You don't need to master Instagram Hashtags.

Instagram hashtags are a powerful tool that can have a very positive impact on your marketing. When done well. But marketers need to stop looking for the magic recipe for using them.

Because there isn't one!

Instagram doesn't make any of its tools impossible to use.

Once you recognise this you'll realise that all those gurus selling 'the ultimate guide to Instagram hashtags' are lying to you! Because it's not that complex! Hashtags are simply Instagram's version of SEO, a tool they created to make it easier for people to find what they want to see (so they stay on the platform for longer!)

Instagram can't benefit by making hashtags so complex that people don't use them.

Follow these 3 simple steps to using Instagram Hashtags and you'll start to see immediate results.

#1. Keep your hashtags relevant

By using relevant hashtags you'll show your content to people who are interested in it. And when they engage with it, you're more likely to rank.

But use a broad hashtag that's not relevant to the content and your post won't rank and might not even be shown at all.

#2. Choose # with high reach potential but low competition.

The more competition, the less likely you are to rank.

But there is little point ranking on a hashtag that doesn't reach many people. Choose a mixture of low, medium and high hashtags

The best way to check if your chosen hashtags have higher reach potential than competition score is by using tools like Flick thetwolauras.com/flick (aff)

#3. Track analytics

Understanding if your hashtags are working is the only way to optimise for success.

There are no shortcuts to achieving success with hashtags, you simply have to test, track and optimise to have success with them.

Stop looking for hacks or golden bullets with hashtags and start putting in the time to build a hashtag strategy instead.