A/B tested two hashtag strategies on IG, one crushed it by 4x

I run a small vintage shop on Instagram and I've been trying to figure out why some posts blow up and others flatline. Last month I decided to split test my approach. I posted the exact same photo of a 1970s denim jacket twice, once with 15 niche hashtags and once with 5 huge ones like #vintage. The niche tags pulled in 340 reach in 24 hours, the big ones got 82. The difference was engagement rate too, people actually commented on the niche one because it hit a smaller crowd that cared. I also noticed the algorithm pushed the niche post to explore after about 6 hours, maybe because the early engagement was stronger. Anyone else see better luck with hyper-specific tags over broad ones, or is it just my little shop?

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charles_baker288d ago

I mean, the algorithm pushing your niche post to explore after 6 hours is kind of the whole story there, isnt it? Like, that early engagement snowball probably did more work than the tags themselves. Ive seen broad tags do fine for my buddy who sells fishing gear, but he also posts at weird times and gets lucky. Feels like youre reading tea leaves with a sample size of two posts, honestly. Not saying youre wrong, but I wouldnt start a whole strategy on one jacket photo.