How To Use Hashtags On Instagram: Creative Ways To Attract Viewers

How many hashtags to use on Instagram

Using 5 to 10 relevant hashtags on Instagram works best for most posts. Adding too many can make your captions look cluttered or spammy, while too few might limit your reach. Choose a mix of popular, niche, and branded hashtags that match your content. Testing different combinations helps you see what drives more engagement over time.

How to find the best hashtags to use on Instagram

Finding the right hashtags can make your Instagram posts reach more people who care about your content. Once you understand how to use hashtags on Instagram to gain followers, the next step is knowing how to pick the best ones. Here are some simple ways to discover hashtags that fit your goals:

• Focus on your interests

Start by listing topics that match your niche or passion. Think about what your audience enjoys seeing, like travel, fitness, or art. Using hashtags that reflect your real interests helps you reach people who genuinely connect with your content.

• Explore trending hashtags

Check Instagram's Explore page or tools like Snappa or Hashtagify to see what hashtags are trending. Joining these trends at the right time can boost your visibility and get your post featured in more feeds. Just make sure the hashtag relates to your content.

• Notice what friends use

Look at hashtags used by your friends or people in your circle who post similar content. You can often find creative or less competitive tags that still bring good engagement. It's an easy way to learn what works without much research.

• Observe popular communities

Each niche has its own online community with unique hashtags, like #FoodieLife or #BookLovers. Find and join these groups by using their tags to build stronger connections, attract followers who share your interests, and grow your Instagram presence naturally.

• Track engagement patterns

After posting, check which hashtags bring the most likes, comments, or saves. Instagram Insights can help you see this clearly. Keep using the ones that perform best and replace the weaker ones to improve your results over time.

5 popular Instagram hashtags you can use today

Once you understand how to use hashtags on Instagram, using a few popular ones can help you reach a wider audience. These hashtags work across many types of posts, photos, reels, and stories, and attract high engagement from users worldwide. Here are 5 of the most popular Instagram hashtags:

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1. #love

This is one of the most used hashtags on Instagram, covering everything from romance and family moments to pets and nature. It spreads positivity and emotion, which naturally attracts engagement. Adding #love to your captions helps your post reach a broad audience that enjoys heartfelt and uplifting content. It's perfect for any post that captures care, joy, or connection.

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1. #instagood

People use #instagood to highlight their best work, from scenic landscapes to artistic portraits. It represents creativity and good vibes, often linked to quality photography and positive emotions. Including this hashtag makes your post more discoverable among users who appreciate visually appealing or inspiring photos. It's a simple way to showcase your proudest moments with confidence.

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1. #fashion

The #fashion hashtag is ideal for those who love style, clothing, and personal expression. Influencers, designers, and brands use it to share new looks, trends, and outfit ideas. This hashtag helps you connect with others who follow the latest fashion updates or explore new aesthetics. Whether you're posting a casual outfit or a full photoshoot, #fashion keeps your content visible in a competitive niche.

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1. #photooftheday

#photooftheday celebrates your best and most creative shots. Many photographers, travelers, and artists use it to highlight their top photo daily. It helps you join a large community that appreciates art and visual storytelling. Using this tag consistently encourages you to post your finest work and gain recognition for your photography skills.

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1. #picoftheday

Similar to #photooftheday, #picoftheday focuses on sharing your standout image of the day. It's popular across multiple themes like food, travel, pets, and lifestyle. Including this hashtag helps you appear in more daily search results and attract followers who enjoy authentic, everyday visuals. It's great for keeping your profile active and visually engaging.

How to know what hashtags to use on Instagram

Finding the right hashtags can make your posts stand out and reach more people. Once you learn how to use hashtags effectively on Instagram, choosing the right ones becomes easier. Here are some simple ways to pick hashtags that match your content and boost engagement:

• Use Instagram search

Type a keyword related to your post in Instagram's search bar and tap the "Tags" tab. This shows how many times each hashtag has been used. Choosing tags with moderate popularity helps your post stay visible longer and reach an audience that actually cares about your content.

• Follow influencer hashtags

Look at what hashtags influencers in your niche use. They often mix popular and specific tags that attract the right crowd. Observing their strategy helps you learn how to use hashtags correctly on Instagram by balancing visibility and relevance.

• Check competitor tags

Competitor profiles are a great place to find hashtags that work. Analyze posts with high engagement to see which tags they include. This gives insight into what resonates with your shared audience and helps you fine-tune your own hashtag list.

• Review campaign relevance

Before adding hashtags, make sure they match your post's message or campaign. Using unrelated or spammy tags can hurt engagement and make your content look out of place. Picking relevant ones shows you understand your niche and know how to best use hashtags on Instagram for real growth.

• Explore related hashtags

Once you find a good hashtag, check the "Related" section under it to discover similar ones. These related tags can help you connect with niche audiences and stay consistent with your theme. This is a practical way to learn how you know what hashtags to use on Instagram through discovery and testing.

How to effectively use hashtags on Instagram: Pro tips

Learning to use hashtags the right way can make a big difference in how far your posts reach. Once you understand how to properly use hashtags on Instagram, it becomes easier to attract the right audience and grow naturally. Here are some pro tips to help you use them smartly and get better results:

• Research relevant hashtags

Spend time finding hashtags that match your content and audience. Tools like Instagram search or analytics platforms can help you find what's trending in your niche. Knowing how to use hashtags on Instagram posts starts with picking tags that reflect your theme, not just what's popular.

• Place hashtags strategically

Add hashtags where they look clean and natural, either in the caption or the first comment. This keeps your post tidy while still boosting visibility. Understanding how to post on Instagram using hashtags includes knowing where to place them for the most engagement.

• Limit hashtags wisely

Using too many hashtags can make your post look cluttered and spammy. Most experts recommend between 5 to 10, depending on your post type. Learning how many hashtags to use on Instagram posts helps you strike the right balance between reach and relevance.

• Monitor and adjust

After posting, check your insights to see which hashtags bring more engagement. Keep using the ones that perform well and drop those that don't. This simple habit shows you how to best use hashtags on Instagram through testing and improvement.

• Mix broad and niche

Use a mix of popular and smaller community hashtags for better reach. Big hashtags help you connect with large audiences, while niche ones reach specific groups. This mix is a smart way to use hashtags on Instagram for steady and focused growth.

Bonus tip: Generate attractive Instagram reels with AI visuals in CapCut

The CapCut desktop video editor helps creators produce engaging Instagram Reels with AI-powered visuals and smart editing tools. It simplifies the process of turning regular clips into eye-catching content that stands out on social media. Using its creative effects and automation options, you can design reels that match trending styles and keep viewers hooked.

Key features

Here are some key features of the CapCut desktop video editor that help creators make professional and engaging Instagram Reels with ease:

• Long to short video conversion

Quickly turn lengthy long videos to short, attention-grabbing reels perfect for Instagram without losing the main highlights, transitions, or storytelling impact.

• Auto subtitle generation

Automatically adds accurate captions to your videos, making them more engaging and accessible to viewers while saving editing time and improving overall viewer retention.

• Efficient keyframes

Control animations and transitions smoothly for creative motion effects that enhance storytelling and provide seamless movement between different elements in your video.

• Multi-layer editing

Combine videos, audio, text, and effects on different layers to create dynamic and detailed edits that maintain a professional structure and polished final look.

• AI video stabilization

Use video stabilization to instantly fix shaky footage for a cleaner, more professional-looking reel without manual adjustments, helping you maintain smooth, high-quality visuals.

• Customizable fonts

Personalize text overlays with unique fonts that match your brand or video style, ensuring a consistent design that strengthens your visual identity and appeal.

• Fun video and audio filters

Add creative visual and sound filters to give your reels a trendy and entertaining look, enhancing mood, tone, and overall viewing experience effortlessly.

How to make Instagram Reels with transition effects in CapCut

To make Instagram Reels with transition effects, download the CapCut desktop video editor from its official website. Click the "Download" button below, then install and open the setup file. Once installed, launch CapCut and start editing your reels with smooth transition effects.

STEP 1
1. Import the video

Open the CapCut desktop video editor and create a new project to get started. Import the video you want to edit for Instagram by clicking the + icon under the "Import" tab or dragging and dropping it directly into the workspace.

STEP 2
1. Resize video, adjust colors, and add transitions

First, click "Ration" to resize your video by selecting 9:16 from the dropdown menu located below the video preview. Next, open the "Transitions" tab, download a transition that best fits Instagram Reels, such as Slice Reveal, and tap on it to automatically apply it between clips for a dynamic effect. To further enhance the visuals, go to "Adjust" > "Color wheel" and manually fine-tune the colors for a balanced and appealing look.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

When your Instagram Reel is ready, tap "Export" in the top-right corner to bring up the export settings. Choose a high-quality resolution, pick a format suitable for Instagram, and click "Export" once more to save it for future posting.

Conclusion

Understanding how to use hashtags on Instagram helps your posts reach more people and build stronger engagement over time. Choosing the right mix of popular and niche hashtags makes your content easier to discover and keeps it relevant. Consistent testing and adjusting your hashtags can improve visibility and audience growth. For creators who also want to make visually appealing Instagram Reels, the CapCut desktop video editor is a great tool to design and enhance videos with ease.

FAQs

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1. How to use hashtags on Instagram Stories effectively?

Place 1–3 relevant hashtags on your Story using text or sticker form to boost visibility. Keep them small and match them with your visuals for a clean look. Avoid overusing tags to maintain aesthetic appeal and audience focus. Use the CapCut desktop video editor to design stories with clear visuals and smooth hashtag placement.

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1. Do hashtags work better in captions or comments?

Hashtags in captions often perform better because they appear instantly when the post goes live. However, adding them in comments keeps the caption neat while maintaining reach. Both methods work well depending on your style and audience. The CapCut desktop video editor helps you create vibrant visuals that pair perfectly with engaging captions and hashtags.

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1. What is the difference between niche and broad hashtags?

Broad hashtags reach a large audience but face higher competition, while niche hashtags target specific communities with stronger engagement. Mixing both gives your content a balance between visibility and relevance. To make these hashtags even more impactful, create visually attractive posts using the CapCut desktop video editor.