So you’ve probably noticed the new Instagram hashtag limit and how hashtags have changed. Using up to 30 tags hasn’t been the smart thing to do for a while and now, it simply isn’t allowed. These days, you’ll get better results by using around 3 – 5 really relevant hashtags instead. The platform is putting the spotlight on quality over quantity to cut down on spam and help the right people discover your content more naturally, which we think is a good move.

Rather than relying on loads of hashtags, Instagram now pays closer attention to strong captions, clear keywords, and how people interact with your post, so things like likes, saves, and shares all matter more for reach and visibility.

One upside to this change is that the time taken in posting should be a little less, as you don’t need to rack your brain trying to find multiple hashtags!

Why Instagram made the change:

• Less spam: It discourages random or excessive hashtag use that clutters posts.

• Smarter discovery: Targeted hashtags help connect your content with people who are genuinely interested.

• Cleaner experience: Fewer tags mean clearer captions and more engaging posts.

• Context matters more: The algorithm looks at your caption wording, on-screen text, visuals, and engagement to understand what your content is about.

What you should do:

• Be intentional: Stick to 3 – 5 hashtags that truly match your post.

• Go niche: Combine broader terms with niche and location-based hashtags.

• Use keywords naturally: Work important keywords straight into your caption for SEO benefits.

• Think relevance first: Meaningful hashtags beat high volumes every time.

In short: write better captions, choose smarter hashtags, and focus on content people actually want to engage with 👍

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