Instagram is a great platforms for photographers and content creators to show their work and gain exposure. A key tool to increase your reach on Instagram is the use of hashtags, but there's a right way to use them. Let's break it down:
Why Use Hashtags?
Hashtags act as a sorting function on Instagram. Users can find content relevant to their interests easily by using different hashtags.
Hashtags extend your reach to potential followers interested in your niche, too.
Joining trending hashtags can give you a sudden visibility boost.
Choosing the Right Hashtags
Relevance:
Always ensure the hashtags you choose are relevant to your post. For example, if you are posting a cityscape at night, consider using hashtags like #NightPhotography or #Cityscape.
Popularity:
Using popular photography-related hashtags can help your post reach a larger audience. Examples include #PicOfTheDay, #InstaPhoto, or #PhotoOfTheDay.
Location-specific:
If you're capturing a specific location, add it to your hashtags. This is particularly useful for travel photographers. For instance, if you're shooting in New York, #NYCPhotography would be fitting.
Niche-specific:
If your photography falls into a specific niche, make sure to use related hashtags. For example, a food photographer could use #FoodPhotography, and a wedding photographer might use #WeddingPhotography.
Tip: You can leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and various digital tools to help with your hashtag selection. Platforms like RiteTag, Flick, and Hashtagify use AI algorithms to suggest effective hashtags based on real-time data. Instagram's native features, social media management tools like Hootsuite, and competitor analysis tools like SEMrush can also provide valuable insights.
How Many Hashtags to Use
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post but it's best not to use too many. Overuse can decrease engagement, so we suggest using between 3-5 for balance. You don't want to spam your post with hashtags!
Where to Place Hashtags
Whether you place hashtags in the caption or the first comment doesn't significantly impact your post's distribution. But placing hashtags in the caption makes them immediately visible and may encourage users to click on them, while placing them in the first comment keeps your caption clean and focused on your message.
Switching Up Your Hashtags
Avoid using the same hashtags repeatedly as it can make your posts look repetitive to Instagram's algorithm and decrease visibility.
It's also good to experiment with different combinations of hashtags to find out which ones drive the most engagement for your posts!
Conclusion
Hashtags are a good tool you can use to attract a larger audience and improve engagement. Use these tips and tricks to make your posts stand out, but remember, each hashtag should add value to your post.
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