Hashtags have been around since the beginning of Instagram and even before it. With so many to choose from nowadays, it can be hard to know which are best for connecting to your community and growing your Instagram account. So, how do you pick and choose hashtags for your posts?

Here’s what you should know about choosing the right hashtags on Instagram.

Hashtags allow users to find posts in categories they are interested in and discover new content. This is just one reasons why Instagram is one of the best social media apps to use. You are more likely to connect with people that are actually interested in your content when you use hashtags that are relevant to what you are posting. If you are just using the most popular hashtags on Instagram, your posts will probably get buried in the millions of others under that hashtag.

Try using relevant hashtags like ones related to the location you are in, the activities or topics you are posting about, or your interests.

People interested in those same topics are more likely to follow relevant hashtags and discover your content this way. Then soon, you’ll be finding a community to grow your audience in.

Choose relevant but popular hashtags to get your content involved in different communities. For example, if you post about travel, use hashtags about travel, flying, and vacation. These are very popular hashtags that you can use to connect with other travelers. There are millions of popular Instagram hashtags, including hundreds of hashtags for Instagram Reels.

You can use up to 30 hashtags on one Instagram post, so you should combine these with more niche hashtags that not as many people are using, so your content is more likely to be featured at the top of the hashtag.

For the travel example, this can include hashtags about specific travel spots like good restaurants or museums. Since not as many people are posting about one restaurant, you are more likely to have your post towards the top of the hashtag where everyone can see it. And you will attract users that are potentially planning a trip to that area or locals who want to share advice on a particular place.

Users can follow hashtags on Instagram the same way they follow accounts, so you want to use some consistent hashtags on all of your posts to get your content in front of hashtag followers.

For best results, you should mix these consistent ones with some that are new and specific to each post. These hashtags can relate to what is specifically in your post that makes it unique from your other ones. This will help you connect with other users who are not following your consistent hashtags.

4. Instagram Story Hashtags

Make sure you are using up to hashtags on both your regular posts and on your Instagram Stories. You can add them to regular posts in the caption or comments and type them out anywhere on your Stories.

Don’t want your Story to look cluttered? You can type out hashtags on an Instagram Story, then shrink down the text and place it in the corner of your photo if you don’t want your picture blocked by text.

Properly using hashtags on Instagram can help you gain followers, increase your likes and Story views, and grow your online community. You may even find people with similar content and interests and make online friends this way. Hashtags are a great tool for maximizing your Instagram potential and sharing your creativity in photos with millions of other users!