How To Leverage Instagram Marketing Using Hashtags

Have you ever wondered how some brands achieve massive reach on Instagram with seemingly minimal effort? One of the prime reasons is that they have mastered hashtags. Almost every IG ninja is aware of the power of hashtags on Instagram.

Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to use hashtags effectively for the best results. Sprinkling random hashtags in your content on IG is not the right way to make the most out of it. Many focus on using the most popular hashtags and hope to get some exposure and gain followers. But that rarely helps you get the desired results. Hashtags are a compelling medium that can skyrocket your visibility on Instagram.

If you want to boost your audience reach organically and engage with them effectively, then you must master using hashtags. Here is our quick rundown on how you can build an effective Instagram hashtag strategy:

#1. Understand Where Hashtags Fall into Your Instagram Marketing Strategy

Think of it this way – the hashtags you use with your content will be a bridge between you and your target audience on social media platforms. Here is a breakdown of where the hashtags could fall in your marketing strategy:

Getting Seen: Your hashtags are your signposts. When you use them, more people can stumble upon your posts just by clicking or searching for that hashtag.
Finding the Right Crowd: Hashtags help you connect with the audience that is interested in you and, in most cases, is searching for you (your products or services). With the right hashtags, you’re signalling to those interested folks on social media platforms, “Hey, I’ve got something you’ll like!”
Your Brand’s Special Tag: Have you ever considered having a unique hashtag for your brand or a special event you’re promoting? It is a strategic way to share content about your brand in one place.
Peek at the Competition: You can see what your competition is doing by looking at popular hashtags in your industry.

If you find it challenging to research independently, try hiring the right person for this job using recruitment software.

#2. Research and Use the Right Hashtags with Your IG Content

Start by brainstorming and creating a list of hashtags that seem most relevant to your business. If you run a coffee shop, then words like “coffee,” “mocha,” “latte,” or “espresso” would represent your business the best way. You can use CMS or a simple spreadsheet to prepare your list.

Once you have a list handy, you can use Instagram’s built-in hashtag tools. It would allow you to find hashtags relevant to your niche and show you the type of content associated with them. Next, move on to competitor and industry influencer research and see what hashtags work best for them.

Get some insight using Salesforce forms and add the most effective ones to your list. You can also use content marketing tools or hashtag research tools like Ritetag to get a broader range of suggestions. If you’re building a brand or SEO campaign, consider creating a unique, branded hashtag. It’s an exciting way to rally your community and track user engagement.

Note: Instagram sometimes bans or restricts specific hashtags if they don’t align with their guidelines. Make sure to avoid the use of such hashtags.

#3. Use Optimum Number of Hashtags in Your IG Content

Deciding how many hashtags to use on Instagram can be a bit of a puzzle, especially when you want to optimise reach and engagement.

Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags for a regular post and 10 for a Story. But should you use them all? It depends. It’s like calculating keyword density in SEO. Using all 30 hashtags can maximise the potential reach of your post. Maximising hashtag usage can benefit new accounts or those looking to grow.

But you must remember that stuffing your posts with the full quota of hashtags can sometimes look spammy or desperate. It might turn off some existing or potential followers. Therefore, you must ensure that all hashtags you use are relevant to the post. Many brands and influencers adopt a middle-ground approach using between 5 and 15 hashtags.

This strikes a balance between leveraging the power of hashtags for discoverability and keeping the post clean and focused. Regularly analyse your post-performance, experiment with different amounts, and adjust based on what works best for your audience and content. Remember, Instagram is ever-evolving, so it’s always good to stay flexible and adapt to what gets you the best results.

#4. Hashtag Diversity is the Key

Researching for the right hashtags and using them in optimal numbers is only half the homework. You need to mix hashtags in your content marketing strategy. Here are some examples:

Branded Hashtags: These hashtags are specific to your brand, e.g., #yourbrandname.
Trending Hashtags: During your research, you will encounter several trending hashtags, such as #ThrowbackThursday or #MondayMotivation. Make use of them.
Industry-Specific Hashtags: These hashtags help you stay connected with your industry community.
Community Hashtags: You can target a specific group of online communities using such hashtags. A quick example would be using #instafoodies to connect with food lovers.
General Hashtags: Some general tags like #Love can be competitive, but they can also help you reach vast audiences like email marketing campaigns.

#5. Use Hashtags in Feeds, Stories and IGTV

Your hashtags start with your regular posts on the landing page – feeds. Blend your hashtags in your IG posts, or use them at the bottom. Another great way to include hashtags here is by dropping them as the first comment right after the post.

Instagram stories have great potential to help you increase your visibility amongst the target audience. Slipping a hashtag or two into your Stories can be a game-changer. It is a simple way to get your brand in front of more people and boost your Instagram marketing results! Using a hashtag in your IG story can improve the chances of getting into the “Explore” page.

If you are new to using hashtags in stories, focus on being straightforward and keep hashtags simple and relevant. Think about your Story, and choose a hashtag that fits just right. If you post longer videos on IGTV or any video platform, remember that hashtags can offer significant benefits even here.

You can put the hashtags in the video description or the title. Make sure to use catchy hashtags that draw attention. While managing your Instagram marketing strategy, you can integrate insights from your CRM. This CRM Instagram integration will help you understand how hashtag-driven traffic from Instagram impacts your overall content engagement and conversions.

#6. UGC Hashtags Can Be Very Fruitful

By now, you must have deduced the power of hashtags. Why not motivate your followers or audience to use them? One of the best ways to do this is by asking them to use a set of hashtags in their posts directly on your email list created with the help of a LinkedIn email finder.

Of course, you can offer them some incentives for added motivation. Use an email verification tool to scout through your database and send emails requesting them to use your desired hashtags for an incentive.

Having UGC hashtags would enhance your content exposure amongst the target audience and help you reach your desired target goals faster. Seek help from reputed business coaches to motivate your audience to do what you want.

#7. Boosting CTR

Growing your Instagram click-through rate (CTR) is critical for increasing website traffic, generating leads, and driving sales. A higher CTR indicates that more people are clicking on the links in your bio and posts, which can result in various beneficial results for your company.

Here are some ideas for boosting CTR:

Make high-quality graphics: Because Instagram is a visual network, producing eye-catching and visually attractive photographs and videos is critical. Make your articles stand out using vivid colours, unique arrangements, and relevant material.
Create captivating captions: Captions should be more than just a summary of the image or video. They should be interesting and informative, with a call to action to click on your link. To inform customers what you want them to do, use powerful call-to-actions (CTAs), such as “Shop now,” “Learn more,” or “Sign up.”
Use appropriate hashtags: Hashtags are an excellent technique to increase the number of people who notice your content creation. When you utilise appropriate hashtags, your posts will appear in the hashtag search results. To attract a larger audience, blend popular and specialty hashtags.
Promote your Instagram account on other social media networks: Use your website, blog, and other social media platforms to promote your Instagram account. This will allow you to meet new people and increase traffic to your Instagram page.
Create Instagram advertising: Instagram advertisements are a terrific method to market your content to a targeted audience. You may pick who sees your Instagram advertising based on their demographics, hobbies, and activity when you run them. Furthermore, you can use Instagram-integrated CRM solutions to manage sales and marketing activities for your business.

Here are some extra methods for increasing your Instagram CTR:

Make use of interactive features: Instagram has a variety of interactive elements, including polls, quizzes, and questions. These elements captivate your audience and entice them to click on your links.
Run competitions and giveaways: Contests and giveaways are an excellent way to build your company’s enthusiasm and interest. When running a contest or giveaway, put a clear call to action in your post, such as “Click the link in our bio to enter.”
Collaborate with influencers: Collaborating with industry influencers is an excellent way to reach a new audience and market your products or services. When collaborating with an influencer, find someone with a following relevant to your target market.

Concluding Thoughts

Instagram is a massive marketplace and one of the best places to reach your audiences. When you master the art of using IG hashtags, you can enhance your brand visibility and engagement.

Whether posting a pic, sharing a fleeting moment, or uploading a long video, there’s a hashtag strategy to boost your visibility and engagement. The right hashtags and place in your content would keep your page visible to a vast audience. Use the tips in the article and start leveraging hashtags for Instagram marketing.