In a realm where Instagram hashtags roam free, do they find their true home in the caption or the comments? Does the location of a hashtag truly hold weight in the grand scheme of social media engagement? Let us don our metaphorical lab coats and delve into the depths of this digital mystery, seeking answers through rigorous experimentation.
Ah, the enigmatic power of hashtags, a tool wielded by social media managers to expand their online reach and cultivate brand awareness. The stakes are high, for a misstep in hashtag selection could consign a post to the abyss of digital obscurity.
But what if, perchance, the right hashtags find themselves in the wrong abode? To satiate our collective curiosity, I embarked on a journey of experimentation, aiming to unravel the enigma that shrouds Instagram hashtag placement.
In the annals of 2021, Instagram’s official Creators account decreed that hashtags should find their abode in the caption. Compliantly, we adhered to this dictum, aligning our hashtags at the conclusion of our scheduled posts without a moment’s hesitation.
Yet, a seed of doubt sprouted within our minds: are hashtags in the comments not equally clickable as those in the caption? Why would Instagram bestow this functionality upon comment-dwelling hashtags if their purpose were null? In a world where A equals B equals C, does the locus of a hashtag truly impact its efficacy?
My conjecture? A hashtag, regardless of its dwelling, retains its essence. Therefore, the placement of said symbol should bear no consequence on its potency. With resolution firm, I elected to employ my business’s Instagram account as the canvas for this grand experiment.
As a dedicated connoisseur of the social media realm, I endeavored to amass an ample body of data, spanning a tumultuous three-week period. Here lie the steps of my odyssey:
1. I birthed 5 pairs of posts (10 in total) for Dwelling on the Past, my vintage home decor business account.
2. Each pair showcased akin images and captions, diverging only in the abode of their hashtags.
3. One post from each duo embraced hashtags in the captions, while its counterpart sheltered its hashtags within the domain of comments.
4. Spacing the posts from each pair a few suns apart, I sought to prevent audience saturation.
5. Time, a fickle entity in the digital realm, was to remain consistent across all postings.
6. Following the prescribed dietary regimen of Instagram’s best practices, hashtags exclusively adorned the captions, relegated to a modest count of 3-5 per post.
The narrative unfolds with a tableau of comparison, laying bare a sample pair of posts, their images and caption alike in essence, divergent only in their hashtag residency.
Behold, the post graced with hashtags in the caption:
Disseminate this ostentatious proclamation far and wide:
“A hashtag, a hashtag, in the text of yore,
Regardless of its dwelling, retains the essence it bore.”
To portmanteaux your own odyssey, a free hashtag generator beacons, offering suggestions in myriad tongues. May your journey be rich in discourse and discovery as you navigate the labyrinthine corridors of social media engagement.
