Flourish Forum

General Categories => Open Flourish | General Discussion => Topic started by: Moya on May 26, 2014, 08:41:46 PM

Title: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Moya on May 26, 2014, 08:41:46 PM
I'm kind of new to this business of having an Instagram that is seen by more people than just my closest friends!

What hashtags do you use?

#flourishforum, obviously - it's how I found most of you :)
#calligraphy seems like another obvious one.

But then I've found a couple of people through more obscure things like #australiancalligrapher and #melbournecalligrapher, and sometimes when I do nerdy things I'll tag it #got or #firefly and seem to find a few more friends every time ...

What about the typology-related tags?  I mean, don't get me started on the difference between typology and calligraphy (and people calling things "hand-lettered typography" - oh my God, it's worse than "ATM machine"!) ... I'm guilty of sometimes using #dailytype, but I'm not really sure why.  I'm kind of just throwing things out there to see what happens, without thinking about it very much.

What's working for you?
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: inkcatcher on May 26, 2014, 09:41:02 PM
Hi Ate Moya!
Since the hashtag usually narrows down our searches. I always use #pointedpen #calligraphy since that's what most people use. I also use #flourishforum most of the time to contribute and thank this community! With all honesty though, I tend to limit my hashtags because I really want people to actually read the caption (which is more personal for me since I just really want to share what I do)  ;).

Locally, I sometimes use #labellascrittura. They're a guild of Filipina calligraphers. They became close to my heart because they've always been helpful and supportive. They also sell calligraphy supplies locally that's why I use that hashtag when I receive packages from them  ::) :)

Other than that, some also use the kind of script they're using. Maybe someday I can use them. After learning them. HAHA #modercalligraphy #copperplate #spencerian  :)
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Estefa on May 27, 2014, 04:09:54 AM
I always use #calligraphy also in my own language #kalligrafie & in Spanish #caligrafía. I have quite a lot of Spanish speaking people among those I 'met' on IG, I guess it's because of that (I should start using French, come to think of it ;)). I also use the term for the style I show in the languages I know. And the nerdy stuff, I do that too!

I am also still quite new, but I really only add what I find relevant, I don't understand why some people put so many hashtags that it becomes kind of confusing. But I guess there's a system to that too :).
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: joi on May 28, 2014, 11:09:43 AM
funny, when i first joined IG, i had no clue about this hashtag thing...and i still don't.  so i try to stick to the obvious ones:
#calligraphy
#flourishforum
#pointed pen
#walnut ink
#obliquepenholder - i use this one so people can find Brian Smith of Unique Obliques...because he is my crack dealer with his beautiful holders OMG!
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Nickkih on May 28, 2014, 11:29:55 AM
Crack dealer. Lmao rotf.
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Moya on May 28, 2014, 07:43:44 PM
funny, when i first joined IG, i had no clue about this hashtag thing...and i still don't.  so i try to stick to the obvious ones:
#calligraphy
#flourishforum
#pointed pen
#walnut ink
#obliquepenholder - i use this one so people can find Brian Smith of Unique Obliques...because he is my crack dealer with his beautiful holders OMG!

It is so true! Those holders are so lovely.
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Erica McPhee on May 28, 2014, 10:32:42 PM
Very interesting... I usually use #calligraphy #flourishforum and the style I am doing. Sometimes I'll put #paperwhitestudio (my business name) but not often since someone else is using my handle! I don't search for the hashtags all too often though. I usually just look at my feed which is all calligraphers. But I will try to search #flourishforum every once and again so I don't miss anyone's posts.

Every once in a great while I will use a hashtag just to be funny. But sometimes the hashtags people use confuse me!  :)
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Nickkih on May 28, 2014, 10:43:23 PM
I use pretty much use the same ones all the time.
Flourishforum
Pointedpen
Copperplate
Calligraphy
Moderncalligraphy

Sometimes I reference the nib I'm using like nikkog or zebrag but not often. I do search hashtags just to see sometimes what others are posting but not a lot lately.
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Moya on May 29, 2014, 12:48:14 AM
Thank you for your thoughts everyone!  I'm so unsure about things I do on social media, it's good to have confirmation that I'm not the only one ... ;)
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Estefa on May 29, 2014, 06:47:44 AM
For those who are really serious about this ;D, I saw on IG someone posting a snapshot from this

http://iconosquare.com/viewer.php

site, it gives you all kind of data regarding your IG account, kind of funny to see where the most followers are for example … they also show all the hashtags you use and recommend which are most liked etc. … It also let's you answer to comments from your computer, which is maybe more convenient for those who can really type.
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: joi on May 29, 2014, 08:42:10 AM
ooooh look at all that data!  thanks stef!  not that i would know what to do with all that info ;)
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Estefa on May 29, 2014, 10:10:06 AM
Haha, me neither. It's just funny and graphicwise nicely done ;). But maybe for businesses it's really useful?
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: JostenD on June 02, 2014, 11:05:47 PM
This is one of the most useful articles I have read on how to gain a following and etc on instagram
http://www.quicksprout.com/2012/11/19/the-science-of-instagram-how-to-get-more-followers-and-likes/

Also for hashtags be creative.
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Faeleia on June 02, 2014, 11:20:37 PM
Hmm.. I joined instagram initially because a friend kept pestering me to. (Cos I always thought those filters make people think they are professional photographers LOL) I also #hatehashtags because some people #overdoit. #YOLO #JUSTINBEIBER #OMG #WHY #noteverythingshouldbehashtaggedplease #goodnessgracious #stahp!!! #lolhashtagslongerthancontentofpost #ROFL #THISISNOTOVERYET? #WHY2


I don't really advertise my stuff, but last night I tagged #theglitchmob when I wrote a song title in modern style.. and one of the glitch mob guys actually liked it! It may be for PR purposes, but that sure is really nice to do in my opinion. I still don't think I'll spam hashtags.


But I'll shamelessly plug my links in my signature :P No visits necessary. Links just makes me look porfesshunal. Like it's important. haha
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Nickkih on June 02, 2014, 11:46:04 PM
This is one of the most useful articles I have read on how to gain a following and etc on instagram
http://www.quicksprout.com/2012/11/19/the-science-of-instagram-how-to-get-more-followers-and-likes/

Also for hashtags be creative.


What a great link. Thank you JostenD I found it very interesting
Title: Re: Hashtags on Instagram - what's useful, what's not?
Post by: Moya on June 02, 2014, 11:48:43 PM
That article is definitely interesting.  I'm not sure it's what I want ... it seems like a good way to get a lot of followers who don't really know or care about what you're doing. I guess I'm only really interested in following calligraphers - I love being able to open IG and see a stream of gorgeous art - but I'd like to make sure that I am reachable by potential clients.  So I think hashtags are a good way to go about that? I know that I search by tag if I'm ever searching for something specific.

It's all a bit of a mystery to me really!