Welcome to #WorkshopWednesday, my weekly feature with a focus on all things blogging! Each week there’ll be tips, tricks and advice on how to get your blog running like a well oiled machine!
Instagram has to be my all time favourite social media platform. I absolutely love it and I spend a lot of time trying to build up my account. With the recent algorithm changes though, Instagram is harder to crack than ever before. These changes have seen engagement drop significantly across the board, as the non-chronological feed doesn’t show our follower’s what we’re posting, when we post it!
I know a lot of bloggers who have fallen out of love with the platform since the new algorithm was implemented. This is a real shame, as Instagram can be a great source of traffic and work if you’re a blogger. So finding ways to get around the changes is essential if you want to progress.
My Insta top tip –
This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to build up your Insta account is to make use of the hashtag. Not just any old hashtags that you fancy though, the right ones to further your reach and to improve your engagement. There are so many hashtags to choose from though, so where do you begin?
Spend some time researching hashtags that are relevant to your niche. Maybe check out what fellow bloggers are using, especially the ones who have good engagement on their posts. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post and I recommend that you make use of them all. It’s essential that you use hashtags that are relevant to your niche, so that your posts are being shown to people who will be interested in your content.
Things to remember –
- Adding general hashtags to your content, such as #happy, will mean that your content could be drowned out by other users as it’s far too popular. On writing this post there were 405,253,691 posts with the tag #happy. Using tags like this can also put you at risk of being shadow-banned, meaning your content won’t show up in the tag feed at all.
- It’s best to use hashtags with a medium number of posts already within the feed. If there are too many they get lost as we discussed above and if there are too little, you won’t reach the wider audience you’re looking for.
- Be sure to interact within the hashtags you decide to use. The more you interact with others, the more they’ll interact with you!
I love Instagram too as it’s a way to indulge my interest in amateur photography but the non-chronological feed does bug me and also the way it jumps around a bit when a new post features. Or maybe that’s just me? lol Thanks for the tips, I need to research the hashtags a bit better. #blogstravaganza
It is a complete nightmare since the algorithm change xx
Useful reminder not to waste a single hashtag. I throw in a few like #London #cheese – time to throw those out x #Blogstravaganza
I’m guilty of that too! Xx
Thanks for sharing! You always have great tips on your #WorkshopWednesday posts. I’m still Instagram illiterate sometimes, most of the time, lol!
Haha, I’m glad they’re useful! xx
Instagram is certainly not as fun as it used to be, I still enjoy it though. Great tips. #blogstravaganza
Agreed! Xx
I really have a love hate relationship with Instagram and I dont think its gonna change until their algorithm changes for the better!! #blogstravaganza
I know what you mean, the algorithm is a nightmare x
These are fabulous tips! I’m trying to grow mine right now and the hashtag secrets will help immensely! Thank you!
#Blogstravaganza
Glad they’re useful! Xx
Great post! I’m a big Twitter, Pinterest and StumbleUpon fan but Instagram? I just can’t get onto it! I hate the follow/unfollow thing that tends to happen much more than on Twitter. Maybe I need to sort out my hashtags! #blogstrvaganza
Hashtags definitely help, it’s a difficult platform though! Xx
Some great tips, I struggle with growing my Instagram the most! Will have to keep these tips in mind! #Blogstravaganza
It is a difficult platform x
That’s a good point—I don’t usually interact with the hashtags I use but I will now. #blogstravaganza
It really helps! Xx
I generally use about 15 but don’t really research them. Thanks for the tip #blogstravaganza
Hope it’s useful 🙂 xx
you are so right, the right hashtags make all the difference #blogstravaganza
They are a game changer! Xx
Good tip! It’s difficult to know what hashtags to use sometimes!
Isn’t it! x
I’ve noticed a dip in Instagram lately, although it is still new for me and so perhaps I’ve not noticed it as much as others Some great tips though #Blogstravaganza
It has been a nightmare these past few months x
I really need to focus more on my hashtags as I keep using the same ones without much thought. I’m finding Insta so so hard to grow. Thanks for the tips! #blogstravaganza
Insta is such a nightmare since the algorithm change xx