The Fastest Way to Add Hashtags to a Post

A year ago I shared Three Ways to Master Hashtags and as with all things social media, the rules are continuously changing. I wanted to bring back one of my favorite Hashtag Hacks of all time and modernize it one year later!

By now it isn’t a secret that I love Instagram. Yes, there are days when I nearly delete the application from my phone because I struggle with the ongoing reality of Comparison in the creative workplace… but for the most part, it’s my favorite social media platform! The key with Instagram, as with anything else, is to find ways to be as efficient and effective as possible so that you can get back to living in the real world!

I hope this little Hashtag Hack helps to give you a few seconds of your day back! Remember that a strategy is only as good as the thought and heart behind it. Be intentional with your use of hashtags and do your research when it comes to investing your time and resources into any marketing plan!

I used to keep lists of hashtags in the Notes application, but had to scroll through searching for the right note and then copying the long list of hashtags with each post. Now, I simply type a few letters and BOOM the hashtags appear. Easy as pie! This comes in handy when you’re using the same hashtags repeatedly for your branded professional work or travel!

To Setup Shortcuts on an iPhone:
Settings >> General >> Keyboard >> Shortcuts
Then click the (+) Symbol to Add a New Shortcut
The Phrase will be your list of hashtags and The Shortcut is the smaller phrase you’ll write to insert them!

Hashtags offer creatives the opportunity to create client communities, establish online portfolios, and reach new audiences without paying a dollar for advertising! For small businesses, this free access to your target market is truly extraordinary if used correctly!

So you’re probably wondering: Where do I find these hashtags? How do I know which ones to use?

To be honest, it’s an ongoing act of researching your target audience, thinking like your clients, and putting your images where they are going to be searching. I always recommend starting with locational hashtags (#annapolis, #marylandwedding) and working your way into more specific aesthetic ones (#nauticalwedding). I have a few running lists of hashtags that I use for different types of posts that I regularly share and it simplifies my life to have a shortcut ready to use whenever I’m marketing my business.

And what about those dots? I keep seeing you use the five dots in a row!

If you’ve noticed that many Instagram lovers have started incorporating five individually spaced dots into the beginning of their hashtag list, then you are onto the latest hack! In order to turn a long obnoxious list of hyperlink blue hashtags into a simple condensed triple dot […] you can use this little trick.

Minimizing Hashtags:
1) In the Notes Section of your phone, type five individual periods separated onto different lines.
2) Paste these five dots into the first comment after you post your image.
3) Then use the shortcuts above to quickly insert your hashtags.

When you publish the comment and return to the main feed, you’ll notice that your list of hashtags has been replaced with three simple little dots. Voila! I love this trick because it allows me to minimize the obnoxious list of hashtags that allow me to target my marketing efforts and keeps my audience focussed on what truly matters… the photograph being shared and the heart behind the caption!