Hello Instagrammers and business owners! Need help with your Instagram hashtag strategy?

Letā€™s get straight into it.

This is going to be mostly an Instagram Hashtag Strategy for businesses, because so many of you email us every day asking for hashtag help.

If you donā€™t have a business, look at these Instagram hashtags tips.

Now back to business.

We all have different businesses and brands.

And we can all use the same, core Instagram hashtag strategy.

Whether you are a tour guide, jewelry designer, restaurant owner, hair stylist, nail artist, realtor, social media manager, clothing brand or even a blogger, you just need 2 things:

  1. The ā€œInstagram Hashtag Formulaā€ below, andĀ 
  2. The Hashtag Finder in Preview App (= researched, hand-picked and manually created hashtag groups for different brands, businesses and communities)

The Formula and the Hashtag Finder work:

Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business

As youā€™ll see in the Formula, there are 4 types of Instagram hashtags businesses can use.

Hashtags are a very personal thing.

Some of you might realise you can use all 4 types of hashtags.

And some of you might be totally fine using 1 or 2 types of hashtags.

Thereā€™s no right or wrong.

Use the hashtags that make sense for your business.

You can use up to 30 hashtags.

The Hashtag Finder in Preview App already has a mix of small, medium, large, community hashtags, as well as hashtags that can get you featured on other people’s account. So you don’t need to worry about the size of the hashtags. We’ve done the work for you.

Letā€™s use an example to see how to use Instagram hashtags for a business:

Business example:Ā 

ā€œMy business is home organizing. I live in New York.ā€

Ready?

Here are the 4 types of Instagram hashtags you can use:

1. Your industry hashtags

The first type of Instagram hashtags you want to use are hashtags that directly describe your business, specialty, product, service or offer.

What is your business about?

Use hashtags that are the exact word(s) that describes what you do / sell.

Example:

  • Home organization business = ā€œHomeā€ + ā€œHome Organizationā€ hashtags.
  • So I would type ā€œHomeā€ in Preview App to see all the recommended ā€œHomeā€ hashtags. Pick and choose the hashtags that fit the best with your business.
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business: Hashtag Finder
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business

Bam! Done.

Next.

2. Your ideal customers’ hashtags

Who are your ideal customers?

Use hashtags your ideal customers are using.

This way, your posts – and therefore your products – will appear in front of their eyes.

When you use the hashtags they use, you are becoming part of their community.

It’s a great way to connect with like-minded people. People who actually care about what you share.

Example:

  • Home organization business = ideal customers could be ā€œmomsā€.
  • Type ā€œMomā€ in Preview App to see all the recommended ā€œMomā€ hashtags.
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business

3. Your location hashtags

*Optional*

Use location hashtags if you have a local business.

Important for: hair stylists, nail salons, restaurants, and any physical store.

Example:

  • Home organization business in New York = use ā€œNew Yorkā€ hashtags.
  • Type ā€œNew Yorkā€ in Preview App.
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business

Bam! Done.

Next.

4. Hashtag Combinations

*Optional*

Create your own hashtag combination if it makes sense for your business.

When you create your own hashtag combination, you are creating a more specific, niche hashtag.

This means that you can be found by people who are searching for something specific.

Here are 3 examples of hashtag combinations:

  • Your location + your industry/specialty (Example: #londonrestaurant)
  • Your location + your ideal customer (Example: #newyorkmoms)
  • Your product + an adjective that describes it (Examples: #goldearrings, #naturalcandles)

You can combine other way around too:

  • Your industry/specialty + location
  • Your ideals customers + location

Example:

  • My business is ā€œHome organizingā€ and Iā€™m based in New York.
  • My ideal clients are moms.

Here are 2 awesome hashtag combinations you can use / create:

  • #newyorkhomes
  • #newyorkmom

Pro Tip:

Check on Instagram if your hashtag combinations already exist.

#newyorkmom – WOW. Look! Your ideal clients are right here:

Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business
Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business

Pro Tip #2:

You can go ahead and like and comment on some of the posts of your ideal clients/customers. Donā€™t be spammy. Don’t be creepy. Just be genuine.

Be human šŸ™‚

Thatā€™s it! Your turn to create your Instagram Hashtag Strategy!

Now you know how to use Instagram hashtags to promote your business.

Hereā€™s a quick recap of the hashtags you need for your Instagram Hashtag Strategy:

  • Industry Hashtags
  • Hashtags your ideal client / customer uses
  • Location Hashtags
  • Hashtag Combinations

Your turn to try it!

Let me know in the comments below if this blog post was useful.

And if you’re new: Click here to download Preview.

Alex

Instagram Hashtag Strategy for Business: