(scroll down if you just want to get to the juicy hashtags!!)
Should you be using hashtags in Instagram?
The resounding answer is yes!
Hashtags make your posts more searchable - it means that your ideal paying customer can find you - that means more followers, more likes and hopefully more sales!
How many hashtags are allowed?
You can have up to 30 hashtags on each post.
Where should I post my instagram hashtags?
You might have seen people posting their hashtags in the first comment. This works for a number of reasons. It gives you more space to write your caption. It looks tidier. And if you want to cross-post to your Facebook business page you won’t end up with a messy Facebook post full of hashtags that aren’t used on Facebook.
What about Instagram banning hashtags?
Well this may be an urban myth! I’ve just spent time on a site claiming they know all the banned hashtags - but when I did a search they are all in still in use.
The argument goes that as Instagram doesn’t allow adult content, if a certain hashtag gets associated with adult content it gets banned. #adultlife was supposedly banned - but it was still there when I looked as large as life!
How can I check which hashtags have been banned?
Click the explore ‘magnifying glass’ button and type in your hashtag - if no search results come up then it’s banned!
Can I edit my instagram hashtags?
If you’ve added them in the first comment you’ll need to delete the first comment and start again.
Do I need to use multiple hashtag lists?
A few years ago there was a lot of talk about the Instagram Shadow Ban - I think it turned out to be another of those urban myths. I’ve been checking out accounts with really large likes of their posts and they mostly alternate between 2 really good hashtag lists.
Where can I find popular instagram hashtags?
There are lots of apps that can help - HishHash is one. Or check out hastagify online. Or alternatively I will do searches on desktop instagram and then curate my own lists copying and pasting the best into google keep. I can then copy from my google keep app on my phone!
