How to Check Hashtags on Instagram for Higher Engagement

How to Check Hashtags on Instagram for Higher Engagement

Hashtags serve as digital signposts on Instagram, guiding audiences toward content that matches their interests. The ability to check hashtags on Instagram and choose the right ones can significantly elevate your visibility and engagement rates. Whether you are a content creator, marketer, or business owner, mastering hashtag research is a cornerstone of Instagram marketing success.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of checking hashtags effectively—from understanding how they work within Instagram’s discovery algorithm to testing and refining them for optimal performance.

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Understanding the Role of Hashtags in Instagram’s Discovery Algorithm

Instagram uses hashtags as metadata markers. When you add a hashtag to a post, Reel, or story, Instagram indexes your content under that hashtag’s page. This helps users exploring that tag discover your post, even if they don’t follow you.

Key Functions of Hashtags

• Content Categorization: Hashtags tell Instagram what your post is about.
• Audience Reach Expansion: They allow you to reach users searching or following specific topics.
• Community Building: They help brands join niche discussions and connect with like-minded users.

The algorithm prioritizes posts that are relevant, high-quality, and engage users quickly. Choosing the wrong hashtag—too generic, irrelevant, or banned—can stunt reach immediately.

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Identifying Your Target Audience and Relevant Niche Topics

Before you can check hashtags effectively, you need clarity on who you’re trying to reach. Ask:

• Demographics: Age, location, interests.
• Pain Points: Problems they want solutions for.
• Preferred Content Format: Do they respond to inspirational posts, tutorials, or entertainment?

Create a content + audience mapping document. For example:

Such mapping aids in narrowing down hashtags that are most likely to resonate.

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Using Instagram’s Search Bar to Explore Hashtag Popularity

Head to Instagram’s search bar and type in a topic-related keyword. Switch to the “Tags” tab to see:

• Number of Posts: Indicates popularity.
• Auto-Suggestions: Variations of your search term.
• Related Tags: Adjacent niche hashtags to explore.

Quick Tip

Avoid picking only the highest-volume tags (millions of posts). Your content can get buried quickly under fresh uploads. Balanced selection is key.

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Analyzing Hashtag Pages for Engagement and Content Styles

Clicking on a hashtag opens its dedicated page. Here’s what to evaluate:

1. Top vs. Recent Posts:

• Top posts show what style performs well.
• Recent posts show frequency and freshness.

1. Engagement Rates:
2. Check likes, comments, shares in relation to followers.
3. Content Style Trends:
4. Identify if carousel posts, Reels, or single images dominate.

By studying what thrives, you can model your post formatting accordingly.

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Leveraging the “Follow Hashtag” Feature to Track Trends

Instagram allows users to follow hashtags, similar to following accounts. Doing this helps:

• Regularly see content from that hashtag in your feed.
• Spot emerging trends and new content types.
• Monitor quality shifts over time.

This passive tracking keeps your hashtag strategy dynamic without needing daily manual searches.

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Checking Hashtag Relevance and Competition via Analytics Tools

Third-party analytics tools such as Hashtagify, Inflact, or Hootsuite Insights offer deep data:

• Hashtag Popularity Trends
• Competition Analysis – how many posts are vying for attention per tag
• Related Hashtag Suggestions – AI-based recommendations

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Creating a Balanced Hashtag Mix

A balanced mix maintains reach potential without drowning in competition.

Hashtag Mix Structure

• High-volume (1M+): For broad reach attempts.
• Medium-volume (100K–1M): Sustainable visibility.
• Niche-specific (<100K): Highly targeted engagement.

Example:

High-volume: #Photography
Medium-volume: #NaturePhotography
Niche: #MoodyLandscapeShots

By inserting diverse tags, your post can appear in multiple discovery streams simultaneously.

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Testing Hashtag Sets in Posts and Reels

To evaluate performance:

1. Create at least three different hashtag sets.
2. Apply each set to similar content formats (e.g., same style of images).
3. Track post vs. Reel reach metrics via Instagram Insights.

Metrics to Compare

• Impressions from hashtags.
• Engagement rate per set.
• Audience demographics.

Using consistent test conditions allows for accurate hashtag set comparisons.

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Monitoring Banned or Broken Hashtags

Some hashtags are banned (due to spam) or broken (not working properly). Using them can kill reach.

How to Check

• Search the hashtag.
• If you see a notice about violating community guidelines or no results despite high post counts in the past—avoid it.

Stay regularly updated as banned status can change without warning.

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Refining Your Hashtag List Monthly Based on Data

Social trends evolve, and so should your hashtags. Every month:

• Review Instagram Insights for hashtag reach.
• Remove underperforming tags.
• Add new trending tags from tools and manual searches.

Keeping a spreadsheet or tracking document helps visualize growth and drop-offs in hashtag effectiveness over time.

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Conclusion

Learning how to check hashtags on Instagram is more than about searching and selecting—it’s a continuous cycle of research, testing, measuring, and refining. By understanding their role in discovery, analyzing engagement trends, and tracking banned or broken tags, you can ensure that your hashtag strategy delivers consistent, measurable results.

A smart hashtag approach is data-driven, audience-focused, and flexible—ready to adapt to Instagram’s shifting landscape. Start checking your hashtags today, and you’ll likely see your engagement climb steadily in the weeks ahead.