Nobody likes to be ignored. But it can be even more painful when trying to increase visibility for your business. That’s why so many brands turn to hashtags to save the day, and for the most part, they get the job done – until they don’t. Sometimes, using the wrong hashtags can trigger a shadowban, making your content invisible to your target audience without any warning.
Whether it’s Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram, hashtags are the best way to get the eyes of a particular audience on your content. Using the right hashtags can boost engagement, following and organic reach. Using them incorrectly, however, can have the complete opposite effect.
That’s why you need to know the best hashtags to use on Instagram. At best, using the wrong hashtags can get you minimal results. At worst the wrong hashtags can get you shadowbanned on Instagram. What’s an Instagram shadowban? Let me run it down real quick.
What is a Shadowban and Why It Matters
No one is sure who coined the term, but Shadowban is when Instagram quietly blocks your content from your audience. This means it won’t show up on their feeds or on the pages where those hashtags appear. This is obviously not only annoying but extremely discouraging after tirelessly curating content for your audience. And your audience misses out on seeing your content.
You can still ensure your content is seen even after a shadowban but it is by no means foolproof. Instagram has a notification system, this allows followers to sign up to be notified when you post. Much like YouTube, and now LinkedIn, you can encourage your audience to click the bell icon in the top right corner of your profile.
The other less proactive solution is to wait until the shadowban is lifted, but how can you be sure this will never happen again?
Instagram actively bans certain hashtags. Instagram does not warn you in advance which hashtags are undesirable, that’s why keeping ahead is so important. But why do they get banned in the first place? Many bots, spammers and undesirable users constantly use certain hashtags, filling their page with spam that drowns out any real content people post.
If you make the rookie mistake of using one of these banned hashtags without realising, Instagram’s algorithm might mistake you for a bot and unceremoniously shadowban your account. What are some currently banned Instagram hashtags, you ask? Here are some that might be relevant to you or any business orientated content.
Banned Hashtags That Can Lead to a Shadowban
- #Desk
- #Brain
- #Direct
- #DM
- #HardWorkPaysOff
- #HotWeather
- #HumpDay
- #Hustler
- #KillingIt
- #MustFollow
- #NewYearsDay
- #OverNight
- #SoPretty
- #Shower
- #Stranger
- #Snap
- #Thought
- #ValentinesDay
- #WorkFlow
These are just a few of the banned hashtags on Instagram. But Instagram frequently adds more banned hashtags, so it is important not to get complacent.
For more guidance, you can check Instagram’s official hashtag best practices to avoid any potential shadowbans.
How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?
Once you identify the hashtags Instagram hasn’t banned and that are most relevant to your audience, you might think that’s it.
Go to town and tag hundreds of popular hashtags on your posts.
Well, you might live to regret that too.
Instagram has a limit to the number of hashtags you can use on a single post. Exceeding this amount can result in Instagram might delete your caption altogether if you exceed the limit. Instagram won’t index your post under any hashtags. No, you don’t want that.
You can include up to 30 hashtags on a regular post, and up to 10 hashtags on a Story. That said, just because you can use that many hashtags for Instagram, doesn’t mean that you should.
Using this many hashtags can alienate your audience, Making them feel like you’re chasing views and engagement rather than offering true value.
Are There Restrictions To Your Instagram Account?
Of course, you can check if Instagram has placed any restrictions on your account. If you head over to your settings and click on Account – Account status you’ll be able to see if there are any restrictions on your account. Instagram also shows you the steps you need to take to fix the issue. such as stopping spammy mentions or reducing the number of hashtags you use.
How to Find the Best Hashtags to Avoid a Shadowban
So what are the best hashtags to use on Instagram? Well, that is very dependent on what you’re trying to achieve and what industry you are operating within. Are you trying to make sales? Are you trying to target a niche audience? These things matter.
To get the most out of Instagram hashtags, you need to focus on variety.
Instagram suggests using a combination of popular and niche hashtags to reach different audiences, from broad to specific. Using too many popular hashtags can result in your posts getting lost amongst a sea of others. You need to find a happy medium.
That’s why hashtag research is so important. Using the wrong hashtags could be a huge detriment to your account but now you know the basics you can go research what hashtags are working for others in your sector.
If you have any questions, be sure to send us a message.
