A new day & a new change on Instagram.

What used to work last year on Instagram is no longer working this year, Instagram is updating its algorithm frequently and getting satisfying results became nearly impossible.

So how can Hashtags help your business for free?

1. Keep Your Instagram Hashtags Relevant

Instagram recently introduced the ability to “Follow Hashtags” which made it relatively easy to spot relevant content of our choice without having to search for a specific hashtag every time.

Moreover, this feature will possibly help in increasing followers if your post pops into a user's feed. However, users have the power to mark your hashtagged content as something they don’t want to see by simply clicking on “Don’t Show for This Hashtag” button.

You have to be extremely careful not to overuse the same hashtag because it could potentially raise a red flag on your account and negatively affect all of your other content as well.

2. What Works With Others May Not Work With You

Copying and pasting others’ hashtags will not help you score high interaction. On the contrary it will look spammy.

The most essential thing to focus on while choosing hashtags, is to curate specific and relevant hashtags for your content which will help you target your niche audience. Also it is important to switch hashtags between every post to avoid being “Shadow banned” by Instagram.

Moreover, it is highly important to avoid using hashtags that have been used a lot. These hashtags might get you a few extra likes but will not help with the engagement.

3. Follow Hashtags on Instagram!

Following a hashtag is like following a user.

This feature from Instagram gives business the golden opportunity to appear daily in a follower’s feed. For example, if you have a branded hashtag for your business, you can invite your followers to also follow your unique hashtag.

Additionally, it may increase the chance of appearing twice in a follower’s feed and hence double the engagement.

Furthermore, this feature can help you track your competitor's work without having to follow them and even discover potential partners by choosing to follow industry-specific hashtags.

4. Add Hashtags to Your Instagram Stories

A story hashtag in its turn can increase the chance of being noticed by new users on Instagram. When people search for a hashtag on Instagram, if it’s popular enough, they’ll be able to view active, real-time stories on that hashtag’s page.

There are two methods of adding hashtags to your story. One is by using the single hashtag sticker and the other is by using the text tool to include 10 different hashtags to your story.

However, avoid using a lot of hashtags in your stories since they’ll take extra space and make you look spammy.

5. Add Instagram Hashtags to Your Instagram Bio

Including your branded hashtag in your Instagram bio is an amazing way to drive engagement on your posts.

Your branded hashtag can be used for promoting your Instagram community, highlighting your branded content and announcing your Instagram campaigns. Additionally, it will create a habit for your followers to include your branded hashtag in their daily posts.

Hashtags are a game changer on Instagram, using them strategically may get you the Instagram success for free and increase communication with your followers.

You can follow our hashtag #BobolinkCreativeAgency