Today's post is all about my favorite Instagram Hashtag Hack!
If you're using Instagram you must be using hashtags. Hashtags categorize your photo so people searching for that word can find you! If your profile is set to private, only your friends will be able to find you using the hashtag. If you're trying to grow your brand/business your profile needs to be public. That way hashtags will increase your visibility and help you grow.
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How To Use Hashtags Effectively
You should not post the same hashtag for every single photo. Use specific one's that relate to your photo and will attract a targeted audience. You want to switch up your hashtags so you reach a broader audience.
There are rumors that Instagram will also “shadowban” you for using the same hashtags over and over. Furthermore, hashtags are limitless, so don't pigeonhole yourself using the same 30 hashtags over and over again! I also typically suggest people use hashtags with less than 250k posts. It simply increases the odds your photo will stay visible longer in the tags feed.
The best approach is to keep track of hashtags and organize them based on niche or genre. You'll want your list easily accessible for copying and pasting. Better yet… create a special hack in your keyboard for them!
Keyboard Hack:
THAT'S RIGHT: You can post 30 hashtags with a simple 2-3 character prompt!
How?!? Let me show you:
Using the “Text replacement” feature under your keyboards section allows you to create a shortcut for your hashtags. In the above example my hashtags all relate to traveling. When I type #TR into instagram I am prompted to paste all of 30 tags with just three letters!
How To Use This Hashtag Hack For Maximum Time Saving
Spend a few hours one day researching your hashtags. Create 3-5 lists of “general” tags you want to appear under, and some specialized ones for your feed. For example, I post travel and food photos so I would create 2-3 lists of travel tags and food tags. I would then set up text replacements as #TR1 and #TR2 or #Fd1 and #Fd2, and so on. This way you can get your speciality tags in just as easily as your day to day ones. I would recommend visiting your tags every few months to make sure none of them are “banned” or that they haven't grown above 250k posts.
Side note:
You can use this trick for all sorts of stuff actually. One time I used “text replacement” on my fiance's phone so every time he typed “yes” to someone it said “no” and some other funny ones that probably aren't appropriate for all ages ? haha.
If you are really looking to grow your Instagram account though, the Insta Growth Accelerator course is the way to go! Learn more here and check out this FREE webinar on making money with Instagram here!
OK, this is AWESOME. I haven’t exactly mastered IG hashtags yet but this is a great way to get started. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Whitney!!! Let me know if you have any more hashtag questions!
This is the most amazing find ever. Thank you for sharing it with me. I’m going to add the short cut to my phone now!
Haha it’s going to save you so much time and SUCH a headache!! Enjoy!
I’ve got to try this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
X,
Cristina
cristinawashere.com
You’re welcome Cristina! Hope you enjoy!
Wow!! This is such an awesome tip!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
xo Ashley
You’re welcome Ashley!!
That’s such a good hack!
Haha glad you like it Elana!
Can’t wait to try this short cut! It will save so much time!
Definitely! Enjoy LeighAnn!
I had discovered this little trick a while back, but completely forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder!
You’re welcome Oksana!
How amazingly clever is this!!
Haha thanks Bella!
This is an awesome hack. I save my hashtags so I can just copy and paste, but this is even better. Thanks for sharing.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
Thanks Allison! That’s how I used to do it (typed them up n the notes section of my mac so they easily transferred for copy and paste to my phone) – but this was a gamer changer.
what a great idea! I keep a lot saved in notes but trying to keep them diverse is exhausting!
So true! I started grouping them using this trick and it’s helped a lot! Occasionally I’ll start switching out one or two if I am showing up a lot for a specific one.
Well this is genius! How have I never thought of this before. I’m constantly copying and pasting, when I could have just been using the text replace! Such a great tip!
Haha thank you Tiffani!
This is amazing, and thanks so much for sharing this awesome trick! Also, I think the no thing is hilarious, and may have to try that on my husband-haha.
Haha do it!! My fiance couldn’t figure out what was going on lol
This sounds great!! I will definitely look into it! Thanks for sharing your tips.
xo,
<a href="http://www.sarakatestyling.blogspot.com">Sara Kate Styling</a>
Your welcome Kate!
OMG I’m definitely trying that text replacement thing! I love using hashtags, as they bring more people to my pictures, but tagging them can be such a pain in the a**… haha, thanks for the tip!
Amelie | http://awanderersadventures.wordpress.com
Totally agree!!
That text replacement hack is life!!!!!!!
Haha totes agree Mai!
What a great idea! I have my hashtags organized on Notes, but this works, too.
xo, Lynn N.
http://emmaandrose.com
Pinterest/Twitter: @emmaandrose
Instagram: @emmaandroseblog
This is such a good hack! I’ve been using Evernote to create categories of hashtags that I can easily copy and paste but this is just genius.
Hey! Sorry this took so long for me to see! I try to rotate out a handful ever week or so and add in like 5-10 that are specialized to the post or topic!
thank you so much and good luck with this! i def need to organize my hashtags more!
Did not know about this! I’ve been thinking about how I want to start mixing my hashtags up a bit. Will definitely be checking this out 🙂
I didn’t about the shadow ban thanks for sharing this.
You’re welcome!
This was AMAZING information. With all the strategies to create a solid Instagram, it can be hard to do everything in the most effective way. I completely agree on not using the same exact hashtags every time but switching it up based on the content. Loved this!
yupp!! You hit the nail on the head, I am always looking for the most effective way to get things done!
Omg this is such a great hack! I’m definitely going to have to put in those shortcuts!
enjoy!
I’m so glad you reposted this artical since I must have missed it the first time around. You don’t know how much easier you just made my life
haha yay! I’m happy I reposted it too!
That’s a really great idea! I always forget about the text replacement feature!
agreed! it’s easy to forget about it!
OMG, this is literally blowing my mind right now! Can’t wait to try this out, thanks so much for sharing, Rachel!
you’re welcome!!
Omg, this is literally life-changing. You mean I DON’T have to search through my Notes every morning?!? Thank you for sharing your secret!!
Haha nope! enjoy your time 🙂
This is such a great idea! I usually just copy and paste mine from my notes but it’s totally unorganized and I end up spending way too much time fixing them. I also didn’t think about the under 250K aspect!
ahhh happy there were a few helpful things then!
I do this and love this! It’s so helpful.
Yes! Give me all of the Insta hacks! I love posts like this 🙂
Yes! Give me all of the Insta hacks! I love posts like this 🙂
I just found out about this hack like 2 weeks ago. I’ve been blogging for a year. I feel like I wasted so much PRECIOUS TIME typing everything out! thank you for sharing! you’re amaaaaazing!
haha yuppp! it’s why I decided to reshare this post from last year – so many people still dont know about it!
This is such a great hack!! Definitely need to set this up!
haha happy it was helpful!
Need to set this up ASAP! It’s such a time saver, especially when you’re on the run. Thanks for sharing this hack, I love reading up on social media hacks as they are so helpful, especially when you’re starting out. Thank you
awe thank you!!
No way! This is one of the best IG hacks ever. I’m setting it up today.
haha yay!
Woah! This is the most genius piece of information I’ve learned for Instagram. Love love love it. Thanks for sharing!!
haha well thank you!!
This is so smart! I was just copying and pasting from my notes but this is so much easier!!
yuppp! it takes times to go in and out of notes, and I used my notes a lot so my hashtags always would get buried!
This is such a time saver! I used to do this and stopped but this was a good reminder to add some new sets!
ahh happy it was a little nudge to get back on it!
This is amazing, the best hashtag tip I have come across, having them saved on my phone will save me time! Thank you.
you’re welcome!
It’s the best hack!!!!
omg I LOVE that shortcut! It’s genius! I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Enjoy!!
Quite a trick! Thanks for sharing! I learned a few things about hashtags here – thanks!
This is my FAV trick! I’ve saved so, so much time since I did this – and since I started using it, I’ve organized them: travel 1, travel 2, beauty 1, style 1, etc! Genius!
EXACTLY! Its so much easier than the notes sections!
I use my app Planoly to keep track of the hashtags. It’s an easy way to paste the set when scheduling my posts.
Does it show up in your caption or first comment?
OH MY GOSH. I LOVE the keyboard trick idea. I never even thought of that. I will definitely be using that to save so much time on my Instagram posts. Do you have any advice on how often to post Instagram pictures? I feel like to stay relevant you almost have to post 2-3 times a day.
haha love it! I would say at least once a day if you’re trying to grow! If you can manage 2-3 times a day go for it, but I never could haha
The keyboard trick sounds like a total GAMECHANGER! I can’t wait to try it out 🙂
it definitely is!
I use the notes on my phone to copy and past but this was so helpful! Thank you!!
yeah I used to use that, but i got tired of wasting time going in and out of the notes section of my phone and ig!
I’m totally doing this. I need to work on my hashtags!
Enjoy!!
hahaha love the side note. I am going to try to do the same trick now on my husband’s phone 😛
haha dooo it! let me know how it goes!
WOW! That text replacement thing is a game changer! These are also other great tips that I find work well for me on instagram as well!
Yay! hope they help!
oh, wow! I store my hashtags by category in my phone notepad and just copy & paste them, but this is an awesome hack (and much faster!)
Yep! I used to do that too, but honestly got annoyed with always having to go in and out of the notes of my phone and back into IG!
Yes! Needed to read this post! These are amazing hacks Rachel, thank you for sharing?
You’re welcome!
Such a great tip!! I just have mine all copied in my notes section! My hashtags change often, so it’s easiest for me!
ahh true! you can always use this for shorter sets (instead of 30 just do 5 or 10) then you can just do the text replacement rather than going in and out of your notes over and over
This is such a great hack! I usually utilize my notes section, but this is something to definitely try!
Yea I used to use it too, but this was easier than always having to go in and out of my notes for the same things over and over!
Great tip! I actually have an app to organize your instagram content called Plann, and it lets you organize and save hashtags and then just copy/paste them. But this would be great if I didn’t already have that!
I use this hack all the time! Great post.
Genius, pure genius!!!
This is super helpful and the most genius thing I’ve seen today. Thanks for the great tip.
haha well thank you!!
Well this is actually genius. I am going to use this all the time now!
haha thanks girl!
Wow, what a time saver tip! Genius!
Thank you!
yess! I used to do that too! it was so annoying!
This is such a great hack! I know of this feature on the iPhone, but I’ve never thought of using it for Instagram hashtags. I’ve just been using my notes to store all my hashtags, copying and pasting them on every new photo. Gosh, this hack will save me so much time now! Thanks for sharing!
that’s what I used to do too! haha enjoy!
Excellent tip! I never considered using that function to load hashtags. I have a couple sets this would really help on. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
The keyboard hack is exactly what I needed it! Great tips!
Thank you!
That is SO genius!!!!! I keep mine on a notepad and I copy it over but this will save so much time!!
This is my favorite social media trick :). It takes seconds. I thought it wouldn’t be that different from copy-pasting from the note app, but it really is!