A strong social media presence is important for individuals and businesses alike. Hashtags are social media tools that will allow your posts to reach their full potential in terms of reach and likes if used correctly.

Using Instagram hashtags for posts and reels the right way can make or break your social media campaign. For someone looking to improve and expand their social media presence, nothing does the job like a good hashtag. Using them correctly allows you to engage with the right audience, creating experiences that make a difference. 

However, incorrect usage can have the opposite effect – from annoying potential followers to getting blocked by them. Some degree of thought and strategy must be utilized to use hashtags effectively. This article will help you cover all bases and tap into the potential of hashtags for Instagram 2023.

What’s so Important About Instagram Hashtags?

Hashtags are a combination of letters, numbers, special characters, and even emojis, preceded by the symbol ‘#.’ The intent of using them is to make content more accessible to a specific target. Since they tend to be clickable, hashtags allow the audience to interact with posts tagged with that particular hashtag. 

For individuals or businesses looking to expand their reach, this is an invaluable tool in the arsenal. When used appropriately, hashtags for Instagram posts allow your post to appear on the page for that particular hashtag. The same holds for hashtags for Instagram reels. Additionally, if hashtags are used along with a story, it gets included in the stories of the relevant hashtag and appears on the hashtag page. Hence, you may opt to follow a specific hashtag to be exposed to specific content. It is wise to use the trending Instagram hashtags 2023 to gain maximum traction.

What are the Different Types of Hashtags Out There?

Hashtags target specific communities, so using them strategically allows you to tap into the particular audience. There are multiple types of Instagram hashtags and they may be broadly categorized as follows –

  1. Hashtags for a Specific Service or Product

Instagram hashtags for reels and posts tend to use specific keywords to accurately describe a service or a product being showcased as a part of the post. This is especially useful for individuals and businesses showcasing their offerings.

  1. Niche Hashtags

Certain Instagram hashtags are more specific and fit into the context of specific industries. Namely hashtags for blogging your travels, food blogging, and so on.

  1. Hashtags Created by the Instagram Community

It is common for Instagram communities to interact, considering it is a social media platform. Hence, it is not uncommon to come across hashtags native to the application.

  1. Seasonal Hashtags for Festivals 

During festivals like Diwali, Christmas, or Ramzan, it becomes critical to be on point with your messaging. This is especially true when you are looking to pitch seasonal sales timed and placed strategically to cater to specific crowds.

  1. Hashtags of Specific Location

Adding location-specific Instagram hashtags to your posts is a great idea. They act as a way to update followers on where you may be at that specific time.  

  1. Hashtags of Popular Acronyms

Acronyms are a great way to connect with your crowd. Popular acronyms used in conjunction with hashtags include #OOTD, #TBT #YOLO, to name a few.

Final Thoughts

By now, you may have realized that hashtags can include anything and everything, as long as they are preceded by a literal hashtag. Therefore, when reaching out to your audience, it becomes important to not only use Instagram hashtags strategically but also to get creative while doing so. This helps distinguish between an Instagram post your user scrolls past and a post that engages your audience.    

FAQs

Are posts and reels the only place to engage using hashtags?

In addition to posts and reels, you may also opt to use hashtags for Instagram stories. Hashtag pages have an Instagram story icon in the top left corner. Tapping on it allows you to view the stories tagged with that hashtag.

What is the maximum number of hashtags I can use?

You may include up to 30 hashtags on an Instagram post/reel and 10 on a story. The count is the limit set by Instagram. However, there is no ‘right number’ for Instagram hashtags. What counts is the creativity and message to be conveyed.  

How do I know which hashtags work and which do not?

In case you’re running an Instagram business profile, post insights will be an accessible feature. This serves as an important tool to get an idea of the impression made by your hashtags.

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