Are you interested in discovering hashtags to sell clothes on Instagram?
Are you ready to take your Instagram strategy to the next level?
Introducing: hashtags.
With countless style aficionados flocking to Instagram, hashtags are essential for connecting your clothing brand with your target audience.
There are many advantages of Instagram as a marketing source.
As a powerhouse of over a billion users, you can’t afford to miss out on the opportunity to harness the magic of hashtags for selling clothes on Instagram.
Don’t worry. We’ve done the hard work for you, creating the perfect guide for understanding and mastering the dynamic world of Instagram hashtags.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective strategies to craft and apply the perfect hashtag to catapult your clothing brand into the limelight and drive sales.
So, are you ready to elevate your Instagram performance by becoming a hashtag master for selling clothes on Instagram?
Let’s get started discovering how to use hashtags to sell clothes on Instagram.
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of optimizing hashtags for your clothing brand, it’s important to clearly understand what hashtags are and how they work on Instagram.
Hashtags are keywords or phrases preceded by the pound (#) symbol used to categorize content on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
They are a powerful tool for connecting users with similar interests, making it easier to discover and engage with content that resonates with them. Think of hashtags as a content organizing system on Instagram, helping users find posts related to their interests.
When you include a hashtag in your Instagram post‘s caption or comments, it becomes discoverable to users searching for or following that hashtag. And the more relevant or popular the hashtags you use, the higher the chances of your post reaching the right audience for your brand.
In the world of Instagram fashion sales, hashtags can be your secret [fashion marketing] weapon for increasing visibility and driving engagement.
By using relevant and targeted hashtags, you can:
- Boost your brand’s discoverability: Hashtags make your content more accessible to users who might be interested in your clothing line but are not yet following your account.
- Attract a niche audience: Using specific and relevant hashtags helps you zero in on your target market, increasing the likelihood of connecting with users who are genuinely interested in your products.
- Monitor competitors and trends: Keeping an eye on popular hashtags within your niche can help you stay updated on the latest trends and track your competitors’ strategies, giving you an edge in the highly competitive fashion market.
Now that you have a solid understanding of the importance of hashtags for your fashion business, it’s time to delve into the best practices to ensure you’re using them effectively.
Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags per post. But it’s important to find the right balance between maximizing visibility and avoiding a cluttered appearance.
When you add too many hashtags to your posts, they can look spammy and unprofessional.
Saint Laurent, a luxury fashion brand, adds four hashtags to their posts for a crisp, clean look that matches their brand personality.
On the other hand, Little Lies uses 26 hashtags in an Instagram post, which looks cluttered to the naked eye.
So what’s the optimal amount of hashtags for selling clothes on Instagram? According to a post from Instagram’s @Creators account, you should use between 3–5 hashtags on Instagram.
How many hashtags on Instagram Reels?
There is no difference between the ideal number of hashtags on Reels or still posts.
If you hold with the belief that 3-5 hashtags is ideal, that is the ideal number for an Instagram Reel or a still post.
To reach a broad audience while still targeting your ideal customer, you can incorporate a mix of popular hashtags and niche-specific hashtags in your posts.
Popular hashtags, such as #fashion or #ootd, can help you tap into a vast pool of Instagram users. While niche-specific hashtags, like #sustainablefashion or #plussizefashion, allow you to target a more focused group of potential customers.
Here are the top 10 most popular hashtags for fashion posts on Instagram and their respective volume of posts as of April 11, 2023:
| Hashtag | Volume of Posts |
| #fashion | 1.1 billion |
| #style | 600 million |
| #ootd | 420 million |
| #model | 350 million |
| #beauty | 190 million |
| #instafashion | 180 million |
| #fashionblogger | 160 million |
| #outfit | 140 million |
| #fashionista | 130 million |
| #streetstyle | 110 million |
It’s important to note that the volume of posts for each hashtag is subject to change as more users post content on Instagram. But this table should help give you a feel for the popular hashtags to mix and match.
Your content is just as important as the hashtag
Creating an Instagram account is your ticket to establishing a strong online presence and taking center stage on the digital fashion runway (read: Instagram).
Why? You can showcase your unique style to the world in just a few easy steps.
But it’s important to maintain consistency across your digital platforms to enhance credibility. For instance, incorporating a link to your online store in your Instagram bio is a smart move, as it connects your audience to your brand seamlessly.
So before you immerse yourself in Instagram clothing sales, ensure you have a professional website up and running. Platforms like Tailor Brands can help you craft all aspects of your branding, from designing your website to creating a stunning logo for your profile picture.
Do you notice the consistency of the branding across Sweetheart Coast’s website and Instagram profile?
It’s the secret weapon to providing a seamless customer experience with your brand. And your hashtag usage goes a lot further when your brand has a cohesive online presence.
As Instagram’s @Creators account puts it, the content and how people interact with it can affect distribution more than the hashtag.
Here’s an example of how Prada goes above and beyond to create a consistent aesthetic on its profile (using like colors and featuring different models in the same clothes):
The key takeaway?
Double down on building the best Instagram profile with a strong bio, cohesive brand aesthetic, and high-quality images before dabbling into the world of hashtags. Trust us. It makes all the difference.
Use relevant hashtags that are popular among your target audience. You can use tools like Instagram Insights to learn more about your audience’s likes or dislikes.
Or you can let other third-party apps like CopyAI or Toolzu do the heavy lifting for you (at the touch of a button).
Let’s explore more tips for hashtags to sell clothes on Instagram.
Create branded hashtags unique to your brand and use them consistently in your posts. This simple step can help increase brand recognition and awareness.
Take inspiration from Lululemon, which uses #thesweatlife to build a community around its brand:
Do keep it simple
Use short and simple hashtags that are easy to remember and spell. Avoid using too many hashtags in a single post. Because, well, less is more.
Use niche hashtags specific to your clothing products, such as #vintageclothing, #activewear, or #sustainablefashion, to help attract the right audience to your posts.
Keep an eye on the hashtags you are using and track their performance.
Paying close attention to engagement metrics (reach, shares, likes, saves, and comments) can help you identify which hashtags drive the best results and adjust your strategy accordingly. Instagram provides basic analytics directly in the app. But if you want to take it up a notch, consider investing in a social media monitoring tool like Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
Avoid using irrelevant hashtags for your clothing products or your target audience. Misused hashtags can lead to spamming and may cause your posts to be ignored or even flagged.
Instagram may ban certain hashtags that are associated with inappropriate content. Be aware of the banned hashtags list, and avoid using them in your posts.
Adding too many hashtags can make your posts look spammy and unprofessional. Using no more than 3–5 hashtags per post is recommended.
Here’s an example of what to avoid:
Avoid using generic hashtags such as #fashion or #clothing as they are too broad and may not attract your target audience. Mix and match them with niche hashtags.
While hashtags can help increase the visibility of your posts, they shouldn’t be the only way you promote your clothing products on Instagram.
Use a combination of tactics such as influencer marketing, sponsored posts, and user-generated content to maximize your reach and engagement.
Instagram is a visually-driven platform, making it an ideal medium for influencers to showcase stunning images of clothing and popular accessories like leather jackets, trending sunglasses, and new shoes.
Not to mention that 50% of Millennials trust influencer product recommendations. And in the past three months, 33% of Gen Z-ers have purchased a product based on an influencer’s recommendation.
So with the right combination of hashtags and influencer marketing partnerships, you can establish credibility and trust for your brand while reaching a broader audience.
Here’s an example of a micro-influencer that hits the nail on the head. He tags each clothing brand he’s wearing, incorporating the right amount of popular (#fashionblogger) and niche hashtags (#animestreetwear).
Use a maximum of 5 hashtags to avoid clutter, and make sure your hashtags are popular as well as niche-specific. Also, use branded hashtags. Make sure hashtags are relevant to your content.
Use three to five hashtags. Your Instagram hashtags should be a combination of popular hashtags as well as niche-specific hashtags. Make sure your hashtags are relevant to your content.
There’s no doubt about it. Hashtags are a powerful tool to increase your visibility, attract more followers, and ultimately drive sales.
So mastering the art of using hashtags for selling clothes on Instagram is an indispensable skill for any budding fashion entrepreneur.
Remember to refine your hashtag strategy until you find the best fit for your brand. Start with a mix of popular and niche-specific tags and analyze the performance to help your brand flourish.
And once you’ve established a baseline, test the waters with influencers and user-generated content to broaden your horizons.
Consider this guide your Instagram cheat sheet for marketing.
So, why not try it and see how it works for you? Happy selling!
Readers, please share this guide to how to use hashtags to sell clothes on Instagram so that social media marketers in the fashion industry discover these Instagram hashtags best practices.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Do you know more best practices for hashtags to sell clothes on Instagram?
Guillaume is a digital marketer focused on handling the outreach strategy at uSERP and content management at Wordable. Outside of work, he enjoys his expat life in sunny Mexico, reading books, wandering around and catching the latest shows on TV.
