We all have heard some conflicting things about hashtags in Instagram these days, so here is what I found and what I recommend to get the most out of your hashtags for 2022.

Straight from the horse’s mouth, Instagram recommends:

• Feed Post - 3-5 hashtags in caption or comment

• Reels - 5-7 in caption

• Stories - ZERO (hashtags are unsearchable in stories, so not worth the effort)

*So I will be focusing my tips on Feed Posts and Reels.

Hashtag Tips:

1. Use up to 30 hashtags for feed posts BUT must be relevant to the post and you must change up the amount and word use up.

2. Variety - Location, Industry, Branded (your branding-based hashtags), Descriptive, and Community Based (like “#SDMom”).

3. Use hashtags between 10k-200k to maximize your reach.

4. Double-check that your hashtags aren’t on the banned list.

5. Check what hashtags your ICA is using.

6. Make better content. Hashtags can’t save mediocre content. Think of a hashtag more like salt on a dish. Salt just enhances, but it can’t fix a garbage dish.

7. Don’t rely on or stress about hashtags! Honestly, I forget to put them half of the time, hashtags aren’t the make or break that they used to be. Think of tip #6 and focus your effort on making good content.

You may have caught that I said to use up to “30 hashtags” in tip #1 but IG recommended 3-5, well I have a theory. Hashtags just make it easier for the spambots to find and it does come across as spammy, so maybe they are hoping lower numbers bring more focus and authentic engagement.

Hashtags on Instagram’s platform work more like SEO keywords and are more searchable, not something to just use because of trending (like on TikTok). So treat them more like a search optimization.

With all that said, here’s what I think and recommend. The sweet spot hashtag-wise for me seems to be 7 to 20 hashtags of varying amounts and words. I never stick to the same. So don’t post the same number of hashtags and the same hashtags everytime, try to experiment with a varying amount or even just using IG’s suggested amount and see.

Let me know what seems to be working for you. I’m interested to hear everyone’s experiences.

Such an important topic, finding your niche audience on social media. Let’s help you find them and keep them.

So here are my Top 8 Tips!

#1 - Know your Ideal Client (ICA) and Know Your Content Pillars.

Go deeper than just the basic gender age, niche it down when finding your “Ideal Client” (aka ICA). Knowing your content pillars helps because you know what you talk about you can find what kind of listeners. Also, if you are lost on Content, put out market research, ask your followers in Instagram Stories. (If you need more help reach out to me.)

#2 - Look at Your Stats.

Kind of related to step 1, but not completely. We tend to forget about our current followers and keep searching for more. We forget how many people, a hundred people, etc. really are! Just imagine being in a room with those numbers. Even if you have a smaller following I guarantee your ICA is in those numbers. Don’t neglect your following! But, look at your statistics, IG is pretty good at breaking those down for you.

#3 - Audit Your Profile.

This is a huge part. Once you get in front of that ICA you need to speak to them. Keep them, get them to want to smash the follow button. Speak their language. Does your bio speak to your ICA? Show your personality. What problem of theirs do you solve? Have a targeted profile. Keywords. Try to step back with virgin eyes or ask friends their opinions…or even ask your ICA.

#4 - Find Your Competiton.

Look at your competition. Don’t steal from them or poach their people! Do not copy. But, look at their followers, see what the trends are. This is strictly research. You’re allowed to follow if public. But use it to gather information.

#5 - Hashtags

Find what hashtags your ICA use and hang out under. The rules of this are always changing, but it’s best to think of hashtags as the seasoning on that dish you already created.

#6 - Collaborations!

Super fun way to gain followers. Share your audience. Not always best to collab with someone that is your competition, but if similar and slightly different go for it! Great for going live, podcasts, guest blogging, story takeovers, so many ways! Get creative! Even if it’s just basic shoutouts, give it a shot, get in front of other people’s audiences.

#7 - Interact!

Just getting the “follow” isn’t enough. You have to create a relationship! Interact! Stories are a great way to get or give interaction, as well as dm’s and posts.

#8 - Get them Off the Platform!

I say this a lot! Get them off the apps and in your email list, because what do you do if they delete that app? You don’t own your followers, but you own your email lists. Remember to use it. Not super easy but use those ICA’s needs to create offers, get them on that list. (I also offer a email training if you need it.)

I know I said it in a few of the points, but seriously, if you have any questions or need more deep details please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! This is my jam, my area of expertise and I love helping. Now go find your people! :)

If you have been in or around marketing for a bit you may have heard this term, “ICA” aka Ideal Client Avatar. And it is important for you to have and know yours. It is important to know who you are selling to, talking to. It’s easier to speak with one than to speak to the masses. This will matter from writing your bios to finding the best hashtags to locate your clients. ICA is so important and I’m pretty sure you have heard me mention it a few times now. So let’s find your ICA!

Who are you selling to? How do you find your ICA?

• Think of your past clients. Who did you absolutely love working with? If you haven’t had a client yet, who do you envision working with?

• Give them a name, a REAL Name.

• What’s their Age? What do they identify themselves as? Not just gender, but like in their bio, like “Mom” “Wife,” etc…

• What do they do for work? Hobbies?

• Where do they hang out in “real life” but also online? What Social media Apps? (Sprouts Social, actually had a pretty good updated article to help you with that.) But, you really want to know that, because you need to be on that app. You need to be where your ICA is. Join/Hang in the same groups. Be a presence, love on them, share your expertise.

• Where does your person shop?

• What problems does your ICA have? (How can you solve/help them?)

• What do you love about your clients?

For Example- Brooke. She is in her 30’s. Mom, wife, photographer. Very busy. Likes True Crime and Podcasts. Shops mostly at Target and Amazon…

*You do not have to be the same/similar to your ICA. Sometimes it may work out that way, but it is not necessary. (My example, just kind of worked out that way.)

Remember - what stands out in your business is YOU! Be different. Your knowledge. Your point of view… Be YOU! You are what makes your brand/business stand out.

Need extra help in envisioning your client? Don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Let's talk about Instagram keywords and how this NEW feature affects your content!!

But, first, what is “Instagram Keyword”? Well, it’s a new feature that makes content searchable. More like Google, you will see what people mention. Similar to Pinterest, but what makes it special is this is the very First Social Media Search Engine Platform.

Types of Search -

• Top/Recent

• Accounts (username/name)

• Hashtags

• Places/Location Tags

In the old way of IG, you could search by a Username, Hashtag, or Location Tag but the new way lets users search for content! Specifically what people mention in their posts! The flip of the coin on this though is, if you are posting Political, Medical (like COVID), or Sex related content this will not help you. In fact, between the new policies rolling out and this feature, no one is really sure how this will impact those niches. On the bright side, if you post content more like Travel based or Cat Memes this will be great for you!

You may be asking, “Okay, now how does this work?” Well, this is where your WRITTEN content will be more important. Be more focused on your content pillars and be concise with your alt text.

Make sure your Posts Always have These Things:

• Add Location (Specific vs Broad Location Tags are Better)

• Use those Hashtags! #

• Use Alt Text (this is where you describe what your image is)

• Create QUALITY Content -> On Topic, Relevant Content

• Optimize Your Bio

  Right now this really is more focused on your Feed content, like Feed Post or Reels. The data is still out on Guides and doesn’t affect Stories. So remember to focus your content. This search engine will be a game-changer for finding accounts!

Need a little Handy Graphic to Save and Remember? I gotcha covered. Just click the image and bookmark it right in your IG. ;)

15 Instagram Helper Apps that I just can't live without! Seriously, these will help you too!

And, just remember if you work in media if the app is a “pay for” Tax Write-off. ;)

Disclosure: This site may contain affiliate links. Your clicks or use come to no extra expense for you. Though, I may receive a commission if you purchase from them.

For Editing:

1. Canva - This one! It is a must! You can do so much with the paid app that it is completely worth it! 60k templates for Stories/Posts/Gifs…so much!

*EXTRA TIP - Canva is also good for Facebook posts, just adding a simple image to your post will get more views.

2. Unfold - VERY CLEAN. Like it’s a clean app and it just helps your images just look clean.

3. Word Swag - More robust use with words then Canva, but similar in making graphics with quotes. Lots of great reviews.

4. Color Story - A lot of photographers use it and save they filters, which is a plus if you aren’t the best at that, but want a consistent filter feels. Also great quality and heard it can help with gridding.

5. Snapseed - By far the best for Object Removal! Great to get rid of those background distractions. (I’ll most likely make a training video for it in my Free FB Group soon).

6. Lightroom Mobile - This one has a little bit of learning curve but once you get it down you will love it. Super professional photo editor, from Adobe, so of course it would be. I believe though when you buy presents on mobile it isn’t transferable to the desktop version.

---

For Preplanning (Organized Posting):

7. Panoly - I actually use the free option, so it just limits amount of use a little, but it’s the easiest to use for scheduling out your post.

8. Later - A lot of people swear by it, love it! I am personally do most through Panoly, but I love Later’s emails.

---

For Fun:

9. Spark AR Studios - Make your OWN Face Filter!!! Use this to create your own filter for IG Stories, like changing skin for tanner, sparkles….or adding rainbows!?! Just what you want or what your brand is known for for other’s to use.

---

For Hashtags #:

10. Hish Hash - I also use this one’s free version. But, it’s great for storing and organizing all those 25-30 hashtags. There is even a “shuffle” option so you don’t come across spammy.

11. Save on Phone with your “Notes” app - Like Hish Hash save your hashtags, but just none of the fun extras. Also, great for jotting quick ideas down for a later post.

---

Follower Tracker:

12. Followers - I actually couldn’t find the link on desktop, but this is the one I use. I recommend only checking like once a month, not too much. Good for getting rid of those “follow - unfollower” type accounts just to monitor your numbers a bit. But, word of caution, do not do a mass unfollow, IG does not like that and you might get a temporary block for doing it.

**Please, be careful when downloading an app like this, I use a paid, hoping it reduces the risk that it’s just a phishing scheme to get my login information. But, because of that, I also recommend you make sure to have your 2 Step-Factor Authorization through IG step-up. Protect yourself.

---

Closed Captioning:

Nearly half of users have their phones on silent while scrolling through the app, you need captions. Also, captions are also a good idea for the normal CC accessibility reasons. It’s highly recommended you add captions to your Story videos.

13. Threads - (Newer App) This app is actually meant to be more like Marco Polo App, but you can use it to record your video. Have it add captions and then download the video, wha-la.

14. Clipomatic - I believe this app only has a paid option, but it’s also great for captioning if you aren’t wanting to type it out yourself. It’s possible to also edit miscaptioning.

---

And Of Course! INSTAGRAM! (#15)

The app it’s self has made huge improvements! You don’t really need to even use their extrenal Boomerang app anymore! Their analytics are fantastic and FREE (unlike pricy other apps). You can do a ton in the app, filters, polls…etc. The great thing to, is IG rewards use! Rewards those that use all it’s features, so give them all a try!

Do you have a favorite app to help you with your IG needs that I missed? Let me know! Love to hear it and try it!

In the Instagram world, hashtags can make or break a post. Using the wrong ones will leave you buried deep never to be seen again; the good ones can send you to the top of the feed. While the truth about the algorithm remains a mystery to everyone who isn’t employed by Instagram, there are still a few tips I can share to help you increase your reach and impressions.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one single solution that will work for everyone. It may take some trial and error to find your perfect results. Tracking your progress and then backtracking is the best idea to figure out the twisted puzzle of hashtags. So, what first?

Find your Ideal Client.

Where do they hang out in Instaworld? What tags are they following? What do they post about? Searching various hashtags and looking through the posts will help you track down your ideal peeps like a bloodhound. It may take some time, but the more familiar you are with these areas, the more success you’ll see. 

Know the Numbers.

There are four groups of numbers that will determine how your tags will behave, who they’ll reach, and how long your post is likely to stick around. These numbers are determined by how many posts have used that hashtag (use the search function to find this number).

• SMALL: 10k-50k posts per tag -- Use 3-5 per post

• MEDIUM: 50k-100k posts per tag -- Use 7-10 per post

• LARGE: 100k-500k posts per tag -- Use 5-8 per post

• X-LARGE: 500k+ posts per tag -- Use 2-3 per post

What I call The Staircase Method uses tags under EACH of the four groups to increase post longevity while showing it to interested viewers. Extra large hashtags will be shown immediately but will be quickly buried under their popularity. Large and Medium hashtags will stick around for about a week and are the sweet spot of hashtags. Those Small tags will stick around much longer as they are used much less frequently and are more of a niche tag that will still get you noticed, but only by a very specific user.

You know what a staircase looks like, I’m not going to draw one for you. But using your imagination, you can see how each level of numbers will continue to lead you upwards. 

Instagram allows for 30 hashtags per post. While you certainly can do 30, be advised Spambots also like to use all the hashtags all the time and you don’t want to be a Spambot. Create different lists of varied hashtags to avoid repeating yourself with every post. Alter the number of tags (20 to 27 is a good range) and the tags themselves in order to not be flagged as a pesky bot. 

Know Where to Tag.

Should you post in the content section? In the first comment? Should you mail them all to your Mom? You do you, Boo. Honestly, it makes no difference if you post the tags as content or as comment; it really comes down to your aesthetic preference. You can even make comments with different tags and delete them once you think they’ve run their course. You should write your Mom though, she’d be happy to hear from you. *wink*

Know the Type. Knowing your focus can help you narrow down the endless number of hashtags. You should always include something from each of these four types:

• Industry

• Ideal Client

• Location

• Combination of these

Your industry tags should be those Extra Large ones with lots of posts, they’re still important. Think #photographer, #wedding, #realestate, etc. Your ideal client tags will go back to my first tip – where are they hanging out and what tags will reach them? Location tags will shrink your focus to your business zone. Think #sandiego or #chicago. Again, those bigger and more popular tags will be fast and fleeting, but they’ll get you into the local area posts. 

Now do some magic and combine ‘em up! Using industry plus a location (#sandiegophotographer, #chicagorealestate) will narrow it down to specific specifics and will increase the likelihood of that ideal client finding you! Mix it up, try new combinations and find the ones the ones that produce the best results!

Save Time.

Using hashtag generators can save you a ton of time in both finding the right tags and posting those tags. No one wants to sit around typing thirty hashtags into every post, so there are apps and sites out there to help you. Most of these programs will offer suggestions, keep your lists saved, and provide insight into the numbers I mentioned earlier. Check out the HishHash app (available for Apple and Android) or you can use the web-based Seekmetrics. There are plenty of other options out there – many social media schedulers also offer this function. You can always go old school and copy/paste tags lists you’ve saved - just be sure to change them up frequently to avoid being flagged as a bot!

Also, if you’ve been seeing a lack of impressions, check to make sure none of the tags you’re using are banned ones. One banned tag in your post will make ALL of your other tags null and void – meaning you are showing up exactly zero times in searches. And that’s sad. 

Final Thoughts.

No, sorry, not a Jerry Springer Show break, but a few last things to mention. Personal Tags won’t bring in post views, but they do help define your brand! Using them adds a sense of identity to your posts that you clients and prospectives will remember – it won’t hurt you, so add a few in! (ie #melissamcclurephotography)

Remember that while the hashtags will bring people in, it’s only quality content that will keep them there. Providing images that are eye-catching and more importantly, that relate to the content, will pique interest and rack up views. Add a call to action, ask a question, and engage!

While hashtags are strange little buggers, these are just a few ways to really utilize them to your best advantage! Happy Tagging! 

xo, Melissa