The Ultimate Instagram Hack

A step-by-step guide to optimizing Instagram hashtag usage

Ivareg Villalta
Jul 22, 2017 · 4 min read

Let me show you an easy to apply yet powerful hack to gain organics followers and connect with more people on Instagram faster.

Now, before we go into that, let´s set something clear: No hack will take you anywhere without quality content.

Sharing good content is, and always will be, the key ingredient on building a strong audience on any social platform.

By that I don´t mean “high quality expensive to produce content”. As long as you hit your target audience with what is relevant for them you´re good to go.

That been said… let the hacking begin!

I´m going to show you step by step, the process of posting on Instagram like a hacker. You´ll find obvious some of the steps so, skip any of them carefully and move on to the next.

1. Go on and post

Hit the + button right on the center and start posting.

Instagram News Feed

2. Choose your photo/video

It doesn´t matter if it is an existing photo/video or something that you capture at the moment.

Instagram image selection panel

3. Add your filter

Give an aesthetic touch to your post if necessary.

Instagram filters selection pannel

Ok, please pay attention. Here comes the hacking!

4. Write the caption of your photo

¡ATTENTION!

Do not insert hashtags on caption.

I repeat. Do not insert hashtags on caption.

You can add mentions on the caption if you like.

Instagram post sharing panel

Ok, caption complete. Make a quick spelling check and smash that share button.

Nothing new so far, until now…

5. Open Display Purposes in your browser

Display Purposes homepage

Display purposes, shows you the best performing Instagram hashtags that are related to a set of keywords (or hashtags) that you provide.

You can copy the hashtags and take them back with you to give an extra boost to your Instagram post.

www.displaypurposes.com

6. Type your keyword or hashtag in the black search box

Try typing from one to three keywords. No more than that.

Display Purposes search bar

You´ll notice that it starts to show up related hashtags. If you scroll a little bit, you´ll see how strong these hashtags are performing.

7. Hit Copy Mode button

Display Purposes hashtags view

You can limit your hashtags by dragging the limit bar. Instagram allows you to use as much as 30 hashtags, so try to use 30.

Live the tag selection on “Auto”.

8. Copy your hashtags

Your hashtags will appear already selected with 5 dots. Copy everything, including the five dots.

Display Purposes copy mode

9. Paste the hashtags on your post as a comment

Now, go back to your post, push the comments button and paste the hashtags as a comment. Including the five dots.

Instagram post comment panel

Placing the hashtags with five dots in a comment, allows you to accomplish a clean look for your post. It forces Instagram to collapse the comment.

At last, the most important part…

10. Start showing some love

You know, life is better when you share, when you give.

So go on, hit one of those hashtags that you placed in your comment and start interacting with people. Start discovering who is behind those hashtags.

Instagram hashtag results

Remember that you have placed 20+ hashtags in your comment (the ideal number is 30 hashtags). Which means that now you have 30 different worlds to discover.

All of them full of potential fans for you or for your brand.

Knock on their doors with a like, live an emoji on a comment, or follow them if you find it valuable.

Well that’s it. You wen from Instagramer to Instahacker.

Start using the hashtag trick and you´ll notice that new people, out of your followers, will start reaching you and interact with you.

See you there…

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