5 Tips for a Great Sales Hook, According to Sales Reps

As a writer, I know all about the importance of great hooks.

A good hook is imperative for holding your audience's attention, and ultimately convincing your audience that you're worth hearing out.

In sales, it's no different.

A good sales hook can prevent your prospect from hanging up the phone, or deleting your email entirely. And a great sales hook can start your entire conversation off on the right foot.

Here, we asked six sales reps their tips for creating a convincing sales hook to turn prospects into customers. But first … what is a sales hook?

(If you already know what a sales hook is, and how to create one, feel free to skip to the section where we highlight HubSpot sales reps' real-life examples.)

What is a sales hook?

A sales hook is the same thing as a sales pitch. Essentially, a sales hook (or pitch) is a condensed sales presentation that gets the conversation started regarding what your business is, as well as your product or services' main benefits.

A sales hook should be a quick, 1-2 minute rundown of how your product or service can help your prospect. A concise, persuasive sales hook opens the door to longer conversations down the line.

Also considered an 'elevator pitch', your sales hook can be delivered via email, over the phone, or in person. However, your strategy will need to shift depending on the platform you use to communicate with the prospect. An in-person hook sounds different than an email hook.

Next, let's explore how you can create a sales hook.

5 Tips for Creating a Sales Hook, According to HubSpot Sales Reps

1. Do your customer research.

To create a sales hook, you'll want to start by researching the customer — including their unique challenges, pain points, and needs.

HubSpot Sales Manager Alex Santangelo recommends speaking in the prospect's language.

"For instance," Santangelo says, "If you're speaking to a customer in the B2C e-commerce space, you don't want to use language that reflects a B2B buyer's typical goals — instead, you'll want to talk about how your product will help reduce customer acquisition costs (CAC) and increase customer lifetime value — concepts that are specifically top-of-mind for an e-commerce buyer."

Consider, for instance, what your prospects' goals are — and then work backwards. What potential challenges could inhibit your prospect from reaching their goals? What are they missing in their current strategy? How can you save them time or money?

Doing your research includes getting creative about figuring out your prospect's situation. For instance, let's say you're pitching a social media tool. For starters, you'll want to take a look at your prospect's existing social media content, and seek out areas for improvement. Then use this information to guide your hook.  

In this example, a good hook might be: "I noticed your brand is active on LinkedIn and Facebook, but hasn't taken advantage of Instagram. A competitor I've worked with in your industry saw 37% audience growth and 12% increase in sales as a result of implementing a strong Instagram influencer strategy using our social media tool. Want to know more?"

Brian Pickett, a mid-market sales rep at HubSpot, agrees that conducting adequate research ahead of your hook is critical for success.

As Pickett puts it, "I often see new sales reps pitch a product before they have gathered enough information from the prospective buyer. My advice is to truly understand who you are speaking with, what metrics they care about, how things are done today, and where your product can help them specifically."

Pickett adds, "Once you have this information, it's important to craft your sales hook around the details they shared with you while using their language, not your own. A good sales hook is not one-size-fits-all but crafted around the prospect and their needs, goals, and desires."

2. Figure out the customer's pain points.

As any psychologist will tell you: The pain of losing is twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining.

Which is why your hook doesn't need to focus on the benefits of your product or service. Instead, it should focus on your prospect's pain points — and how you can solve for them.

If you're unsure how to learn a customer's pain points, you're in luck — we've written a whole post about that.

A customer's pain points might include positioning pain points (i.e. "No one knows who our company is"), financial pain points ("Revenue is up, but profitability is low"), or process pain points ("Customer churn is high because our service department is inundated and can't keep up").

Figuring out your customer's biggest pain points is vital for creating a narrative in which your product or service becomes a necessity to your customer's success or long-term growth. Of course, you don't want to lie and pretend your product is a solution if it isn't one. If you identify a prospect's pain point and recognize your product isn't a good solution for their needs, that's a strong sign you'll want to move on and find prospects that are a better fit.

3. Ask a question as your sales hook.

Associate Inbound Growth Specialist Dan Taft recommends creating a hook that starts with a question.

"As someone who came from a restaurant background and jumped into this B2B sales world cold, something that helped me immensely was to put myself in the shoes of the person I am selling to — for instance, rather than using bland subject lines like 'HubSpot intro', I'd try something like 'growth strategy' or 'revenue targets 2022', to help connect with folks on topics they care about."

Additionally, Taft recommends making educated guesses on what your prospect's challenge might be, and then addressing that challenge through a question.

As an example, he says, "You could say something like, 'How many hours does it take you a week to create reports?' It's great when you get a response like, 'Way too long' back."

HubSpot ​​Growth Specialist Jack Chascin also encourages reps to consider how they might tailor their hooks towards the prospect in a way that encourages a positive response.

"For instance," Chascin says, "if I'm targeting a manufacturing company I want to make sure I'm sharing relevant information that resonates with the pain points my solution can solve for in that industry."

Chascin says, "If I'm in the prospects shoes, I'd be a lot more apt to respond to someone who I believe has taken the time to try and understand me and my role than someone who is reaching out to me as just another prospect."

 

4. Practice active listening skills.

Giving an effective hook isn't about making a statement and walking away — instead, it's about spending more time listening to the prospect than you spend speaking.

Tori Rotermund, a Principal Account Executive at HubSpot, told me one tip she gives new sales reps is to ensure their sales hook lines up with what the prospect wants to accomplish — something you'll only figure out by listening.

As Rotermund puts it, "Active listening and asking the right questions are critical to understanding 1) if and how we can help, and 2) articulating it to the customer in a way that gets them excited and makes them feel confident in your solution."

Sales reps who practice active listening should focus on what the customer is actually saying, rather than waiting until they're done talking to launch into a pre-planned pitch. Active listening is a four-part process and requires you to listen, confirm you heard the customer correctly, ask relevant follow-up questions, and let the customer guide the conversation.

5. Make it personal and have some fun with it.

HubSpot Sales BDR Amber Brown-Hospedale told me she would encourage new reps to have fun with their sales hook.

Brown-Hospedale says, "This is your first impression in connecting with someone. Make it personal, but also have fun as if you were going out for coffee, or hanging out after work."

She adds, "There was one prospect I was reaching out to and I realized in addition to sales and marketing, her storytelling interests involved theatre, as well. So, I wrote: 'Is there a particular day this week or next that works best to put time on the calendar? If nothing else, as a former theatre major we can block some time off in your day to come up with our own soliloquies of the season? Hah!'"

Brown-Hospedale told me the prospect soon followed up, said "LOL", and booked time with her. Adding a personal touch shows the prospect you've done your research, and it will ideally also make them smile.

These prospects are people, after all, with a myriad of interests and hobbies outside of work — figure out how to connect with them on a personal level, and you'll find it easier to gain their trust and establish a strong relationship from the beginning.

If you're pressed for time, consider implementing a tool like Icebreaker, which sends you articles already curated by your own internal teams to effectively re-engage the prospect and elicit a response.

Additionally, equipping your sales reps with a tool like Co-Pilot, which curates personalized conversation starters related to local weather, local and company-specific headlines, or local holidays, could go a long way towards increasing the personalization of your outreach efforts.

Next, let's dive into three real-life examples, used by HubSpot sales reps to effectively land deals. 

Effective Sales Hook Examples

1. The hook that highlights the sales rep's industry experience. 

"Hey there, thanks for taking a moment to speak with me. A lot of companies I've been speaking to within your industry have been struggling to attract new customers, and have also had difficulty getting existing customers to renew. I'm curious if that's similar to what your experiencing?"

Why this works: This is an effective hook because it highlights the rep's experience with the prospect's specific industry — something that immediately signifies the rep's ability to help solve for the prospects' unique challenges. It also ends with a question that will enable the prospect to speak about his or her challenges, which will help the rep tailor their approach.

2. The hook that demonstrates gaps in the prospect's current internal processes. 

"Company prides itself on offering omni-channel growth software that improves service levels and reduces operational costs. Do you feel you inherited a growth platform that does the same for you?"

Why this works: The first line — "Company prides itself on offering omni-channel growth software that improves service levels and reduces operational costs" — was copy-and-pasted from the front page of the company's website, and used to highlight the irony that the company touted certain product benefits to their customers, but didn't receive the same benefits from their own internal software. This hook works because it proves the sales rep has done their research on the prospect and feels well-equipped to point out any gaps in their current strategy.

3. The hook that identifies the prospect's pain points. 

"Hey [name]. I hope that you and your family are safe, healthy and well during these unprecedented times.

I wanted to reach out with a short video to outline some reasons [my product] could be a strong fit for your team. [My product] can consolidate all the different solutions you're using (for instance, I saw you're using [product A] for marketing and [product B] for social media management). By consolidating all that into one suite, you'll have a 360 degree view of all your contacts and customers in a central database.

You'll then be able to take all that information and leverage it for more effective and targeted ad campaigns.

If this is timely for you, happy to have a conversation about other ways [my product] can help you increase conversions and decrease customer churn. If not, happy to be a resource for you in the future."

Why this works: This is an effective hook because the sales rep took the time to identify the prospect's pain points — namely, having a messy system with various products that don't necessarily fit together seamlessly. Focus on how your product or service can make your prospect's life easier, and you'll have an effective hook.

Ultimately, learning how to create effective hooks is a matter of trial and error. As you test out new hooks, take note of which ones prove most effective for continuing the conversation with prospects. Using these tips and examples as inspiration, you're well on your way to creating strong hooks that attract new customers for the long-haul.

5 Tips for a Great Sales Hook, According to Sales Reps was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

10 Great Examples of Welcome Emails to Inspire Your Own Strategy

We've all heard how important it is to make a good first impression.

Show up late for a job interview? That's a bad first impression. Eat a ton of garlic and forget to brush your teeth before a first date? Also a bad first impression.

It turns out that the "make a good first impression" principle holds true not only in face-to-face encounters but email interactions as well. The result? The right welcome email goes a long way to connect with potential business contacts or customers.

When you send a welcome email to a new blog reader, newsletter subscriber, or customer, you're making a first impression on behalf of your brand. To help ensure you're making the best first impression possible, we've rounded up some examples of standout welcome emails from brands big and small.

Pro Tip: Use HubSpot's free email marketing software to easily create a high-quality welcome email sequence like the ones featured below.

As you'll soon discover, each example below showcases different tactics and strategies for engaging new email subscribers. Let's dive in.

The Components of an Impressive Welcome Email

What makes a great welcome email? While there’s no one-size-fits-all format, there are several key components that can help your email stand out from the crowd and connect with your intended audience. These include:

Compelling Subject Lines

The first step in making a great first impression? Make sure recipients actually open your emails. subject lines are critical — opt for short and to the point subjects that make it clear what you’re sending, who it’s from, and why it matters to potential customers.

Content Recommendations

While the main purpose of welcome emails is to introduce your brand, it’s also critical to add value by providing the next steps for interested customers. A good place to start is by offering links to the great content on your website that will give your customers more context if they're curious about what you do and how you do it.

Custom Offers

Personalization can help your welcome emails stand out from the pack. By providing customized introductory offers on products consumers may want — based on the information they’ve provided or data available on public, social platforms — welcome emails can help drive ongoing interest.

Clear Opt-Out Options

It’s also important to provide a clear way out if users aren’t interested. Make sure all your welcome emails contain “unsubscribe” options that allow customers to select how much (or how little) contact they want from you going forward. If there’s one thing that sours a budding business relationship, it’s incessant emails that aren’t easy to stop. Always give customers a way to opt-out.

10 Examples of Standout Welcome Emails

So what does a great welcome email look like? We’ve collected some standout welcome message series examples that include getting started messages, thank you emails, and offer templates to help you take customers through the welcome process from start to finish — and make a great impression along the way.

1. Virgin America

Type of welcome: Get Started

A welcome email is a perfect medium for introducing folks to the characteristics (and eccentricities) that make your brand unique.

For Virgin America, that means putting the "I love you" hand symbol front and center. This small gesture signals to the recipient that the folks at Virgin America care about their customers. The playful accompanying copy, "Welcome aboard," and casual call-to-action, "Grab a seat," also help to position Virgin America as a hip, fun-loving brand right off the bat.

2. Food52

Type of welcome: Get Started

Sometimes the tiniest of elements in a welcome email can speak volumes about a brand. And when it comes to Food52's welcome email, their preview text at the top of the email, "We brought snacks," definitely accomplishes this.

Also known as a pre-header or snippet text, the preview text is the copy that gets pulled in from the body of an email and displayed next to (or beneath) the subject line in someone's inbox. So when you see Food52's welcome email in your inbox, you get a taste of their brand's personality before you even open it.

Food52's welcome email also does a good job of building trust by putting a face (make that two faces) to their name. As soon as you open the email, you see a photograph and message from the company's founders.

3. Monday.com

Type of welcome: Video

From the subject line to the conversational tone in the email body, the welcome email above keeps it friendly and simple so the focus stays on the introductory video inside.

Monday.com is a task management tool for teams and businesses, and the welcome email you get when you sign up makes you feel like the CEO, Roy Man, is talking directly to you. The email even personalizes the opening greeting by using the recipient's first name -- this is well known for increasing email click-through rates (especially if the name is in the subject line).

The more you can make your email sound like a one-on-one conversation between you and your subscriber, the better. If you have just so many details you need to inform your new customer of, follow Monday.com's lead and embed them in a video, rather than spelling them all out in the email itself.

4. Kate Spade

Type of welcome: Thank You

Let's face it: We, the internet-using public, are constantly bombarded with prompts to sign up for and subscribe to all sorts of email communications. So as a brand, when someone takes the time to sift through all the chaos in order to intentionally sign up for your email communications, it's a big deal.

In order to acknowledge how grateful they are to the folks who actually take the time to subscribe, Kate Spade uses a simple -- but effective -- tactic with their welcome emails: They say "Thank You" in big, bold lettering. And by placing that "Thank You" on an envelope, Kate Spade recreates the feeling of receiving an actual thank-you letter in the mail. (The 15% off discount code doesn't hurt either.)

5. Lyft

Type of welcome: Get Started

If there's an ideal "attitude" that welcome emails should give off, Lyft has got it.

The company's simple but vibrant welcome email, shown above, focuses entirely on the look and feel of the app, delivering a design that's as warm and smooth as the lifts that Lyft wants to give you. At the same time, the email's branded pink call-to-action draws your eyes toward the center of the page to "Take a Ride" -- inviting language that doesn't make you feel pressured as a new user.

6. IKEA

Type of welcome: Offer

It might not be the most beautifully designed email on this list, but that doesn't mean IKEA's welcome email isn't effective.

Instead of going for the hard sell (e.g., "By stuff now!"), or explaining what it is they do (which is something IKEA probably assumes most people already know), IKEA uses its welcome email to turn folks onto its other, lesser-known programs and content channels. For example, there's a call-to-action right at the top that explains the value of its member benefits program. There are also prompts to visit their design blog and to contribute to their collaborative "Share Space" site.

Of course, if you're not interested in any of that stuff, IKEA's welcome email also makes it easy for you to simply log in and start shopping (there's a login field right up top).

7. Michaels

Type of welcome: Offer

The Michaels approach to the welcome email borrows elements from both Kate Spade and Virgin America. In addition to expressing gratitude to the folks who took the time to sign up, Michaels uses its welcome email to showcase the brand. And the company does a great job: The lengthy email feels like one big arts and crafts project, complete with paint, yarn, and chalkboards.

Another standout feature of this welcome email is that Michaels makes it immediately clear what value its future email communications are going to provide. After thanking subscribers, there's this nice bit of copy that sums it up:

"We're going to send fun stuff like DIY tips and tricks, invites to in-store events, and exclusive deals and coupons."

8. Sphero

Type of welcome: Hello

Sphero's welcome email might in fact be the cutest one we've seen recently -- and it was sent from a galaxy far, far away.

If you purchase a Bluetooth-controlled BB-8, the friendly Droid from Star Wars, it was probably made by Sphero. And if it was, you'll have an email similar to the one above waiting in your inbox when you activate your new rolling companion.

This email's subject line is what qualifies it for this list -- "A little Droid told us you wanted our emails." By cleverly personifying the product, and being somewhat candid about its email marketing newsletters, Sphero develops a relationship with its recipients through the product you just bought from them.

Besides showing you how to use your new BB-8 Droid with your smartphone, all this welcome email wanted to do was say hi -- just like BB-8 himself.

9. InVision

Type of welcome: Video

When you sign up for InVision's free prototyping app, the welcome email makes it very clear what your next step should be: using the app.

To facilitate this action, InVision's welcome email doesn't simply list out what you need to do in order to get started. Instead, it shows you what you need to do with a series of quick videos. Given the visual, interactive nature of the product, this makes a lot of sense.

10. Drift

Type of welcome: Get Started

No fancy design work. No videos. No photos. The welcome email Drift sends out after signing up for their newsletter is a lesson in minimalism.

The email opens with a bit of candid commentary on the email itself. "Most people have really long welcome email sequences after you get on their email list," Dave from Drift writes, before continuing: "Good news: we aren't most people." What follows is simply a bulleted list of the company's most popular blog posts. And the only mention of the product comes in a brief postscript at the very end.

If you're trying to craft a welcome email that's non-interruptive, and that's laser-focused on adding value vs. fluff, this is a great example to follow.

Bonus Example: HubSpot's Welcome Email Templates

Need a little help getting your welcome email efforts off the ground? We’ve got you covered with welcome message templates to streamline the connection process. The example below is one of four templates offered in our free kit (which also includes 40+ customer email templates) and showcases a straightforward example of a great welcome email.

Simply fill in the details, tweak the text to reflect your brand voice, and start sending.

Download the kit now to start crafting the perfect series of welcome emails for new customers.

Now that you’ve seen some great examples of welcome emails, let’s dig into the process of writing a great email and catching customer attention.

1. Write a Catchy Subject Line

Research shows that while more than 90% of welcome emails are opened, just 23% are actually read. That means if your welcome email doesn't catch the eye of your new customer, they may not know you sent it at all.

The best tool you can leverage to increase email open rates is the subject line. A catchy and actionable subject line can draw customers in and make them curious about your content.

When writing subject lines, be sure to include what your email is promoting and how it will benefit your customer. Remember to be concise because the reader will only be able to see a sentence or two in the preview. A good rule of thumb is that your subject line should provide enough information to peak the reader's interest, but not enough so that they need to open your email for the full details.

2. Restate Your Value Proposition

Although this may seem like an unnecessary step to take, it can actually provide some significant benefits.

The most obvious benefit is that it provides the customer with some reassurance that they made the right decision signing up. It's never a bad thing to remind customers why they created an account with you, and it clarifies exactly what they can expect to achieve with your product or service.

This also gives you the opportunity to clearly explain any ancillary services or features that you offer that could create more stickiness with your business. This is especially true if you have a complex solution with unique features that customers might not know about.

3. Show the Next Onboarding Steps

Now that you've reminded them why they signed up, get them fully set up with your product or service. Usually, there are steps that users must take after signing up to get the most out of the platform. Examples include:

• Completing their profile information
• Setting preferences
• Uploading necessary information (e.g. contacts into a CRM, profile picture for a social media profile, etc.)
• Upgrading their account or completing an order

4. Generate the "A-ha" Moment

This is one of the most important steps to take in a welcome email, and there's a data-backed reason behind that. Former Facebook head of growth, Chamath Palihapitiya famously discovered that if you can get a user to acquire seven friends within 10 days, they were much more likely to see Facebook's "core value" and become a returning active user. This is known as an "a-ha moment," in which the customer understands how they benefit from using your product or service.

The goal is to get the user to this aha moment as quickly as possible so your product sticks and the customer achieves success as soon as possible. This will produce a better overall customer experience and ultimately help your business grow.

To get this done, first identify your business's "core value" and the obstacles or prerequisites customers must complete to receive this value. Then you can use your welcome email to guide new customers through these tasks.

5. Add Helpful Resources

As mentioned in the previous step, you want the user to see the value immediately. But, customer success doesn't stop there. Depending on the nature and complexity of your product, customers may need additional help. For example, customers might require guidance on troubleshooting, utilizing advanced features, or getting the most value out of your core features.

It's likely that you've already created help content addressing common questions from customers. Whether it's tutorial videos, an FAQ page, or helpful blog posts containing best practices, this help content is essential to customer success. Why not include it in your welcome email? This gives them the tools they need upfront without forcing them to search for the information after a problem arises.

6. Provide Customer Service Contact Information

The final step to setting your customers up for success is making sure that they know how to contact you. You can spend all the time in the world creating excellent help content, but you can't foresee every possible problem that will arise for your customers.

Even if you could, customers are only human, and not all of them will be willing to pore through your help resources to find the answer to their question. So it's best to be forthright with customers on how they can get in touch with you for additional help.

Adding this contact information to your welcome email is a great way to lay the foundation of trust needed for building a relationship. It drives customer loyalty and reassures readers that you are available if they need you. Avoid sending customers on a treasure hunt just to find a way to ask you a simple question. This will lead to frustration and send them into the arms of your competitors.

7. Conclude with a Call-to-Action

You should wrap up your welcome email with a call-to-action that entices customers to begin the onboarding process. After you've demonstrated your company's value and explained how you're going to help them achieve their goals, customers will be eager to get started. So, make things easier for them by providing a button at the end of the email that triggers the first step in the onboarding process.

Here's one example of what this could look like.

Image Source

Making a Great First Impression

Bottom line? Whether it's in-person, over the phone, or by email, first impressions matter. Your welcome email is often the first chance a prospective customer or contact has to see what your brand is all about and if you don’t stick the landing, they’ll likely go somewhere else.

Luckily, writing a great welcome email is simple. It’s not easy, necessarily, but if you focus on what matters — compelling subject lines, great content, personalized offers, and always, always a way to opt-out, your first impression can help lay the groundwork for long-term relationships.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in April 2016 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

10 Great Examples of Welcome Emails to Inspire Your Own Strategy was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

A company that was influenced by the history of signage advertising in the United States and why their marketing works so well

A company that was influenced by the history of signage advertising in the United States and why their marketing works so well This advertisement was created by a company called ING Direct back in 2009. The ad was shown on the world wide web through online platforms, such as YouTube and Google - essentially, websites where large groups of people typically "hang out." As you can see, the company is promoting their services for this investment vehicle by communicating with their target audience through a story that shows the evolution of pocket neighborhoods and how this created a need for their company. ING Direct is marketing to people who benefit from the products and services they offer, such as professionals who work in various industries where they would need extra income on-the-go. The advertisement talks about how these individuals would make more money by saving their money in this "pocket neighborhood" where it would generate interest, effectively making them more successful. ING Direct is targeting people who are interested in being financially stable and want to have extra income at their disposal that they otherwise would not have had if it weren't for the pocket neighborhood.

What makes this ad so effective is how the company tells a story about their product through the use of history. As you can see, they talk about how pocket neighborhoods were created by Native Americans who wanted to have an additional income source. Through ING Direct's advertisement, you are then led into the present day where the website explains that these communities are now being advertised on TV and online. The company successfully uses a story of history to effectively demonstrate how their services can create a more successful future for this target audience. What is the history of signage advertising in the United States? In 1955, Los Angeles had over 1 million people. With so many individuals, businesses needed to find creative ways to get their name out there and market themselves. Now, you might think it is difficult to be noticed in this massive city. Businesses were given a new opportunity to create their brand identity when the first outdoor sign was erected on Wilshire Boulevard by an insurance company named Farmers Insurance Group . As one can guess, just having a sign alone did not get the job done. Now that there are many different businesses in the city, they needed to take it one step further. Now, if you were walking down Wilshire Boulevard and looked at their sign, I'm sure you would wonder who this insurance company actually is. The company realized that they had to get creative with how they promote themselves so their name was memorable to everyone passing through this prime location. Farmers Insurance Group created a tall human promotion figure and put him on the top of their sign. But, they did not stop there. They paired this promotional person with an airplane that would fly high above the city with their name written across it in bright lights. This allowed them to grab everyone's attention and leave a lasting impression on all of these individuals. describe how a new type of business signage will affect consumers in the next 10 years. As technology continues to rapidly advance in society, advertising is going to have a new way of reaching the consumers. With virtual reality becoming a major player in marketing, advertisers will be able to create ads where you can go inside their world and experience what they are offering firsthand . Facebook has already been utilizing this tactic when it comes to trying out potential jobs. The user puts on a headset and is inside the job they are applying for. They are able to experience all the perks of this position without actually being there or having an opportunity fall through because it was not what they were expecting . Through virtual reality, advertisers will be able to create ads that let you become part of their world. This will allow brands to reach their targeted audience in a way that is far more effective than traditional ads. Marketing & Advertising Campaigns That Will Make You Think Differently About Business https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marketing-advertising-campaigns-will-make-you-think-differently?trk=hp-feed-article-title-publish https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marketing-advertising-campaigns-will-make-you think differently?trk=hp-feed Articles and examples: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marketing advertising campaigns will make you think differently?trk=hp-feed-article-title-publish • Virtual reality for marketing: How it can change the game (http://www.marketingweek.com/2017/02/14/virtual-reality-marketing/) • Why 2016 will be remembered as the year that virtual reality went mainstream (https://www.cnet.com/stories/why-2016-is-shaping-up-to-be-the-year-of-virtualreality/) • Facebook just got more real than Messenger (http://fortune.com/2015/09/23/facebook-messenger/)

The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Hashtags for 2022

Instagram hashtags are powerful. 

They can help your posts reach a target audience, attract followers in your niche, increase engagement, and develop a more positive and recognizable brand image.

Here's the thing, though: with great power comes great responsibility (#spiderman).

 

Hashtags can skyrocket your business to new heights, but if used too frequently or without a clear strategy in mind, they become pointless and inefficient.

While it can be hard to choose the right hashtags on Instagram, you don’t have to guess. Aside from this article, we’ve put together an ultimate course on using Instagram for marketing. In this course, we’ll teach you to not just attract followers, but to attract the right followers.

First, let’s go over Instagram hashtags specifically — and why they’re so important for your Instagram marketing strategy. We’ll cover the following topics: 

• What is an Instagram hashtag? 
• Why are hashtags important?
• How Brands Are Using Hashtags in 2022 [Data]
• Types of Instagram Hashtags 
• Best Instagram Hashtags
• Emerging Hashtags
• Hashtags to Retire
• Best Practices for Using Hashtags on Instagram  
• Top Instagram Hashtags for 2022
• Trending Instagram Hashtags
• Top B2B Hashtags
• Top B2C Hashtags
• How to Use Hashtags on Instagram for Business
• How to Search Hashtags on Instagram

Why are hashtags important?

Hashtags are essentially Instagram's sorting process. With around 95 million photos posted on Instagram every day, it's difficult for Instagram to efficiently deliver the right content to the right people. Hashtags help your post get discovered by viewers most interested in seeing it.

Krystal Gillespie, HubSpot's Social Media Community Manager, explains the importance of hashtags this way: "Hashtags are like a funnel. For instance, #marketing is incredibly broad and attracts all types of posts. We've found #digitalmarketing or #marketingmotivation gives us a more specific, targeted reach. The audience searching for these hashtags are also trying to narrow their search to what we offer related to marketing, so we're actually reaching more of the right people."

Essentially, hashtags are a better way to categorize your posts. They help you reach a target audience, and more importantly, they help your target audience find you. These users are more likely to engage with your post because it is exactly what they were looking for.

How Brands Are Using Hashtags in 2022 [Data]

The HubSpot Blog surveyed over 1,000 marketing professionals to understand how they were incorporating hashtags into their Instagram strategy in 2022. Here's what we found:

• 82% of marketers leverage hashtags as part of their Instagram strategy.
• 85% of marketers have a documented hashtag strategy for Instagram.
• 81% of marketers say using hashtags has been somewhat or very effective for their Instagram strategy.
• 62% of marketers use between four to nine hashtags in an Instagram feed post.
• 53% of marketers say most of the brands they market leverage branded hashtags.
• 37% of marketers say using popular hashtags has been most effective when posting on Instagram.
• 66% of marketers use Instagram’s hashtag suggestions to determine which hashtags to use. 58% of marketers look to competitors or accounts that post similar content to find which hashtags to use.
• According to marketers, the most popular places to use hashtags on Instagram include in the caption of feed posts (35%), on Instagram stories (39%), in the caption of Instagram live videos (38%), and in the caption and comment section of Instagram Reels videos (33%).
• 46% of marketers say the most effective hashtag strategy is to place some hashtags in the caption and some in the comments of a post.

Types of Instagram Hashtags 

Hashtags are highly versatile little pieces of text. They can build a community, make your account more visible, or simply attract like-minded individuals to your account. 

Before choosing a group of hashtags for your posts, take a look at the most common ones you can use and their categorizations.

Best Instagram Hashtags for Companies

Whether you’re a social media manager at a company, an owner of a small business, or a sole proprietor, you can use the following hashtags to get more visibility on Instagram. 

• Product or service hashtags. Companies use product hashtags for posts related to their product and service offerings. This will usually be general, such as #hairsalon or #knitwear. 
• Industry niche hashtags. These hashtags are used to indicate the specific work you do and are narrower than your product or service hashtags. Examples include #blackhairsalon or #handmadeknits. 
• Branded hashtags. Branded hashtags help you build a community specifically around your brand or business. This can be a slogan. It can also be the name of a specific product that you offer or even your business name. 
• Campaign hashtags. If you’re running a sponsored ad, you can use a unique hashtag to keep track of activity relating to the campaign. 

• User-generated content hashtags. This type of hashtag is created specifically for your customers. These are different from product, branded, and campaign hashtags because you, the company, can’t influence what gets posted. Other people can visit this hashtag to see unfiltered and unsponsored photos of your product. 
• Instagram community hashtags for your industry. These hashtags are great for getting more visibility among other Instagrammers who do what you do. For example, if you were a knitter, you might post in #knittersofinstagram.   

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• Event or conference hashtags. As a company or business owner, you can use these hashtags to add to the conversation relating to a specific event or industry conference.  

• Cultural movement hashtags. Cultural movements such as Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ Pride, and feminism have hashtags on Instagram (#BlackLivesMatter, #Pride, and #feminism, respectively). Use these hashtags to uplift voices, share information, and make your company’s stance clear. 
• Location hashtags. These are great to target users in your area. Think #hairsalonnyc or #atlantabakery. 
• Phrase hashtags. Phrase hashtags such as #writeeveryday and #bebrave can hint at what you do while inspiring users.  

As individuals, you can also use daily, acronym, and holiday hashtags to engage in trending conversations. 

Top Instagram Hashtags for Individuals

Do you use Instagram for personal use? Take a look at the hashtags that are available to you. 

• Personal hashtags. You use these hashtags specifically in posts related to you. Think #me, #selfie, #lovemyself, #vacation, and #lovemylife. 
• Daily hashtags. Daily hashtags usually have a theme, such as #workoutwednesday, #throwbackthursday, and #motivationmonday. 
• Acronym hashtags. Think #ootd (outfit of the day), #potd (photo of the day), and #tbt. 
• Holiday hashtags. Use these hashtags for specific holidays such as #DiaDeLosMuertos or #IndependenceDay to share how you’re spending time during these days. 

Like companies, you can also use phrase, cultural movement, event, and location hashtags. 

Best Instagram Hashtags

1. #love (2.1B posts)
2. #instagood (1.5B posts)
3. #fashion (1B posts)
4. #photooftheday (988M posts)
5. #art (888.6M posts)
6. #photography (864.7M posts)
7. #instagram 828M posts)
8. #beautiful (792.1M posts)
9. #picoftheday (692.8M posts)
10. #nature (696.4M posts)
11. #happy (670.9M posts)
12. #cute (659.7M posts)
13. #travel (613M posts)
14. #style (606.3M posts)
15. #followme (592.5M posts)
16. #tbt (588.3M posts)
17. #instadaily (581.2M posts)
18. #repost (557.3M posts)
19. #like4like (538.2M posts)
20. #summer (523.2M posts)
21. #beauty (492.6M posts)
22. #fitness (485.8M posts)
23. #food (475.3M posts)
24. #selfie (464.3M posts)
25. #me (463.9M posts)
26. #instalike (462.1M posts)
27. #girl (444.7M posts)
28. #friends (432.7M posts)
29. #fun (430.9M posts)
30. #photo (438.4M posts)
31. #smile (427.4M posts)
32. #family (411.9M posts)
33. #life (409.1M posts)
34. #music (398.6M posts)
35. #ootd (396.2M posts)
36. #makeup (368.7M posts)
37. #likeforlike (360.1M posts)
38. #likeforlikes (349.9M posts)
39. #model (336.2M posts)
40. #dog (333.1M posts)
41. #design (310.4M posts)
42. #follow4follow (300M posts)
43. #amazing (300.5M posts)
44. #lifestyle (305.3M posts)
45. #motivation (305.5M posts)
46. #sunset (299.5M posts)
47. #igers (294.9M posts)
48. #explore (318.1M posts)
49. #handmade (299.8M posts)
50. #nofilter (286.8M posts)
51. #beach (282.1M posts)
52. #foodporn (279.9M posts)
53. #instamood (269.1M posts)
54. #sun (266.2M posts)
55. #artist (271.1M posts)
56. #dogsofinstagram (297.9M posts)
57. #일상 (260.7M posts)
58. #cat (259.1M posts)
59. #drawing (256.2M posts)
60. #sky (251.1M posts)
61. #followforfollow (246.3M posts)
62. #f4f (245.7M posts)
63. #l4l (242.6M posts)
64. #hair (236.2M posts)
65. #flowers (233.3M posts)
66. #followforfollowback (239.2M posts)
67. #funny (230.9M posts)
68. #gym (227.1M posts)
69. #moda (228M posts)
70. #photographer (225M posts)
71. #likeforfollow (222.6M posts)
72. #tagsforlikes (217.9M posts)
73. #wedding (223.3M posts)
74. #bestoftheday (215.4M posts)
75. #baby (217.7M posts)
76. #memes (219.7M posts)
77. #inspiration (218.4M posts)
78. #instafood (215.6M posts)
79. #vsco (206M posts)
80. #foodie (209.3M posts)
81. #vscocam (203M posts)
82. #instapic (203M posts)
83. #girls (201.5M posts)
84. #workout (197.9M posts)
85. #pretty (189.7M posts)
86. #yummy (187.2M posts)
87. #home (187.9M posts)
88. #fit (185.1M posts)
89. #party (182.7M posts)
90. #lol (180.5M posts)
91. #healthy (181.6M posts)
92. #naturephotography (186.4M posts)
93. #nails (185.5M posts)
94. #illustration (183.6M posts)
95. #landscape (179.4M posts)
96. #blackandwhite (177.1M posts)
97. #catsofinstagram (177.7M posts)
98. #cool (173.9M posts)
99. #puppy (176.1M posts)
100. #night (144.4M posts)
101. #catsofinstagram (177.7M posts)
102. #nails (185.5M posts)
103. #tattoo (165.3M posts)
104. #happiness (162.6M posts)
105. #instafashion (169.2M posts)
106. #work (144.1M posts)
107. #architecture (161.8M posts)
108. #japan (153.7M posts)
109. #weekend (148.7M posts)

Emerging Hashtags

New hashtags are created every day, and staying on top of what's new before it becomes over-saturated can put your content in front of more people. Based on our research, here are some emerging Instagram hashtags to consider using:

1. #brandpartnerships
2. #tiktokcreator
3. #reelstrends
4. #2022trends
5. #2022predictions
6. #igreelstips
7. #viraltrends
8. #genzmarketing
9. #2022goals
10. #2022socialgoals
11. #thatgirl
12. #trendingsound
13. #engagementtips
14. #instagramnews
15. #2022calendar

Hashtags to Retire

It's important to routinely audit the hashtags you're using to make sure they are still on-brand and effective. We compiled this list of hashtags to retire that are over-saturated with content, or are shadowbanned and could hurt your content reach.

1. #adulting
2. #beautyblogger
3. #dm
4. #humpday
5. #iphonegraphy
6. #mustfollow
7. #killingit
8. #desk
9. #mirrorphoto
10. #instasport
11. #direct
12. #always
13. #snapchat
14. #workflow
15. #kickoff
16. #brain
17. #tag4like
18. #thought
19. #valentinesday

Best Practices for Using Hashtags on Instagram  

Using hashtags on Instagram is a relatively simple process, but you’ll want to adhere to a few rules to get the most out of your hashtagging. 

We’ve compiled best practices under the following frequently asked questions. 

How many hashtags can I use on Instagram? 

Thirty hashtags are the maximum number you can use. 

The average is eleven, with half of Instagram accounts using between one and three. You can use more or less depending on your Instagram marketing goals. More doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, Instagram recommends users include no more than three to five hashtags per post.

Should I add hashtags to every Instagram post? 

Yes! Absolutely you should. 

Try to choose hashtags that are as narrow or as niche as possible. The less volume of posts a hashtag has, the more likely you’ll be seen by people who follow them. Plus, if the subject matter is highly specific, people are more likely to engage with your post. 

All of my posts are similar. Can I use the same hashtags over and over again? 

No. Instagram’s algorithm may penalize you for consistently using the same hashtags, pushing your posts down so they don’t show up for those tags. 

Even more, they might ban your account, because using identical hashtags could make it look like you’re spamming users  — or worse — like an Instagram bot.

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Try rotating out your hashtags so that they’re highly relevant to that specific post, even if the posts are similar. Let’s say that you own a handmade pasta business. If you always use the hashtag #spaghetti but post photos of linguini, macaroni, and penne, Instagram may flag your account, and users won’t engage. 

Can I hide the hashtags in a comment? 

Absolutely. You can hide your hashtags in a comment. Instagram doesn’t distinguish between caption hashtags and comment hashtags. 

Simply write your caption as you would. After that, navigate to the published post and leave a comment with your hashtags. They will be hidden completely until users navigate to the comment section. 

How do I hide hashtags in the caption? 

Don’t want to post the hashtags in a comment? No worries. 

You can hide the hashtags in the caption by either 1) writing a caption that’s more than three lines long or 2) adding 3 to 5 line breaks with a punctuation mark.  

To add a line break, place the text cursor at the end of your caption and hit Return. Don’t forget to add either a period, a dash, an asterisk, or a tilde to ensure that line stays there. (If there’s no punctuation, Instagram may treat it as accidental extra space, and delete those line breaks upon publication.) 

Are there any hashtags I should avoid using? 

Yes. Instagram maintains a list of banned hashtags. However, they don’t publish this list, and there’s no authoritative source. 

Some are intuitive, such as NSFW and self-harm hashtags, while others, such as #pushups and #mustfollow, aren’t as self-evident. If you have any doubt about your hashtags, be sure to look them up using the app’s Search function.

If it doesn’t show up, it’s banned. If it does show up, navigate to the hashtag feed and check for a message like this: 

 

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If your prospective hashtag doesn’t have a message like this, you’re all good to go. 

Now that you know some basic dos and don’ts, let’s take a look at the top Instagram hashtags for the year. 

Adding one of the most popular Instagram hashtags to your post doesn't necessarily mean you'll see more interaction. Since the hashtags below are so popular, they are being used by millions of people, so your post will most likely be obscured by the competition. Narrowing your hashtag topic is important, but we'll get to that next.

Here are the top Instagram hashtags for this year.

1. #love (2.1B posts)

Instagram users build their photo galleries on good feelings. For this reason, the #love hashtag is ever-present next to the pics of friends, family, vacations, and beautiful scenery.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #love: 

#love #lovely #loveit #loveyourself #lovelife #lovequotes #loveislove #lovefood #lovemylife #lovewhatyoudo #lovethis

2. #instagood (1.5B posts)

Occurrences of this hashtag are inspired by the @instagood Instagram account, which scours the Instagram community for excellent photos and videos that are just too #instagood not to share. Add this hashtag to your content for a chance to be reposted.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instagood:

#instagood #instalife #instalike #instapic #insta #instacool #instafollow #instaphoto #instagramers #instamoment #instagramhub

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3. #fashion (1B posts)

People often turn to Instagram to see what styles are "in", looking at posts ranging from fashion week to everyday outfit inspirations. This means that a significant portion of the content on Instagram revolves around fashion — in fact, there are nearly one billion #fashion posts on Instagram. You will find celebrities, luxury brands, clothes, makeup, and other aspirational images tagged with #fashion.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #fashion: 

#fashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #fashionable #fashionstyle #fashionblog #fashiongram #fashionaddict #fashionweek #fashiondiaries

4. #photooftheday (988M posts)

Managing a business account? This hashtag is a surefire way to attract more followers and repeat visitors. If you plan to post daily content, all-around a common theme, add the #photooftheday hashtag to increase your exposure.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #photooftheday: 

#photooftheday #potd #picoftheday #photography #photographyeveryday #photographyoftheday #bestoftheday

5. #art (888.6M posts)

Artists of all kinds have always flocked to Instagram, and this hashtag holds pictures or process videos of all of their paintings, sculptures, and quirky creations. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #art: 

#art #artist #artwork #instaart #arte #streetart #digitalart #artofvisuals #artistsoninstagram #artoftheday #artsy #artistic #arts #artgallery #modernart 

6. #beautiful (792.1M posts)

Instagram is the place to go to put your best foot forward — whether it be your amazing getaway, a new hairstyle, or a breath-taking sunset, #beautiful photos encompass the best of what the platform has to offer.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #beautiful: 

#beautiful #beautifuldestinations #beautifulday #beautifulview #beautifulplace #beautifulcuisines #beautifulplaces #beautifuldestination #beautifulnature

7. #photography (864.7M posts)

At its core, Instagram is a photo-sharing media, so it makes sense that there are some stunning and artistic images shared in #photography. Instagram is unique in that a user could be scrolling through the #photography posts and see National Geographic and professional photos next to amateur photographers.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #photography: 

#photography #travelphotography #naturephotography #streetphotography #foodphotography #portraitphotography #landscapephotography #weddingphotography #blackandwhitephotography

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8. #happy (671M posts)

Sometimes the best part of feeling good is sharing that sunshine with others. The #happy group of posts is full of radiant people and lighthearted content that brings us joy. Tag a photo of a cute kitten or one of yourself after getting a promotion with #happy.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #happy: 

#happy #happyday #happylife #happyfriday #happyhour #happyme #happymonday #happysunday #happytime #happydays #happydog #happyplace

9. #cute (659.8M posts)

#Cute puts your content in a pool of Instagram photos and videos that elicit "awes" from all over the Instaverse. If you think your puppy is the cutest puppy that ever lived, it deserves a photo with this esteemed hashtag.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #cute: 

#cute #cutedog #cutebaby #cuteness #cuteanimals #cutecat #cutepetclub #cutenessoverload #cuteboy #cutedogs #cutecouple #cutepuppy #cutest 

10. #instagram (828.1M posts)

Navigate to this hashtag and you’ll find everything from selfies to photos of food to pet pictures to vacation shots. Use this hashtag to signal that you’re on Instagram and that you have something worth sharing. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instagram: 

#instagram #instagramers #instagramhub #instagrammers #instagramer #instagramanet #instagramdogs #instagrammer #instagramjapan #instagramcats #instagramfitness

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11. #nature (696.5M posts)

Nature is all around us. It’s also on Instagram. This hashtag is used to post everything related to nature, including mountains, rivers, and wild animals. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #nature: 

#nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #naturelover #nature_perfection #naturegram #nature_brilliance #natureaddict #nature_shooters #naturephoto #naturelove

12. #tbt (588.3M posts)

#Tbt stands for "Throwback Thursday," and encourages Instagram users to post an old photo of themselves or an event they're reminiscing over. Everyone likes content from the good old days — here's your hashtag for enjoying the nostalgia.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #tbt: 

#throwbackthursday #tbthursday #tbtphoto 

13. #followme (592.5M posts) 

A close cousin to #followforfollow and #likeforlike, #followme is used by Instagrammers looking to grow their follower base.  

Top Instagram hashtags related to #followme: 

#follow #f4f #followme #followforfollow #follow4follow #teamfollowback #followbackteam #followall #followalways #followback #pleasefollow #follows #follower #following

14. #travel (613M posts)

Away for the weekend? Show your followers where you are, using this hashtag to indicate you're traveling somewhere new.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #travel: 

#travel #travelgram #instatravel #travelphotography #traveling #travelling #travelblogger #traveler #traveller #travelingram #traveltheworld #travelblog #travels #traveladdict 

15. #style (606.4M posts)

This hashtag has more than 500 million posts associated with it, making it one of the top tags on Instagram. It's used for beautifully edited photos of outfits, vacations, luxury products, and anything aesthetically stunning. Tag #style on a gorgeous outfit inspiration or new product, and Instagram users looking to add a little glamour to their lives will find you.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #style: 

#style #styleinspo #styleblogger #styleinspiration #styleoftheday #stylefashion #stylegoals #stylediary #stylegram #styleguide #styleblog

16. #repost (557.3M posts)

Reposting is a common function on Instagram that allows you to share content from other users, with credit back to the original user. Use the hashtag, #repost, to tell others on Instagram that you were inspired by this photo or video.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #repost: 

#repost #reposter #repostapp  #reposting #repostthis #reposted 

17. #instadaily (581.2M posts)

This hashtag is similar to #photooftheday and is perfect for Instagrammers who post every day.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instadaily: 

#photooftheday #potd #picoftheday #photography #photographyeveryday #photographyoftheday #bestoftheday

18. #summer (523.2M posts)

The summertime is the best season to enjoy fun vacations, fruity drinks, and time by the pool. This tag is full of Instagram users enjoying the long summertime hours on the beach or showing off the breezy outfits keeping them cool under the hot #summer sun.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #summer: 

#summer #summertime #summervibes #summerfun #summernights #summerdays #summerstyle #summerfashion #summerday

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19. #selfie (464.3M posts)

This is the quintessential selfie hashtag, indicating to the Instagram community that the photo its captioning is a picture of you.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #selfie:

#me #selfies #selfietime #selfienation #selfiesunday  #selfiegram #selfielove #selfieaddict #selfiesaturday #selfiemania 

20. #fitness (485.9M posts)

Get in on a trending community of workout warriors with photos and videos from your best exercise sessions, using the #fitness hashtag to share the moment.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #fitness:

#fitness #fitnessmotivation #fitnessmodel #fitnessaddict #fitnessgirl #fitnessjourney #fitnesslife #fitnesslifestyle #fitnessgoals #fitnessfreak #fitnessfood #fitnessgear #fitnessinspiration

21. #beauty (492.6M posts) 

The hashtag #beauty is mainly used by beauty bloggers — professional make-up artists and hobbyists — but you’ll also find some pet shots and nature shots in there, too. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #beauty:

#beauty #beautyblog #beautycare #beautytips #beautyaddict #beautysalon #beautybloggers #beautyqueen #beautyguru #beautyproducts #beautyofnature #beautygram 

22. #food (475M posts)

Meal pics are the bread and butter (no pun intended) of a people-oriented Instagram account. Use the #food hashtag to caption your next delicious Instagram photo.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #food:

#food #foodporn #instafood #foodie #healthyfood #foodstagram #foodgasm #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpics #foodpic #foodies

23. #fun (430.9M posts)

If it's not fun, it's not Instagram-worthy. Make it known to millions of Instagram users that you had a blast in your latest photo or video with this popular hashtag.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #fun:

#fun #funny #lol #lmao #hilarious #laugh #laughing #tweegram #friends #wacky #crazy #silly #witty #instahappy #joke #jokes

24. #likeforlike (360.1M posts)

#Likeforlike is similar to the #followforfollow hashtag. Use this hashtag if you want to increase engagement on your Instagram account, telling users that you'll like their photo or video if they like yours.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #likeforlike:

#likeforlike #followme #like4like #liker #likes #l4l #likes4likes #love #likesforlikes #liketeam #likeback #likebackteam #likeall #likealways

The above hashtags might have helped define Instagram over the last year, but there are still plenty more that end up trending every year. The following hashtags can help inspire photos and videos that Instagram users always find captivating. 

1. #life (409.1M posts)

This one goes out to all the photos and videos that encompass the essence of your life — whether in quarantine or not. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #life:

#life #lifestyle #healthylifestyle #lovelife #luxurylifestyle #lifeisgood #lifestyleblogger #lifequotes #loveofmylife #luxurylife #lifeofadventure 

2. #music (398.6M posts)

This hashtag is for those who love music and the people who create it. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #music:

#music #musica #musician #musically #musicvideo #musical #musicians #musicislife #musicproducer #musiclife #musiclover #musicfestival #musicphotography #musicproduction

3. #amazing (300.5M posts)

The hashtag #amazing is used for everything you find, well, amazing — places, art, beautiful homes, awe-inspiring videos, and more. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #amazing:

#beautiful #cute #awesome #amazingview #amazingfood #amazingplaces

4. #nofilter (286.8M posts)

Instagram offers so many different filters to help enhance photos, it's practically assumed that any picture on Instagram has been edited. But if you're posting a pic that was beautiful all by itself, let the world know that this gem didn't need a filter to look so nice.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #nofilter:

#nofilter #nofilterneeded #nofilters #nofiltersneeded #nofilternecessary #nofilterneededforthisbeauty 

5. #sunset (299.5M posts)

Who doesn’t love a good sunset? Users add posts to this hashtag to show off a beautiful sunset near them. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #sunset:

#sunset #sunsets #sunsetlovers #sunsetporn #sunsetlover #sunsetsky #sunsetphotography #sunsetbeach #sunsethunter #sunsetmadness 

6. #motivation (305.5M posts)

On Twitter, #MondayMotivation encourages inspiring quotes and messages to help people start the week off on the right foot. On Instagram, the #motivation hashtag has come to caption anything from a photo of a user after a big gym session, to a computer screen right before he or she gets to work.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #motivation:

#motivation #motivationalquotes #motivational #motivationmonday #motivationalquote #MotivationalSpeaker #motivationalmonday #motivations #motivationquotes

7. #instamood (269.1M posts)

#Instamood is all about the vibe or emotion a photo or video elicits. Pretty scenery, a day at the beach, or a night out with good people are all prominent under the #instamood hashtag. Landscapes are a popular starting point when figuring out what to post on Instagram, according to Jumper Media, and they fit into this hashtag perfectly.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instamood:

#instamood #instagood #instalife #instalike #instapic #insta #instacool #instafollow #instaphoto #instagramers #instamoment #instagramhub 

8. #foodporn (279.9M posts)

I hope you're hungry! The #foodporn tag is brimming with mouthwatering posts of desserts, pizza, recipe videos, and so much more. This hashtag is for the best of the best when it comes to delectable treats on Instagram — find the most original, delicious, and tantalizing food pictures on the internet under this hashtag.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #foodporn:

#food #foodporn #instafood #foodie #healthyfood #foodstagram #foodgasm #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpics #foodpic #foodies

9. #handmade (299.8M posts)

The hashtag #handmade is like the #art hashtag for handmade wares, clothing, and novelties. The rise of slow fashion and a growing interest in sustainably-made products makes this one of the top trending hashtags this year. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #handmade:

#handmade #handmadejewelry #handmadewithlove #handmadeisbetter #handmadefont #handmadegifts #handmadejewellery #handmadeshoes #handmadesoap #handmadeaccessories 

10. #dogsofinstagram (267.9M posts)

We all know that the internet loves cute puppies, so it shouldn't be surprising when a hashtag for our beloved doggos trends on Instagram.  It's always a good idea to include man's best friend in an Instagram post — your followers will love it and you're almost guaranteed dozens of heart emojis in your comments.

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Top Instagram hashtags related to #dogsofinstagram:

#dogsofinstagram #dogs #dog #dogstagram #dogsofinsta #dogsofig #dogsitting #dogslife #doglife #dogsofinstaworld #dogoftheday

11. #bestoftheday (215.4M posts)

The #bestoftheday tag offers a glimpse into the massive amount of varied content that is posted to Instagram every day. Here, you'll find some of the most noteworthy images on the platform — images of beautiful spots around the world, award-winning photos, yummy recipes, adorable animals, and so much more.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #bestoftheday: 

 #bestoftheday #instadaily #potd #picoftheday #photography #photographyeveryday #photographyoftheday

12. #instafood (215.6M posts)

This popular tag is different from other food hashtags because it accompanies food pictures that are gorgeous, creative, and, most importantly, worthy of Instagram. Instagram posts are known for being aesthetically appealing, and #instafood is no different. Use this tag if you're posting a photo of a colorful, unique, and sumptuous dish! 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instafood:

#instafood #food #foodporn #foodie #healthyfood #foodstagram #foodgasm #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpics #foodpic #foodies

13. #explore (318.1M posts) 

Instagram has always had an explore section, but only recently have Instagrammers started to use this hashtag to win a highly coveted but elusive spot on this page. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #explore:

#instagrammers #igers #instalove #instamood #instagood #followme #follow #comment #shoutout

14. #memes (219.7M posts) 

A classic but a goodie. Throughout the years, humor has taken different forms — comedy sitcoms, stand-ups, knock-knock jokes, and more. But none of these forms come near the Instagram-worthiness of memes. Use this hashtag to share a unique meme or repost one from another account. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #memes:

#memes #meme #dankmemes #funnymemes #memesdaily #edgymemes #offensivememes #fortnitememes #dailymemes #spicymemes #memestagram #btsmemes #memes😂  #memepage #memelord

15. #followforfollowback (239.2M posts)

Interested in building a fast list of followers on Instagram? #Followforfollowback tells everyone who browses this hashtag that you'll follow users who choose to follow you. This hashtag is always trending highly.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #followforfollowback:

#followforfollowback #follow #f4f #followme #followforfollow #follow4follow #teamfollowback #followbackteam #followall #followalways #followback

16. #tweegram (94M posts)

There is plenty of multi-platform sharing across social media sites, and in #tweegram, you'll find images taken from Twitter, Pinterest, and more. #Tweegram is best known for quotes, screenshots of Tweets, and memes.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #tweegram:

#tweetgram #tweet #twitter #twitterposts #twitterweek #twittermarketing #twittermemes #twitterpost #twittermeme #twitterquotes #twitterwhy 

17. #instagramhub (65.2M posts)

This hashtag isn't specific to one type of post — #instagramhub is a place for active Instagram users to demonstrate their presence on the platform and reach larger audiences. By including this popular hashtag, influencers on Instagram can connect with as many users as possible.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #instagramhub:

 #instagramhub  #igers #instagram #instadaily #instamood #instagood #instalife #instalike #instapic #insta #instacool #instafollow #instaphoto #instagramers #instamoment

18. #quarantine (30.1M posts)

#Quarantine is the quintessential COVID-19 hashtag and has no defined aesthetic or subject matter. Instead, it encompasses everything that we see, experience, and do — or don’t do — during quarantine. You can find pet photos, cooking videos, memes, and, most shockingly, shots of people on vacation. 

It’s worth noting that there’s no #COVID hashtag because Instagram wants to prevent the spread of misinformation. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #quarantine:

#quarantine #quarantinelife #quarantineandchill

19. #BlackLivesMatter (27.7M posts)

The Black Lives Matter movement swept through the United States in 2020 and has been at the forefront of the cultural imagination since the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012. Use this hashtag to add value to the movement or uplift voices that differ from your own.  

Top Instagram hashtags related to #blacklivesmatter:

#blm #blackhistorymonth #blackownedbusiness #blackgirlmagic #blackouttuesday #blackexcellence

Read HubSpot’s stance on Black Lives Matter here.

20. #newmusic (31.5M posts)

The hashtag #newmusic is one of the many tags people use to share either their own original music or let others know who they're jamming to today. 

Top Instagram hashtags related to #newmusic:

#music #hiphop #rap #artist #spotify #producer #rapper #soundcloud #musician #beats

21. #whatiwore (21.9M posts)

What better way to show off your OOTD than to tag #whatiwore. This hashtag is commonly used by people interested in the latest fashion trends, often tagging where they found it for sponsorships or for the chance of brand recognition.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #whatiwore:

#ootd #outfitoftheday #fashion #instastyle #style #instafashion #fashionblogger #fashionista #styleinspo

22. #workinprogress (21.1M posts)

The #workinprogress hashtag gives users a glimpse of some of the coolest projects being shared on the app. From art, architecture, or even fitness, this tag helps people post about reaching their goals and the steps along the way.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #workinprogress: 

#wip #drawing #artwork #painting #handmade #workout #design #fitness #artistsoninstagram #motivation 

23. #space (20.3M posts)

There's something so interesting and beautiful about outer space, and talking about it on social media never gets old either. Posting in the #space hashtag will lead you to find amazing shots of stars far and wide.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #space:

#spaceflight #deepspace #spaceship #spacelovers #spacesuit #spaceexploration #spacecraft #telescope #spacex #spacestation

 

24. #technology (21.7M posts) 

With technologic innovations taking place every day across industries, the #technology hashtag is where you'll find the newest development or gadget.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #technology:

#tech #innovation #engineering #technews #science #design #gadgets #electronics #smartphone #programming

25. #engaged (16.9M posts) 

Love is in the air — or in this case it's trending. The #engaged hashtag is there for all your proposal inspiration, wedding ideas, and even more content for all the lovers out there.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #engaged:

#wedding #bride #bridetobe #love #weddinginspiration #engagement #weddingplanning #weddingphotography #weddingday #weddingdress

26. #travelbug (10.8M posts)

Influencers all around the world can use the #travelbug hashtag to document their coolest destination vlogs and photos. Take advantage of this hashtag whether you're hitting the road or flying overseas.

Top Instagram hashtags related to #travelbug:

#travel #wanderlust #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #travelblogger #traveladdict #instatravel #traveling

Top B2B Hashtags

If you manage an Instagram account for a company that sells products and services to other businesses, consider including these hashtags in your posting strategy.

1. #business
2. #entrepreneur
3. #success
4. #onlineshop
5. #smallbusiness
6. #marketing
7. #branding
8. #digital
9. #marketingdigital
10. #innovation
11. #ecommerce
12. #onlinemarketing
13. #retail
14. #contentmarketing
15. #marketingstrategy
16. #software
17. #inboundsales
18. #b2bmarketing
19. #b2bevents
20. #b2bmarketplace
21. #b2bleadgeneration
22. #b2bsales
23. #b2bbusiness
24. #b2bleads
25. #b2bemailmarketing
26. #marketingtips 
27. #marketingstrategy 
28. #startups 
29. #management 
30. #businesstips
31. #instagramforbusiness
32. #instagramstrategies

Top B2C Hashtags

Does your company sell directly to consumers? If so, the best hashtags to use may vary depending on your target audience. Here is a list of B2C hashtags that could be effective for various niche areas.

1. #b2c
2. #b2cmarketing
3. #b2csales
4. #onlineshopping
5. #smallbusiness
6. #online
7. #training
8. #business 
9. #marketing 
10. #marketingdigital 
11. #socialmedia 
12. #startup 
13. #digitalmarketing 
14. #sales 
15. #socialmediamarketing 
16. #advertising 
17. #networking 
18. #ecommerce 
19. #onlinebusiness 
20. #onlinemarketing 
21. #smallbiz 
22. #startuplife 
23. #company 
24. #contentmarketing 
25. #socialmediatips
26. #instahacks
27. #ugc
28. #acolorstory

1. Keep your hashtags organized.

To create an efficient hashtag system, you can use Excel or an Instagram analytics tool. If you choose an excel sheet, you'll need to manually keep track of which hashtags you use, how often, and which ones correlate to your most popular posts. Over time, you'll see relationships between certain hashtags and your most popular posts, and this can help you decide which hashtags work best for your brand.

If you have a more advanced social media team, you might want to consider a tool like Iconosquare, which automatically stores top hashtags and provides reports on which hashtags reach the most people.

For smaller businesses with limited budgets, Krystal Gillespie says that, "an excel sheet is the best way to start. Once you get more advanced I would highly recommend using a tool to track the data. A manual system can get overwhelming when you're posting three times a day and using about 20 hashtags per post."

2. Figure out your magic number.

Most top brands use seven or fewer hashtags per post, so it's easy to assume that's the magic number for everyone … right? Krystal explains that this isn't always the case: She told me HubSpot has been more successful with hashtags ranging in the low 20s.

The point is, you can't know how many hashtags work best for you until you test it. For HubSpot, it took the team several months to find a number that worked best, and during our trial period, we ranged from seven to 30. Give yourself the same flexibility for trial and error.

3. Narrow your hashtags.

There are two big reasons more specific, smaller-volume hashtags are better for your brand: first, you can compete in a smaller pool. HubSpot, for example, doesn't typically use the hashtag #marketing because it's too broad. If you search #marketing, you'll find pictures of restaurants, inspirational quotes, before-and-after hairstyle pictures, and memes.

The randomness of #marketing leads me to the second reason specific hashtags are a good idea: as a user, I'm more likely to find what I need if I search for something specific, and when your business comes up for my specific search request, I'm more likely to be happy with what I found.

Krystal explains: "Keeping a hashtag close to the interests of your brand really helps. We try to use hashtags tailored for a specific topic and then narrow it down further — for instance, we'd use #SEOTips if our marketing post was mostly about SEO."

Think of it this way: #dogs is more popular, but it has a wide demographic. If I search #goldenretrieverpuppies and I find your post, I'm more likely to engage with it because it's exactly what I wanted.

4. Research what other people are hashtagging.

An easy way to generate hashtag ideas is to make a list of your followers or competitors and research what they're hashtagging on their own photos. It can also be particularly helpful to research what influencers in your industry are hashtagging — by definition, influencers are people with a large social media following, so they must be doing something right.

5. Test out related hashtags.

When you type a hashtag into Instagram's search bar, Instagram shows you related hashtags in the scroll-down menu. Instagram also delivers related hashtags on the next page after you click on a hashtag. This is a simple way to create a longer list of hashtags to try out.

6. Follow your own hashtag.

Another way to use Instagram hashtags for your marketing purposes is to follow your own hashtag. Krystal explains, "On Instagram, I actually follow the hashtag #hubspot so I can find anyone who talks about us and connect with them. As long as your account isn't private, people will be able to find you via the hashtag."

Following your own hashtag is an effective way to engage with other people talking about your brand and develop better relationships with them.

7. Create a brand campaign hashtag.

This is the trickiest item on the list, but if done successfully, it can pay off big time. Some businesses have successfully attracted followers by creating their own campaign hashtags. A campaign hashtag needs to be funny, clever, or at least memorable to work.

Campaign hashtags are particularly useful for promoting a new product or upcoming event, or even just inspiring people. Red Bull, for example, encouraged followers to post Red Bull pictures with a #putacanonit hashtag (see what I mean about clever?). Lululemon, rather than running a more traditional ad campaign, developed a positive connotation for their brand by asking followers to post real, active pictures of themselves with a #sweatlife hashtag.

Now that we've covered the importance of using Instagram hashtags for your business, you might be wondering how to search for Instagram hashtags within the app, or how to use the search function to find related ideas. If you're unsure of the technical process for hashtag searching, here's how:

How to Search Hashtags on Instagram

To search hashtags on Instagram, tap the magnifying glass at the bottom of your screen, then tap the search bar at the top. Selecting the "Tags" option will enable you to search hashtags and related hashtags based on the popularity of each one.

1. Open Instagram and tap the search icon.

Instagram wants you to use hashtags and has made it extremely easy to find the perfect ones for your post. To start, open the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap the magnifying glass at the bottom of your screen.

2. Tap the search bar at the top of your screen.

The search screen on your Instagram might first send you to a newsfeed-style page (the Explore page) with suggested content based on topics you've demonstrated an interest in on social media. To switch to a hashtag search, tap the search bar at the top of this page, as shown in the screenshot above.

3. Tap "Tags."

Once you've tapped the search bar at the top of your screen, Instagram will give you four options with which to filter your search. Instagram refers to hashtags as simply "Tags," as shown in the screenshot below. Tap this "Tags" option, then tap the search bar above it, and begin searching topics for which you want to find a trending hashtag.

You don't have to include the pound sign (#) in your search — your results will be the same with or without it — but you will need to use this pound sign in the caption of your photo once you choose a hashtag.

4. Browse hashtags based on post count and current content.

Voila! You should see multiple options for hashtags based on your search. Browse around at each related hashtag that Instagram suggests for you — you might find that a hashtag with slightly fewer posts includes photos or videos that are more in line with the content you're posting.

After finding the best hashtags for your account, you’ll be sure to create a winning hashtag strategy. 

Use Hashtags on Instagram to Gain More Followers

Using hashtags is a critical part of a strong Instagram marketing strategy. Following best practices, you can increase your follower count and boost the number of leads coming from Instagram. Happy hashtagging!

Editor's note: This post was originally published in July 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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