We just had a bomb dropped on us, with the latest post on the Creators account where they give all their hashtag advice…
They say all the things I’ve been saying for years, under their dos and don’ts. Until the last bullet point on each.
Apparently, according to this, the ideal number of hashtags is 3-5. No more than that. They say that using 10-20 hashtags per post “will not help you get additional distribution.”
hmmmm…. really now? We gonna play this game this way?
Ok, let’s play!
First of all, by pure function of the platform, that’s a lie.
How do hashtags work? You use them, you appear in searches for those hashtags. So if you use 5 hashtags you may appear in up to 5 hashtag hubs. No more. If you use 20 hashtags, you may appear in up to 20 hashtag hubs, no more. It’s pretty damn simple – the more you use, the more you show up in.
In addition to that, Instagram “just” came out and said that hashtags are used to help categorize keyword search. So the better your hashtags (and your caption, bio, and content in general), the more searches you appear in there as well.
MORE IS BETTER – when it comes to hashtags. Based on the sheer methodology of how the platform works.
How could this possibly change? When Instagram takes away hashtag searches, then I might (might, maybe, but I’d have to test it to prove it) believe it. Until then, it’s impossible to tell me or anyone else that using more hashtags does not improve reach and exposure.
This has been tested ad nauseum. This has been proven over and over and over and over again.
Additionally, Instagram can’t seem to keep their own advice straight. Recently (a few months ago, actually), an Instagram rep told us to use 8-15 hashtags per post. Now this one is saying 3-5. How did we go from 30 to 8-15 to 3-5? They can’t even keep their own strategy straight.
So, no, I don’t believe this to be true or effective at all.
In fact, I would tell you that following this strategy of 3-5 hashtags per post is detrimental to your strategy. Yes, 100%. You start doing this, watch your reach decline. This will hurt you. And I want you to be successful on the platform! Following this advice is bad for your brand. Please don’t do it.
If you need a refresher on the Instagram hashtag strategy that has been proven effective thousands of times over, watch this video – and ignore this “new” 3-5 rule.
And, if you really want to stay up to date on what’s working, what’s happening on Instagram, and what works for YOUR organization, check out my exclusive membership program, Profit Your Profile.
The traditional 30 hashtags compulsory is a history I think. The way Instagram keeps changing its algorithm, putting 30 hashtags in each and every post may not help get the same result for all the posts. I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with putting fewer numbers of hashtags in some of the posts. This is more related to checking the analytics then.
I think yes , 3 or 5 hash tags used on Instagram to improve over social media platform effect on searches.