Hashtags for Reels: Set Your Video Content Up for Success

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Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Feb 15, 2024

Want More Real Instagram Followers?

There are plenty of ways to get more views on your Instagram Reels. You can share it in your Instagram Story for more people to see. You can also use trending audio and templates to make your video more discoverable. But perhaps the best way to get more eyeballs on your Reels is by adding relevant hashtags to your captions. Today, we’ll be going through some hashtags for Reels to help them go viral.

Choosing the right hashtags for your Instagram post can be super intimidating. It doesn’t help that you can only use a number of them on each post (it can’t go beyond 30). So, we’re here to lend a helping hand. Keep reading to see popular hashtags you can use on your IG Reels according to the niche you operate in.

A woman using a marker to encircle a sticky note with the hashtag symbol on it.

Why Use Hashtags on Your Reel Posts?

But you may be asking—why use hashtags on video content in the first place? Isn’t making funny, heartwarming, and interesting content enough?

Yes, making high-quality content is of the utmost priority when creating Instagram Reels. But with so many people making Reels today, you have to do more to stand out. Adding hashtags to your Reel captions is a great way to make it more discoverable. This gives your content a shot at going viral.

See, each hashtag has its own Instagram page. Every post that uses that tag ends up on that page. Some people can follow the pages of specific hashtags they enjoy. So, when you use the right hashtags, you could end up on the feeds of people who don’t follow you. That means more eyeballs, more impressions, and more views. It’s amazing for boosting visibility and reach!

Not only that, but using trendy hashtags is also known to improve a post’s overall engagement. According to HuffPost, posts with hashtags get 12% more engagement than those that don’t. You’ll end up getting more likes with hashtags than when you don’t use them at all.

A woman holding up a poster with the hashtag #HealthyHabits.

Get Famous Fast: Viral Hashtags for Reels

The best way to get as many views on your Reel as possible is to use the most popular viral tags. These can either be tags that everyone uses daily or Reel-related tags. If you want the algorithm to take notice of your videos, use these viral hashtags for Reels:

  • #reelitfeelit
  • #reelsvideo
  • #reelsinstagram
  • #trending
  • #instagood
  • #instadaily
  • #reelsviral
  • #reelsinsta
  • #reelsindia
  • #reeloftheday
  • #reelslovers

Popular Hashtags for Reels About Friends, Family and Relationships

While some people stick to dance challenges and makeup videos, others make their Reels more heartwarming and relatable. These content creators will sometimes include their friends, family members, or partners to star in the Reel with them. This leads to tons of funny, authentic, quirky, and shareable content on the Reels tab.

Do you love creating content surrounding your relationships and friendships? Here are some popular hashtags for Reels about this topic:

  • #love
  • #familylife
  • #relationshipgoals
  • #couple
  • #couplegoals
  • #relationshipproblems
  • #friendship
  • #friendshipgoals
  • #memories
  • #besties
  • #family
  • #girlfriend
  • #boyfriend
  • #familyfirst
  • #couplevideos
  • #bestfriends
  • #sibling
  • #siblinggoals
  • #siblinglove

A couple happily filming an Instagram Reel using a phone and a tripod.

Best Hashtags for Reels About Travel

Do you want to entice other people to explore the world using your travel-centric Reels? To do that, you need to make sure your target audience actually sees your content. Here are the best hashtags for Reels about travel:

  • #travel
  • #travelling
  • #travelblogger
  • #instatravel
  • #travelawesome
  • #traveladdict
  • #travelgram
  • #travelblog
  • #travelholic
  • #travellife
  • #traveldiaries
  • #travelbug
  • #traveltheworld
  • #travelguide
  • #travelgoals
  • #wanderlust
  • #wheretonext
  • #backpacking
  • #tourism

Someone recording a video of their travels to the beach using their Android phone.

Sweating It Out for the Views: Fitness Hashtags for Instagram Reels

Fitness influencers work hard to put together exercise programs and film themselves doing them. It would be a shame if these motivational Reels don’t make it to the intended target audience‘s feed. If you make exercise and healthy living content, use these fitness hashtags for Instagram Reels:

  • #fitness
  • #fitnessmotivation
  • #healthyliving
  • #healthyhabits
  • #gymmotivation
  • #beastmode
  • #noexcuses
  • #training
  • #personaltrainer
  • #fitnessgoals
  • #fitnessmodel
  • #fitnessaddict
  • #fitnessfreak
  • #fitnessfood
  • #fitnessgear
  • #gymrat
  • #gymgirl
  • #gymworkout
  • #workoutroutine
  • #workout
  • #workoutoftheday
  • #workoutmotivation
  • #workouttips

A coach gently pushing down on a woman’s back to help her stretch and reach her toes before a workout.

Best Hashtags for Facebook Reels: Are They Different From Instagram Reels?

Although Instagram and Facebook are both owned by Meta, remember that they are completely different social media platforms. So, the hashtags that will work on Facebook Reels are different from those that perform on Instagram.

On Instagram, people use hashtags to discover new content. But on Facebook, they’re used more for categorizing content for personal reasons. People don’t really have the habit of following hashtags on Facebook.

It’s also important to note that Instagram and Facebook have very different audiences. Instagram is where Millennials and Gen Z hang out all the time. Meanwhile, Facebook has a slightly older audience. So, the best hashtags for Facebook Reels are more generic and evergreen. Try not to use overly trendy and niche hashtags that are heavy on slang. Those are more well-suited to Instagram, where a younger audience reigns. Always keep it simple.

Having said all that, here are some hashtags you should consider using when posting Reels to Facebook:

  • #FamilyVacation
  • #Fashion
  • #Dogs
  • #HealthAndWellness
  • #Photography
  • #HealthyRecipes
  • #HomeDecor
  • #Travel
  • #ThrowbackThursday
  • #Happiness
  • #Blessed
  • #Books
  • #Foodie
  • #BusinessTips
  • #SmallBusiness
  • #Music

A person holding up an iPhone displaying the Facebook logo.

Instagram Hashtags Not Working: How To Fix the Issue

Sometimes, you might notice that adding hashtags to your Reels doesn’t work. It could be that Instagram isn’t allowing you to publish your caption. Meanwhile, some people who do get to post their Reel with hashtags find no uptick in their engagement afterward. So, what gives? Here’s how to get over Instagram hashtags not working, depending on the issue at hand.

  • You’re using too many hashtags. You can only post up to 30 hashtags in a single post caption. Instagram won’t allow you to post your content or comment if it has over 30 tags. So, if you can’t upload your Reel, check how many hashtags you’ve written in the caption and adjust accordingly.
  • You have repetitive hashtags. If you use the same hashtag more than once on a post, it can seem spammy. Instagram might see this as a red flag and lessen your visibility on the feed. Make sure always to double-check your Reel hashtags to ensure you aren’t repeating any of them.
  • You’re using banned hashtags. Some hashtags go against Instagram’s terms of use. These are tags that are offensive, inappropriate, and violent. If one of these banned hashtags is linked to your post, it can also suppress your post’s visibility. To make sure you get the engagement your Reel deserves, do your research and never use banned hashtags. 

Add Some of the Hashtags Above in Your Next Instagram Reel!

Adding hashtags to your Reels is a terrific way to reach your target audience and get more engagement from them. It’s best to use a combination of generic and more niche hashtags. That way, you can spread out your Reel’s visibility among different hashtag pages. If you add the right combination of tags, you’ll be well on your way to viral Reels and new followers.

But using hashtags for Reels isn’t the only way to get more views and amass your following on Instagram. Working with Path Social does pretty much the same thing.

Our proprietary targeting algorithm pushes out your Reels and other feed content directly to your target audience. This gets you more views, more likes, and more new followers just like that. The best part is that these engagements and followers are 100% authentic, never fake. Start putting your Reels in the spotlight and grow your online community with us today!