The optimal number of hashtags varies by platform:

• Instagram:5-15 hashtags (mix of popular, medium, and niche)
• TikTok:3-5 hashtags (focus on trending and relevant)
• Twitter/X:1-2 hashtags (to avoid cluttering your message)
• LinkedIn:3-5 hashtags (professional and industry-specific)
• Facebook:2-5 hashtags (less commonly used but can be effective)

Quality matters more than quantity. It’s better to use 5 highly relevant hashtags than 20 random ones. Test different amounts and track which performs best for your specific audience.

Hashtag competition refers to how many people are using a particular hashtag:

• High-Competition Hashtags:Millions of posts (e.g., #love, #instagood)
  • Pros: Massive potential reach
  • Cons: Your content gets buried quickly, hard to rank
• Medium-Competition Hashtags:50,000 – 1 million posts
  • Pros: Good balance of reach and visibility
  • Cons: Still competitive but manageable
• Low-Competition Hashtags:Under 50,000 posts
  • Pros: Higher chance of being seen, targeted audience
  • Cons: Smaller potential reach

The best strategy is to use a mix of all three types – this is often called the “hashtag pyramid” strategy.

This is a common debate, but current best practices suggest:

• Caption Placement:Hashtags in the caption are immediately indexed by the algorithm and visible to all users. This is generally recommended for maximum effectiveness.
• Comment Placement:Some users prefer this for aesthetic reasons, but hashtags in comments may have slightly delayed indexing. They’re also less discoverable to users.

Instagram has confirmed that hashtags work the same regardless of placement, but caption placement ensures immediate indexing. If you’re concerned about aesthetics, you can hide hashtags below the “More” button by adding line breaks before your hashtags.

The most important factor is using relevant hashtags, regardless of placement.

Regular hashtag rotation is important for several reasons:

• Avoid Shadowbanning:Using the exact same hashtags repeatedly can trigger spam filters
• Reach New Audiences:Different hashtags connect you with different users
• Seasonal Relevance:Some hashtags are more effective at certain times of year
• Content Variation:Different types of content perform better with different hashtags

Recommended practices:

• Maintain 3-5 sets of hashtags that you rotate between
• Create hashtag groups for different content types (e.g., educational, inspirational, promotional)
• Update your hashtag sets monthly based on performance analytics
• Keep 50-70% of your hashtags consistent (core niche hashtags) and rotate the remainder

Banned hashtags are those that Instagram has restricted due to inappropriate content or spam. Using them can limit your post’s reach or get your account flagged.

Common types of banned hashtags include:

• Sexually explicit terms (even seemingly innocent ones like #elevator)
• Drug-related terms
• Hate speech or offensive language
• Overly generic terms that attract spam (#follow, #like4like)

To avoid banned hashtags:

• Search the hashtag before using it – if recent posts don’t show up, it might be banned
• Use reputable hashtag research tools that flag banned hashtags
• Avoid overly generic hashtags that attract spam accounts
• Regularly check your hashtag sets for any that might have become banned

If you accidentally use a banned hashtag, simply edit your post to remove it.