Pro tip: stop copying what big creators do with hashtags

I used to just copy the hashtags from popular posts in my niche thinking that's how you go viral. Turns out Instagram flags you for using the same 30 hashtags everyone else uses. I noticed my reach dropped to under 200 views for 3 straight weeks until I tested using just 5 specific hyper-local tags. The post that finally popped off used tags like #seattledogowners instead of #doglife. Has anyone else noticed that copying the algorithm tricks from big accounts actually hurts smaller pages?

3 comments

3 Comments

stellat461mo ago

10k in 3 months? That's barely enough time to know if it actually worked.

miasanchez1mo agoMost Upvoted

My friend tried copying a big creator's hashtags and her account got shadowbanned for two weeks lol.

grace_knight191mo ago

Argue the opposite here because copying big creators got my page to 10k in 3 months. Their hashtags already work because Instagram's algorithm recognizes them as proven signals for the niche. Small hyper-local tags just limit your reach to a tiny bubble that never grows beyond your zip code.