Still Using Hashtags Like It’s 2016? Try This Instead
If you’re still throwing 30 hashtags on every post hoping it’ll “boost reach,” you’re playing social media like it’s still 2016—and getting 2016 results. Back then? Hashtags were gold. Now? They’re barely bronze. The game has changed, and if you don’t pivot, you’ll keep watching your competitors eat your lunch.
Let’s break down what to do instead—and how to finally get real traction without clinging to a dead tactic. This guide is your no-fluff, practical blueprint to actually grow. Fast.
Let’s go.
1. The Truth About Hashtags (and Why They Don’t Work Anymore)
Here’s the hard truth: Hashtags are mostly noise now.
Platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn used to rely on hashtags to organize content. But with smarter AI, recommendation engines, and the endless scroll—what you post and how people engage with it matters way more than what tags you slap on.
Here’s what happens when you focus on hashtags:
You optimize for robots instead of real humans.
You end up reaching random people instead of buyers.
You blend in with the crowd instead of standing out.
Want a better way? Good. Because it’s all about signals, not symbols.
Signal = content that makes people stop scrolling and take action.
2. Use Keywords Like You’re Talking to a Machine That Thinks Like a Human
Most people treat social posts like cute diary entries. But today’s algorithms read like Google.
Instead of “#fitness #fitspo #gymlife,” write posts that sound like what your audience is searching for or curious about.
Example: Instead of:
“#ProductivityHacks”
Say:
“3 tricks I used to double my output before 10am (without caffeine)”
Why it works:
It matches user search intent
It hooks curiosity with specific benefits
It reads like a headline, not a gimmick
Pro tip: Platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram now prioritize searchable captions and comments.
If you’re not writing like a human-powered search engine, you’re invisible.
3. Hook First. Always.
Attention is the currency now. And the first sentence of your post? That’s your storefront.
If your first line is boring, the rest never gets read.
You don’t need to be Shakespeare. You just need to open a loop they can’t ignore.
Examples:
“Nobody talks about what it really feels like to lose $10,000 on a failed launch.”
“This simple line in an email made me $17,800. Here it is:”
“If your social media posts sound like everyone else’s… you’re broke and invisible.”
Your reader should feel like they have to keep reading.
Struggling to write hooks like that? It’s what we do all day at Multipost Digital. Book a discovery call with our team and let’s make your brand unmissable.
4. Stop Broadcasting. Start Conversations.
Hashtags say “look at me.”
Real engagement says “talk to me.”
Every social platform is rewarding content that sparks actual interaction—not passive likes, but:
Comments
DMs
Saves
Shares
The trick? End every post with a question or CTA that invites a response.
Examples:
“Be honest—what would you have done in my situation?”
“Drop a ‘YES’ if you’ve ever made this mistake.”
“What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?”
This pulls people into a conversation—and conversations boost visibility.
The more people reply, the more people see your post. It’s a simple game… if you know how to play it right.
5. Use Carousels and Captions Like Micro-Landing Pages
A single image post? Dead.
Now, every scroll needs to feel like a story or a mini-pitch.
Carousels = a journey
Captions = the sales page
Each slide in a carousel or sentence in your caption should sell the next one. Here’s how:
Slide 1: Intrigue — “What if everything you knew about X was wrong?”
Slide 2: Problem — “Most people think they need to do Y… but that’s outdated.”
Slide 3: Insight — “Here’s what actually works (and how I found it out the hard way).”
Slide 4+: Solutions — Step-by-step breakdowns or lessons learned
Final Slide: CTA — “DM me ‘WIN’ and I’ll send you the free guide.”
Make your content scrollable, clickable, saveable.
That’s how you win in 2025.
6. Build for Save and Share, Not Likes
Likes are vanity. Saves and shares are velocity.
The algorithm pushes what people can’t afford to lose or need to show someone else.
Ask yourself before you hit publish:
“Is this useful enough to save?”
“Is this relatable enough to share?”
“Is this controversial enough to comment on?”
If you can hit even one of those? You’re golden.
If you hit all three? You’ve got a viral post.
7. Show, Don’t Just Tell
Nobody believes claims anymore. They want proof.
Instead of saying:
“We help brands grow.”
Say:
“We helped a local gym go from 80 to 1,500 leads in 27 days—using just one $247 offer and two ads. Here’s how…”
Screenshots. Charts. Photos. Case studies.
People buy from people they trust, and nothing builds trust faster than cold, hard receipts.
You don’t need a million-dollar result—just a real one with numbers. That’s what separates serious brands from content cosplayers.
8. Focus on Consistency Over Virality
Virality is great. But it’s a side effect, not a strategy.
The real game? Consistency that compounds.
One post a week won’t cut it.
At Multipost Digital, we build and manage entire content machines that:
Post daily across multiple platforms
Repurpose one idea into 5 formats
Test headlines, angles, and styles
Track analytics weekly for growth
You want to win on social in 2025?
You need a system—not a spray-and-pray.
If that’s something you’re tired of trying to DIY, let us take it off your plate.
Hashtag Culture Is Over—Here’s What’s Next
Still banking on hashtags to grow your brand is like sending a fax in the iPhone era.
It might technically work, but it’s slow, clunky, and nobody cares.
The real way forward?
Speak to human desires, not algorithms.
Write like a storyteller, not a robot.
Post with purpose, not out of panic.
Show proof, invite interaction, build trust.
This is the blueprint. This is how brands grow fast.
And if you want expert help building it all for you?
Multipost Digital is ready.
We’ve helped creators and companies rack up 100M+ views, 600K+ followers, and tens of thousands in monthly revenue.
Let’s make your brand the one that’s too good to scroll past.
Book your free strategy call with Multipost Digital today.
