How to Find the Perfect Hashtags for Your Instagram Niche
- Digital Marketing Handbooks
- Aug 12, 2024
- 4 min read
Let’s be real: hashtags are more than just trendy words on Instagram—they’re the secret sauce to getting your content seen by the right audience. But here’s the catch: not all hashtags are created equal. Using the right hashtags can help you reach your ideal followers, increase engagement, and grow your presence in your niche. The wrong ones? They’ll leave your posts lost in the void.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find the perfect hashtags for your Instagram niche with practical tips, strategies, and tools like Hashtagify and RiteTag. Let’s make hashtags work for you, not against you!
Why Hashtags Matter for Instagram Success
Before diving into the “how,” let’s talk about why hashtags are essential:
Increased Discoverability: Hashtags make your posts searchable, helping you reach people who are already interested in your niche.
Targeted Engagement: The right hashtags connect you with an audience that actually wants what you’re offering.
Community Building: Niche-specific hashtags allow you to engage with like-minded creators and potential customers.
Algorithm Love: Instagram uses hashtags to categorize your content, showing it to people likely to engage with it.
The key? Use hashtags that align with your content and audience—not just what’s popular.
Step 1: Understand Your Niche and Audience
Before finding hashtags, get crystal clear on your niche and the audience you want to attract.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
What topics or themes does your content focus on?
Who is your ideal follower or customer?
What kind of hashtags might your audience search for?
Example:
If you’re a vegan food blogger, your niche revolves around plant-based recipes and eco-conscious living. Your audience might search hashtags like #VeganEats, #PlantBasedLiving, or #SustainableCooking.
Step 2: Research Relevant Hashtags
Once you know your niche, it’s time to find hashtags that align with it. Here’s how:
1. Use Instagram’s Search Bar
Instagram’s search bar is a goldmine for hashtag ideas. Start typing a keyword related to your niche, and Instagram will suggest related hashtags.
How to Do It:
Go to the search bar and type a keyword (e.g., “fitness”).
Switch to the “Tags” tab to see hashtag suggestions like #FitnessJourney or #FitnessMotivation.
Check the number of posts for each hashtag to gauge its popularity.
2. Explore Competitors’ Hashtags
Look at what hashtags your competitors or similar creators are using. Chances are, they’ve already done some of the research for you.
How to Do It:
Go to a competitor’s Instagram profile.
Analyze the hashtags they use in their captions or first comment.
Take note of hashtags that align with your content.
3. Use Hashtag Research Tools
Take your hashtag strategy to the next level with tools designed to find and analyze hashtags.
Top Tools for Hashtag Research:
Hashtagify: Enter a keyword to discover related hashtags, their popularity, and trends.
RiteTag: Upload an image or caption, and RiteTag will suggest hashtags based on your content.
All Hashtag: Generate top, random, or similar hashtags based on a keyword.
Pro Tip:
Focus on a mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags. Popular hashtags increase visibility, niche hashtags connect you with a specific audience, and branded hashtags help build your unique community.
Step 3: Evaluate Hashtag Performance
Not all hashtags will work for your content, so it’s essential to evaluate their effectiveness.
1. Check Engagement Levels
Look at the posts within a hashtag to assess the type of engagement they receive. Are these posts getting likes, comments, and shares?
What to Look For:
Posts with consistent, moderate engagement indicate an active audience.
Avoid hashtags flooded with spammy or irrelevant content.
2. Analyze Hashtag Competition
The number of posts in a hashtag determines its competition.
How to Choose:
Low Competition (Less than 50k posts): Great for niche audiences.
Medium Competition (50k–500k posts): A balance of visibility and relevance.
High Competition (500k+ posts): Use sparingly, as your post might get buried.
Pro Tip:
Mix hashtags from all competition levels to maximize your reach.
3. Use Instagram Insights
If you have a professional account, Instagram Insights shows how many people found your post through hashtags.
How to Access:
Open the post.
Tap “View Insights.”
Check the “From Hashtags” metric under “Impressions.”
Step 4: Create a Hashtag Strategy
Now that you’ve found the right hashtags, it’s time to use them strategically.
1. Use a Balanced Mix
Combine hashtags with different levels of popularity to target a wide audience while staying relevant.
Example Mix for a Fitness Influencer:
High Competition: #Fitness
Medium Competition: #FitnessJourney, #HomeWorkouts
Low Competition: #MorningWorkoutRoutine, #FitnessForMoms
Branded Hashtags: #YourFitnessBrand
2. Rotate Your Hashtags
Using the same hashtags repeatedly can flag your account as spam. Instead, create a few hashtag sets and rotate them.
3. Use Hashtags in Stories
Don’t limit hashtags to captions! Add them to Stories to increase discoverability. Use the hashtag sticker or hide them behind GIFs or stickers for a clean look.
4. Limit Your Hashtag Count
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but using 10–20 well-researched, relevant hashtags often performs better than maxing out the limit.
Step 5: Monitor and Adjust
Hashtag trends change, so it’s crucial to revisit and refine your strategy regularly.
Tips for Monitoring Hashtag Success:
Use Instagram Insights to track hashtag performance.
Experiment with new hashtags every month to discover what resonates best.
Stay updated on trending hashtags in your niche.
Final Thoughts: Hashtags That Work for You
Finding the perfect hashtags for your Instagram niche doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a mix of research, tools, and a solid strategy, you can use hashtags to reach the right audience, boost engagement, and grow your brand authentically.
Now it’s your turn! What’s your favorite tool or strategy for finding hashtags? Share your tips in the comments, or tag us in your next post using your favorite hashtag—we’d love to see your strategy in action!
Comments