Instagram Hashtags in 2020: How to Use Them Properly
Hashtags organize conversations on social platforms, but Instagram usage differs significantly. Users frequently overuse this feature, making it important to understand best practices.
Instagram Hashtags
Hashtags organize conversations on social platforms, but Instagram usage differs significantly. Users frequently overuse this feature, making it important to understand best practices.
Simple answer: NO — you should not repeat Instagram hashtags.
Why You Shouldn't Repeat Hashtags
It Looks Spammy
Using identical hashtags repeatedly may trigger Instagram's spam detection system. The platform interprets this pattern as potential automation or bot activity, which violates community guidelines.
How Instagram Fights Spam
Instagram employs sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning systems to analyze user activity. These systems flag problematic content automatically.
Your Account Reach Will Decline
Repeated hashtag use causes algorithmic suppression. Once flagged as spam, Instagram reduces organic distribution of your posts, preventing them from reaching the Explore page and broader audiences.
How Do You Use Instagram Hashtags Correctly?
The strategy involves rotating hashtag selections rather than reusing the same pool. This expands reach to new audiences instead of targeting identical groups repeatedly.
Hashtag Options/Buckets
Organize hashtags by search volume based on your niche:
- Extra Small: Under 50K (hyper-relevant to your content)
- Small: 50K–100K (choose 15)
- Medium: 100K–1 million (choose 10)
- Large (Stories Only): 1 million+ (choose 3)
Conclusion
Use relevant hashtags with each post, but avoid copying identical sets. Make hashtags genuinely connect to your specific content rather than employing a generic rotating system.
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