Hashtags 101

 Although using hashtags may sound cliché because they have been around for so long, they are actually a great way to increase post reach and gain new followers. Using hashtags helps Instagram's algorithm rank your post in the search section, explore tab, and followers feed. So why doesn't everyone use 4,000 hashtags in each post? keep reading to find out! 

Hashtags can help boost your Instagram posts when used properly. Instagram allows you to post up to 30 hashtags in each post, however using that many is not recommended. The ideal number of hashtags is one to three, however including just one hashtag has proven to increase post engagement by 12.6%. Unfortunately for those who get a little too hashtag happy, engagement starts to go down if a caption contains more than 11 hashtags. 

Another important aspect of hashtags to know is avoiding banned hashtags. Instagram has prohibited the use of number hashtags to maintain an authentic, safe place for users. Other common hashtags that are banned are, #popular, #newyears, #pushups and #books. Using a banned hashtag will cause your post to be "shadow banned" meaning it won't appear in various locations on Instagram or when searched. The attached link Banned Instagram Hashtags 2021 - Tags You Didn’t Know Are Blocked (markitors.com) has the complete list of banned hashtags as of 2021. 

Not only is it important to avoid banned hashtags, it is also important to use hashtags that are relevant to your industry. Properly using hashtags will help spread brand awareness and gain new followers so it is key to use trending and relevant hashtags when posting.