Instagram Hashtags Are Dead: What Works in 2025 Instead

Posted by Kangaroo Connections | Social Media Marketing in Sussex & Kent

It’s official. Hashtags on Instagram have had their day. If you’re relying on them for reach, it’s time to rethink your approach. Instagram marketing in 2025 is no longer driven by tags — it’s powered by smart, searchable content.Instagram’s own CEO has confirmed it: “Hashtags don’t boost reach anymore.” That means the strategies many small businesses have relied on for years are outdated and ineffective.There’s no shadow ban or secret penalty — they’re just no longer part of the algorithmic equation that drives actual results.

Still adding 30 hashtags? Time to move on

If your posts still end with a wall of #random #hashtags #hoping #for #engagement, you’re using tactics from 2016 in a 2025 landscape. It might have worked once, but now you’re just cluttering your content and confusing your audience.

What works for Instagram marketing in 2025?

  1. Write meaningful captions: Craft captions using natural language and relevant keywords. Instagram now treats your text more like a blog—it scans your content for context, not hashtags.
  2. Include ALT text: ALT text supports accessibility and gives Instagram more data to understand your post’s topic. Use this space wisely—be descriptive and keyword-savvy.
  3. Geo-tag everything: Especially for local businesses in Hastings, Eastbourne, Bexhill, or Tunbridge Wells. Geo-tags help Instagram show your content to users in your area, which can drive more foot traffic and local engagement.

The new Instagram: Search-first, not hashtag-first

Instagram marketing in 2025 is all about discoverability through search. Think of it as SEO for social media. To stand out, create high-quality, localised content that speaks directly to your ideal customer’s needs — and uses language they’re searching for.

Are you struggling to keep up with Instagram’s changes? Kangaroo Connections can help. We support small businesses across Sussex and Kent with up-to-date Instagram marketing 2025 strategies that work—no fluff, no outdated tricks.

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