The Ultimate Guide to Hashtag Research: How to Grow Your Audience Fast

Gina Talarico
Oct 31, 2024
4 min read

So, you’ve got killer content and a profile with serious potential, but now you’re wondering: how do you actually get seen? Enter hashtags—the secret sauce of social media visibility. With the right research and strategy, hashtags can help you reach new audiences and, let’s be real, boost those followers and engagement.

Here’s everything you need to know about hashtag research to grow your audience fast. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Understand What Hashtags Are Really For

Hashtags aren’t just a trendy add-on to your posts; they’re a way to get your content in front of people who wouldn’t otherwise find you. Hashtags categorize your posts, making them searchable and discoverable by users interested in those topics.

Types of Hashtags to Use:

Niche Hashtags: Think of hashtags that represent your unique angle. If you’re a wellness coach, #MindfulEating or #StressLess could bring you the right audience.
Trending Hashtags: Tap into popular hashtags to reach a broader audience but beware—competition can be fierce!
Branded Hashtags: Create a signature hashtag for your brand. If you’re building a community, this is essential (like #SocialStartupVibes!).

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Step 2: Find Your Hashtag “Sweet Spot”

Here’s the secret sauce: Not all hashtags are created equal. The goal is to use hashtags that balance popularity with discoverability. A super-popular hashtag like #love might seem tempting, but with millions of posts, your content can get buried in seconds. Instead, find hashtags with a good balance to give your posts the spotlight they deserve.

The Hashtag Breakdown:

High Competition Hashtags (1M+ Posts): #EntrepreneurLife, #Wellness, #TravelGoals. Use sparingly—these are good for reach but high in competition.
Mid-Range Hashtags (100K - 1M Posts): Great for visibility without getting buried too quickly.
Low Competition Hashtags (<100K Posts): Goldmine for niche communities. Find ones that really represent your content (e.g., #WellnessForMoms).

How to Find These:

Use Instagram’s search bar to see the number of posts on each hashtag.
Explore tools like Hashtagify, All Hashtag, or even Pinterest’s keyword search to discover similar and relevant hashtags.

Step 3: Leverage Hashtag Tools to Simplify Your Research

Hashtag research doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Plenty of free (and paid) tools can help you find, test, and refine your hashtags.

Top Hashtag Research Tools:

Hashtagify: Great for tracking hashtag popularity and finding related hashtags.
Later’s Hashtag Suggestions: Gives you hashtag ideas based on what’s trending in your niche.
All Hashtag: Generates a list of hashtags based on the ones you enter—perfect for quickly expanding your options.

These tools give you data, popularity scores, and related hashtags, so you can pick the ones that will give you maximum reach and minimum competition.

Step 4: Build Hashtag “Sets” for Each Type of Content

Building reusable hashtag sets is a game-changer. You’ll save time and keep your strategy fresh by rotating these sets based on the content you’re sharing.

Creating Your Hashtag Sets:

Identify Core Themes: Think of 3-5 content themes you regularly post about (e.g., “motivational quotes,” “business tips,” “personal brand insights”).
Build a Set for Each Theme: Aim for 15-20 hashtags in each set with a mix of high, medium, and low-competition tags.
Mix It Up: Rotate hashtags within each set to keep them fresh and avoid getting penalized for using the same ones repeatedly.

Step 5: Test, Track, and Adjust Your Hashtags

Once you’ve got your hashtag sets, it’s time to test them in action. You’re not done after the first post—tweak and refine based on what actually drives engagement.

How to Track Hashtag Performance:

Instagram Insights: Check your post insights to see how many impressions came from hashtags.
Third-Party Tools: Tools like Later or Sprout Social give you more advanced tracking if you want to get super specific.
Experiment Regularly: Test different sets and monitor which ones deliver the most reach. Adjust your sets based on what performs best.

Step 6: Join Hashtag Communities

Hashtags aren’t just for reach—they’re for engagement. Think of them as mini-communities where people gather around a shared interest. Spend time exploring hashtags related to your niche, engage with the content there, and make your profile visible to like-minded users.

Hashtag Community Tips:

Comment & Like: Engaging with posts under a hashtag (especially niche ones) can increase visibility and attract followers from that community.
Tag Others: In relevant posts, tag or mention other accounts in your niche. This helps build relationships and often leads to them engaging back.
Use Stories Hashtags: Adding hashtags to your stories gives you additional reach. Include a mix of niche and trending hashtags for maximum exposure.

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Step 7: Keep Up with Hashtag Trends

Trends on social media move fast, and hashtags are no exception. Make it a habit to check in on what’s trending in your niche every month or so. Update your hashtag sets regularly to stay relevant and keep your reach strong.

How to Stay Current:

Follow Industry Leaders: See what hashtags popular accounts in your niche are using.
Explore Tab: Instagram’s Explore tab and TikTok’s For You Page are goldmines for trending tags.
Hashtag “Hopping”: This just means diving into one hashtag, finding related ones, and updating your sets with fresh tags.

Bottom Line: Hashtags Are Your Growth Hack!

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to grow an established profile, hashtags are essential to expanding your reach. With the right research, tools, and testing, you’ll see your engagement soar and your audience grow in no time.

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Now get out there and start improving your reach with hashtags!