Quick IG Update! For Tattoo Artists and Other Creatives - #hashtags

As of Thursday, Dec 18th, Instagram is capping hashtags at 5 per post. If you’ve been dumping 20-30 hashtags in your captions or comments, that’s done.

According to Instagram, using fewer, more targeted hashtags actually performs better than throwing in a bunch of generic ones. So instead of #art #artist #tattoo #inked #explore #instagood (you get it), you’re better off using 3-5 that are actually relevant to what you’re posting.

What this means for tattoo artists and other creatives:

Stop using hashtags like #reels or #explore. Instagram says those don’t help your content get seen and that they might actually hurt your reach.

Be intentional. If you’re posting a neo-traditional rose tattoo, use hashtags like #neotraditionaltattoo #rosetattoo #tattooartist. Not #art #tattoo #inked #explore #viral.

Think about who you’re trying to reach. If you want to book more clients in your area, use location-based tags. If you’re trying to connect with other artists or get guest spot opportunities, use tags that those people are actually searching for.

My take:

This is probably a good thing! No need to spend too much time researching hashtag strategies and loading up posts with irrelevant tags, and hoping the algorithm will magically push your content. It doesn’t work like that.

Your content gets seen because it’s good and because the right people are engaging with it. Not because you used #explorepage.

5 hashtags is plenty if they’re the right ones. And if you’ve been avoiding hashtags altogether because the whole thing felt spammy, now’s a good time to start using them again. Just keep it simple and relevant.

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