Only 5 Hashtags? Instagram Just Simplified Your Strategy

For years, we’ve been told that more hashtags = more reach.
Creators were stuffing captions with 20–30 hashtags, hoping to land on Explore and reach new audiences.

But Instagram has evolved… and so has the way content gets discovered.

Instagram now recommends using just 3–5 relevant hashtags per post. Instead of relying on hashtag volume, the platform focuses on understanding your content through your caption, on-screen text, spoken words in videos, and how people engage with your posts.

Hashtags still matter, but they’re no longer doing all the work. They now act as supporting signals, helping Instagram confirm what your content is about rather than driving reach on their own.

What matters more today is clarity and consistency. When your content clearly speaks to your audience, stays aligned with your niche, and provides real value, Instagram knows exactly who to show it to.

My advice? Use a small set of intentional hashtags that reflect your business and location. Skip the generic and trending tags and focus on attracting the right audience- not just more eyes.

Less clutter.
Less overthinking.
Better strategy.

Warmly,
Anu🤍
Anew Socials | Transforming businesses into brands