Once upon a time, hashtags were just pound signs or number symbols. Fast forward to today, they’re the navigational beacons of the digital world. They’re more than just a trend; they’re an evolution in communication. Just as an orchestra can’t harmonize without a conductor, your Instagram campaign can’t resonate with your target audience without effective hashtag research.
Consider the story of “John,” a charismatic entrepreneur with a stellar idea. He was eager to harness the power of Instagram, and he saw trending hashtags as his pathway to glory. But alas, his initial attempts were much like throwing darts blindfolded. The Instagram hashtag research he used needed to be narrower and more relevant. It was a painful lesson in the essential truth: understanding your target market is the difference between using the branded hashtag and using it effectively.
Can you imagine Shakespeare without metaphors? Or the Super Bowl without ads? It’s just as hard to guess Instagram without hashtags. They are not just mere conjunctions of words and phrases; they encapsulate your brand’s personality.
Now, take a moment and ask yourself, what is your hashtag personality?
Your chosen targeted hashtags are like the colours you paint your brand’s image on the Instagram canvas. Are you a #solopreneur, #lifecoach, or #fitnessaddict? Or a #booklover, #foodie, or #adventureseeker?
Just as Alice discovered Wonderland by following the rabbit, you can find effective hashtags by following your audience’s digital footprints. You can look at their Instagram posts, their interactions, and the communities they are part of. Which niche hashtags do they use most frequently? Which ones do they respond to most passionately? Are there niche-specific or location-specific hashtags that they engage with?
Consider this a treasure hunt, and remember that the treasure is not the hashtags themselves but the conversations and connections they can unlock.
It’s time to pull back the curtain and reveal hashtag maestros’ methods.
First up, Instagram’s search and discover feature is your trusty compass. Begin with a key term related to your brand and let Instagram guide you towards popular and relevant hashtags on Instagram. But remember, popularity is not the sole criterion. A hashtag crowded with millions of posts might result in your content getting lost in the sea of information.
Second, be observant. Keep a close eye on industry leaders, competitors, and influencers within your niche. Which hashtags do they use consistently? Are there any patterns in the related hashtags that garner the most engagement?
Third, use Instagram analytics tools to track hashtag performance over time. Instagram hashtag generator tools like Hashtagify, Ritetag, or Keyhole provide detailed insights into hashtag reach, popularity, and trends and suggest other potential hashtags.
Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, test and iterate. Hashtag research is not a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process.
In our tale of hashtag conquest, there’s a twist – Instagram’s elusive algorithm. It’s like the wind, unseen but with a tangible impact. It prefers relationships over randomness. That means consistent use of relevant hashtags and meaningful engagement will make the algorithm your ally.
But tread carefully, my friend. The algorithm is a clever beast, quick to identify and dismiss any attempts at ‘spamming’ or ‘gaming the system’ with irrelevant or excessive hashtags.
Here’s a quick quiz: Which hashtag would garner more attention on a post about a homemade apple pie: #applepie, #bakinglove, or #dessertdiaries? Share your answers in the comments, and let’s see if we can spot any trends!
To wrap up, let’s revisit our friend John. Empowered with the proper methods, he embarked on his hashtag research journey. Soon, he began to see a change – more likes, comments, shares, and, most importantly, meaningful connections with his audience.
He had finally understood that a target market isn’t just a group of potential customers; it’s a community to engage with, understand, and grow with. And he learned that the humble hashtag lay the secret to unlocking this community on Instagram.
While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, data suggests posts with nine hashtags receive the most engagement. Remember, it’s not about quantity but relevance and quality.
It’s beneficial to mix things up. Using the same set of hashtags for every post can make your content seem repetitive and may even raise spam flags with Instagram’s algorithm.
Branded hashtags are unique to your business (like a tagline or your company’s name). Community hashtags are common hashtags used by a specific community.
Before we charge ahead, let’s pause to consider some common mistakes in hashtag use. First, avoid being overly broad or generic. If you’re a small artisan coffee shop, using a hashtag like #coffee may put you in the same ocean as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. You may be better off focusing on more specific hashtags like #artisancoffee or #localcoffeeshop.
Next, we should be open and transparent. Remember, a hashtag aims to get your posts discovered by a wider audience. You’re merely shouting into the void if you create a hashtag no one else uses or searches for.
And finally, avoid hashtag gimmicks. Sure, it can be fun to create a super-long or clever hashtag, but if it doesn’t help your audience understand your brand or the content of your post, it’s not serving its purpose.
The golden rule is this: relevancy trumps everything. Your trending hashtag must make sense in the context of your post and your brand. They must resonate with your audience and contribute to the conversation you’re trying to initiate or join.
And remember, Instagram is a visual platform. Your content must be aesthetically pleasing and engaging. Hashtags can guide users to your post, but your content must be compelling enough to engage them.
If there’s one thing I want you to remember from our tale, it’s this: the purpose of hashtags is to foster and facilitate connection. When used strategically and thoughtfully, they can help you reach out to your target audience, understand their preferences and behaviours, and engage with them meaningfully.
In the great big digital dinner party on Instagram, hashtags are your conversation starters. They’re how you find the right people to talk to, the suitable topics to discuss, and how to express your brand’s unique voice and personality.
So here’s my challenge to you:
And most of all, have fun with it!
Remember, it’s not just about getting more likes or followers. It’s about building relationships, starting conversations, and making your mark in the digital world. It’s about understanding that a target market is not just a demographic statistic but a dynamic community of individuals with tastes, preferences, and aspirations.
And with the correct hashtag strategy, you can reach this community, engage with them, and inspire them to take action.
Good luck, my friends! The world of Instagram awaits you, and I can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll achieve. After all, #TheWorldIsYours.
Remember to take our hashtag challenge and share your answers in the comments below! #HashtagChallenge.
Stay tuned for our next session, where we’ll delve into the magical world of Instagram Stories and how they can add another layer to your social media strategy.
Until then, #KeepExploring, #KeepLearning, and #KeepGrowing.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.
