1 December 2022  ✦  3 min read
Try this hashtag strategy to increase organic reach​​​​​​​
Are you tired of your Instagram posts falling short of your expectations? I recently uncovered a proven strategy for boosting organic reach from a marketing manager. Use this technique to stay ahead of the game, even with Instagram's ever-changing algorithms.
Want to make your Instagram content stand out? 
According to Instagram, using relevant keywords in high-quality captions can give your posts an edge over the competition. But it's not just about captions, other factors like the quality of your content and using hashtags strategically also play a role.

When it comes to marketing, testing and experimenting is key. It's easy to get caught up in likes and engagement, but don't let it discourage you. Use these metrics as an opportunity to evaluate your content and make adjustments. Remember, we're all learning and improving, so don't be afraid to try new things and make mistakes. Keep experimenting, and you'll find what works best for you and your audience

The Strategy: Try using a mixture of hashtags in your posts
By using this combination below, you could increase your chances of getting your content seen by more people and reach a wider audience. 
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Start by incorporating popular hashtags that are relevant to your content. These hashtags are commonly used and have a high reach. 

Next, add location-based hashtags that can help you reach a more localised audience. 

Finally, include less popular (below 1 million) but still relevant hashtags. They may not have as many posts, but are still relevant to your content and can help you reach a different audience.
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‍Here's an example:
‍#music is one of instagrams top tags with over 400 million posts. Let's say you're an up-and-coming songwriter in London with a small following, trying to promote your new music and expand your reach. 

Popular music hashtags:
#songwriter - 18 million posts
#musician - 10 million posts 
#newmusic - 34 million posts
#newsong - 11 million posts
Less popular variations to include:
#singersongwriters - 708k posts
#originalsong - 324k posts
#newtracks - 69k posts
#londonsinger - 38k posts (location-based)


A free tool to guide you
Meta (Facebook) Business Suite has an undervalued free tool. By simply typing in a hashtag, you can gain valuable insights on the number of posts it has on both Facebook and Instagram. To do this you must have a business page setup on Facebook. 

Access your business suite with this link - https://business.facebook.com

- At the top of the home page, click on Create Post. 
- Click on the hashtag icon to bring up a search window. 
- This is where you can do your hashtag research by typing in keywords.
- Bookmark the tags to save time when creating your future posts.

The importance of relevant content
If you want to boost your reach, simply using tags isn't enough. To truly make an impact, you must also consider the type of content you're posting. Ask yourself - is my content relevant? Is it visually pleasing? Is it helpful? Does it make sense? Does it have a purpose? These are all important questions to consider when creating your posts. 

But keep in mind, what works well for others may not necessarily work for you. The only way to truly know what resonates with your audience is by testing and experimenting regularly.

So, tag smarter, not harder! By focusing on creating relevant and high-quality content, and experimenting with different strategies, you'll be on your way to maximising your Instagram reach.
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References & Resources
The 2022 Instagram Trend Report, Instagram (2022)

How to Get Your Content Seen, Hootsuite (2022)

The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Hashtags for 2022, HubSpot (2022)

How to use location based hashtags to grow your instagram, Rachel Hopley, Studio Seaside (2022)

The mysterious world of Instagram emoji hashtag usage, Stefan Pettersson, Medium (2017)

Free Hashtag Tool

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