How to Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram

If you’re familiar with social media, hashtags are probably old news to you. For personal posts, we often just throw in whatever hashtag comes to mind. But for businesses, the hashtag game is different. Using the right, most relevant, and trending hashtags can significantly boost the performance of your content. 

In this blog, we’ll dive into how to find trending hashtags on Instagram in 2024. Why Instagram? Because it’s one of the top platforms where hashtags play a crucial role in content discovery and engagement.

What are Hashtags on Instagram?

In simple terms, an Instagram Hashtag is a word/ phrase or number that has the hashtag symbol (#) in front of it.  #digitalmarketing, #beauty, #777, and #fitnesscoach are some examples of hashtags.

The primary purpose of Instagram Hashtags is to categorise the content and make it discoverable. When you use specific hashtags for your Instagram posts, Instagram Algorithm understands what your post is about. Then, it takes action to show your post to Instagram users who might be interested.

Also, Hashtags are clickable, so users can tap on them to see all posts with the same hashtag. This feature increases the chances of your content being discovered by a wider audience.

Types of Instagram Hashtags

Before learning how to find trending hashtags on Instagram, it’s essential to understand the different types of hashtags and their purposes. Here are the main types of Instagram Hashtags:

Branded Hashtags: These are unique to your brand or business and help build a community around it. They can be your business name, a specific product, or a slogan. For example, Coca-Cola uses hashtags that are relevant to their brand such as #haveacokeday #cocacola

Product or Service Hashtags: These hashtags are related to specific products or services you offer. They can be general, like #hairsalon, or more niche, like #blackhairsalon. Niche hashtags often attract a more targeted audience.

Industry Hashtags: These connect your content with a broader audience interested in a particular industry. For instance, if you’re a travel photographer, hashtags like #travelphotography or #travelvlogger might be relevant.

Community Hashtags: These hashtags help you connect with a specific group of Instagram users who share your interests, such as #knittersofinstagram #igknitters #instaknitters for knitting lovers.

Location-Based Hashtags: These are great for targeting users in a specific area, such as #hairsalonmelbourne #cakeshopnyc. They help attract local followers and customers.

Campaign Hashtags: These are used for tracking activities related to a specific campaign. For example, Coca-Cola used #shareacoke #shareacokechallage hashtags for their Share a Coke campaign.

Event Hashtags: These hashtags help contribute to conversations about specific events or conferences, such as #olympics2024 #olympics2024paris 

How to Find Trending Hashtags on Instagram

Now let’s see how to find the best Hashtags for Instagram content for your business. Using relevant and effective hashtags makes a huge difference in the reach and engagement of your content. So, it is important to find the best hashtags.

Here are several strategies on how to find trending hashtags on Instagram:

1.Check the Instagram Explore Page

The Instagram Explore page is a personalised collection of posts and reels that the algorithm thinks you’ll enjoy based on your interactions, the accounts you follow, and your overall activity on the platform.

This page is an excellent resource for discovering trending hashtags on Instagram, though it requires some manual effort.

To use the Explore page effectively:

• Open the Instagram app and tap on the magnifying glass icon to access the Explore page.
• Scroll through the posts and reels on the explore page.
• Pay attention to the descriptions and captions of popular posts to identify frequently used hashtags.

Advantages of this Method:

• Free and Easy: Anyone can access the Explore page without any cost.
• Good Overview: It provides a snapshot of trending content and hashtags.

Drawbacks of this Method:

• Time-Consuming: Manually scrolling through posts to find relevant hashtags can be time-consuming.
• Lack of Metrics: This method doesn’t provide detailed stats about the popularity, engagement rate, or growth of the hashtags.

2.Use the Hashtag Autocomplete Feature

Instagram’s search engine is a powerful tool for discovering hashtags. When you start typing a hashtag in the search bar, Instagram suggests popular hashtags related to your query.

To use this feature:

• Tap on the magnifying glass icon to access the search bar.
• Type a keyword related to your content or niche.
• Then tap the “Tags” section.
• Instagram will suggest hashtags, showing the number of posts associated with each hashtag.

Advantages of this Method:

• Quick and Efficient: Provides immediate suggestions based on your input.
• Popularity Indicator: This shows the number of posts, indicating the hashtag’s popularity.

Drawbacks of this Method:

• Highly Popular Hashtags: Suggested hashtags are often very popular, which can make it challenging to stand out.

3.Follow Relevant Hashtags

Following specific hashtags on Instagram allows you to see top posts that use those hashtags on your home page. This feature helps you stay updated with trending content and discover related popular hashtags.

To follow a hashtag:

• Search for a hashtag related to your niche or interest.
• Tap on the hashtag to visit its page.
• Click the “Follow” button at the top of the page.

Advantages of this Method:

• Content Inspiration: Provides a steady stream of content related to your interests.
• Discover Related Hashtags: This helps you find additional hashtags used in top posts.

Drawbacks of this Method:

• Time-Consuming: Requires consistent monitoring and attention.

4. Follow Influencers in Your Industry

Influencers are often at the forefront of social media trends. By following top influencers in your niche, you can see which hashtags they use to stay relevant and engage their audience.

To follow influencers:

• Identify key influencers in your industry.
• Follow them and monitor their posts for commonly used hashtags.

Advantages of this Method:

• Trend Awareness: Influencers often use the latest and most relevant hashtags.
• Niche-Specific Hashtags: Provides insights into hashtags specific to your industry.

Drawbacks of this Method:

• Time and Attention: Requires regular monitoring of influencer posts.

5. Explore Websites with Hashtag Lists

Several websites and tools compile lists of trending hashtags on Instagram. These resources often categorise hashtags by industry, popularity, or event, making it easier to find relevant tags for your content.

Popular websites for hashtag lists include:

Advantages of this Method:

• Curated Lists: Provides ready-made lists of trending hashtags.
• Time-Saving: Reduces the need for manual research.

Drawbacks of this Method:

• General Tags: Lists often include highly popular tags, making it challenging to stand out.
• Subscription Fees: Some websites may require a subscription for full access

Benefits of Using Instagram Hashtags

Now that you learned how to find trending hashtags on Instagram, let’s understand the benefits of using those. Using hashtags effectively can bring several significant benefits to your Instagram strategy:

Increased Exposure and Discoverability:

Adding popular hashtags to your posts can increase the visibility of your. Instagram aggregates posts with the same hashtag into a gallery, making it easier for users to discover your content. When users search for or follow a hashtag, they are more likely to see your posts in their feed, increasing your reach.

Boost interactions:

Trending hashtags attract many followers and participants who are interested in the relevant topic. This is a golden opportunity to boost interactions since your post becomes part of a larger conversation. Users exploring that hashtag are more likely to engage with your content by liking, commenting, and sharing it.

Attracting more followers:

Using trending hashtags expands your reach to a broader audience, increasing your chances of attracting new followers. As more people discover your content through these hashtags, they may follow your account to see more of your posts.

Best Practices for Using Hashtags

To make the most of hashtags on Instagram, it’s essential to follow some best practices:

Optimal Number of Hashtags to Use

Research conducted by Later ( A hashtag suggestion tool), which analysed over 18 million Instagram posts, suggests that using a higher number of hashtags can significantly impact reach and engagement. According to their findings:

• Posts with 20 hashtags receive the highest average reach.
• Posts with 30 hashtags gain the most likes and comments.

While these findings show that using more hashtags can be beneficial, it’s essential to find a balance that works for your specific audience and content. Experiment with different numbers of hashtags to determine the optimal count for your posts.

Choose the Right Hashtags for Your Content

When selecting hashtags, consider the following tips:

• Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags: Using a combination of highly popular hashtags and more specific niche tags can help you reach a broader audience while targeting a specific group.
• Use Relevant Hashtags: Ensure that the hashtags you choose are relevant to your content and audience. Irrelevant hashtags can lead to low engagement and may even harm your credibility.
• Analyse Competitors: Look at the hashtags used by your competitors and industry leaders to gain insights into effective tags.
• Monitor Hashtag Performance: Use Instagram’s analytics tools to track the performance of your hashtags and adjust your strategy based on what works best.

Hashtags are key to your success on Instagram.

The right hashtags will bring your content to a broader audience, increasing your visibility and boosting engagement rates. Remember to experiment with different hashtags, track your results, and adapt your strategy as needed. With consistent effort and a well-thought-out approach, you can use hashtags to grow your Instagram follower base and reach your social media goals.

If you ever need a helping hand with social media marketing, DigiFix is here for you. We’re experts in creating strategies that make your content shine. Click here to reserve your FREE Consultation. Happy hashtagging!