Hashtags, are they dead? Are they alive? Are they even relevant and do we need to worry about them? Many find it a little confusing, so I’m going to shed some light on the topic. I’ll also share the latest and greatest about hashtags and how you should be using them.
Hashtags and Your Content
I’m going to start off with this, because I really think it’s going to change your frame of mind when you think about hashtags. I want you to think of your content as a wonderful, delicious, vanilla ice cream sundae with bananas, covered in fudge and sprinkles. On top of your sundae you have a cherry. That cherry is your hashtags. It is just a bonus.
That cherry makes the sundae a little better, but if the rest of your sundae isn’t all that good, then the cherry isn’t going to make it any better. This is the same with your content. Hashtags aren’t going to miraculously save your content. It has to stand alone and speak for itself. Your hashtags are just the cherry on top and aren’t going to make or break your content. However, it will certainly help your already awesome content.
The Algorithm
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, even came out and said that hashtags are just a way for the algorithm to identify your content. The keywords you use should make it easier for your content to be found. If you use irrelevant hashtags, then it can confuse the algorithm.
For example, if you were to use the hashtag #milwaukeeappletree. If your content isn’t about Milwaukee apple trees or even an apple orchard, it’s not going to help your content. It’s not giant to reach the Milwaukee tree people of the world. This is a terrible example but you get the point right? The idea is to use really specific niche hashtags.
Here’s another example for specific niche related hashtags. Say you’re a photographer and you live in Milwaukee. If you were to use the hashtag #milwaukeephotographer, that’s specific and appropriate. You could even target some of the suburban areas that are around that you’d want to work in. There’s also a way to get even more specific with it. You could use #milwaukeeweddingphotographer or #milwaukeefamilyphotographer.
How Many Hashtags
Then comes the next question, how many do we use? There once was a time when we were told to use all 30 hashtags. However, now that we have been told that our hashtags should be very specific, 30 hashtags may not be as easily reached without confusing the algorithm. In this case, my suggestion is to use anywhere between 5 to 10 hashtags. It is easier to be more particular and specific this way. The idea is to use hashtags that your ideal client would use to find you. Even if you aren’t location based, you can still get specific enough to have your content found.
What You Should Be Focusing On
In the end, just remember these points I’ve shared with you about the use of hashtags and you’ll be good. What I really want you to focus on though is your content. Make sure you’re creating reels and posts that are ideal for your ideal client. Thank goodness we no longer have to spend hours researching hashtags and changing them up.