How to Use Trending Audio and Hashtags to Boost Reel Visibility

Use trending audio and the right hashtags to increase your chance of getting your Reel into the Reels/Explore feeds, improve completion rates, and surface your content to people already searching or browsing that trend.

How to find trending audio

• Watch for Instagram’s upward‑arrow indicator next to a sound — that marks a trending audio clip on Reels.
• Check the Audio browser in Reels and Instagram’s Professional Dashboard (for professional accounts) which surfaces curated trending audio.
• Monitor creator hubs (e.g., @creators), Reels Explore, and viral short‑form platforms (TikTok/YouTube Shorts) to spot sounds before they peak on Instagram.
• Save trending sounds into an in‑app bank so you can reuse them quickly when a trend fits your idea.

How to choose which trending audio to use

• Pick sounds that match your niche and content format (not every trending sound suits every brand) to avoid appearing out of touch or inauthentic.
• Prefer sounds that increase watch‑through (e.g., recognizable hooks, beats that match planned cuts) because higher completion raises algorithmic ranking.
• Consider original audio when it’s strong—unique sounds can start new trends and still drive reach.

How to use hashtags effectively with trending audio

• Combine trending audio with a mix of hashtags: a few niche/high‑relevance tags plus 1–2 broader or trend‑related tags to reach both targeted and wider audiences.
• Research low‑competition but relevant hashtags by looking at top posts in your niche and the captions on high‑performing Reels.
• Avoid generic, oversaturated tags alone; pairing them with specific niche tags improves discoverability by interested viewers.

Execution best practices (to maximize the algorithmic boost)

• Hook viewers in the first 1–3 seconds so the trending audio and visual sync encourage immediate engagement and completion.
• Edit cuts to the beat or lyric change for higher perceived production value and shareability.
• Use captions/text overlays to make content watchable without sound, then add the trending audio to get both silent viewers and audio‑search discoverability.
• Post quickly when a trend is rising; trend lifecycles are short (weeks to months), so speed increases impact.

Practical workflow to implement rapidly

1. Daily scan: Explore Reels, @creators, TikTok “sounds” and Professional Dashboard for trending audio.
2. Save & tag: Save promising sounds and label them (e.g., “outfits”, “before/after”) so you can match content quickly.
3. Idea bank: Keep short scripts or shot lists tied to saved sounds so you can batch‑produce Reels when a sound peaks.
4. Post + hashtags: Publish with the chosen audio and 6–10 curated hashtags (mix of niche + trend tags) and a short, clear caption.
5. Monitor & iterate: Use Reels Insights to track completion, saves, shares and tweak future audio/hashtag choices accordingly.

When to avoid a trending sound or hashtag

• If the audio’s meme meaning clashes with your message, skip it to protect brand authenticity.
• If a hashtag is dominated by unrelated content or spam, pick more targeted alternatives.

Quick checklist before you post

• Does the sound match the emotion/timing of the video?
• Is the trend still rising (arrow indicator, recent top posts)?
• Are hashtags a combination of niche and broader/trend tags?
• Is the hook strong in the first 1–3 seconds?
• Did you save the sound and have backup captioned version for silent viewers?

If you want, I can:

• Review your Reel (describe it or upload screenshots) and suggest 3 trending sounds and 8 optimized hashtags tailored to your niche, or
• Build a 7‑day scanning calendar and template folder names for saved audio so you can act fast when trends appear.

Sources: Instagram trend guidance and practices described in industry guides and platform help (Instagram Professional Dashboard, Reels audio indicator) and practical analyses of audio/hashtag effects on reach.