Quiz: how much do you know about Instagram hashtags?
Everyone loves a hashtag! Use them strategically on Instagram and they can power-up your content. Hashtags aren't just a staple of social media marketing - the term is so well known that it's part of our everyday conversation!
Because we're so familiar with them, we sometimes we take it for granted that we know which ones will work well. Most people know they should use them but they don't know how to use hashtags on Instagram properly. The problem is, if you haven't really thought about which hashtags you're using and why, you could be missing out! It's not uncommon to see people only using Instagram’s most popular generic hashtags or simply forgetting to add them.
If that sounds familiar, grab a cuppa and take 5 minutes out of your day to test your knowledge of Instagram hashtags.
Question 1: What are hashtags used for?
Answer
Get your content discovered
Group together content
Join the conversation
Add context
Let's go back to basics! Hashtags are still one of the best ways to get your posts in front of new audiences. If you use the same ones that your customers are using or following, you've got a better chance of being discovered by the right people. For example, if I post about social media, I'll use hashtags related to social media and independent businesses. This way, my hashtags are relevant to the content of the post and who the post is for.
They can also be used to group content on Instagram. This is particularly helpful if you want people to tag their content with your brand hashtag or if you're running a campaign. Let's stick with this idea but take it a step further; hashtags also let you join the conversation around a topic. Maybe you've seen this happen recently in connection to political movements and nationwide events? Use them strategically as part of a wider strategy or movement and hashtags can be a powerful way to get your message out there and keep the momentum going with user-generated content.
Finally, they can give your post context. When you're posting about an event, cause, brand, etc. you don't always need to explain what you're posting about in the caption if you're using a well-known or obvious hashtag to explain what your content is about.
Question 2: How many hashtags can you use in an Instagram post
Answer
30! Any more and Instagram won't let you post.
It might sound like a lot but it's easier than you think to find 30 relevant hashtags. With hashtags, it's a "use it or lose it" situation - use them and you can benefit from all the good things listed in the answer to Question 1; don't use them and you'll miss out. Simple.
I recommend using a minimum of 15 relevant hashtags. Before you rush off to pick yours, remember that "relevant" is the key word here! All your hashtags need to be relevant to your audience and the content of your post to have an impact.
Question 3: what are the top 3 Instagram hashtags of all time?
Answer
#love
#instagood
#photooftheday
Source: Later
Millions of people are using these most popular Instagram hashtags, but should you be using them too? That leads me on to...
Question 4: Using Instagram's most popular hashtags might not be as helpful as you think. Why?
Answer
They are too crowded! Your post will get buried moments after you hit send.
Generally, it's wise to steer clear of hashtags that have over one million uses. Not only do these hashtags tend to be very generic, if you use them your post will quickly disappear into the ether and you'll miss your opportunity to get discovered by new customers.
Instead, use a mix of relevant hashtags that are popular but still below the one million threshold. Ideally, you should use hashtags with high usage, medium usage, and ones that are specific to your market niche or brand. This combination will give you a quick burst of visibility from the widely used hashtags and help your content get discovered days and sometimes weeks after posting thanks to the fairly popular and niche ones.
People tend to skip the hashtag research part of social media marketing, but it's worth taking time to learn which ones are more likely to get your message out there and get your brand in front of customers.
That’s it - thanks for taking part in the quiz! How did you score?
Want more advice on how to use hashtags on Instagram? Simply get in touch today for a chat!