“TikTok is where you can actually acquire consumers,” Inkbox cofounder Braden Handley told Shopify Masters. As more brands incorporate TikTok into their marketing campaigns, it’s essential not just to create content, but to ensure people can find it. So how can you get your TikTok posts on the coveted For You page? One easy way to expand your TikTok presence is with a solid hashtag strategy.
What is the purpose of hashtags on TikTok?
TikTok allows users to search for and follow hashtags, making hashtagged content easier to find. TikTok differs from other platforms because of the algorithm-curated For You page (FYP). Users primarily interact with videos suggested by the TikTok algorithm, which uses hashtags to inform recommendations.
How to use TikTok hashtags to promote your brand
- Find your niche
- Engage with relevant trends
- Keep it simple
- Start (or join) a TikTok challenge
- Create branded hashtags
Hashtags can help users discover your content, but the key is using the right ones for your brand. Here’s how to find the best TikTok hashtags for your next video:
1. Find your niche
It might be tempting to just add the most popular hashtags to your post—like #fyp, or For You page, which has almost 35 trillion views—but these ultra-popular tags also have a ton of competition and tend to be generic. Shifting your focus to niche hashtags means there will be less competition. More specific hashtags will also make it easier for users to find your content and for the TikTok algorithm to understand your content and share it with the right audiences.
In an example of leveraging niche hashtags, Mush Studios, which sells hand-tufted rugs, uses simple but niche hashtags. Its video on making a rug using the tufting process has 8.8 million views and just three hashtags: their brand, #mushstudios, as well as #tufting and #rug.
It might seem niche, but #tufting has 4.5 billion views and is an accurate description of the video. To get hashtag ideas for your industry or niche, open the TikTok app, tap the magnifying glass in the top right corner, and search for a keyword relevant to your business or product. Under the search bar, scroll all the way to the right to “Hashtags” (after “Top,” “Videos,” “Users,” “Sounds,” “Shop,” and “LIVE”).
2. Engage with relevant trends
A great way to stay relevant and capture new audiences beyond your niche is to engage with relevant TikTok trends. You don’t need to spend all day on TikTok to find out what’s currently trending; you can find the top 100 TikTok hashtag trends on the Trend Discovery page of the TikTok Creative Center. Think of it as Google Trends for TikTok.
By default, TikTok will show you the trending hashtags for your country from the past seven days, but you can filter by different countries or see the top hashtags from the past 30 or 120 days. You can also filter by industry or show only hashtags that are new to the top 100.
If you find a hashtag that could be a good fit for your brand, click “See analytics” to pull up a report that will show interest over time, related videos, audience insights including age range and related interests, and regional popularity. Checking this page will help you decide if a trend is a good fit and if the trend is growing, so you won’t waste time on outdated hashtags.
3. Keep it simple
There is no maximum number of hashtags you can use on TikTok, but there is a 2,200 character limit to the video caption, which is where the hashtags go. That doesn’t mean you should stuff as many hashtags as possible into your description. Too many hashtags could confuse the TikTok algorithm and look spammy to your audience.
Fireflyslime founder Angelina Ly recommends keeping content simple. “With TikTok, I make all of my videos very straightforward. I go to the best parts and make everything under 30 seconds if I can, with a good hook in the beginning,” Angelina told Shopify Masters. The same philosophy applies to captions. For example, this slime video with 3.1 million views has just two hashtags: #instantsnow and #asmr.
4. Start (or join) a TikTok hashtag challenge
Hashtag challenges are one of the most fun ways to interact with TikTok users. A hashtag challenge is a challenge, like a dance or specific action, paired with a song and a unique hashtag. As a brand, not only can you join an existing challenge, but you can sponsor your own Branded Hashtag Challenge. According to a global TikTok study, 78% of TikTok users like it when brands come up with new challenges, trends, or memes for others to join in.
5. Create branded hashtags
Most creators consider a custom hashtag featuring your brand name a must. Gourmet marshmallow company XO Marshmallow uses the branded hashtag #xomarshmallow on all its videos. Custom hashtags are an easy way for users to find all the content related to your brand, and, as a business owner or social media marketer, they allow you to source user-generated content for your feed quickly.
Best hashtags for TikTok
These were the most popular TikTok hashtags as of January 2023, in order of number of views. Remember to mix popular hashtags with more niche tags for the most visibility:
- #fyp
- #foryou
- #foryoupage
- #viral
- #tiktok
- #trending
- #duet
- #funny
- #comedy
- #trend
- #humor
- #greenscreen
- #anime
- #love
- #stitch
- #meme
- #pov
- #football
- #explore
- #like
- #dance
- #bts
- #learnontiktok
- #food
- #memes
- #greenscreenvideo
- #video
- #art
- #gaming
- #minecraft
Best hashtags for TikTok FAQ
What hashtags get you on the FYP?
There are no hashtags that will guarantee you a spot on TikTok’s For You page (FYP). TikTok’s algorithm generates video recommendations based on each user’s watch history and the content of videos, including captions and hashtags.
How many hashtags work best on TikTok?
There is no set number of hashtags you need to perform well on TikTok. A good rule is to use at least two hashtags—one for your brand and one for the main topic of the video—and no more than five or six hashtags, which can look spammy.
Do TikTok hashtags matter?
Hashtags are an essential part of getting noticed on TikTok. Not only do users search for and follow hashtags relevant to their interests, but the algorithms that power the For You page (FYP) also use hashtags to understand what your video is about.
How do I find trending hashtags on TikTok?
You can find trending hashtags on the Trend Discovery page of the TikTok Creative Center. By default, TikTok will show you the trending hashtags for your country from the past seven days, but you can filter by different countries or see the top hashtags from the past 30 or 120 days. You can also filter by industry or show only hashtags that are new to the top 100.
Can you edit or change the hashtags on a TikTok video after posting it?
Hashtags are part of the video caption (also known as the video description) and cannot be changed after posting. To change your hashtags, you’ll need to delete your video and repost it.
