44.1M posts)
- Food: #foodie (259M posts), #cooking (66.1M posts)
- Travel: #travel (685M posts), #explore (123M posts)
- Pets: #pets (100M posts), #petsofinstagram (61.6M posts)
By combining general and niche hashtags, you’ll increase your chances of reaching both a broad and specific audience, which can result in higher engagement and more followers.
Maximize Your Instagram Growth with Hashtags
Hashtags are a powerful way to boost your Instagram presence, but strategy is key. Here are some final tips to help you succeed:
- Rotate Your Hashtags: Using the same hashtags for every post may limit your reach over time. Rotate them to keep your posts fresh and reach different audiences.
- Stay on Top of Trends: Trending hashtags can give your posts a temporary engagement boost, so keep an eye out for relevant trends in your industry.
- Avoid Banned Hashtags: Some hashtags are banned by Instagram for violating community guidelines. Make sure to check whether your hashtags are allowed to avoid any negative impact on your reach.
Ready to see real results? Book a call today to learn more about how hashtags and other social media strategies can boost your brand and grow your followers.
