When writing a recent blog post about Instagram hashtags, I was checking out what Australian authors use and gathered together this list of 40+ tags
The numbers associated with them are from various days in January 2022 so by the time you check them out they’re likely to be bigger. I’m thinking of doing an update a couple of times a year. If this would be useful to you, let me know in the comments or contact me
And this is definitely not a complete list – please add your favourites to the comments below and I’ll add them into the post and include them in the next research session.
Bigger isn’t always better
Don’t be fooled into thinking that tagging the higher volume hashtags is the way to go. For example the #australianliterature hashtag is not huge, but your book will stay in the top rows of the Most Recent list for a few hours and won’t need a helluva lot of engagement to be in the Top Posts grid of nine for months.
Note the spelling!
One thing I found interesting was the disparity in numbers with slight spelling and syntax changes.
For example #cozymystery (US and Canada spelling) compared to #cosymystery (UK/Aus/NZ/Can) spelling. And yes, Canada has a foot in both camps. (Note to self: When the cosy mystery I’m writing now is released, I’ll be using both 😀 )
Or #amwriting compared to #iamwriting
The kind of thing to look out for when you do your next Insta post.
Don’t skip the research
Before using a hashtag, check it. It sounds obvious, or maybe it sounds unnecessary. Seriously though, check it. What if that brilliant hashtag you just thought up is also the name of the newest sensation, a naked punk band? Or any other event or entity that you might not want people to associate with you. Just check it.
Miriam x
Hashtags for books and writing
#bookstagram 70,898,310
#booklover 27,447,969
#bookish 14,241,725
#bibliophile 13,448,873
#booknerd 13,173,828
#booksofinstagram 8,609,419
Hashtags for writing
#amwriting 4,562,634
#iamwriting 142,029
#writing 27,265,907
#writings 2,814,197
#writingcommunity 11,965,397
Hashtags for readers and reading
#readersofinstagram 6,764,484
#readinggoals 215,382
#kindlereads 170,889
#girlswhoread 228,996
#readersgonnaread 393,667
#iamreading 95,773
#currentlyreading 4,105,432
#amreading 3,271,480
#tbr 2,202,798
#lovereading 1,787,788
#lovetoread 1,097,672
#booksbooksbooks 5,180,357.00
#bookblogger 6,104,739.00
A little pandemic focus (hopefully a thing of the past)
#lockdownreading 43,775.00
#lockdownread 1,770.00
#lockdownreads 12,805.00
#isoreads 1,114
Australia (plus a sneaky NZ)
#australianwriters 26,572
#australianwriter 15,244
#australianliterature 11,439
#aussiewriting 105
#aussiewriters 13,516
#aussiewriter 5,401
#aussiereaders 90,797
#auslit 13,131
#ozlit. 2,474
#AusKiwiBooksta 36,586
Genres
(yes, I know this list is tiny and needs some love. Care to help? Suggestions welcome in the comments!)
#romancereader 508,580
#thrillers 210,243
#psychologicalthriller 188,133
#romanceaddict 66,482
#thrillerreads 65,003
#cozymystery 112,955
#cosymystery 13,354
#ruralnoir 1,298
