A clean and modern flat lay of a creative workspace featuring a smartphone displaying an Instagram post focused on authentic content without hashtags. Surrounded by a laptop, coffee cup, notebook, and a small potted plant, the setup is bathed in soft natural light, creating a fresh and professional vibe.

Are Hashtags Dead on Instagram? Why SEO and Authenticity Now Matter Most

For years, hashtags were the go-to tactic for growing reach on Instagram. From #ThrowbackThursday to #InstaGood, businesses and creators relied on them to get their content seen by more people. But in 2025, the landscape has shifted. Hashtags aren’t driving discovery in the way they once did. Instead, Instagram has become more like a search engine — one that rewards well-optimised content,...
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“Cannot send email” and “not valid email address” error on iOS

If you are experiencing problems sending email from an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, etc) with an error headed "Cannot Send Email" and error message of " is not a valid email address and has been rejected by the server. The message has been placed in your Outbox." then you may need to set up SMTP Authentication, to log into your email account before sending emails. Please see our support article...
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How to Enable SMTP Authentication for Sending Emails

SMTP authentication is essential for securing your outgoing email and ensuring it is delivered successfully. Most modern email clients support SMTP authentication, and it's a necessary step for sending emails via mail.obrienmedia.co.uk. What is SMTP Authentication? SMTP authentication (or SMTP AUTH) is a process that email clients use to log in to an SMTP server before sending emails. It helps to...
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