Instagram is my favorite social media platform. It brings together a combination of elements I love which include photography, video, engagement, branding and visibility. Instagram has 800 million monthly users and high user engagement levels and if tapped into correctly it can be an amazing tool for building the reach of businesses and influencers. Over the course of a year, I have built a format for myself that has increased my following to over 1k in a short period of time and a huge part of my success is due to my hashtag strategy.

The most important part about hashtag strategy on Instagram is understanding your audience and your niche. It takes a bit of trial and error but the first thing I did to understand my niche is to research different hashtags and see if the content that I post fit into what is posted in a particular hashtags. My particular niches are fashion, beauty and motivation. I also note what type of content makes it as a top result for a particular hashtag. Simply searching a hashtag on Instagram will provide the reach for a particular hashtag and also the related hashtags that may apply to your niche. Peruse each suggestion and test out each hashtag to see which combination of hashtags will provide the highest reach for a post.

Instagram allows a max of 30 hashtags and I am actually of the mindset to use all 30 hashtags. It has helped me grow my Instagram and I have three different hashtag groupings that I use based on the type of content I post. The type of hashtags I use is also a combination of high reach hashtags and low reach hashtags. The reason I mix hashtags that have a 10k reach with a 1k reach is because I increase my chances of a post of mine showing up as a top result in a hashtag with a 1k reach versus 10k reach.

The following groupings are the hashtags I have used to grow my Instagram:

Lookbook + Outfit Hashtag Grouping

#cnkstylebook #fashion #fashionlife #nigerianfashionblogger #nigerianblogger #fashionblogger #fashionista #fashion #fashionbloggers #style #styleblog #styleguide #styleblogger #stylebloggers #blackstyleblogger #blackblooggersunited #blackgirlbloggers #blackgirlblogger #naturalbeauty #melaningoals #blackgirlmagic #blackbloggers #blackgirlswhoblog #blooggerstyles #bloggersstyle #bloggerlook #bloggersofig #bloggerpost #bloggerfashion #blackgirlswhowrite

Motivation Hashtag Grouping

#cnkstylebook #bossmotivation #motivationalquotes #motivation #motivationalquote #motivateyourself #motivationdaily #wednesdaywisdom #inspirationalquotes #blackbloggersunited #inspired #motivationalwords #motivationwednesday #motivationiskey #inspirational #inspirationalwords #inspirationalpost #lifestyle #lifestyleguide #lifestylequotes #lifequotes #life #motivated #motivator #motivatedlife #motivatedbehavior #motivatedtowin #motivatedandmoved #mondaymotivation #blackgirlboss

Beauty Hashtag Grouping

#cnkstylebook #fashion #fashionlife #nigerianfashionblogger #nigerianblogger #fashionblogger #fashionista #fashion #fashionbloggers #style #styleblog #styleguide #styleblogger #stylebloggers #beautygram #beauty #beautyblogger #beautytrends #naturalbeauty #melaningoals #melaninpoppin #melaninqueen #melaningoal #melanin #beautygirl #beautyguru #browngirlsblog #makeuptutorial #makeupblog #blackbloggersunited

Comment down below if you try out these hashtags and if they help you grow your Instagram!