How to Choose the Right Hashtags: Complete Selection Guide
TL;DR - Quick Answer
14 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Choosing the right hashtags can make or break your social media reach. Here's how to select hashtags that actually work for your content and audience.
Quick Hashtag Selection Formula
The 30-60-10 Rule
- 30% Popular hashtags (100K to 1M posts)
- 60% Moderate hashtags (10K to 100K posts)
- 10% Niche hashtags (Under 10K posts)
Essential Questions to Ask
- What is my content actually about?
- Who is my target audience?
- What hashtags does my audience follow?
- Which hashtags are relevant but not oversaturated?
Step by Step Hashtag Selection
Step 1: Identify Your Content Category
Content Types:
- Educational/Tutorial
- Behind the scenes
- Product showcase
- Personal story
- Industry news
- Entertainment
Example for Fitness Content:
- Primary topic: #fitness #workout
- Specific focus: #homeworkout #bodyweight
- Target audience: #fitnessmotivation #fitmom
Step 2: Research Your Competitors
What to Analyze:
- Which hashtags appear in their most engaged posts
- How many followers those hashtags have
- Which hashtags are specific to your niche
- What hashtags they avoid
Research Method:
- Find 5 similar accounts in your niche
- Look at their top 10 performing posts
- Note recurring hashtags
- Check hashtag sizes using search
- Test their performance on your content
Step 3: Use the Hashtag Pyramid Strategy
Top Level (3 to 5 hashtags):
- Broad category hashtags
- 500K to 1M+ posts
- Examples: #fitness #food #travel
Middle Level (10 to 15 hashtags):
- More specific subcategory hashtags
- 50K to 500K posts
- Examples: #homeworkout #healthyrecipes #solotravel
Bottom Level (10 to 12 hashtags):
- Highly specific niche hashtags
- Under 50K posts
- Examples: #apartmentworkout #veganmealprep #backpackingeurope
Platform Specific Selection
Instagram Hashtag Selection
Best Practices:
- Use up to 30 hashtags
- Mix of sizes works best
- Include location hashtags for local content
- Avoid banned or flagged hashtags
Instagram Specific Research:
- Check "Related" hashtags in search
- Use Instagram's hashtag suggestions
- Monitor hashtag performance in Insights
- Test hashtags in Stories first
TikTok Hashtag Selection
Best Practices:
- Use 3 to 5 focused hashtags
- Include trending hashtags when relevant
- Mix broad and niche hashtags
- Add location hashtags for local content
TikTok Specific Strategy:
- Check trending page for current hashtags
- Use hashtags related to sounds/trends
- Include skill level hashtags (#beginnerfriendly)
- Add community hashtags (#tiktokmademe)
Twitter Hashtag Selection
Best Practices:
- Use 1 to 3 hashtags maximum
- Focus on trending and chat hashtags
- Include event and time based hashtags
- Keep hashtags short and clear
Twitter Specific Approach:
- Monitor trending hashtags daily
- Join relevant Twitter chats
- Use event hashtags (#CES2025)
- Include day based hashtags (#MondayMotivation)
Hashtag Research Methods
Method 1: Competitor Analysis
Tools Needed:
- Competitor's profile
- Notepad or spreadsheet
- Social media search function
Process:
- List 10 competitors
- Check their last 20 posts
- Record hashtags that appear 3+ times
- Research hashtag sizes
- Test on your content
Method 2: Search Suggestion Method
On Instagram:
- Type your main keyword in search
- Tap "Tags" tab
- Note suggested hashtags
- Check "Related" section for each hashtag
- Build list of relevant options
On TikTok:
- Search your main keyword
- Look at hashtags used in top videos
- Check hashtag pages for content style
- Note posting frequency and engagement
Method 3: Audience Research
Questions to Explore:
- What hashtags do your followers use?
- What accounts do they follow?
- What hashtags appear in their comments?
- What content style do they engage with most?
Research Process:
- Check your followers' recent posts
- Note hashtags they use regularly
- Look at accounts they follow
- Analyze their commented posts
- Identify common hashtag themes
Hashtag Performance Evaluation
Metrics to Track
Reach Metrics:
- Hashtag reach percentage
- Impressions from hashtags
- New followers from hashtag discovery
- Profile visits from hashtag clicks
Engagement Metrics:
- Likes and comments per hashtag set
- Saves and shares on hashtag posts
- Story views with hashtags
- Click through rates to profile
Testing Strategy
A/B Test Method:
- Create 3 different hashtag sets
- Post similar content with each set
- Track performance for 1 week
- Compare reach and engagement
- Use winning combination going forward
Hashtag Set Examples for Food Content:
Set A (Broad Focus): #food #foodie #delicious #yummy #instafood #cooking #homemade #foodporn #tasty #recipe
Set B (Specific Focus): #healthyrecipes #mealprep #cleaneating #wholefood #nutrition #healthyfood #eatclean #wellness #plantbased #protein
Set C (Niche Focus): #glutenfreediet #celiacfriendly #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreecooking #celiacdisease #glutenfreefood #gfdiet #specialdiet #foodallergies #inclusiveeating
Common Hashtag Mistakes
Overuse of Popular Hashtags
❌ Using only hashtags with millions of posts ✅ Mix popular with moderate and niche hashtags
Irrelevant Hashtags
❌ Adding trending hashtags unrelated to content
✅ Only use hashtags that describe your actual content
Same Hashtags Every Time
❌ Copy pasting identical hashtag lists ✅ Rotate hashtags and test different combinations
Banned Hashtag Usage
❌ Using flagged or shadowbanned hashtags ✅ Research hashtag status before using
Wrong Platform Strategy
❌ Using Instagram strategy on Twitter ✅ Adapt hashtag count and style per platform
Advanced Hashtag Strategies
Hashtag Hijacking (Ethically)
- Find trending hashtags in your industry
- Create relevant content that fits the hashtag
- Add value to the hashtag conversation
- Don't force content into unrelated trends
Community Hashtag Building
- Create branded hashtags for campaigns
- Encourage user generated content with your hashtag
- Feature content that uses your hashtags
- Build hashtag communities around topics
Seasonal Hashtag Planning
- Research seasonal trends in your industry
- Plan hashtags around holidays and events
- Create content calendars with seasonal hashtags
- Monitor performance of seasonal vs evergreen hashtags
Hashtag Tools and Resources
Free Research Tools
- Instagram search and suggestions
- TikTok trending page
- Twitter trending section
- Google Trends for topic research
- Social media platform insights
Research Process Checklist
Before Posting:
- Content category identified
- Target audience defined
- Competitor hashtags researched
- Hashtag sizes checked
- Mix of hashtag sizes selected
- Relevance double checked
- Platform specific optimization done
After Posting:
- Hashtag performance tracked
- Reach and engagement measured
- Winning combinations noted
- Poor performing hashtags identified
- Next post hashtags planned
Quick Decision Framework
Choose Hashtags That Are:
✅ Relevant to your actual content
✅ Searched by your target audience
✅ Active with recent posts
✅ Appropriately sized for your account
✅ Platform optimized for where you're posting
Avoid Hashtags That Are:
❌ Oversaturated with millions of posts ❌ Irrelevant to your content ❌ Banned or flagged by platforms ❌ Inactive with old or spam content ❌ Too specific with almost no posts
Master hashtag selection by understanding your content, audience, and platform best practices. Test different combinations and track performance to build your winning hashtag strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right hashtags for my posts?
Choose hashtags that are relevant to your content, appropriate for your audience size, and mix popular, moderate, and niche hashtags. Research what your target audience searches for and what competitors use.
How many hashtags should I use on each platform?
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags (use 20-30 for maximum reach), TikTok recommends 3-5 hashtags, Twitter works best with 1-2 hashtags, and LinkedIn performs well with 3-10 hashtags.
Should I use popular hashtags or niche hashtags?
Use a mix of both. Popular hashtags give broader reach but more competition. Niche hashtags have less competition and more engaged audiences. Combine different hashtag sizes for best results.
How do I research hashtags for my content?
Start with keywords related to your content, check platform suggestions, analyze competitor hashtags, use platform search functions, and look at hashtags used by your target audience.
Can I use the same hashtags on every post?
No, avoid using identical hashtags repeatedly. Platforms may reduce your reach for repetitive hashtag use. Create different hashtag sets and rotate them while keeping some consistent branded hashtags.
What are banned or shadowbanned hashtags?
These are hashtags that platforms have flagged for spam or inappropriate content. Using them can reduce your post visibility. Check hashtag status before using and avoid hashtags with spam or low-quality content.
How do I know if my hashtags are working?
Monitor your post analytics to see hashtag reach, impressions, and engagement. Track which hashtag combinations drive the most followers and engagement, then optimize future posts based on performance data.
Should hashtags be different for different social media platforms?
Yes, each platform has different hashtag cultures and best practices. Instagram supports many hashtags, Twitter prefers fewer, TikTok focuses on trending hashtags, and LinkedIn favors professional hashtags.
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