What are the key #hashtags to help me improve my reach on instagram?

I am often asked, what is a hashtag. A hashtag is a keyword or phrase preceded by the # sign which is indexed by the social media network and becomes searchable by people looking for products/services using that particular hashtag. 

As you may or may not be aware, Instagram allows you to add up to 30 # in each of your posts but by using around 6-8 hashtags makes your posts less spammy. Also, look at how many #hashtags influencers in your industry use in their posts and track the engagement of your posts when you use a different number of hashtags. 

Anyone can make anything into a hashtag by adding # in front of a word (no spaces). Once you have published your post click onto your #hashtag and you can then see who else is using that same word or phrase and you can then see what they are saying. 

A few common #hastags which you can use in your Instagram posts sparingly:
 
#instagood: Use this for photos you’re particularly proud of.
#photooftheday: Also reserved for your best work. There’s an associated @photooftheday Instagram account that selects one “winning” photo with the hashtag each day and shares it with their more than 283,000 followers.
#instamood: Use this in photos that reflect your mood as the publisher. #instamood posts are not of people, but scenery. So if your brand is celebrating something big, then you could post a photo of a lightening storm. Like #photooftheday, this hashtag also has an associated Instagram account (@instamood) that shares photos tagged with the hashtag out to their more than 27,000 followers.
#tbt and #ThrowbackThursday: Explained above. #ThrowbackThursday is the longer and less common version of #tbt.
#fbf or #FlashbackFriday – Similar to #ThrowbackThursday but Friday generally isn't as popular.
#ManicMonday: Use on posts that illustrate your busy week ahead.
#WisdomWednesday: Post a quote or piece advice that your target audience will find helpful.
#FridayFunday: An opportunity to humanise your account - add some fun!
#NoFilter: For photography purists. Use on posts that you haven’t applied a filter to.
#selfie: Self explanatory. As a social media marketer, you can use this hashtag when you’re representing your brand at events.
#regram: Use this when your are re-posting a photo from someone else’s account to your own. Make it a part of your user-generated content strategy with our guide.