How Many Hashtags to Use on Instagram

Did you hear the Instagram rumor about how many hashtags to use? Some people swear you should only share between 8-15 hashtags per post … and other people say you should all use 30. Who’s right? Keep reading this blog post to discover some expert hashtag tips from my friend Matthew Pierce, co-owner of Hashtag Slayer.  In this blog post: 

• • The Basics of Instagram Hashtags
  • Why Relevant Hashtags are Important
  • How to Pick Instagram Hashtags
  • A Deeper Look at Hashtag Slayer

The Basics of Instagram Hashtags

Before we take a deep dive into picking hashtags or how Hashtag Slayer can help you step up your Instagram strategy, let’s cover some basics. When you add a pound sign to a word or phrase on Instagram, it becomes a clickable link.  When you tap on the hashtagged phrase or word, it’ll take you to what I call the “hashtag hub.” Now, you can see all of the content tagged with that hashtag.  Using hashtags is a simple but effective way to organically expand your content reach and connect with your ideal audience. 

Why Relevant Hashtags are Important

Now, you’re probably thinking, “But Sue, which hashtags should I use?” I mean, there are literally hundreds of possibilities for any content you share.  That’s where my friend and hashtag expert, Matthew Pierce, comes in. Matthew always says that the secret to a successful hashtag strategy is using RELEVANT hashtags.  Honestly, that’s our advice here at the SBZ team too.  Instead of using 30 random hashtags, pick a handful of hashtags that fit your content best. The odds are you’re going to show up in those smaller, more curated hashtag hubs.  Ultimately, irrelevant hashtags are going to clog your account with unengaged followers and bots. Neither of which will help you organically expand the reach of your business.  In the end, it’s not just about the quantity of the hashtags you share, but the quality. What matters most is finding the RIGHT hashtags for your post and industry.

How to Pick Instagram Hashtags

Alright, so you know why relevant hashtags are important … but how do you pick them? Especially when you don’t have hours to spare trying to find the perfect hashtags.  That’s why Hashtag Slayer (who is sponsoring this YouTube video) is your new BFF.  The process with Hashtag Slayer is super simple: 

1. First, you start by discovering new hashtags and select them with confidence using their simple search tools.
2. Next, you can manage your hashtags with unlimited collections which you can mix and match anytime.
3. Finally, the last step is optimization using Hashtag Slayers algorithm to make intelligent selections from your collections for a fresh set with every post.

Within seconds you can find the right mix of hashtags to reach new audiences, increase your engagement, and grow your business.

A Deeper Look at Hashtag Slayer

Now, let's take a deeper look into Hashtag Slayer.  There are two ways to start building hashtag collections in Hashtag Slayer. First, hashtag collections save hashtags by topic.  For example, I have a hashtag collection called “Business Inspiration.” This is the collection I use when I share Instagram content about business lifestyle or motivation.  You can conduct a search by hashtag or competitor. First, I’m going to show you how to search by hashtag. For example, I want to see the kind of content that pops up when I search #BossWoman.  Once I type #BossWoman into the search function, I can scroll to the suggested hashtags to see other similar content. You’ll notice that the hashtags are categorized as easy, normal, or hard. This gives you an idea of the chances of being found in that hashtag hub.  Ideally, you want to create a hashtag collection that is a mix of easy, normal, and hard. Check off the boxes on the left that fit in this category. Now, you can either create a collection or add these hashtags to an existing collection. Another way to search for hashtags is by competitor. First, click home and then type in a competitor. For example, I’m going to check out my inspirational friend Marie Forelo.  Once I’m on the competitor screen I can see the hashtags she frequently uses. Then, I can add any of those relevant hashtags to my collection.  Now, to use the hashtags you collected just go to the home screen and select the collection. Then, you can have Hashtag Slayer “generate set.” All you need to do now is copy and paste the optimized hashtags into your post.  You can go deeper with Hashtag Slayer, and they have some amazing tutorials. But even if you don’t want to take a deep dive into everything Hashtag Slayer offers, you can still get a lot out of the program as a beginner. 

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