INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS THAT GET YOU MORE LIKES

Instagram hashtags continue to be one of the most powerful ways to attract more visitors (and interaction!) to your Instagram posts. But what’s the perfect number of hashtags you should use? What is the difference between types of hashtags? What would be the most popular at the moment? Should they be incorporated in your caption or added in the comment?

All those questions, plus more, will be answered in this ultimate guide to discover everything you need to know about Instagram hashtags and the best hashtag tool to optimize your posts.

WHAT ARE INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Instagram hashtags are words or phrases preceded by the # symbol (like #motivation or #foodie). When you include a hashtag in your caption or comment, your post is indexed under that tag, making it discoverable by other users who follow or search that hashtag.

WHY ARE HASHTAGS IMPORTANT?

Hashtags are the bridge between your content and your ideal audience. Here’s what they do:

• Expand your reach beyond followers
  
• Increase the chances of getting featured on Explore
  
• Help Instagram understand your content
  
• Create a community around niche topics
  
• Improve engagement with likes, comments, and shares
  

If you use them strategically, hashtags can skyrocket your Instagram likes and fuel rapid organic growth.

BENEFITS OF USING HASHTAGS EFFECTIVELY

1. GET DISCOVERED BY NEW AUDIENCES

Well-chosen hashtags can expose your post to people who don’t follow you. This increases visibility, leading to more profile visits and likes.

2. JOIN TRENDING CONVERSATIONS

Using trending hashtags allows you to participate in global or local conversations, which can draw attention and engagement.

3. INCREASE POST LIFESPAN

Hashtags give your content longevity. A well-tagged post can continue attracting likes and engagement days or even weeks after being posted.

4. TARGET NICHE AUDIENCES

Specific hashtags connect you with people who are genuinely interested in your niche—whether it’s fitness, food, tech, or fashion.

5. BUILD YOUR BRAND VOICE

Branded or creative hashtags can help you express your style, connect with followers emotionally, and differentiate your identity.

HOW TO FIND HASHTAGS THAT GET YOU MORE LIKES

1. RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITORS

Check what hashtags influencers and brands in your niche are using. This gives insight into what works and what audiences engage with.

2. USE HASHTAG GENERATOR TOOLS

Free tools like Display Purposes, All Hashtag, or paid tools like Hashtagify help you discover high-performing hashtags based on your content.

3. BALANCE BETWEEN POPULAR AND NICHE TAGS

Using only popular hashtags like #love or #instagood makes your post drown in competition. Blend them with niche tags like #veganmealprep or #fitnessmom to target a specific group.

4. ANALYZE YOUR OWN POSTS

Review which hashtags on past posts brought in the most likes and reach. Replicate that success with similar tags.

TYPES OF INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS THAT GET RESULTS

1. GENERAL POPULAR HASHTAGS

These are widely used and have a massive reach:

• #love
  
• #photooftheday
  
• #instagood
  
• #beautiful
  
• #happy
  

Great for: quick exposure, although competition is high.

2. NICHE-SPECIFIC HASHTAGS

They cater to specific communities:

• #plantbasedrecipes
  
• #travelbloggerlife
  
• #naturalhairjourney
  
• #streetstylefashion
  

Great for: targeting your tribe and consistent engagement.

3. LOCATION-BASED HASHTAGS

Useful for local businesses, influencers, or travelers:

• #NYCFoodie
  
• #CapeTownViews
  
• #LAStylist
  
• #LondonLife
  

Great for: local visibility and community building.

4. EVENT OR HOLIDAY HASHTAGS

Time-sensitive tags like:

• #ValentinesDay2025
  
• #HalloweenMakeup
  
• #BlackFridaySale
  

Great for: timely posts, trends, and promotions.

5. BRANDED HASHTAGS

Create your own unique hashtag:

• #MyFitJourneyBySarah
  
• #CoffeeWithJames
  
• #ShopWithLuxeLook
  

Great for: brand identity and user-generated content.

BEST PRACTICES FOR USING INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS

1. USE A MIX OF 15–30 HASHTAGS

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post. Mix popular, moderately competitive, and niche tags for the best reach.

2. PUT HASHTAGS IN THE FIRST COMMENT OR CAPTION

To keep your caption clean, place your hashtags in the first comment—Instagram still indexes them for reach.

3. AVOID BANNED HASHTAGS

Some hashtags are blocked due to spam or misuse. Always check if a tag is active before using it, or it could hurt your reach.

4. ROTATE YOUR HASHTAGS

Using the same hashtags repeatedly looks spammy. Rotate and customize them based on the content of each post.

5. TRACK PERFORMANCE

Use Instagram Insights or third-party analytics to measure which hashtags are bringing likes, reach, and engagement—then double down on those.

COMMON HASHTAG MISTAKES TO AVOID

• Using only generic hashtags (you’ll get lost in the crowd)
  
• Copy-pasting hashtags from random sources without relevance
  
• Using irrelevant or misleading hashtags just to get clicks
  
• Overstuffing posts with all 30 hashtags when fewer may be more strategic
  
• Ignoring analytics or post-insights
  

Stay intentional with every hashtag you use. Each one should serve a purpose in helping the right audience discover your content.

HASHTAG STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS

FOR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS:

• Use lifestyle and emotion-driven hashtags
  
• Focus on hobbies, places, and aesthetics
  
• Create a signature hashtag (like #LifeWithAmy)
  

FOR BUSINESS ACCOUNTS:

• Combine branded hashtags with niche industry terms
  
• Use campaign-specific tags (e.g. #SpringSale2025)
  
• Encourage followers to use your hashtags
  

FOR INFLUENCERS:

• Blend community hashtags with your own branded ones
  
• Participate in trends and challenges
  
• Use tool-based hashtag tracking for campaigns

DO HASHTAGS STILL HAVE RELEVANCE ON INSTAGRAM?

A big YES, hashtags still hold relevance and may swear or support or act against your Instagram strategy. 

Hashtagging has been mostly debated in recent times since Instagram has suggested using only about 3-5 hashtags (more on that later). 

Still, targeted, relevant hashtags (and keywords) on posts and Reels are one potent means of catching a new audience’s eye on the Instagram platform. 

The above is what makes having focused and excellent hashtag development so relevantly meaningful; its absence, many opportunities for encouraging engagement and the attainment of followers could easily pass you by.

TOOLS TO HELP YOU MASTER HASHTAGS

Here are some tools that make hashtag discovery and analysis easier:

• Hashtagify.me – Trend tracking and competition analysis
  
• RiteTag – Instant hashtag suggestions based on images or text
  
• Flick – Advanced analytics for hashtag performance
  
• MetaHashtags – Discover trending hashtags across niches
  
• Ingramer (now Inflact) – AI-based hashtag research
  

These tools can save time and improve your targeting for higher likes and engagement.

FINAL TIPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR HASHTAG IMPACT

• Post consistently and at the right time
  
• Pair hashtags with strong visuals and engaging captions
  
• Engage with others using the same hashtags
  
• Update your hashtag strategy monthly based on performance
  

With the right strategy, your hashtags can be the fuel that drives your Instagram success, helping you rack up likes, build a following, and reach your goals faster.

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CONCLUSION

Hashtags are more than just add-ons—they’re powerful tools for exposure, engagement, and growth on Instagram. By choosing the right mix of relevant, trending, and niche-specific tags, you can significantly increase your post’s visibility and get more likes organically.

Combine this strategy with high-quality content, consistency, and community interaction, and watch your Instagram presence grow. And when you’re ready to supercharge your progress, let RhodBoost step in with professional-grade support for all your social media needs.