How to Choose Low-Competition Hashtags for Instagram

to Boost Your Reach

If you’re looking to grow your Instagram account and engage with the right audience, choosing the right hashtags is crucial. High-competition hashtags can bury your posts quickly, but low-competition hashtags help your content stand out and attract more genuine engagement. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find and select low-competition hashtags that maximize your visibility without getting lost in the crowd.

Materials and Tools Needed

Item	Description
Instagram Account	A public account to research hashtags and test your posts
Hashtag Research Tools	Tools like Display Purposes, Hashtagify, or Instagram’s native search for hashtag data
Spreadsheet or Notes App	For organizing potential hashtags and tracking results
Internet Access	To browse Instagram and hashtag analytics platforms

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Understand What Low-Competition Hashtags Are

Low-competition hashtags are niche, less-used hashtags that make it easier for your posts to get noticed. Unlike popular hashtags with millions of posts, these hashtags have smaller but more engaged audiences.They help your content stay visible on hashtag feeds for longer.

2. Brainstorm Your Niche and Relevant Topics

Start by listing keyword ideas that relate directly to your content,industry,or target audience. Think about your niche, location, interests, and your ideal follower’s interests.

3. Use Instagram’s Search Function to Explore Hashtags

1. Open Instagram and go to the search tab.
2. Enter one of your keywords in the search bar and select the “Tags” tab.
3. Note the number of posts for each hashtag to gauge competition.
4. Look for hashtags with between 10,000 and 100,000 posts for a sweet spot of decent reach yet manageable competition.

4. Employ Hashtag Research Tools

Use free or paid tools to expand your hashtag list and analyze competition levels:

• Display Purposes: Filters out banned and spammy tags and suggests relevant low-competition hashtags.
• Hashtagify: Shows hashtag popularity, trends, and alternatives with lower competition.
• Instagram Insights (for business accounts): Identify which hashtags bring engagement to your previous posts.

5.Categorize Hashtags by Competition Level

Hashtag Competition Level	# of Posts	Description
High Competition	1M+ posts	Challenging to rank; posts get buried quickly
Medium Competition	100K – 1M posts	Moderate reach and visibility
Low Competition	10K – 100K posts	Best balance of visibility and longevity
Very Low competition	<10K posts	Highly niche; smaller audience but loyal engagement

6. Mix Hashtags for Maximum Impact

Create hashtag sets that include:

• 1-2 high-competition hashtags for broader exposure
• 5-10 medium-competition hashtags for moderate reach
• 5-10 low to very low-competition hashtags for targeted, sustained visibility

7. Validate Hashtag Audience and Content

Visit hashtag pages to see:

• Is the content aligned with your niche?
• Are posts recent and regularly updated?
• Is there engagement through comments and likes, indicating an active community?

8.Track and Analyze Hashtag Performance Regularly

1. Post using different hashtag combinations.
2. Use Instagram Insights or other analytics tools to see which hashtags bring more reach and engagement.
3. Adjust your hashtag strategy monthly based on data.

Additional Tips for Using Low-Competition Hashtags on Instagram

• Update your hashtag sets regularly to avoid shadowbanning and maintain freshness.
• Avoid banned or spammy hashtags that can reduce your post visibility.
• Keep hashtags relevant to the post to attract the right audience and improve engagement.
• Don’t overload your post with too many hashtags; Instagram allows up to 30, but optimal use is around 10-20.
• Consider using location-based hashtags if your content or business is geographically focused.

Common Warnings When choosing Hashtags

• Do not copy hashtags blindly without verifying their relevance and activity.
• Watch out for banned hashtags, even if they seem popular, as they can hurt your account’s reach.
• using overly generic hashtags may attract bots or irrelevant users, lowering your engagement quality.

Summary: Best Practices for Finding Low-Competition Hashtags

Best Practice	Benefit
Use niche-specific keywords	Targets the right audience and increases engagement
Analyze hashtag popularity and competition	ensures visibility without getting lost in oversaturated feeds
Balance hashtag competition levels	Combines reach with long-lasting visibility for posts
Track performance regularly	Optimizes results and adapts to changing trends

By following these steps, you can master the art of choosing low-competition hashtags for Instagram that grow your audience authentically. Remember, effective hashtag use is a cornerstone of triumphant content discovery on Instagram, so take time to research, test, and refine your strategy for the best results.