Are you using Instagram tagging correctly? Find out here!

Unlike the early days of the platform, today, marketing on Instagram is often difficult, time-consuming, and most importantly, expensive. Luckily, there are still a few tricks you can use to market your brand on the app free of charge. One of these methods is tagging.

Mentioning vs tagging on Instagram 

Instagram users often confuse mentioning and tagging, so let’s clear up the differences between the two before proceeding. When you mention someone on Instagram, you put an @ before the person’s username in a caption or comment. Instagram will notify the user that you’ve mentioned them. On the other hand, tagging is done on an image you post to your account. Only the owner of the content can tag people but anyone can mention them on any post. All tags appear in a separate tab in the tagged users’ account. 

Use Instagram tags to promote your business 

There are a few clever ways you can use tagging to promote your brand on the platform free of charge.

Use location tags to expand your Instagram audience

Location tags can help expose your content to more people and improve its searchability. When you add a location tag to your Instagram post, it will show up above the post content and users will be able to click on the tag to view the precise location and other posts that have the same tag. People who search for a specific location will also be able to see your posts in their search results.

If your business has a physical location, you should mostly tag your posts there. You can also ask your customers to tag the location when they upload posts to their accounts so people who haven’t visited your business yet can have a better understanding of what it’s like. If you don’t have a physical location, you can tag locations in the vicinity of your home or office, or you can also tag popular tourist spots, venues, restaurants, etc. to gain more exposure. 

Use product tags on Instagram

If you sell products online, you can create a store on Instagram Shopping to get the opportunity to tag your products in posts. This way if a customer likes a product featured in a post and wants to purchase it, they can simply tap the post to find the link to the product. 

Use multiple tags and mentions

If you want to make the most of your Instagram posts, you can combine different types of tags to ensure as much exposure as possible. For instance, you can tag the location of the business, mention it in the caption, and tag it in the picture itself. 

FAQ

What is the benefit of tagging someone on Instagram?

Tagging allows Instagram accounts to get more exposure. Plus, by tagging someone in a post you can ensure that they definitely see your post. When you tag someone in your post, that photo or video will appear in the Tagged section of the user’s Instagram profile.

Do tags still work on Instagram?

Yes, as of 2021, tagging on Instagram still works and it’s a great way to show your content to as many people as possible.

Is it better to tag or mention on Instagram? 

Overall, if you want to make sure that the person pays attention to your post, it’s better to tag them since this will trigger a separate notification.