The day I stopped obsessing over hashtag counts and started looking at engagement timing

Used to cram 30 hashtags into every Instagram post until I noticed my 10-hashtag posts at 6 PM got triple the reach. When did everyone else figure out that the algorithm cares more about when you post than how many tags you use?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel_cooper349d ago

So you really think 30 generic hashtags are gonna beat 10 targeted ones just because of the time of day? Let's be real, Instagram's algorithm has been sniffing out hashtag spam for a while now, so throwing 30 on there just screams "I'm trying to game the system" and they'll bury you for it. Yeah, timing matters a ton because you're hitting people when they're actually scrolling, but if half your tags are irrelevant junk, the algorithm sees low engagement and treats your post like a dud anyway. I'd rather have 10 solid tags at 6 PM than 30 random ones any day, because quality still wins out over quantity in the long run, even if the clock is on your side.

spencer_gonzalez19d ago

Think you're mostly right but timing is only half the story. Posting at 6 PM with 30 hashtags would probably beat your 10-hashtag posts at the same time if you used the right mix. Tag quality and relevance still matter a ton, not just the clock.

colethomas9d ago

Build off that by testing different times each day since even your audience shifts when they scroll.