SEO Hashtags: Boost Visibility With the Most-Searched Tags!

Some new creators mistakenly assume that a few cute selfies and an aesthetic feed are enough to drive reach online. But in reality, it’s search engine optimization—or SEO—that’s making the digital world go ‘round today. And brands and creators don’t just optimize for search on Google. They can do it on their social media content, too—all with the help of SEO hashtags.

Today, we’ll take a deep dive into the role SEO-optimized hashtags play in boosting reach and engagement on Instagram. Want to learn how to find and use the best tags to improve your IG page’s performance on search? Then keep scrolling!

Instagram and SEO: How Do They Relate to Each Other?

When you hear “SEO,” you probably think of Google search. But gone are the days when search was limited to search engines. Today, people actively use social media platforms to do their research online. According to Forbes, there’s been a 25% decline in the number of people who use Google for search. On the flip side, 24% of people now use social media for online searches.

That means creators would be wise to implement an SEO strategy not just for websites, but their social channels, too. It’s especially pertinent for brands present on Instagram, where SEO is on the rise.

But what is the relationship between Instagram and SEO? In a nutshell, SEO is becoming a force to be reckoned with for marketing your personal brand on the platform.

Instagram SEO is the strategy of incorporating well-searched keywords and phrases into your content on Instagram. It gives your posts a chance to appear on Instagram’s search results when your target audience looks up those keywords. That boosts your visibility on the platform, allowing more people to discover your page and potentially give it a follow.

What Are SEO Hashtags?

SEO-optimized hashtags are similar to the keywords you might insert into your captions to boost your ranking on search. The difference, of course, is that they’re in hashtag form.

Instagram hashtags are known for helping your content appear on the Explore page and the feeds of users following those tags. But they also make for fabulous SEO tools on Instagram.

Using SEO tags is essentially leveling up your hashtag use for content. Instead of choosing any cute or remotely relevant hashtags for your content, you choose the most frequently searched tags.

The idea is to choose popular hashtags that currently rank high on Search. That way, when people look up that specific hashtag in the Instagram search bar, your post shows up in the results. Because you leverage trending tags and topics, it boosts the visibility of your Instagram post even more.

How To Research SEO-Optimized Instagram Keywords and Hashtags

To find the most searched Instagram keywords, it’s important to conduct thorough hashtag and keyword research. There are many ways you can go about that.

The easiest way to do hashtag research is by utilizing Instagram’s built-in search bar. Just type in a specific SEO keyword, and the platform’s auto-complete feature shows you popular hashtags related to that term. These are typically based on what people are using and searching a lot at any given time. So, take your pick from these results.

Another way to conduct hashtag search to build your SEO strategy is using third-party keyword research tools. Keyword Tool is one example of this. It’s a tool that helps you find the best SEO keywords related to your niche topic. Another popular one is Google Trends, where you can find hot topics people are talking about in real time.

The Best Hashtags for SEO, Depending on Your Niche

Want to boost your SEO performance but not sure what Instagram’s trending hashtags are today? We’ve got you. Here are some of the best hashtags for SEO for your content in the platform’s most popular niches:

• Fashion: #style #outfitoftheday #fashionblogger #OOTD #fashionista #instafashion #clothing #streetwear #fashionnova #fashiondesigner #mensfashion #shopping #outfit #dress #streetstyle #shoes #accessories #fashionweek #fashioninspo #fashionaddict
• Fitness: #gym #fitnessmotivation #fitnessmodel #workout #bodybuilding #personaltraining #fitfam #gymlife # #fitnessmodel #fitnessjourney #exercise #weightloss #cardio #strength #workoutmotivation #fitnessfood #bodybuilder #fitnessgoals
• Travel: #travelphotography #wanderlust #travelgram #travelblogger #instatravel #travelbug #traveling #traveltheworld #traveladdict #traveldiaries #travelpics #travelholic #travelcouple #travelindia #traveleurope #traveltips
• Food: #foodphotography #foodporn #instafood #foodie #foodstagram #yummy #foodblogger #foodlover #healthyfood #homemade #breakfast #lunch #dinner #foodpics #foodlove #veganfood #foodiesofinstagram #italianfood #indianfood #foodstyling #foodart

Where To Use SEO-Optimized Hashtags on Instagram

You can insert your SEO-optimized hashtags in many places on Instagram to reap their reach and engagement benefits. Here are some ideas on where you can incorporate them to boost your page’s performance on the social media platform.

Your Profile’s Bio

Adding high-traffic, SEO-optimized hashtags to your bio essentially categorizes your page to belong to certain niches and communities. When people look up those hashtags on Instagram search, your profile may come up, driving plenty of profile visits.

For example, let’s say you post a lot about your kids and life as a mother. Add hashtags like #parenting or #familytips in your bio. These search terms are popular with other parents. When they look them up on the search bar, there’s a high chance your page will appear in the results.

Plus, placing relevant hashtags at the top of your page helps establish your expertise and brand identity. People who visit your page will see those tags immediately. This instantly gives them an idea of what to expect from your content.

Feed Post Captions

The most obvious place to incorporate well-searched hashtags is at the end of your posts’ captions. This increases the chances of your content showing up on the feeds of people following the hashtags you use. They may also appear in the Explore pages of users interested in the niches your tags are related to.

This extra boost in post visibility can help drive tons of engagement for your content, from likes to comments. It also allows new people who don’t follow you yet to discover your page for the first time. If they like your content enough, they might pay your page a visit. And if they like what they see from there, they may just give your page a follow.

Don’t limit adding hashtags to the end of just photo posts on the feed. Do it for carousels and even Instagram Reels to boost their reach and video view counts, too!

Instagram Stories

You can also incorporate popular, frequently searched hashtags in your Instagram Stories. You can do so with the hashtag sticker or simply type the tag in the Story’s text function.

Each hashtag on Instagram has its own public Story, where anyone can watch Stories that contain that tag. So, using hashtags in your Stories exposes your content to the people watching those tags’ public Stories. That gives you an opportunity to reach a new audience with your fun, candid, casual Story content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maximize SEO-Optimized Hashtags To Lure More Potential Fans to Your IG Page!

Using commonly searched hashtags in your Instagram content is an amazing way to get more eyes on it. They help boost your discoverability on the platform, giving you the opportunity to lure in new followers. So, make sure to do thorough keyword research and use high-traffic hashtags for each of your posts moving forward.

Want to drive even more visibility for your page? In conjunction with using SEO hashtags, work with Path Social to expand your reach even further. We use AI-powered algorithms to find your niche audience and push out your content straight to their screens. That means higher reach, more followers, and tons of likes and comments on your posts!

Our team has helped struggling creators like Margene Beaver boost impressions by 263% and gain over 11,000 new fans. And we can craft a unique promotional strategy to get you the same results. So, what are you waiting for? Drive higher reach and get more followers today with Path Social.