Strategy #1: The Power of 3: Target Hashtags
The first strategy is to use only three hashtags per post
. There's a reason for this; too many hashtags can actually hurt your reach. Each of those three hashtags should be chosen carefully to get the most benefit.
- The three hashtags need to be the biggest hashtags possible in relation to the content that you're posting. It’s no use including a hashtag that is rarely searched or followed.
- Hashtags also need to be Relevant. One of the biggest mistakes that small accounts make is using irrelevant hashtags, and then Instagram has no idea to who it should show the content. If this happens, your post disappears into the depths of Instagram. Instagram relies on these hashtags to determine what your content is about and who should see it.
Strategy #2: Ten Is the Limit: Finding the Balance
The Second strategy to focus on, is the ten hashtag rule
. Using ten hashtags has been shown to maximize, but not diminish, views, while giving a post relevant search terms.
- Do Not Use Too Many Hashtags Instagram’s algorithm can struggle to determine what your content is about and won't be able to show your post to the correct users. If they can't be certain what audience the post is targeting, it’s more than likely the post will be ignored.
- Hashtags at The Bottom It's very important to put hashtags at the bottom of your description and nowhere else. Never in the middle, never at the beginning, and never in the comments, just at the end of your description.
- Highly Followed It is also vitally important to check, on Instagram, to see if your hashtags are not only highly followed, but result in high interactions.
Strategy #3: The 5-6 Hashtag Sweet Spot for Growing Organically
The CEO of Instagram has Mentioned that the sweet spot for rapid organic growth is five to six hashtags. This allows for an organic target, based on relevant search terms, without looking like click bait
. It still requires you to have the right bio and the right content to take effect. Therefore, make sure to follow these key areas in addition to hashtags:
- Utilizing inspiration tabs to see what lengths are working for the content
- Focusing on sounds that work best with your audience
- Follow competitor content to make sure you are using current trending algorithms
- Check the comments to see what search terms, questions, or algorithms work the best with each competitor
Strategy #4: The 1-2 Hashtag Targeted Approach for Maximum Efficiency
The fourth strategy is to use just one or two hashtags
. It’s very important that those hashtags are the biggest hashtags for whatever you're posting about, and that they are both very relevant and the most accurate descriptors of your content. As before, it’s incredibly important that whatever appears in your video matches what you're talking about in the voice over, or description.