Well, don\u2019t be so sure. We\u2019ve just published a massive Instagram engagement report<\/a>, and the results are\u2026interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s the deal? How do hashtags work? You\u2019ll have to keep reading to find out\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Table of Contents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every piece of Instagram advice you read tells you to use hashtags on your posts and your Instagram story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And all the big experts say the same thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInstagram hashtags, and a proper hashtag strategy are still one of the best tools for driving engagement on your posts<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 Benjamin Chacon, Later<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c[Using hashtags] massively expands the reach of your post, gets you decent engagement and even grows your Instagram followers a little<\/em>\u201d \u2013 Natalie Lam, Noisy Little Monkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been proven, a post that includes hashtags gets over 12% more interaction, so it\u2019s no secret that a specific hashtag -or even an industry hashtags- can be an easy way to boost your engagement. \u201d \u2013 Christina Nicholson, Huffington Post<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n It all makes sense. Popular Instagram hashtags make your posts easier to find. And the more people find and view your hashtags, the higher the likelihood that you\u2019ll receive likes, comments and increased traffic on your Instagram post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Instagram report analyzed over 37 million Instagram posts. And it uncovered a startling revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out this graph:<\/p>\n\n\n Instagram posts with 11 hashtags or more see the highest average engagement rate, followed closely by posts that feature 4 hashtags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is very surprising because last year, it was posted with 1 hashtag that had the highest engagement, and as the hashtags increased, the engagement rate dropped! So, what changed? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, we don’t think it’s as simple as “hashtags increase<\/strong> or decrease<\/strong> engagement.” It’s the use of relevant hashtags that make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what could be causing this trend? Here are a few possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram runs a tight ship compared to other social media platforms like Twitter or Snapchat, where almost anything goes. It has a clear set of community guidelines<\/a> banning nudity and other offensive content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The Common Logic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Bombshell<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/how-many-hashtags-should-you-use-1024x707.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Hypotheses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Instagram Penalizes Spammy Hashtags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n