Hashtag Research Template
Random hashtags do nothing. This template helps you build a balanced mix of broad, niche, and branded tags, sorted by size and relevance, so each post reaches the right audiences instead of disappearing into oversaturated feeds.
Social & GrowthPDF + CSV5 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- A hashtag research grid sorted by reach tier and relevance score
- A balanced-set formula mixing broad, niche, and branded tags
- Saved hashtag sets per content pillar for fast reuse
- Editable CSV for Google Sheets or Excel plus a branded print-ready PDF
How to use this template
- 1. Tier hashtags by post size. Sort candidates into large, medium, and small tiers by post count so you compete where you can actually rank.
- 2. Score each tag for relevance. Rate every hashtag 1-5 for how directly it matches your content. Irrelevant tags attract the wrong audience and hurt reach.
- 3. Build a balanced set. Combine a few broad, several niche, and one or two branded tags so you balance discoverability with realistic ranking.
- 4. Save sets per pillar. Store a reusable set for each content pillar so you stop researching from scratch every post.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
2 of 5 sections shown; the remaining 3 come with the free download.
What is hashtag research?
Hashtag research is the work of checking a tag before you use it: how many posts already carry it, how closely it matches what you actually make, and whether a post of your size has any chance of being seen under it. The template stores those answers so you only do the work once.
It is worth the half hour if you are still copying tag blocks from bigger accounts in your niche. Their forty-million-post tags bury you. A scored list lets you build sets around the small, specific tags where your post can sit near the top for days.
Hashtag research grid
Research candidates and tier them by size. Smaller niche tags often give you a real shot at ranking.
| Hashtag | Tier (broad/niche/branded) | Post count | Relevance (1-5) | Use for pillar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #contentcreator | Broad | 40M+ | 3 | All |
| #reelsstrategy | Niche | 120k | 5 | Reels education |
3 more sections and the PDF + CSV are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Later
Later is a [social media scheduling](/categories/social-media-scheduling) platform built around visual content planning.
$25/mo
Metricool
Metricool is a [social media scheduling](/categories/social-media-scheduling) and analytics platform that lets creators plan, publish, and track content across 10+ social networks from one dashboard.
$0/mo
Iconosquare
Iconosquare is a social media analytics platform with performance tracking, scheduled reports, hashtag analysis, and competitive benchmarking.
$0/mo
Pallyy
Pallyy is a [social media scheduling](/categories/social-media-scheduling) tool for creators and small teams who manage visual-heavy content across Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: Social Media Scheduling, Creator Analytics.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hashtag research template?
It is a worksheet for scoring candidate hashtags by size and relevance before you use them, then saving the winners as reusable sets. It replaces copying tag blocks from accounts far larger than yours.
How many hashtags should I use per post?
Around 10 to 15 highly relevant hashtags works well on most platforms. Relevance beats quantity: a focused set of tags that genuinely match your content reaches the right people better than stuffing the maximum number of broad tags.
Are big hashtags or small hashtags better?
Use a mix. Broad tags offer reach but heavy competition, while smaller niche tags give you a realistic chance to rank and surface to a targeted audience. A balanced set of both outperforms relying only on the largest tags.
Do hashtags still matter for reach?
They matter less than they used to for distribution and more than ever as topic labels. Accurate tags help a platform work out who your post is for, and specific tags still send steady traffic from people browsing that exact subject.
How often should I redo my hashtag research?
Review each saved set every couple of months. Tags grow, and a niche tag with 30,000 posts can reach a million within a year, at which point it stops giving you a ranking advantage and should move down a tier.