The Smartest Way to Use Hashtags on Instagram in 2025

Hashtags are the secret sauce to boosting visibility, growing your audience, and making sure your content reaches the right people at the right time. But here’s the catch: If you’re just throwing out hashtags without any strategy, you’re probably doing it wrong. In fact, many users are using hashtags that are either too generic, too specific, or completely irrelevant, wasting a big opportunity to get noticed.

So, how can you use hashtags in a way that actually moves the needle? How can you turn hashtags from an afterthought into a powerful tool that drives engagement and builds a loyal community around your brand or content?

In this ultimate guide, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about Instagram hashtags—why they matter, how to find the best ones, how to use them strategically, and how to avoid common mistakes. We’re going to dig deeper than the basic how-to’s and provide actionable insights that you can start implementing today. By the end of this, you’ll have a clear strategy for using hashtags that actually work.

1. Introduction
2. Why Hashtags Matter on Instagram
3. The Anatomy of Hashtag
4. Understanding Hashtag Types
5. How to find the Best Hashtag
6. Common Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid
7. Bonus Tips for Hashtag Success in 2025
8. How to Use Hashtag Strategically
9. Conclusion

Why Hashtags Matter on Instagram?

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: Hashtags are important. But what does that actually mean? Why should you care?

Instagram is a content-rich platform where people are constantly scrolling through their feeds. With over 1 billion active users and millions of posts being shared every day, standing out can feel impossible. That’s where hashtags come in. They act as the filter for Instagram’s algorithm, helping it categorize content so that it can be shown to the right audience.

Hashtags help Instagram understand the content of your post and, more importantly, match it with users who are interested in those topics. When you use the right hashtags, your posts are more likely to appear in the feeds of potential followers or customers who haven’t yet discovered you. This leads to increased reach, engagement, and visibility.

The Numbers Behind Hashtags:

Posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than posts without any hashtags. That’s a significant boost for something as simple as a symbol.
Hashtags help you connect with niche communities. Instead of hoping your content is seen by the right people, you can target your posts to specific audiences that are more likely to engage with your content.
Trending hashtags can give your posts a moment in the spotlight, especially if you tie them to current events or popular trends.

Hashtags are also a great way to join conversations. Imagine you’re attending a large event or conference but can’t be there in person. By using the event hashtag, you can still participate virtually, connecting with other attendees or fans. The same idea applies to Instagram. By using relevant hashtags, you can tap into ongoing conversations and conversations around popular themes.

The Anatomy of a Hashtag (How They Work)

A hashtag is essentially a keyword or phrase preceded by the ‘#’ symbol. It’s a tool that helps users find content related to a specific topic. Simple, right? But while the concept of hashtags seems easy enough, choosing the right ones is an art that can take time to master.

Here’s a breakdown of how hashtags work and why the right combination matters:

Hashtags Categorize Content:

Hashtags categorize your content, which makes it discoverable. Instagram’s algorithm uses hashtags to classify your post under specific themes. For example, if you’re posting about a health and wellness topic, using hashtags like #fitness, #healthyliving, or #wellness will help Instagram categorize your content under those topics, making it more likely to show up in the feeds of people interested in those themes.

Hashtags Amplify Reach:

Every hashtag is a searchable term on Instagram. When you use a hashtag, your post becomes visible in the hashtag search results. This gives your content the potential to be discovered by people who are actively searching for posts related to that topic. If you’re using a trending or popular hashtag, your post has a chance of being featured on the hashtag’s explore page.

Hashtags Build Communities:

Certain hashtags help build niche communities around specific interests or topics. Whether it’s a specific hobby, lifestyle, or cause, hashtags bring like-minded people together. Think of them as digital clubs that share common interests. If you’re looking to connect with people who share your passion, hashtags are a great way to do it.

Hashtags Trigger Algorithmic Support:

Instagram’s algorithm doesn’t just care about your number of followers—it also tracks engagement. Hashtags help increase engagement by putting your content in front of people who are likely to interact with it. The more engagement you get, the more Instagram’s algorithm will push your content to a broader audience.

Understand Hashtag Types and When to Use Them

When most people think of Instagram hashtags, they think of using a few popular ones like #love, #instagood, or #photooftheday. While these are commonly used, they aren’t always effective for growing your audience. Understanding the different types of hashtags can help you develop a more strategic approach to reaching your desired audience.

Here are the main types of hashtags to use—and how to implement them:

1.Niche Hastags

These hashtags are specific to your industry, profession, or topic. They help you attract followers who are interested in your unique content. For example:

If you’re a photographer, niche hashtags like #urbanphotography or #portraitphotography will connect you with people who appreciate those specific styles.
If you’re a vegan chef, #veganrecipes or #plantbasedfood are perfect for targeting an audience that follows vegan cooking accounts.

2.Location-Based Hashtags

If you run a local business or want to target a specific geographic area, location hashtags are a game changer. Hashtags like #NYCfoodie, #LosAngelesStyle, or #ParisFashion Week can help you tap into specific regional audiences.

Pro Tip: Include the name of your city, neighborhood, or even your favorite coffee shop in your hashtags to ensure you’re showing up on local Instagram searches.

3. Trending Hashtags

Trending hashtags are typically related to current events, popular challenges, or viral moments. While it’s great to hop on these trends, you need to be quick. These hashtags can give your content a quick spike in visibility, but timing is everything. Jump on them early to ride the wave.

For example, if there’s a viral hashtag related to a sporting event like #Olympics2024 or a popular meme like #InMyFeelingsChallenge, using them when they are trending can skyrocket your engagement.

4. Brand-Specific Hashtags

As you grow your Instagram account, you’ll want to create hashtags specific to your brand or campaign. These can be as simple as your business name or a branded campaign. For example:

A clothing brand might use something like #XYZBrandStyle.
A fitness influencer might create a campaign hashtag like #XYZFitChallenge

These hashtags help increase brand awareness and create a sense of community around your products or message. When followers use your branded hashtag, they’re helping spread your message and creating user-generated content.

How to Find the Right Hashtags for Your Instagram Content

Now that we understand why hashtags matter and how they work, let’s talk about how to find the best hashtags for your posts. The goal is to use hashtags that are not only relevant to your content but also have the potential to reach the right people.

Step 1: Understand Your Target Audience

Before diving into hashtag research, take a moment to think about your target audience. Who are they? What are they interested in? What language do they use? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your hashtag strategy to fit their preferences and behaviors. The more specific you are about your audience, the more targeted and effective your hashtags will be.

Step 2: Research Trending Hashtags

Trending hashtags are a great way to increase the chances of your post getting discovered. These hashtags are used by a large number of people and are typically associated with current events or viral trends. You can find trending hashtags by checking Instagram’s Explore page, following influencers in your niche, or using third-party tools that track trending topics.

Step 3: Use Niche-Specific Hashtags

While trending hashtags are great for short-term visibility, niche-specific hashtags are often more valuable in the long run. These hashtags may have fewer posts associated with them, but they also attract a more targeted and engaged audience. For example, instead of using the broad hashtag #fitness, try something more niche like #homeworkout or #strengthtraining.

Step 4: Mix Popular, Niche, and Brand Hashtags

A well-rounded hashtag strategy includes a mix of popular, niche, and brand-specific hashtags. Popular hashtags can increase the visibility of your post, but they can also be highly competitive. Niche hashtags, on the other hand, attract a more targeted audience and tend to have higher engagement rates. Brand-specific hashtags (like your own unique hashtag) help build a community around your content and encourage user-generated content.

Here’s the trick: Mix high-volume, popular hashtags with niche, long-tail hashtags that are highly relevant to your post.

High-volume hashtags are general but still widely used. These can help you reach a large audience but require great engagement to stand out.
- Examples: #fashion, #fitness, #travel, #foodie
Niche hashtags are more specific and less competitive. These can help you connect with a focused audience that’s more likely to engage with your content.
- Examples: #sustainablefashion, #urbanfitness, #solotravel, #plantbasedfood

Step 5: Use Hashtag Tools and Resources

There are plenty of tools out there that can help you find relevant hashtags for your content. Some popular ones include:

Hashtagify: A tool that helps you discover trending hashtags based on specific keywords.
RiteTag: Offers hashtag suggestions based on real-time engagement data.
Instagram’s Search Function: You can also use Instagram’s built-in search to find popular and related hashtags.

Step 6: Test and Analyze Your Hashtags

Once you’ve found a set of hashtags that seem to work for you, don’t stop there. It’s important to continuously test and analyze your hashtags to see which ones perform the best. Instagram’s Insights tool allows you to track the performance of your posts, including the reach and engagement of your hashtags. This will give you valuable data to fine-tune your hashtag strategy over time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Hashtags

Hashtags can be a game changer for your Instagram strategy, but they’re not foolproof. There are a few common mistakes that can reduce their effectiveness, and some even run the risk of getting your account flagged by Instagram. Let’s take a look at what you should not be doing when using hashtags:

Mistake #1: Using Too Many Generic Hashtags.

As we mentioned earlier, using popular hashtags like #love or #instagood is tempting because of their massive reach. However, these hashtags are so overused that your post is likely to get buried within seconds. Stick to hashtags that are specific to your niche or industry.

Mistake #2: Using Irrelevant Hashtags

It might seem like a good idea to throw in some popular but unrelated hashtags (like using #fitness on a food post), but doing this actually hurts your engagement. When users see your post and realize it’s not relevant to the hashtag, they’re likely to scroll past it without engaging. Always make sure your hashtags align with the content you’re sharing.

Mistake #3: Overstuffing Your Post with Hashtags

While you can technically use up to 30 hashtags per post, adding a long list of hashtags can make your post look spammy. Instagram may even flag your post if it detects spammy behavior, which could result in decreased reach or shadowbanning.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Hashtag Research

Never just guess or use hashtags that seem like they’ll work. Research is essential to understanding what’s actually driving engagement in your niche. Using the wrong hashtags is like casting a net without knowing where the fish are—you’re unlikely to catch anything.

Mistake #5: Not Using Location-Based Hashtags

If your content is specific to a particular location or event, don’t forget to include location-based hashtags. These help your content reach people in the same area and increase local visibility.

Best Practices for Using Hashtags on Instagram

Now that you know why hashtags are important and how to choose the right ones, let’s dive into some practical best practices for using hashtags on Instagram.

1. Keep It Clean: Don’t Overuse Hashtags

There’s a lot of debate around how many hashtags you should use on Instagram. While Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, research suggests that using 7 to 11 hashtags is the sweet spot. Using too many hashtags can make your post look spammy or desperate for attention. On the flip side, using too few means you might miss out on potential engagement.

2. Experiment with Hashtag Placement

Most people place hashtags in the caption of their post, but you can also add them in the first comment. Both methods work, so it’s up to you which one you prefer. Placing hashtags in the comments can help keep your captions clean and uncluttered, while still benefiting from the increased visibility of the hashtags.

3. Avoid Banned Hashtags

Instagram periodically bans certain hashtags due to spammy or inappropriate content. Using these banned hashtags can limit the reach of your posts or even get your account shadowbanned (where your content is hidden from some or all users). Make sure to research hashtags before using them to ensure they’re safe to use.

4. Monitor Your Hashtags’ Performance

Once you’ve started using hashtags, it’s important to track how they’re performing. Keep an eye on how much engagement you’re getting from each hashtag, and which ones are generating the most visibility for your content. You can use Instagram Insights to see how many impressions and interactions came from hashtags.

How to Use Hashtags in Different Instagram Features

Using hashtags in your main feed posts is probably the most common way people use them, and it’s also the most straightforward. Once you’ve selected your hashtags, you can add them directly into your post’s caption or place them in the first comment.

1. Hashtags in Instagram Posts

Caption vs. Comment:

In-Caption Hashtags: Adding hashtags directly to your post’s caption can make it clear what the post is about. However, some users feel that too many hashtags in the caption can appear cluttered.
In-First Comment Hashtags: Another popular strategy is to add hashtags in the first comment after you post. This keeps your caption clean while still providing the visibility benefits of hashtags. Plus, it can sometimes appear more professional, especially if you’re using a lot of hashtags.

There’s no right or wrong approach here, but testing both methods will help you figure out which one works best for your audience and content style.

2. Hashtags in Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are often overlooked when it comes to hashtags, but they can be a powerful tool for extending the reach of your posts. To add a hashtag to your Story, simply use the hashtag sticker or type the hashtag directly in your Story text. Stories with hashtags can appear on the hashtag’s search page or in the Stories feed of anyone following that hashtag.

Pro Tip: Use Trending Hashtags in Stories to join larger conversations. Trending topics give your content more visibility, but you should only use them if they’re relevant to your Story. This can help your Story get discovered by people who are already interested in those topics.

How to Use Hashtags in Stories:

Add up to 10 hashtags per story. But, unlike posts, it’s usually best to hide them (just shrink them down to a tiny size) or make them blend into your Story design.
You can also use hashtag stickers, which make your hashtags clickable and tappable.

3. Hashtags in Instagram Reels

Reels are Instagram’s answer to TikTok-style short-form videos, and they’ve become a major engagement driver. Hashtags in Reels work similarly to those in regular posts—they help categorize your content and make it easier for users to discover.

Pro Tip: Since Reels are heavily favored by Instagram’s algorithm, the right hashtags can help your video appear in the Reels Explore section, which is where many users find content they enjoy.

Hashtag Strategy for Reels:

Use a combination of popular, niche, and brand-specific hashtags to maximize reach.
Place hashtags directly in your caption for easy access.
Consider including a hashtag that is unique to the challenge, trend, or theme of your Reel.

Conclusion

Instagram hashtags are much more than just a trendy accessory to throw on your posts. When used strategically, they can be a powerful tool for growing your audience, increasing engagement, and building a loyal community around your content. Whether you’re aiming to reach a local crowd or go global, hashtags can help you connect with the right people at the right time.

By researching your hashtags carefully, using a mix of popular and niche options, and consistently tracking their performance, you’ll be on your way to mastering Instagram hashtags and driving real results. Don’t forget—hashtags are there to help you, but they need to be part of a larger strategy that includes great content and a genuine connection with your audience.

Now, go ahead and start experimenting with your hashtags! The more you understand how they work, the better you’ll become at using them to grow your presence on Instagram. Happy hashtagging!

Still Got Questions?

Can I Use the Same Hashtags on Every Post?

While it’s tempting to reuse the same hashtags on every post, it’s not always the best strategy for long-term growth. Using the same set of hashtags repetitively can lead to Instagram’s algorithm marking your posts as spam or overly repetitive. Instagram’s algorithm values diversity and relevance, so it’s important to update your hashtags regularly based on the content you’re posting. Customizing hashtags for each post ensures that they’re more closely aligned with the message, target audience, and current trends. It also allows you to reach different audiences each time, preventing your account from appearing stagnant or spammy.

What Are the Risks of Using Banned Hashtags?

Using banned hashtags on Instagram is a major risk. Instagram occasionally bans hashtags that are associated with spammy content or inappropriate posts. If you unknowingly use a banned hashtag, your post might not appear in search results or hashtag feeds, limiting its visibility. Worse, using banned hashtags could result in your account being shadowbanned, which means your posts won’t appear in hashtag searches for a while. To avoid this, always check if a hashtag is currently banned before using it. You can do this by searching for the hashtag on Instagram; if you see a message saying “No posts available,” it’s banned.

How Do I Find Trending Hashtags for My Niche?

Finding trending hashtags for your niche is key to staying relevant and reaching the right audience. A simple way to discover trending hashtags is by regularly browsing Instagram’s Explore Page. This page curates trending posts based on your interests, showing popular hashtags related to content you engage with. You can also check competitors and influencers in your industry to see which hashtags they’re using. Another way is by using hashtag tools like Trendsmap or Hashtagify that track trending hashtags in real-time, helping you align your posts with current conversations in your niche. Stay flexible and adapt to new trends quickly.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my hashtags?

Measuring hashtag effectiveness on Instagram is essential for refining your strategy. Start by tracking engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares on posts with different sets of hashtags. Tools like Instagram Insights or third-party platforms like Later and Sprout Social can help you assess the performance of specific hashtags. Look at the reach and impressions for each post to determine which hashtags helped drive traffic. Additionally, monitor follower growth and website clicks if you’re promoting a business. Experiment with different hashtag combinations over time to see which ones generate the highest engagement rates.

How Do Hashtags Help with Instagram SEO?

Hashtags play a significant role in Instagram’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Just like with traditional SEO, Instagram’s algorithm uses hashtags to categorize and rank content, making it discoverable by users who are searching for specific topics. When you use relevant and trending hashtags, your posts are more likely to appear in hashtag searches, increasing visibility. Instagram’s algorithm looks at factors like the relevance of the hashtags, engagement, and the type of content. This means using the right hashtags in the right context can improve your organic reach and drive more targeted traffic to your profile, boosting your overall SEO on the platform.