When used correctly, Instagram hashtags instantly increase the potential reach and engagement of your post. This leads to more followers, and could even result in leads. Hashtags also make it easier for you to get your content out to a specific target audience or even neighborhood. However, when used incorrectly they can do more harm than good. So when it comes to real estate Instagram hashtags, where do you start? Well, let’s #explore that, shall we?

Although they started out as pound keys and number signs, hashtags have become an essential part of social media, and today we see them attached to nearly every Instagram photo, Facebook post, and Tweet. 

There are different types of hashtags and different ways you can take advantage of them. In this article, we will dive into all of the creative ways you can use hashtags to benefit your real estate business and grow your online community.

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What are real estate Instagram hashtags and why do I need them?

By Google’s definition hashtags are, “a word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#)”. Hashtags are used on social media websites and applications, especially Twitter, to identify digital content on a specific topic. 

Simply put, they are used to separate social media posts into more specific categories to make it easier for audiences to find the content they want. For example, if you wanted to scroll through hundreds of dog pictures you could search #pugs on Instagram to fill your feed with cute canines. 

As real estate agents, you will be using hashtags that are relevant to the work you do. While there is no law saying you must use hashtags, you’d be silly not to. Later.com, a worldwide leader in Instagram marketing recently shared some insight on this. They found that posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than those without. On top of that, the more hashtags you include, the more engagement you’re likely to see on your posts.

So if your goal is to reach a wider audience or grow your online following, real estate Instagram hashtags will absolutely help you achieve it.

What are the different types of real estate Instagram hashtags?

There are a few different types of hashtags, and it’s a good idea to use a healthy mix of each type on any given post. Branded, community, and campaign are a few examples of the types of hashtags you might encounter. 

A branded hashtag is specific to you and your business. This might look like your brokerage name or a tagline that you commonly use. 

A community hashtag on the other hand could be as simple as hashtagging the town or city you’re posting about. 

While campaign hashtags can be used to promote a specific event or a new partnership. Some hashtags are more popular than others. 

Although you might think that using a popular tag is a good idea, Forbes actually suggests avoiding these. The reason? Popular can often mean generic. A hashtag like #business or #success will already have so many posts behind it that your content will likely get lost in the chaos. 

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How many hashtags do I need on a single post?

You’re probably already using hashtags regularly, but did you know the number of hashtags you use has a huge impact on the traction your post can gain? 

There is a lot of information out there about just how many hashtags is the right amount. Some experts advise keeping it between 2-3, while others suggest using the maximum number of hashtags available. Currently, Instagram allows you to use up to 30 total hashtags on any one post.

However, statistics shared by Adspresso.com found that using at least 11 hashtags on a single post resulted in significantly higher engagement. This is especially true for users with 1000 or fewer followers. These smaller accounts saw an average of 77.66 interactions on posts with 11 or more hashtags. For accounts with much larger followings, posts with 11 or more hashtags garnered 21.21 interactions per post on average.

Now, that’s not to say that you should stick to 11 hashtags every single time no matter what. It’s important to remember the hashtags you choose must be relevant to your post. So it’s not worth adding extra tags just to reach that golden number. In fact, using irrelevant hashtags could hurt you in the long run. 

Make sure that you’re using relevant tags as it will help ensure you get your content in front of the people who actually want to see it.

Can I reuse the same hashtags on every post?

We know that hashtags are a vital step in the posting process, but simply throwing #realestateboss on every single post won’t quite yield the results you’re looking for. In fact, copy and pasting the same set of hashtags on every post will harm your account. 

This copy and paste technique will cause Instagram to mark your account as spam and does not line up with best practices for local influencer marketing. 

Now, you might be thinking that coming up with 11 or more unique hashtags every time you post on social media (which should be frequently and consistently) sounds like a lot of work. But keep in mind, you can use some of the same or similar hashtags when appropriate to do so. 

Additionally, there are a number of tools that can make managing your hashtags and your social media in general a breeze. If you don’t already use a content calendar, yesterday is the time to start doing so.

What is a content calendar and how would it benefit me?

Content calendars are an easy and effective way to stay on top of your posting schedule. Much like you would use a regular calendar to schedule meetings and appointments, a content calendar helps your schedule your posts for the month. 

By planning out a content calendar you can quickly see how your month will look at a glance. It’s also a handy place to store notes, hashtag ideas, and more. Now, you could create your own calendar, but we’re looking to take the hard work out of posting, not add more work to the process. 

Luckily, Parkbench.com offers a budget-friendly real estate specific content calendar that can keep you on track and give you inspiration on what and when to post.

Social media is constantly evolving and the hashtag rules of today may change tomorrow. So, at the end of the day, don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your hashtags. On top of that heading to the Instagram explore page and searching relevant keywords is another amazing resource for hashtag inspiration as well.

So now that you know more about hashtags and how to use them to benefit your business it’s time to start filling in your content calendar and reaching a whole new audience. Just remember, #yougotthis!

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