How to Use Instagram Hashtags to Their Full Potential

Instagram hashtags have the power to amplify your online presence. They’re like bridges that connect your content with potential followers who are more likely to be interested in your niche or industry. This can be entirely beneficial, especially to small businesses and entrepreneurs like you who are looking to expand their reach online. 

A recent report suggests that Instagram has 2 billion monthly active users. While still not on par with Facebook (about 3 billion), this is still a significant number, especially for brands that turn to Instagram for exposure. That said, with the correct hashtag strategy, you can reach users who have the potential to be returning and loyal customers.  

What are Instagram hashtags?  

Instagram hashtags, preceded by a hash symbol (#), are essential tools for enhancing content discovery on the platform. These tags categorize content, which allows your posts to become part of a larger, searchable collection that shares the same hashtag. This scheme is crucial for increasing the visibility of your Instagram post because it engages your existing followers as well as a broader audience that is actively seeking out specific topics or interests. 

Why should you use hashtags?  

Instagram can help you reach a broader audience when you use hashtags right on your posts. Get a comprehensive understanding of their importance in this list: 

• Boosts engagement. Hashtags increase how much people interact with your posts. They make your content easy to find in searches and hashtag feeds, which can lead to more likes, comments, and shares. 
• Helps you reach your target audience. With the right hashtags, you can get your posts in front of the people who are most interested in your content, even if they’re not following you yet. This is because hashtags link your posts to specific topics or interests that people are looking for. 
• Enhances your brand’s visibility. Using popular and relevant hashtags helps more people discover your brand. This visibility is important for growing your audience and making your brand more recognized online. 
• Makes your content discoverable. Think of hashtags as keywords for social media. When you use them, they help your posts appear in searches, making it easier for people to find your content. 
• Helps you understand your competition. By observing which hashtags your competitors use, you can learn about their strategy and find ways to make your content stand out. This competitive analysis is valuable for refining your approach when it comes to content and engagement. 
• Promotes events and campaigns. Creating specific hashtags for your events or marketing campaigns makes it simple to track how people are engaging with your content and participating in your events. 
• Allows you to build and engage with communities. Aside from categorizing content, hashtags also build communities of users around shared interests. By using community hashtags, you can foster connections, encourage conversations, and keep your content relevant. 

How to use hashtags?  

By carefully selecting and implementing hashtags on Instagram, you can ensure your posts are visible to a broader audience—even beyond your current followers. Follow our step-by-step guide on how to effectively use hashtags: 

• Identify relevant hashtags. Begin by researching keywords that are closely aligned with your business, the products you offer, or your industry. Tools like Instagram’s search function, Instagram hashtag generator, or even competitor analysis can provide inspiration and insight into which hashtags resonate with your target audience. 
• Incorporate them into posts. Once you’ve identified your hashtags, add them to your posts strategically. You can place them within your captions for immediate visibility or in the first comment to keep your captions clean. 
• Combine broad and niche tags. To maximize your reach, use a balanced mix of broad hashtags that have a wide appeal (e.g., #food) and niche-specific tags (e.g., #veganbaking) that target particular groups of your audience. This Instagram hashtag strategy helps you attract both general browsers and those with specific interests. 
• Stay updated. Social media has trends that shift rapidly. Regularly monitor popular Instagram hashtags or trending ones within your field. This also gives you the opportunity to engage with timely topics or viral conversations. 
• Analyze and refine. Pay attention to which hashtags bring the most engagement to your posts. A tool like Instagram Insights can help you track performance. Focus on what works best for your content and audience, and refine your hashtag strategy over time. 
• Follow hashtag etiquette. Be mindful not to overuse hashtags. Selecting a few relevant ones is often more effective than maxing out Instagram’s 30-hashtag limit. Ensure your chosen hashtags accurately reflect the content of your post to maintain authenticity and user trust. 
• Create your own hashtag. For brands looking to build a unique community or promote a specific campaign, creating a branded hashtag can be highly effective. Encouraging users to share content related to your brand can boost user-generated content and engagement. 

Hashtags on different Instagram content types 

Hashtags transform regular words or phrases into more searchable terms.  Instagram’s algorithm uses hashtags to show posts to users who engage with similar content or categorize content under relevant topics. Simply put, hashtags are like digital marketing signage that guides users to content that interests them. 

If you have an extensive hashtag strategy, you can expand the reach of your posts—often even beyond your immediate followers. 

Hashtag on Instagram photos 

To effectively use hashtags on your photos, focus on relevance. Prioritize those that genuinely reflect your image. A balanced approach includes mixing broad and relevant hashtags to expand your reach within your niche. You can include them within the post caption or as the first comment. The latter is a good move since it can keep the image caption clean and organized.  

Hashtags on Instagram stories  

Hashtags within Instagram Stories are a strategic way to amplify content visibility. They guide users to entries like yours. To implement hashtags on Instagram stories you can opt for the dedicated hashtag sticker or the text tool. Regardless of what you’ll use, make sure that it’s relevant to your content. For optimum results, incorporate the following hashtags: popular, niche, location-based, and trending. 

Hashtags on Instagram Reels   

Instagram Reels are for discovery, and hashtags can be handy, especially if you want to participate in trends. Using trending hashtags and avoiding their generic counterparts can boost the visibility of your reels.   

Types of Instagram Hashtags  

Instagram hashtags are social media tools that fall into various categories. Understanding them is a must when formulating a social media strategy to help your business stand out. 

Trending hashtags  

Trending hashtags align with themes or topics that experience a surge in popularity. Viral events, real-time incidents, and social media campaigns can drive surges.    

To tap their full potential, you must understand the dynamic nature of Instagram trending hashtags. Their popularity may shift since they rely on current events, cultural moments, and other factors that involve user interests. 

Some examples of trending hashtags are #fashion, #art, #nature, and #photography. 

Branded hashtags  

Branded hashtags are custom hashtags that are directly related to your brand. They can be slogans, products, or campaigns. Branded hashtags are great for building a brand identity, running campaigns, and selling products.  

For example, Nike uses the hashtags #nike, #nikeairmax, and #airforce. They encourage customers to use them when sharing their Nike purchases and experiences. 

Daily hashtags  

Instagram’s hashtags are daily themes for specific days of the week. They’re great if you don’t have the luxury of time on your hands but want to deliver prompts that encourage insight-sharing with minimal effort. They save you time on brainstorming while achieving a consistent posting schedule.   

Below are some of the most common daily hashtags that you can use:  

• Monday. #MondayMotivation and #MondayVibes  
• Tuesday. #TransformationTuesdays and #TuesdayThoughts 
• Wednesday. #WednesdayWisdom and #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday) 
• Thursday. #TBT (Throwback Thursday) and #ThursdayThoughts  
• Friday. #TGIF (Thank God it’s Friday) and #FridayFeeling 
• Saturday. #SaturdayVibes and #SaturdayNight 
• Sunday. #SundayFunday and #SundayMood 

  Niche hashtags   

Niche hashtags cater to a particular segment of an audience. Unlike general and broad hashtags that attract irrelevant audiences, niche ones focus on specific interests, communities, and industries. They connect your content with users who are passionate about a particular subject. Because of this, niche hashtags can boost the likelihood of engagement.    

By employing niche hashtags, you’re targeting potential customers, collaborators, and fellow aficionados interested in your offer. 

Some examples of niche-relevant hashtags include #VeganRecipes for vegans, #BudgetTravel for travel aficionados, and #UrbanGardening for plant enthusiasts. 

Location-based hashtags  

Location-based hashtags are one of the best ways to expand the reach of your post. If you use them correctly, you can reach more Instagram users faster. That’s because they’re great for discoverability and connecting to local audiences. For business purposes, they can translate to attracting local clientele, generating relevant user-generated content, and strengthening brand presence. 

Examples of location-based hashtags for Instagram posts include #ILoveNewYork, #CaliforniaVibes, and #CityOfDetroit. 

Occasion-based hashtags 

Occasion-based hashtags are about celebrations, holidays, and festivities. They align your content with the enthusiasm and shared experiences of Instagram users. Creating relevance that appeals to new followers who have the potential to be loyal customers. 

This enhances your brand’s presence by increasing visibility, tapping into trending topics, and engaging with a broad audience during a set period. 

Popular occasion-based hashtags are #BirthdayBash, #WeddingDay, and #Classof2025.  

Entertainment hashtags  

Entertainment hashtags help users find photos and videos related to music, movies, and the like. They bridge the gap between content creators and viewers. To reach music lovers, you can opt for relevant hashtags like #instamusic, #musicvibes, #newmusic, and #musician.   

Top Instagram hashtag generators 

An Instagram hashtag generator tool can greatly enhance your social media presence since it analyzes content and industry. It can also generate hashtags based on performance and relevance, which can increase engagement. You can check some of the most popular options below:   

• Inflact. Inflact is known for its detailed approach.  It analyzes content and suggests relevant hashtags based on frequency and competition. This helps users create a targeted hashtag strategy, ensuring their posts reach an engaged audience. Using the right hashtags can increase likes, comments, and shares. This way, you can connect your posts with users who have a genuine interest in your niche, paving the way to more likes, comments, and shares.  
• Influencer Marketing Hub. This tool provides related hashtags that connect to users proactively searching for specific topics. Increasing the probability of appearing on the Instagram’s Explore Page.    
• Keyword Tool. Keyword Tool stands out thanks to its optimum use of Instagram’s autocomplete data. You can use it to add hashtags that can translate to enhanced discoverability. Allowing you to reach your target audience and attract potential followers. Keyword Tool also excels in determining long-tail keywords, which often yield more targeted traffic thanks to their low competition and precision. 

When to Use Instagram Hashtags  

Aside from sharing links on Instagram, hashtags can be another powerful tool for content visibility, you need a deliberate approach to achieve meaningful results for your small business. If you’re not sure if you need to add a hashtag to your post, consider the following:   

Be cautious of the number of hashtags 

As a general rule, Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post but using too many can dilute your message. Instead, focus on 3-5 well-researched hashtags that align with your content and audience. Remember, relevant and targeted hashtags on posts are key.  You need a concise and well-crafted hashtag strategy. Without one, you might miss opportunities for brand amplification and sustained engagement.   

Check competition 

Analyzing your competitors’ Instagram activity, particularly their hashtag selection, can offer valuable insights that you can add to your own. Check what content works best for them, determine what post formats perform (basic image posts, video posts, carousels), and note the hashtags that they use.   

Don’t use banned hashtags 

Abstaining from banned hashtags is necessary since Instagram’s algorithm works by detecting and penalizing accounts that violate their guidelines. Repeat cancellations can lead to account suspensions, cancellations, and other severe penalties. 

Here are some general categories and examples of hashtags known to be banned or at least frequently flagged: 

• Sexually suggestive or explicit hashtags: Hashtags related to adult content or variations of explicit terms. 
• Hashtags related to self-harm or eating disorders: Hashtags that promote or glorify self-harm, many of which are related to extreme weight loss or eating disorders. 
• Hate speech and discriminatory hashtags: Hashtags that target specific groups with hateful or discriminatory language. 
• Hashtags that promote violence or illegal activities: Hashtags related to weapons, drugs, or other illegal activities. 
• Spammy or misleading hashtags: Hashtags that are used excessively or are irrelevant to the content. 

Monitor performance and adjust accordingly    

Consistently monitoring your hashtag strategy and adjusting accordingly are cardinal rules in Instagram’s ever-shifting landscape. Failure to do so may put your hashtag strategy at risk since you may be using irrelevant hashtags that may negatively impact your reach. 

Maximize your post’s reach and engagement 

With a lot of businesses vying for users’ attention on Instagram today, you need to add hashtags to your posts. However, you must use them responsibly, because the same hashtags can overwhelm your audience and discourage them from exploring your offerings further. Strike a balance between relevant and niche hashtags to ensure that your posts stay relevant for all the right reasons. We hope this article has helped you achieve your desired results online, especially on Instagram. 

Remember that a strong Instagram presence is just one piece of the puzzle. To truly establish your brand and maximize your digital footprint, a professional website is essential.  

Don’t let your efforts stop at social media. Web.com’s AI-powered website builder makes it easy to create a stunning, functional website in minutes.  

Instagram hashtag FAQs