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Hashtag mistakes to avoid

The common errors with hashtags, such as unrelated tags, tags with hidden meanings, copy-pasted lists and tags that break an app's rules, and how to fix each.

Most hashtag problems are simple and easy to fix once you see them. Here are the mistakes that appear most often.

  1. Unrelated tags. A tag used only because it is popular misleads the reader and is treated as spam by apps. Fix: use only tags that describe your post.
  2. The same list on every post. A copied block looks careless. Fix: change the specific tags each time.
  3. Tags with accidental meanings. Words run together can read as something else. Fix: use CamelCase and read the tag aloud.
  4. Too many tags. A long row hides your caption. Fix: keep to those that truly fit.
  5. Spaces or symbols inside a tag. A hashtag stops at the first space or symbol, so #Healthy Food tags only "Healthy". Fix: write it as #HealthyFood.
  6. Tags about private people or places. A tag naming your child's school or your home exposes them. Fix: use general tags.
  7. Borrowing a tag from a protest, tragedy or event that is not about your post. It is disrespectful. Fix: leave it alone.
  8. No tag of your own. Without one, your posts do not gather. Fix: create a small tag for your name, shop or series.

Check before posting

Read the tags once, search one or two in the app to see what appears, and delete any that do not belong. If you are not sure about a tag, leave it out. For business accounts see hashtags for business.

Questions people ask

Are banned hashtags a thing?

Apps can limit or hide some tags. We do not keep such a list because it changes. If searching a tag in the app shows a warning, do not use it.

Keep going

All hashtag lists