Mastering Instagram Hashtags in 2024: A Guide for Geelong & Surf Coast Businesses
You remember at the start of the year when everyone was telling you hashtags were dead? Well, it turns out they were wrong. In the ever-evolving world of social media, staying updated with the latest trends and strategies is crucial for maintaining a strong online presence. One of the key components of Instagram marketing is the effective use of hashtags. While hashtags remain a valuable tool for increasing visibility and engagement, the approach to using them has changed. Here’s what businesses in Geelong and the Surf Coast need to know about mastering Instagram hashtags in 2024.
The Evolution of Hashtags
Historically, Instagram relied heavily on hashtags to understand the content of your posts and show them to the right audience. The common belief was that more hashtags meant higher engagement. However, Instagram’s algorithm has become smarter, now interpreting your content based on captions, images, and videos, reducing the sole reliance on hashtags.
The Role of Hashtags Today
Although the algorithm has evolved, hashtags still play a significant role in expanding your reach. They help users discover your posts when they search for or follow specific tags. To effectively use hashtags in 2024, it’s essential to strike a balance between popular and niche hashtags.
Strategies for Effective Hashtag Use
Mix Popular and Niche Hashtags
Using a combination of popular and niche hashtags is the key to reaching a broader yet targeted audience. Popular hashtags can give your posts a quick visibility boost, while niche hashtags ensure your content reaches people with specific interests aligned with your brand.
Research Trending Topics and Keywords
To find the best hashtags, thorough research is necessary. Identify trending topics and keywords within your niche—be it marketing, management, or content creation—specific to business owners in Geelong and the Surf Coast. This targeted approach helps in attracting the right audience to your posts.
Optimal Number of Hashtags
Aim for using 5-15 hashtags per post. Overloading your posts with hashtags can overwhelm your audience and appear spammy. Research indicates that content with around nine hashtags tends to receive higher engagement on Instagram. Experiment with different numbers to find what works best for your content.
Practical Implementation
Let’s break down the implementation of these strategies with an example. Suppose you are posting about a new marketing workshop in Geelong. Your hashtags could include a mix of popular ones like #MarketingWorkshop and #BusinessGrowth, along with niche tags like #GeelongBusiness and #SurfCoastMarketing.
Here’s how to do it:
Research: Identify trending hashtags in your niche using tools like Instagram’s search function, hashtag generators, or social listening tools.
Mix and Match: Combine a few popular hashtags with several niche-specific ones.
Test and Refine: Monitor the engagement levels of your posts and adjust the number and type of hashtags accordingly.
Conclusion
Understanding and adapting to the evolving use of hashtags is essential for maximizing your reach and engagement on Instagram. By mixing popular and niche hashtags, conducting thorough research, and optimizing the number of hashtags used, businesses in Geelong and the Surf Coast can effectively enhance their social media strategy.
Ready to elevate your Instagram game? Let Awkwardly Social Media guide you through mastering social media marketing strategies that work. Contact us today to learn more and start implementing these effective practices!
