Instagram uses hashtags to help users find the images they want to see.
This means that unless you use hashtags on your posts, users who don't already follow you won't be able to find your cool photos.
On other platforms, the rule of thumb is to only use 1 or 2. "Less is more." But on Instagram, the rule is flipped. "More is more!"
You can include up to 30 hashtags per post. You probably shouldn't DROWN every post in hashtags, but do aim to include at least 10 or 15 at the end of your post.
Include a mix of "popular" and "less-popular" hashtags. When you start to type a #hashtag, Instagram will tell you how many posts are currently using that particular tag.
In this context, they are also your COMPETITION. For example:
- #art has nearly 227 MILLION posts.
- #modernart has 3.8 million.
- but #postmodernart has only 17 thousand.
Where you might drown in a sea of #art posts, you may rise to the top of a smaller tag. It's good to think strategically about your use of tags, and notice which work better over time.
INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE LOCATION-SPECIFIC HASHTAG! Remember: unless you can travel all over the world to shoot, the majority of your clients will be LOCAL. If you're looking for bookings, make sure the right customers can find you. (For example: brides searching #charlotteweddings.)
We'll finish our #hashtalk with one last word of caution... If you use a lot of really general tags like #art, #love, #happy (or even #photography), you could find that you're getting a lot of activity from spam bots. Which is not really going to help you get real human followers or sales.