Hashtags are a vital part of any successful social media strategy.

To help you make the most of your marketing, Sookio’s Marketing Assistant Sasha shows you why (and how) you should be using handy hashtag heroes in your Instagram posts!

Why hashtags?

Since their introduction to Instagram in 2011, hundreds of millions of posts have been shared using hashtags. Everyone wants their content to be seen. On a platform that houses 964.3 million users, this can be daunting.

As we outlined in our guide to using hashtags on Twitter, hashtags are a fantastic way to get your content in front of the right people at the right time.

Using hashtags can help you to:

• Reach your target audience

• Gain organic exposure

• Attract potential customers (without spending money)

These are all compelling reasons to explore the world of hashtags and make them work for you.

Handy hashtags

Having a few set hashtags that you use in every post not only makes the process faster but also helps people find your content. If you want to create your own hashtag, it’s important that you use it in every post to help get the numbers up and encourage others to use it/follow it.

For example, we use #sookio with every post. Whenever we attend events/webinars/award shows, we encourage others to use #sookio and have therefore created a running portfolio with very little effort.

We’ve provided a snapshot of how impactful hashtags can be, when used as part of a coherent strategy. They helped our Sookio content to be seen by more people!

Hopeless hashtags

When it comes to the size of hashtags, it’s incredibly important to choose carefully.  This is where most accounts go wrong.

Using hashtags with anything over 400,000 posts will see your content get lost in the mix. This is a terrible waste of a hashtag! On the other hand, using a hashtag with posts below 10,000 lessens your chance of being seen. The only exception is if you’re attempting to kickstart a hashtag yourself (see Handy Hashtags for more on this).

One of the hashtags we use regularly is #socialmediamarketingstrategy. This hashtag is thriving! It has a healthy total of 174,000 posts, and the results encompass our company perfectly. All that being said, it’s horrible to read. That’s why we use CamelCase. This technique means every word has a capital letter, improving readability:

#socialmediamarketingstrategy becomes #SocialMediaMarketingStrategy

Don’t worry, these are still the same hashtag, just optimised for user-friendliness.

Harmful hashtags

Hashtags aren’t always a helping hand. Sometimes, they can be harmful to your content strategy.

Why does Instagram ban certain hashtags?

Instagram bans hashtags when there have been numerous reports from users. People may report a hashtag due to inappropriate or explicit content being shared alongside it.

How do you know if a hashtag is banned?

Try searching for it in the explore bar. If it doesn’t appear, it’s banned.

How long do hashtags stay banned?

Hashtag bans can be temporary or permanent. One day it may be blocked and the next it’s live. The only way to know for sure is to keep checking your chosen hashtag.

What happens when you use a banned hashtag?

Your post will be hidden from explore pages and hashtag searches. But be careful, Instagram may also flag your account for using banned hashtags too frequently.

Without prior warning, Instagram can also shadow ban you. Shadow banning is where your account is restricted by the platform. Your content will have limited reach and visibility. Avoid this at ALL costs!

Hashtag hacks

Using hashtags effectively is often trial and error. These hashtag hacks will help you stay on track!

How many hashtags should you use?

On Instagram, you can use a total of 30 hashtags. This is for grid posts, Reels, and IGTV’s.

How do you choose high-performance hashtags?

When it comes to choosing your 30 hashtags, it’s incredibly important for them to match the content. It’s part of my job to make sure that the correct people are seeing our posts.

When it’s a copywriting post, reach for these hashtags:

• #copywritingforcreatives with 52,000 posts

• #copywritingservices with 31,000

• #copywriters with 124,000

These are all fantastic options. They are healthy hashtags that are used by your target audience and aren’t overpopulated, which ensures your posts will be seen.

To speed up your posting process, create lists of healthy hashtags that you know will compliment your business and improve your reach.

Why should you follow hashtags?

Following hashtags is a great way to:

• Keep an eye on the industry

• See what competitors are up to

• Inspire your content

• Encourage networking

When you follow a hashtag, content posted using the hashtag will appear in your home feed.

You may not even follow the people that posted it, but like you, they are using your chosen hashtag. This is a quick and easy way to discover/interact and monitor other accounts that are posting content that may interest you, directly from your homepage.

Where should your hashtags live?

In the caption or in the comments - this is a debate that has gone on since Instagram launched. Hashtags have the exact same impact in both places, so it’s entirely up to you where you place them.

Visually, putting them in the caption makes the post feel cluttered and off-putting for the reader, especially if you’re using all 30 hashtags. It takes a little longer, but putting them in the comments makes for a much more attractive post.

An additional comment also adds to your engagement, and who doesn’t want that?

Need help with your hashtags?

Head to the Instagram blog for more hashtag inspiration or check out our nine ideas to spice up your Instagram posts!

Want us to help refine your social strategy? Contact Sookio’s digitally-savvy team!