Ultimate Marketer's Guide To Instagram Hashtags

Aug 5, 2019 5 min read

[Knowing how to use best hashtags for your business is crucial this season to work efficiently on Instagram. Here's what you need to know about Instagram hashtags in 2019!]


Many words have been added to the dictionary in recent decades thanks to social media, but few have become so widely used as 'Hashtags'. What began on Twitter has now spread to many major social networks including Facebook and Instagram. The growth in the use of hashtags has been incredible.

But, what is the explanation for the growth of hashtags?

The hashtag is probably the most popular way of categorizing content on social networks. This makes you discover your own content and allows you to find relevant content from other people and companies. The hashtag likewise enables you to connect and engage with other social networking users based on a common theme or interest.

  • Instagram #hashtags = free advertising.
  • Instagram #hashtags = gaining potential clients.
  • Instagram #hashtags = a way to an astonishing community.

Do you know - Instagram posts with at least one hashtag have 12.6% more engagement than those without!

At first, we were all utilizing hashtags carelessly; not knowing their significance in the computerized world. What started as a joke, has now become an integral part of social media marketing. Now, it has become essential to keep up with the continuously evolving nature of hashtags.

This marketer's guide to using Instagram hashtags will provide you with all the new ways to use Instagram hashtags as well as the helpful hashtag tips to enable you to strategically meet your marketing goals.

Things you need to know about Instagram hashtags in 2024

The only constant thing about the hashtags is how utterly dominant they can be for your engagement, brand awareness, and post virality. If you’re new to the hashtag game and are unfamiliar with how to utilize them on Instagram, we have gathered the vital information for you!

1. You can follow the hashtags now!

Earlier this year, Instagram made a change to its algorithm, enabling its users to follow specific hashtags, making it easier for them to stay connected with the interests, hobbies, and communities that they care about.

Before the update, users had to search for an Instagram hashtag and scroll through an endless feed to land on the desired content! However, with this new update, users found a new and more natural way to find content. Additionally, brands found a better way to find new audiences. Your posts could now show up automatically in the feeds of potential new followers.

Following a hashtag works just like following a user’s profile. When you find a hashtag, you’d like to follow you merely open the hashtag page and tap on the follow button.

Additional tip: With this ability to follow hashtags comes one more surprise; people will also have the ability to select a new “Don’t Show for This Hashtag” option to mark the content 'not interesting' or 'not relevant'!

2. Stop using banned hashtags, or you'll be shadowbanned!

We've been utilizing hashtags recklessly till date, but now ignorance is not an excuse! We've to be more watchful as far as the use of hashtags is concerned. Few hashtags can result in your Instagram account being banned! Inability to follow the Instagram community guidelines is the reason behind these hashtags being blocked!

Presently you should be more mindful while utilizing hashtags; you can't duplicate a rundown of hashtags and glue it into your Instagram posts! Carefully research the hashtags, ensure that they are relevant for your audience.

Remember, using banned hashtags could shadowban your Instagram account, i.e., It removes the ability of your posts to be seen by anyone but your current followers

Signs you’ve been shadowbanned:

  • A drop in engagement
  • A drop in impressions
  • A drop in reach
  • A drop in comments

3. You can use Hashtags in Instagram bio too!

By introducing hashtags in bio, Instagram paved a new way to express yourself and the things you care about. Now when you include a # in your bio, they become live links that lead to a hashtag page.

How can Instagram’s bio update help you?

Updating your business Instagram bio with hashtags could help you:

  • Highlight business industry
  • Promote branded hashtags
  • Drive traffic to campaigns

4. Know about these 3 hashtags!

Want to be successful on Instagram? Use the right hashtags! If you use a proper mix of the following three hashtags, you can reach a diversified number of people on Instagram:

  • Branded #hashtags: Any unique hashtag that refers to your brand or products is known as the branded hashtag. It ought to be utilized consistently on your Instagram account.

    Branded hashtags can be used throughout your entire social media strategy (e.g., #nationalgeographic by National Geographic). Your brand's marketing team doesn’t need to come up with a gimmicky hashtag to gain attention if you could discover a useful brand hashtag.

  • Community #hashtags: Instagram is the home of communities, it has been amazing in helping find and develop friendships with like-minded people. You can be part of any tribe. It can be a community of people sharing bloggers that inspire them every Tuesday (#blogtribe by Blog Society), or people who love to celebrate their mornings (#morningslikethese).

    Using a hashtag alone cannot help you get new friends. You've to be active, say Hi! Moreover, 'like' other people’s post.

  • Trending #hashtags: These hashtags last for a small period and are a result of a topic that has gone viral through a content piece on social media or an inspiring campaign.

Trending hashtags won’t give you evergreen results, however they can yield meaningful returns in reach and interest when used correctly.

5. Track which Instagram hashtags are best for your brand

Hashtags are one of the most powerful ways to increase reach and engagement on your social media content organically, however in order to maximize their performance, you need to track your hashtags.

Many brands struggle to identify which social media metrics are most important for their campaigns, and this can also be true of hashtags. With Statusbrew’s hashtag reports, it’s incredibly easy to see which Instagram hashtags are getting you most clicks, comments, shares or reach! Sort the list by the metric of your choice and see detailed analysis around each keyword.

This lets you build your content strategy around what your audience is

Start tracking your hashtag analytics today

Now that you’ve got the know-how and the tools, don’t wait another day to start testing and tracking your hashtag use in your social strategy. Request a demo to learn more about how Statusbrew can help with your hashtag analytics.

Instagram tips and tricks

Here are few Instagram tips and tricks for you to master the art of using Instagram hashtags this year!

  • You can incorporate emoticons in hashtags. Spaces and special characters, such as % or $, don’t work.
  • Don't bother individuals by stuffing irrelevant hashtags onto posts! It is a spammy conduct.
  • To reach a targeted set of audience, make use of specific hashtags. It will increase the chance of quality engagement. For instance, the hashtag #nikeshoes will get you in front of a higher converting audience than something broader like #shoes when you post the picture of newly bought shoes on your account.
  • Don’t clutter your content, hide hashtags. Keep the reader focused on what’s important!
  • Consider using brand hashtags to promote your company—the people, wins, and culture. At Statusbrew, we use #lifeatstatusbrew for that purpose.
  • Your brand hashtags should be easy to remember. Make them short.
  • You can include up to 30 hashtags on a regular post, and up to 10 hashtags on a story. But, that #does'not #mean #you #have to #hashtag #everything.
  • Another thing to keep in mind: You can capitalize the hashtags to improve readability. #KnowWhatIMean?

Related:

  1. A Guide To Create And Optimize Content On Instagram For Business
  2. How To Become An Influencer On Instagram, 10 Simple Steps!
  3. How Businesses Can Make Use Of Instagram Stories

Citation Policy: Please feel free to use the infographics in this blog in any commercial or non-commercial capacity. If you use the infographics, we require a reference back to Statusbrew Blog.

Eager to know from you!

Like every other practice on Instagram, hashtags are also about experiencing the various possibilities online. You will identify the discoverability of your posts and engagement with time when there will be immense likes and comments on your posts.

What other tactics do you apply to your Instagram marketing strategy for your personal and business profile? I would love to discuss more in the comments section below.

Ritika Sharma

Ritika is a digital marketing specialist and a writer who works on putting together creative and useful content for Statusbrew. Other than this she's an adventure seeker and a photography enthusiast.

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