How to Use Instagram Hashtags to Benefit Your Business

Ok, so we know that Instagram is said to be the new home for brands who want to make an impact on social. But did you know that using Instagram hashtags is just as important as the post itself if you want to successfully promote your business online?

If your posts contain hashtags, this helps to encourage more engagement as opposed to a post that contains none. Followers of your page typically like to engage with hashtags.

It’s true, and it also matters how many hashtags you choose to include in your post. For example, using 1 hashtag for your post versus using 11+ hashtags could potentially mean the difference between 29% interaction and 79% interaction on your post.

But hashtags are not all created equal and it matters which ones you choose based on these factors:

Choose hashtags that make your business discoverable, as the right hashtags will make your content easier for audiences to find on Instagram, almost like when a person searches for a keyword on a search engine, eg: Google. Instagram users can search for the relevant hashtags or they can find your content through related posts and the explore page.

It’s a good idea to create your own business branded hashtag to encourage interactions with your customers. Customers can use your hashtag to share their experience with your product or service and let others know about your business as well, without you having to advertise.

In turn, you can look at publishing follower photos to your business Instagram feed to say thank you. This creates a loyal following of fans who know that your company appreciates their feedback. Without business branded hashtags for Instagram accounts, there would be no opportunity for customers to become brand advocates for your business.

Trending hashtags are also a wave your business can ride if you want to get noticed quickly. But remember to stick to your industry or you could lose credibility as a brand. Trending hashtags are also helpful to see what people are buzzing about and can help you to stay current as a business.

Try and find hashtags that are community and industry-specific. Meaning, tags that are relevant to your products or services and to your customer’s interests. The tags that you choose should be popular enough that they will get used but not so popular that your posts will get lost in the noise. Try and include some niche hashtags as well, that speaks specifically to your audience. Instagram will also recommend tags if you get stuck.

Also, don’t be afraid to have a bit of fun by using holiday hashtags including niche social holidays. These types of tags are useful for revealing the fun side to your business, making it more relatable and human to new followers.

We specialise in creating social media content use techniques like the above so get in touch with us today by either visiting our contact page or emailing, janine@themustardflower.co.za to make use of our services if you would like to give your business a social media boost!