Quick answer:
Step 1: Add hashtags in either the caption or first comment
Step 2: Create a Balanced Hashtag Strategy
Step 3: Research relevant hashtags using Instagram search and competitor analysis
Step 4: Track performance through Instagram Insights
Step 5: Implement Advanced Techniques:
- Rotate hashtags regularly.
- Leverage trending and branded hashtags strategically.
- Place hashtags in captions or first comments for optimal impact.
Instagram hashtags are the markers that tell the algorithm what your content is about and which people to show it to. Hashtags act as keywords and phrases to link topics together.
This helps you grow your audience as more people find your content as they scroll through related Instagram Reels. In fact, Instagram posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement.⚡
Getting started with hashtags for Instagram Reels is easy, but there are a few key points to consider. Today, we’ll cover the basics and then explore advanced techniques used by the most successful content creators on Instagram to explode their audience growth. 💪
Creating a Balanced Hashtag Strategy
When choosing your hashtags, consider that popular terms with high search volume will also have high competition. More specific terms focusing on a micro-niche will have a lower search volume and fewer people competing for that audience. Building a strategy that balances broad search terms and specific phrases is key to success on Instagram Reels. ⚡
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s unnecessary and sometimes even harmful to meet this limit. If you have too many hashtags, your Reels can look spammy, and people won’t trust your content. Using too many hashtags may also dilute the audience you are trying to reach by confusing the algorithm with too much information. 🤔
The optimal number of hashtags to use for your Instagram Reels is between 3 and 5. Use this as a rule of thumb, but ensure that every hashtag is relevant to your niche and to the specific Reel you are attaching it to.
Here’s an example of achieving a balanced strategy for an Instagram Reel showcasing a chicken burrito recipe for an account focused on high-protein meal preparation. The post would break the hashtags into the following groups: 🧡
Advanced Hashtag Techniques for Maximizing Reach
Let’s pull back the curtain and look at some more advanced techniques the world’s top brands use to build and engage with their audiences.
Ride the Trending Wave (Carefully)
Using trending hashtags can put your content in front of a massive audience excited about a topic. Because trends are fleeting, you need to get in quickly to successfully piggyback off the popularity of the moment. Remember, only try to ride trends that make sense for your brand—if it is not a natural fit, your content will feel inauthentic and turn people off.
Here we can see ASOS playing off the popularity of Squid Games and they actually created their own hashtag #fashiongames. We’ll take a little more look at branded hashtags now.
Strategic Placement
If you’re using the recommended 3-5 hashtags, these can look messy on your Reel caption. Add them in the first comment to hide them from view. This keeps your caption clean, tidy, and professional. They will still have the same impact on the search algorithm when they’re in the comments.
Get into the Hashtag Routine
Hashtags are essential for categorizing your videos on Instagram. Research what is currently working with creators in your niche, list popular hashtags, and then rotate which hashtags you use.
Keep your captions clean, and don’t be afraid to experiment with hyper-specified keywords and trends. You need to be consistent but adaptable. Social media moves fast, and the hashtags you use today may not be the ones you use tomorrow.
Do the research, but have fun with your hashtags. When you’re authentic with your audience, you can’t go wrong. If you think a hashtag is appropriate, the chances are, they will too!