How to Conduct Instagram Hashtag Research

Did you know that Instagram posts featuring hashtags see an impressive 70% increase in engagement compared to those without? This simple addition can significantly boost visibility, making your content more discoverable and enhancing interaction with your audience.

Have you done any Instagram hashtag research lately? Whether or not you have, for the past few years, they’ve been taking the world by storm. No, but in all seriousness—in 2012 “hashtag” was named the word of the year. Later on, a baby would be named Hashtag and the term itself would be legally banned in France.

See what we mean? Pretty crazy stuff.

But you know where hashtags got their start, right? It had nothing to do with dictionaries here—as a business, how should you use them on Instagram?

It’s a fair question, and one that we answer on a daily basis here at Kicksta. So, if you’re in need of some solid direction in the ways of Instagram hashtag research, rest assured, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading—below, you’ll find a number of instructions to help you milk Instagram hashtags for all they’re worth:

Using Instagram’s Built-In Search Functionality

Okay, this one’s a bit simple, but it’s without a doubt the best place to start your Instagram hashtag research. As always, when you have a pressing question and are looking for an answer, Google is where you’re headed. Similarly, with your business’ specialty in mind, use Instagram’s built-in search bar to search out popular, industry-specific terms.

When you do, Instagram will automatically suggest a few hashtags for you, and show you how many posts contain said hashtags. Once again, this is the most fundamental way to conduct hashtag research.

How to Effectively Search and Use Hashtags on Instagram:

• Open Instagram App: Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device.
• Navigate to the Search Tab: Tap on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the Explore page.
• Access the Search Bar: At the top of the Explore page, you’ll find a search bar. Tap on it to activate.
• Enter Your Keyword: Type your keyword or topic of interest into the search bar. For example, if you’re interested in travel-related hashtags, type “travel”.
• Switch to Tags Tab: After entering your keyword, Instagram will show you results across different categories like Top, Accounts, Tags, and Places. Tap on the “Tags” tab to specifically view hashtags related to your keyword.
• Explore Hashtags: Scroll through the list of hashtags that appear. Instagram arranges them based on popularity and relevance. You can see how many posts have used each hashtag to gauge its popularity.
• View Related Hashtags: For each hashtag, Instagram also suggests related hashtags that you might find useful. These related hashtags can expand your research and help you discover new options.
• Save Relevant Hashtags: To save a hashtag for later use, tap on the bookmark icon next to it. This will add it to your saved collection for quick reference.
• Refine Your Search: If needed, refine your search by entering more specific keywords or exploring different variations of hashtags related to your topic.
• Apply Your Findings: Once you’ve identified relevant hashtags with good engagement, incorporate them into your Instagram posts to increase visibility and reach.

The Right Tools to Get the Job Done

Google and Instagram searches are great, but getting hashtags right doesn’t have to stop there. In fact, to help businesses out even more, a number of digital tools have quickly made a name for themselves as hashtags have grown in popularity. The following four are a few of the best:

1) HashAtIt

HashAtIt is one of the Internet’s favorite hashtag databases. Whether it be Facebook and Twitter or Pinterest and Instagram, if you want to know what hashtags are being used, HashAtIt can help out. Oh! And here’s the best part—it’s 100% free.

2) HashTracking

HashTracking is devoted entirely to Twitter and Instagram hashtag analysis. That said, there’s quite a bit of correlation between trending Twitter hashtags and their Instagram counterparts, so feel free to explore both platforms.

3) Keyhole

The biggest difference between Keyhole and the rest of its competitors comes from the site’s emphasis on real-time hashtag tracking. In other words, Keyhole wants you to know what hashtags Instagrammers are using right this very instant.

4) NUVI

Of the options presented on this post, NUVI is by far the cream of the crop. Yes, NUVI offers much in the ways of hashtag help, but more than anything, with NUVI, you’re able to monitor your Instagram account at all times and chime in whenever an enticing conversation appears to be materializing.

Case in point? No matter the size of your business or budget, there’s a hashtag tool out there that can help you take your Instagram marketing magic to the next level. We highly recommend that you experiment with two or three of them or request a buyer demo before making a long-term purchase.

Comparing Summary

• HashAtIt: Affordable with basic features, suitable for straightforward hashtag monitoring.
• HashTracking: Higher cost but comprehensive features including competitor analysis and detailed campaign performance metrics.
• Keyhole: Moderate to high cost, focuses on influencer identification and campaign tracking with a user-friendly interface.
• NUVI: Expensive, offers comprehensive social media listening tools including sentiment analysis and crisis management features.

Different Hashtag Types to Focus On

Instagram is all about creativity. Images, video snippets, marketing methods—with all of it, the more out-of-the-box your thinking, the more upside it could potentially have. Hashtags are no different. The tendency has always been for Instagram brands to play it safe and stick with what’s most relevant to the products or services they specialize in.

This is great and all, but #Handbag isn’t necessarily going to help you discover new audiences or find your voice on an already crowded platform. Remember that “creativity” of which was previously made mention? Now is the time to bust it out. Instead of using only industry-relevant hashtags, try a few of the following on for size:

Local Hashtags – Depending on the size of your business, this can be huge.

Event Hashtags – What’s trending, but not necessarily brand-specific? Join the chat.

Holiday Hashtags – There’s a holiday just about every month—use them wisely.

Brand Hashtags – Looking for a unique hashtag? Come up with one of your own.

There’s an easy way to do hashtags, and the right way to do hashtags. Use some critical thinking to make hashtags less of a checklist item, and more of something you use to access new, exciting audiences on Instagram.

Conclusion

During your team’s brainstorming meetings, think about how each of the above hashtag tools and types might nicely mesh with what your brand’s Instagram content calendar has on the docket. The more seamlessly you can align the two, the better. From there, it’s your job to couple Instagram hashtag research with great content. No worries—hashtags will do the rest.