Why Your Instagram Hashtags Not Working

Instagram and Hashtags work together like coffee and sugar. For some, it works and for some, it doesn’t! But that doesn’t mean you should change your beverage preference. As Instagram and Hashtags when handled right, indeed makes a dynamic duo! But how? Well, as we all know, (or for people living under a rock who doesn’t know), that Instagram is a giant social media platform which lets its users share online pictures and videos with the rest of the world! Sounds amusing right? Imagine, clicking photos and then working hard on it to make it appealing, and then there is a possibility that those photos can be seen by people globally! But how can it be seen by people globally when you’re not yet an Instagram star and don’t have many followers? Here’s when hashtags come in the frame.



As not just on Instagram but hashtags have taken over the internet completely. They are indeed very useful, as they not just make your search results faster and cleaner. But who knows even you can get featured on those search results someday! Now, started with Twitter, hashtags have now taken over the masses and extended their reach to every social media platform and channel. But if they are on so many social networking sites then why focus on Instagram? As Instagram has surprisingly evolved greatly for online businesses too. They find it easy to connect with their audience through Instgram. And also many new potential target audience too! Also, apart from business accounts, even for casual Instagram users, or social media influencers, PR activists or so on, right hashtagging is a dream!



Also Read: 5 Best No Crop Apps for WhatsApp & Instagram to Post Full Size Pics



But how does hashtag works? For example, if you’ve got a great picture of your new pet in sunglasses, you might want to link it up with other people who’ve posted similar pictures. And you can do this by using a hashtag. As hashtags are a great way to generate more user engagement and connect up with the right people, so you know those who find your posts are more likely to be interested in them. Now, you can write hashtags in your caption which will let you categorize and organize the content as per a particular genre. Now, hashtags are the words which are followed by ‘#’. This aids the procedure of discovering a particular content and its optimization.



But however, as time passes, Instagrammers witness a problem where their hashtags don’t work out! And because of which they find it difficult to get enough likes, comments, and responses that they have been expecting from their posts. And honestly, no one wants to embarrass themselves with an #InstagramFail, right? So, if you are someone who is wondering why their hashtags are not working, we have some tips and tricks which will help you to grow your Instgram page with the right use of hashtags.



Worth Reading: How To Download All Instagram Photos at Once
7 Reasons Why Your Instagram Hashtags Not Working:
1. Your account is set to “private” setting

Privacy and security are surely everyone’s biggest concern. And which is why most of the people on Instagram choose to make their account private. Which means, no one other than their followers, can see their posts and story. And if you send them a request, then until and unless the other person accepts it manually, your request will be on pending. Now, if you concentrate on the part ” no one other than their followers, can see their posts and story”, you might realize that if your account is private. Then you yourself are limiting the audience on your posts.



And due to your privacy reason, Instagram will not show your posts on hashtag pages that you would have mentioned while posting (as of the date of this article being published). As hashtags are made for you to gain exposure by showing your content in the Instagram community. So, if you are restricting yourself, then how can hashtag or Instagram will help you? So, if you want to eradicate this issue then go to your Instagram profile and set your account to the public. If you really want your mentioned hashtags to work.
2. You’re using restricted and/or banned hashtags

Now, if you don’t know anything about banned hashtags, then this is your time to read about them. Well, banned/restricted hashtags are blocked by Instagram (temporarily or permanently) due to an excessive amount of inappropriate content such as provocative or racist imagery.



So, even though in your mind, you feel that it makes sense, then no, sometimes it doesn’t. As there are times when even innocent-sounding hashtags get banned, and the reason being “inappropriate content” which can get them to be blocked. But why does it happens? Well when a hashtag gets an immense amount of popularity, then there are some people who try to “hijack” it by posting irrelevant content on it. And which is why Instgram chooses to flag those hashtags. So, if you are using them then obviously it won’t help you to reach to a wider number of people. Meaning, if you use them on your posts it won’t help you to reach an audience as their feeds are already down.



So, how can you make out if a hashtag is banned or not? There is one way out, go to your Explorer’s page and tap on the search bar. And then in the search bar type a hashtag, if the hashtag does not appear in the search results, it is banned. Now, the hashtag could be banned temporarily or indefinitely. This means that one day it might be blocked, another day it might be back.



Also Read: 9 Best 360 Degree Camera Apps for Android
3. You’re using irrelevant hashtags

If you want to be famous on Instagram and you sincerely want your work to get showcased in the community. Then posting and editing great pictures is always not the key. As there are billions of other people doing the same work as you! So, what to do at such a time and how can you try to stand out in front of others? Well, Research, Research, and Research!



It does sound like a big job, but hey, who said getting famous on Instagram is easy? But honestly finding relevant hashtags is not that difficult too. If you want your posts to be on trending pages, then you need to take time to research the right hashtags that appeal to your target audience and attract them to you. Now, for instance, if you write #love #animals on one of your posts to describe your feelings towards one picture, which is perfectly fine. But if your entire feed isn’t about promoting love for animals, then these tags do become irrelevant.

So, to eradicate this, always research about what hashtags are trending currently and how are they related to your posts and feed. And also are they catchy enough to grab the attention from the viewer’s point of view or not.
4. Use all 30 hashtags

Now honestly I don’t know, whether people are aware of this fact or not, that Instagram allows you to use a maximum of 30 hashtags per post that you publish! So, are you using all of them? If not, then what are you doing? Because more hashtags mean more exposure to your account. And more exposure you get, the better, right? So, don’t limit your posts with 5-10 hashtags, cover them up with all 30 of them. As 5-10 hashtags will put you in front of 5-10 different audiences. So, don’t you think using 30 hashtags comes with more potential?



So, whether you post them in your caption or your comments, who cares? Just use the maximum amount of hashtags per post and honestly don’t feel bad about it, use them all and let your posts flow through the whole Instagram and popular hashtags page. But, but, but, now, #don’t #use #everything #in #a #hashtag. It sure looks irritating sometimes if your hashtags are not anywhere relevant to your posts. So, do keep the 3rd point in mind while writing your 30 hashtags.



Also Read: Top 5 Best Cameras Apps for Android to Take the Perfect Selfie
5. You’re deleting and re-adding hashtags multiple times

This is a strategy that a vast majority of Instagram users follows. Now the strategy is to add as many hashtags as you can to a post, later publish the post. Let it get likes and comments through your hashtags and then very soon delete those hashtags! But that’s not it, later re-add brand new ones to the very same post. And then repeat the process till your muscle and mind power gets completely drained out! Why go through such trouble? I mean, honestly, it does look intimidating, that more hashtags mean more eyeballs are getting attracted towards your posts. But, if you’re doing this, then I am really sorry if you’re hearing this from me, but it doesn’t work!



Because if you are editing your post, again and again, removing the earlier posted hashtags and adding new ones. Then there are high chances that none of them will work. So, don’t fall in such traps and stop following this method. As nevertheless, Instagram allows you to write 30 hashtags, so just do your best in those limited hashtags and don’t keep changing them.
6. Your profile might be flagged as spam due to misusing of Hashtags

Now, this is also a reason that hashtags are not working for you. Well, if you’re profile is flagged as spam then obviously no matter how many hashtags you add it won’t work. But, don’t get scared, if you are a casual or harmless Instagram user this won’t happen to you. This point is for those people who may be unknowingly or even knowingly do misuse of hashtags. For instance, posting inappropriate or irrelevant content just to get popular on trending pages. This is one of the reason and it completely makes sense.



But, everyone does need a second chance, so if you want your posts to work, make a second account on Instagram. And use it wisely this time. Don’t misuse hashtags in any way, as Instagram is a community, and just like any other community, it does have its own guidelines.



But, if your posts on Instagram are not working, then it necessarily doesn’t mean you’re profile is flagged. Sometimes you need to be patient if you have done nothing wrong.



Also Read: How to Hide Private Pictures on Any Android Phone
7. Using too many hashtags in the comment

Using hashtags are the main point of this article? Well, no! Using hashtags in the “right” way is! Now, even though I have said earlier more hashtags means more engagement. But excessive use of hashtags is never good. As there are many Instagram users, who would write a maximum amount of hashtags in their caption (as when you go above 30 there will be a red exclamation mark to stop you) which is still fine if their posts need it. But then writing another set of 30 hashtags in their comment section is terribly wrong! Because it doesn’t count as engagement but it counts as spamming! And honestly, no audience likes to see it.



The purpose of hashtags is sure to give you as well as your work a recognition. But taking the wrong measure will not help you. As the audiences are smart nowadays, they will see your posts and comments filed with a #pile #of #uncecssary #hashtags and they will soon leave your page. So, to eradicate use limited hashtags and only those which are relevant if you want to grow your page in a healthy way.

Tips: If you are a photo enthusiast, you must have a lot of beautiful photos on your phone. When tidying up these photos, you may have to delete some of the photos to free up space. However, what if you regret after deleting a photo? Do not worry! Here is a powerful Android photo recovery software, that’s Gihosoft Free Android Data Recovery, which can help you quickly retrieve accidentally deleted photos from Android! To forestall is better than to amend, click on the button below to download and install it on your computer now!




So, above were the 7 reasons because of which your Instagram hashtags may not be working. Now, summing this article up, always use relevant hashtags that are trendy as well as catchy. Never go for banned words it won’t work for not just you but for anyone. And also, don’t misuse hashtags keep it simple, and decent. No one likes to wake up in the morning and see a caption and comments filled with numerous hashtags. Also before trying all this, make sure your account is public if its private you will be suppressing your own self! So, do follow the above steps and mention us in the comment box below which method worked for you and what was coming in your way. Also if you find this article helpful or interesting, share it on social media with your friends too, let them grow their Instagram pages too.