The new rule: fewer, more specific
Instagram now treats hashtags more like topics. Stuffing 30 generic ones (#love #life #photo) does nothing. 5–8 specific tags beat 30 broad ones every single time.
A working formula
- 1 broad tag (your industry)
- 3 medium tags (your niche)
- 3 small tags (your micro-niche or location)
Where to put them
In the caption, not the first comment. The first-comment trick stopped helping in late 2023.