With the ever-changing world of social media platforms, it’s no surprise that the way we optimize our ‘Gram posts and reach our target audience is also constantly evolving. Instagram has been a popular platform for marketers and business owners to promote their products and services, and one of the most crucial tools in this process have been hashtags. However, in recent times, the question has arisen – are Instagram hashtags slowly dying in 2023? Or maybe are they already dead? The answer is – of course – a resounding NO!
Hashtags are still alive and well, but the way we use them has significantly evolved.
Here’s the good news I’m bringing here today – all of the challenges can be overcome. The key to success with Instagram hashtags in 2023 is to be strategic in their use, and stick to best practices. Rather than simply stuffing your post with as many random hashtags as possible, carefully select relevant and specific ones that accurately describe your content. This will not only make your post stand out, but it will also help it reach the right audience.
Intrigued? Let’s dive into it!
What exactly are you going to learn today? 🕵🏻
As a marketing expert and hashtag enthusiast, I just HAVE TO share some of my knowledge about the purpose and benefits of hashtags. But first, let me start with a little joke to well, lighten the mood:
Why did the hashtag cross the road? To get to the other side of the feed!
Now, back to business: let’s get serious!
Hashtags are a vital part of ‘Gram marketing, but they’re often misunderstood and because of that, used improperly. So, let’s dive into what hashtags are, and why you should be using them in your content strategy this year.
First of all, let’s start with the basics: hashtags are keywords or phrases that are preceded by a “#” symbol. They allow us to categorize and search for content on social media platforms – not only on Instagram, because Twitter, Pinterest, and many, many more platforms use hashtags as well.
By including relevant hashtags in your posts, you make your content discoverable to users who are searching for that particular topic or niche. Put simply: they help you increase the visibility of your posts, reach new audiences, and ultimately drive more engagement.
When you use relevant hashtags, your content will appear in front of users who are interested in what you have to say and offer, increasing the chances of them discovering and engaging with your content. Not to mention, hashtags are also a great way to join conversations and participate in trending topics. By using trending hashtags, you can connect with a wider audience and increase your exposure on the ‘Gram.
Rule number ONE? Always make sure you’re using relevant hashtags. But we’ll get back to that in a minute!
Why did the hashtag go to the doctor? It had a little too much #FOMO!
Now that we’re all laughing, let’s get down to business.
As you already know, hashtags play a significant role in marketing, and they can have a significant impact on the views and engagement of your posts. This increases the chances of your content being seen by a wider audience and finally: drives more views.
That way, hashtags also play a role in increasing engagement. When users discover your content through relevant hashtags, they are more likely to like, comment, and share your post, increasing your overall engagement (and the most precious metrics: engagement rate, ER)!
Why did the hashtag run away from home? It had too many #responsibilities!
You know me: now that we’re chuckling, let’s go back to the current relevance of hashtags in marketing
That’s true: hashtags have been a part of social media marketing since their inception, but their relevance and importance have evolved over time.
Three years ago, hashtags were mostly seen as a way to categorize content and make it discoverable to new users who were searching for that particular topic/niche. However, as Gram’s algorithms have evolved, hashtags have become an essential tool for increasing the reach and visibility of your content (yup, video content as well).
In addition, the use of hashtags has become more – let’s say – sophisticated, with brands and businesses using them to join conversations, participate in trending topics, and increase engagement with their engaged audience.
Another change in the last three years has been the rise of “micro-influencer” marketing, where smaller, niche influencers are partnering with brands to promote their products or original services. As you may easily guess, in this type of marketing, hashtags play a crucial role in helping the influencer’s content reach a much wider audience.
So, what does this mean for YOUR ‘Gram marketing strategy? It’s simple: if you’re not using hashtags, you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to increase the visibility and reach of your content.
How EXACTLY do hashtags impact visibility and reach on Instagram?
Well, when someone clicks on a hashtag, they’re taken to a ‘stream’ of all the posts that include that hashtag. Instagram’s algorithm then curates the best, most relevant, and recent posts to display at the top of the stream.
Research has shown that posts with at least 11 hashtags receive an average of 612% more engagement than posts without hashtags. Hey, that’s a whopping 612% more likes, comments, and views!
When you use a hashtag in your post, it basically acts as a label for the content. This label allows other ‘Gram users to find your post when they search for that specific content. The idea behind hashtags is to make it easier for users to discover content that’s relevant to their interests, and for us, creators to reach new audiences and drive engagement.
First, let’s lighten the mood with a lil joke: Why did the Instagram marketer cross the road? To get to the hashtag research tool, of course!
So… How do you find keywords on Instagram? Do you search for hashtags on the ‘Gram at all? Is there really a tool to help you search for the most effective hashtags?
I believe we should be always open to paying for a good service that will help us improve our results, get that PRECIOUS traffic going, engage our audience and set things correctly – and there’s one really advanced tool out there, when it comes to hashtag research.
Yup, it’s IQ Hashtags. IQHashtags uses advanced algorithms to analyze over 100 million hashtags, giving you the most relevant, trending, and – most importantly – effective hashtags for your niche.
With the tool, you’ll save time and effort by eliminating the need for manual research, and you’ll also increase the visibility and reach of your posts – both static post and video ones.
So, how does this tool work? It’s pretty simple. All you have to do is enter your target keywords, and IQHashtags will generate a list of relevant hashtags that you can use in your posts, right away. You can also choose from the top hashtags in your niche, and the tool will even suggest the best time to post based on your target audience’s activity.
But that’s not all. IQHashtags also provides you with valuable insights into the popularity and competition of each hashtag, allowing you to make conscious decisions about which hashtags to use. Honestly, with IQHashtags, you’ll never again have to guess which hashtags will drive the most engagement and reach, and that’s the best part.
Are you tired of trying to guess the magic number of hashtags that will boost your Instagram presence? Well, I’ve got some good news for you – I’ve done the research and I’ve got THE ANSWER. And the answer is… Drumroll please…30!
That’s right, 30 hashtags is like the optimal number for boosting visibility on your posts: using 30 hashtags allows you to reach a much wider audience. Research has shown that posts with 30 hashtags receive the most engagement and reach compared to posts with a different number of hashtags. So, 30 is the sweet spot, I’d say!
But, it’s important to remember that unfortunately, not all hashtags are created equal. You should always use relevant hashtags to ensure that your post reaches THE RIGHT audience. Your target audience.
And on the side note: yup, that’s where IQHashtags comes in handy too.
To Wrap-Up!
Instagram hashtags are REALLY far from dead in 2023, they just need to be used the right way.
The way we use them – as you already know – has certainly evolved. As a marketing expert, I recommend that you focus on using only relevant and targeted hashtags, and don’t rely solely on them to drive engagement and visibility on the platform. A holistic approach to your Instagram presence, including high-quality content, Reels, engagement with your audience, and strategic partnerships, will help you stand out in 2023 and beyond. So, embrace the evolution of Instagram hashtags and incorporate them into your overall Instagram SEO strategy.