THIS is how to ACTUALLY use hashtags on Instagram (It's not how you think) | Instagram hashtags 2023

1. The Truth About Instagram Hashtags
2. Hashtags' Evolving Role in Reach
3. Content Quality and Hashtag Success
4. Instagram's Hashtag Guidelines
5. Relevancy and Effectiveness of Hashtags
6. Optimizing Hashtag Placement and Quantity
7. The Optimum Number of Hashtags
8. Identifying and Avoiding Banned Hashtags
9. FAQ

The Truth About Instagram Hashtags

I swear to you that I have a conversation about hashtags multiple times a week. There are still so many misconceptions surrounding Instagram hashtags. There's still so much misunderstanding as to how they're supposed to be used and whether or not they even work in 2022 and Beyond. So I decided to create this video so that next time someone asks me about them I can just send them this link. So in this video I'm going to be telling you the truth about Instagram hashtags. I'm going to be dropping several truth bombs one after the other so make sure you are paying attention. But also make sure that you subscribe to my channel because I release content like this every single week and stick around to the end because I'm going to be sharing my ultimate litmus test for hashtags - the one thing you need to do to make sure that the hashtag that you are using is actually a good one. Let's get to it.

Hashtags' Evolving Role in Reach

Okay, so truth bomb number one: hashtags are no longer a good source of reach. So you remember back in the day where people would use really random hashtags on their posts and get loads of followers and likes and Engagement. Like for example, I remember Will Smith being a really popular one that people used to use. So people would hashtag Will Smith on random photos which had nothing to do with Will Smith and for some reason they would then get loads of reach as a result of it. Well, the reason why hashtags used to be such a great source of reach is because hashtags used to be the only way that people could find content about a specific thing.

Content Quality and Hashtag Success

Truth bomb number two: hashtags will only work if your content is good. I'm really starting off with the real hard-hitting truth bombs today. Hashtags can still work. They are not the main way for you to get reach or for you to grow. They're not as powerful as they used to be, however, they can still work. They will only work though if your content's good. So let me explain this to you. When a hashtag actually works for you, it doesn't work purely because you've used that hashtag.

Instagram's Hashtag Guidelines

Truth bomb number three: Instagram will literally tell you how to use hashtags. I talk about this quite a few times on my videos, but there are two main resources that I will go to when it comes to me truly understanding how the Instagram platform works. Both resources are Instagram accounts. The first is Adam Missouri who is the head of Instagram. And the second is the creators account which is the official Instagram account for Instagram creators.

Relevancy and Effectiveness of Hashtags

Truth bomb number four: just because the hashtag has worked for someone else does not mean it's going to work for you. I know that's a bummer because I see a lot of content where people say like 'use these hashtags to blow up on Instagram' or 'these are the hashtags I use to grow to 10,000 followers on Instagram'. And whilst it would be so lovely if we could just lift all those hashtags, use them in our next post and blow up, unfortunately that is just not the case.

Optimizing Hashtag Placement and Quantity

Truth bomb number five: your hashtags should be in your captions, not in your comments. Instagram can apparently not read your hashtags if they are in your comments, but they can read your hashtags if they are in your captions. And if you've listened to the previous parts of this video, you'll know that Instagram will read your hashtags to try and figure out what your content is about. It's all about relevancy.

The Optimum Number of Hashtags

Truth bomb number six: you don't need to use 30 hashtags anymore, okay? Back in the day, everyone used to use 30 hashtags because that was the limit. Whilst Instagram has not said that if you use the hashtags you will be penalized, they have said that the recommended amount of hashtags is between three to five.

Identifying and Avoiding Banned Hashtags

This final truth bomb is a very important, if not crucial truth bomb about hashtags. But hashtags still exist. Essentially, Instagram has a list of hashtags that they just do not like for whatever reason. Because they do not like them, they have banned them. And what this means is that if you use a banned hashtag in your post, there is a very decent chance that that post is not going to perform well.

FAQ

Q: What is the truth about Instagram hashtags?
A: The truth about Instagram hashtags is that they are no longer a good source of reach. While they can still work, they are not as powerful as they used to be and will only work if your content is good.
Q: How has the role of hashtags evolved in terms of reach?
A: Hashtags are no longer a surefire way to gain reach on Instagram. In the past, using random hashtags could result in increased followers and engagement, but now hashtags are not the main way to grow on the platform.
Q: What is the relationship between content quality and hashtag success?
A: Hashtags can still work on Instagram, but only if your content is of good quality. Simply using popular hashtags is not enough to guarantee success.
Q: What guidelines does Instagram provide regarding hashtags?
A: Instagram provides guidelines on how to use hashtags effectively. The platform offers resources such as accounts belonging to Instagram's head and the official account for Instagram creators for better understanding.
Q: Is the effectiveness of a hashtag guaranteed if it has worked for someone else?
A: No, just because a hashtag has worked for someone else does not mean it will work for you. Success with hashtags depends on various factors including relevancy and content quality.
Q: Where should hashtags be placed for optimal visibility?
A: Hashtags should be placed within your captions on Instagram for better visibility. Placing hashtags in comments may not be as effective as Instagram primarily reads the hashtags in the captions for relevancy.
Q: What is the recommended number of hashtags to use on Instagram posts?
A: While Instagram previously allowed up to 30 hashtags per post, the platform now recommends using between three to five hashtags for optimum performance.
Q: What should be done to avoid using banned hashtags on Instagram?
A: It is essential to avoid using banned hashtags on Instagram as they can negatively impact the performance of your posts. Instagram maintains a list of banned hashtags, and using them may result in poor post engagement.