Let’s be honest. When I first started posting reels, I thought hashtags didn’t matter anymore.
But after one of my videos went from 3K views to over 220K — just because I used the right viral hashtags for Instagram reels — I changed my mind.
Before that, I was posting regularly. My content was good. I was using hashtags like #foryou and #viralreel, but nothing was clicking. Until I started researching and testing actual strategic hashtags, and the difference was wild.
So if you’re struggling to grow and wondering if hashtags still matter — they do. Especially if you know how to use them smartly.
In this blog, I’ll share 9 real strategies I used to find and use viral hashtags for Instagram reels to grow from a few hundred views to hundreds of thousands. And yes — I did all of this from my smartphone.
Real Struggles Every New Creator Faces
Let me first talk about the hashtag drama no one prepares you for:
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“I don’t know which hashtags to use.”
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“Should I put them in captions or comments?”
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“Is it better to use 5 or 30 hashtags?”
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“My reels are flopping even with trending sounds.”
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“Everyone says hashtags are dead — are they?”
These were all questions I had when I started. And I promise, you’re not alone. But once I cracked the code for viral hashtags for Instagram reels, my reach, engagement, and followers grew way faster.
Here’s how I made it work.
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1. I Researched Before I Posted — Not After
I stopped randomly adding hashtags right before hitting “Share.” Instead, I did this:
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Went to Instagram’s Explore tab
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Watched Reels in my niche
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Noted the hashtags creators were using
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Looked for ones with high views and high saves
Once I started choosing hashtags before creating content, I was able to tailor my captions and reels to match what was trending.
2. I Used a Hashtag Formula That Works
Instead of throwing 30 random hashtags into every post, I used this mix:
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5 Trending hashtags (under 500K posts)
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5 Mid-volume hashtags (500K–2M)
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5 Niche-specific hashtags
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3 Location-based hashtags
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2 Personal/Branded hashtags
This structure helped my reels land in smaller but more engaged communities — where they had a better chance of going viral.
💡 Example: For a small business reel, I used:
#smallbusinessowner #supportlocal #mompreneur #delhistartup #sidehustlewin
3. I Kept a Saved List in My Notes App
I stopped searching every time and created my own cheat sheet:
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“Fashion Reels”
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“Makeup Tutorials”
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“Business Tips”
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“Motivational Reels”
Each section had handpicked viral hashtags for Instagram reels that I had personally tested. This saved time and helped me stay consistent.
4. I Used Hashtags Inside the Reel (As Text)
Yes — placing hashtags on-screen helped boost visibility.
Here’s what I did:
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Added 2–3 hashtags as text in the middle of the video
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Used subtle placement so it wasn’t distracting
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Added hashtags relevant to the hook
For example, if my reel started with “Struggling to sell online?” I’d show:
#SmallBusinessTips #InstaSales #ProductMarketing
This helped with both discovery and SEO.
5. I Monitored Which Hashtags Were Bringing Results
Instagram doesn’t show direct insights for individual hashtags, but I tracked manually:
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Which reels performed well
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Which ones got shares/saves
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What hashtag mix was used
I created a simple Google Sheet (from my phone!) to monitor which combinations worked best.
From there, I started reusing my top-performing viral hashtags for Instagram reels more strategically.
6. I Took Advantage of Location + Local Trending Tags
One thing that helped my local business grow? Using city-specific hashtags.
Examples:
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#DelhiMoms
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#HyderabadBusiness
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#MumbaiCreatives
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#PuneFashion
These not only helped me appear in the feeds of local buyers but also opened up collab opportunities with nearby creators.
7. I Avoided Banned or Overused Hashtags
Using hashtags like #foryou or #reels tends to do more harm than good — your reel gets lost in millions of posts.
Worse, some hashtags are banned or flagged (yes, even innocent-looking ones).
I checked lists of shadowbanned tags (e.g., #adulting, #beautyblogger) and avoided them completely. Clean, relevant hashtags performed better every time.
8. I Paired Hashtags With Strong Hooks
Hashtags aren’t a magic spell. Your reel still needs a good hook.
So, I made sure my opening text was relatable + searchable:
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“3 Instagram Reels that grew my business”
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“Stop doing this in your product photos”
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“Why your reels aren’t getting views”
When that was combined with viral hashtags for Instagram reels, the video performance jumped dramatically.
9. I Used Only My Smartphone (And Made It Look Good)
I get asked all the time: “What tools do you use?”
Honestly? Just my phone.
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Shot videos with my phone camera (portrait, 1080p)
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Edited with CapCut or InShot
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Designed thumbnails in Canva
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Uploaded directly from Instagram app
You don’t need a studio. You need storytelling + strategy.
Hashtags were just the cherry on top that made the algorithm notice my content.
What New Creators Should Avoid
If you’re just starting out and hoping to grow, avoid:
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Copy-pasting random hashtag blocks from the internet
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Using only broad tags like #viral or #reels
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Switching up hashtags on every post (test, but don’t guess)
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Ignoring niche-specific communities
Getting views is one thing. Getting engaged followers is what really matters.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still wondering whether hashtags work — they do. But only if you use them with intention.
The trick to getting discovered is combining:
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Quality content
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A scroll-stopping hook
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Consistent posting
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And the right viral hashtags for Instagram reels
You don’t need paid tools, an expensive setup, or a huge following. Everything I shared here — I did from my phone.
If I can do it, so can you.
💬 Need Help Picking the Right Hashtags for Your Reels?
If you want personalized hashtag strategies or content ideas tailored to your niche, let’s work together.
Let’s make your next reel go viral — the smart, organic way. 📱🚀
