How to Use Hashtags on Instagram to Reach More People
4 min readUpdated 21 October 2026
Quick answer
Use a mix of niche, mid-range and broad hashtags that match your post, add a few local tags if you serve one area, and change the set for every post. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post.
The three types of hashtags
- Niche tags (under 100K posts): small, focused audiences who are most likely to engage.
- Mid-range tags (100K–1M posts): a balance of reach and competition.
- Broad tags (over 1M posts): extra reach, but your post is quickly buried.
Step by step
- 1Describe your post in a few words: topic, industry and city.
- 2Find niche tags specific to that topic and your location.
- 3Add mid-range tags for your industry.
- 4Add a few broad tags for extra reach.
- 5Check every tag is relevant to the post.
- 6Change the set for your next post instead of copying it.
Mistakes that limit your reach
- Using the same hashtags on every post.
- Using only huge tags like #love or #instagood.
- Adding tags that have nothing to do with the post.
- Forgetting local tags if your customers are nearby.
Get hashtags automatically with Shoutly AI
Shoutly AI adds a fresh set of hashtags to every caption, mixing niche, mid-range and broad tags for your industry and city. You can refresh or edit the set before the post goes live.
Frequently asked questions
How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?
Instagram allows up to 30. A well-chosen mix matters more than the exact number; use as many as are genuinely relevant.
Should I put hashtags in the caption or a comment?
Either works. Many brands put them at the end of the caption so they're published with the post.
Do hashtags work on LinkedIn and Facebook?
Yes, but use fewer: around 3–5 on LinkedIn and a handful on Facebook.
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