Do you want to know what the hashtag (#) could do for you as a photographer? In this guide, we will explore the purpose and importance of using hashtags on Instagram. Also, we will learn how to use your relevant brand hashtags effectively to create more impact as a photographer.
In today’s digital world, being present on Instagram allows you to stand out and gain more recognition as a photographer. However, being present on Instagram and posting content once in a while is not sufficient per se if you fail to showcase your stunning photos to a broader audience, attracting more engaged followers and letting more people discover your talent there. As such, hashtags are one of the great techniques that can make or break your Instagram outreach.
So, continue reading this article to find out how to use hashtags strategically to establish your presence on Instagram and make the most of it as a professional photographer.
What is a Hashtag on Instagram?
A hashtag is a combination of letters, numbers, or emojis, followed by the # symbol. It is like a label for the content that you often post on Instagram. Think of hashtags as a pipeline to the rest of the world that connects you with more users. Hashtags are the simplest way to organize (or categorize) the endless amount of information posted to Instagram and make them more discoverable. Instagram users post an average of 60 million images every day. Hence, using Instagram hashtags intelligently will give photographers the chance to grab attention and become known on this highly competitive platform among the crowd.
Why Should Photographers Use Hashtags on Instagram
- Instagram hashtags play a vital role in building community online and promoting your work. A hashtag helps you reach your target audience and makes it easier for others to share and find their desired content on Instagram. Compared to other tactics for follower growth like relying on an Instagram growth service, using hashtags is something you can utilize for free. Besides helping you build a more extensive following, hashtags make finding information easier for Instagram users.
- Using hashtags can be very beneficial for increasing engagement on your Instagram account. Use more hashtags under your photos to create more exposure around your profile.
- It can help others discover you, increasing your reach substantially. With hashtags under your posts, you will get a lot more views, resulting in increased traffic. If used correctly, hashtags will bring more visibility to your content on Instagram.
- If you learn how to use photography hashtags correctly, they will make your photography brand recognizable and provide you with more exposure.
- Instagram photography hashtags are not only for gaining more likes or followers. You can also turn the traffic into higher conversion rates.
- With the help of Hashtags, you can also find other niche-related photographers to follow. Even by placing their hashtag in your post, it is possible to get featured on their pages.
How To Use the Right Hashtags
1. Research Well Before Hashtagging
It will help if you do hashtag research to choose hashtags wisely in your Instagram post. Basically, hashtags work like keywords on search engines. When you add an Instagram hashtag to your content, it becomes searchable from the Search & Explore page. Then you should conduct an audience analysis to find out what your target audience is interested in. In this way, if you add hashtags that contain the words your target audience is looking for, you increase the chance of putting your content in front of potential leads and drawing more followers to your page.
2. Create Your Photography Brand Hashtag
A brand hashtag is unique to your business in which you can use your company name or slogan. It can be as simple as your business name, for example, #Chookapeck, or a combination of your business name and your service/product, for example, #ChookapeckPhotoBackgrounds. Use this hashtag in every post and across all Instagram platforms to create more brand recognition.
3. Use Industry-Related Hashtag
Compose hashtags that fit your business. Thus, it is essential to understand what hashtags are trending in your industry and which are relevant to your field. For instance, if you are a portrait photographer, try using portrait photography hashtags. Industry-related hashtags will help you to connect with businesses similar to yours, leading to connections in the industry and creating new collaborations for you.
4. Use Event & Campaign Hashtags
Create hashtags concerning the events or campaigns that your company is running or supports. These days, hashtags have become a common component of weddings and other special events to gain more exposure for your photos.
For example, if you shoot a wedding, include the wedding hashtag, comment on the great time you had, provide a link to more of your work. Moreover, think of everyone in the bridal party to reach more people. Don’t you think any of those attending the party will need a photographer at their wedding? Probably yes. Then, if you post a photo and tag the bride and bridesmaids, you have advertised smartly to those five women and all of their friends.
5. Use Relevant and Thoughtful Hashtags
Hashtags can be generalized or very specific. The more you use a specific hashtag, the greater your chances are of achieving success. On the other hand, there is a limited advantage in copy-pasting some generic and most popular hashtags everyone is using. There is tons of content on general hashtags, and your post might get lost in seconds. The best practice is to use a mix of popular and less popular hashtags.
To avoid hashtag spam, choose hashtags that are highly relevant to your content, and represent your photography and brand in a meaningful way. It makes no sense to put some hashtags in a post without any connection to that tag. Keep in mind that your careless and irrelevant selection of hashtags can negatively impact your digital reputation. So, when you create a hashtag, please consider the photo itself, its genre, style, location, and any special features it possesses.
With the help of well-thought, relevant and creative hashtags, your high-quality work will attract more target audiences who esteem your art and are willing to work with you, learn or buy from you.
6. Location Hashtags
Try to stay local. When you are using general hashtags, you are competing with everyone else on Instagram. Therefore, create hashtags that are only locally known or relevant. You can include the name of the venue, neighborhood, park, city, state/province, or country. This way, you improve your chances of discovering potential clients who tend to hire a local photographer. For example, you can hashtag #yourlocation #yourlocationphotographer.
Tip: When you pick out a hashtag, keep your end goal in mind, whether you plan to build an online following or reach out to potential clients who are more likely to book you as a photographer.
7. Spy On Competitors
Need some inspiration for your Instagram hashtag? You had better keep an eye on other photography accounts in the same niche as yours.
8. Utilize Your Hashtags on All Social Media Platforms
Include your brand, unique hashtag across all social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Vine, and even Tumblr. Building brand recognition across the board is essential.
9. Invite People to Use Your Hashtag
You can challenge people with prizes to use your brand hashtag with posts containing certain content to show your clients what your company believes and stands for. The more you display your hashtag in the public eye, the higher the chances of building your community of followers.
As an example: “Free large print of this photograph (your awesome photo) for five people who share this with their friends. Please use #(yourbrand).” In this way, your work and brand will spread to other audiences you might not have reached otherwise.
Final Thoughts on Photography Hashtags
A correctly written hashtag is your way to success. In using hashtags, creativity, simplicity, and consistency are the key. Give your hashtag time, and do not change it every week. Check your analytics and when you find that a hashtag works well for you, keep using it. Also, remember not to use spaces in your hashtags. Likewise, create hashtags that are short and easy to spell and remember. Last but not least, do not overuse hashtags. Quality is over quantity in many cases.
It’s also best to note that hashtags aren’t the only factor for success on Instagram. You should consider many things at once: consistent scheduling, valuable content, captivating Instagram captions, contests, DM outreach, holding live sessions, and a lot more. After all of these are in place, you can take a step further and get help from an influencer marketing agency to find niche-relevant influencers and let them promote your account on Instagram. This will be super effective because influencer marketing is a word-of-mouth marketing tactic that’s proven to appeal to most people.
Hopefully, you find this guide helpful in building your audience, increasing account engagement, and ultimately growing your photography business. Now, it is time to get to work and follow the steps above to introduce, engage and build awareness with your hashtags.
