TikTok users create and consume short-form video content daily. For creators looking to increase their views and grow their audience, hashtags play a crucial role. Hashtags help discover your videos by users interested in your niche or topic. But with millions of hashtags, which ones should you choose from and how to use them effectively?
-
Research relevant hashtags
The first step in any effective TikTok hashtag strategy is research. You want to find hashtags that are relevant to your content and have an active, engaged audience. Start by exploring the Discover page on TikTok, which shows currently trending hashtags. See if any of these align with your niche. TikTok’s search function to look for hashtags related to your keywords. Look at the top videos for each hashtag to get a sense of what type of content is performing well. Don’t just focus on the broadest, most popular hashtags. Niche hashtags with a highly targeted audience often lead to more meaningful engagement navigate to this website.
-
Combine broad and niche hashtags
An effective TikTok hashtag strategy often involves using a mix of broad and niche hashtags. Broad hashtags, like #FYP (For You Page), #TikTok, or #viral, have an enormous audience and a lot of competition. While it’s good to include one or two of these to expose your video to a broad viewership potentially, they shouldn’t be the only hashtags you use. Niche hashtags, on the other hand, are more specific to your content topic or industry. For example, if you post cooking videos, hashtags like #HomeCooking, #RecipeIdeas, or #Healthy Eating would be considered niche. While these have a smaller audience, the viewers are more likely to be genuinely interested in your content. Aim for a combination of broad and niche hashtags to balance reach and relevance.
-
Create a branded hashtag
In addition to using existing hashtags, consider creating a branded hashtag unique to your TikTok presence. This could be as simple as your username or a phrase that captures your brand identity (e.g., #CookingWithJoy). Encourage your followers to use your branded hashtag when they create content related to your niche. This helps build a sense of community around your brand and makes it easier for users to find content associated with you.
-
Participate in hashtag challenges
TikTok is known for its viral hashtag challenges, where users create videos following a specific theme or set of actions—participating in prevalent obstacles to get your content in front of a new audience. When you see a challenge starting to gain traction, put your creative spin on it and use the associated hashtag.
Keep in mind that only some challenges will be a fit for your brand. Choose ones that align with your values and content style. You also start your hashtag challenge and encourage your followers to participate. Ensure the challenge is fun, easy, and has a clear call to action.
Hashtags in individual video posts: you also incorporate them into your TikTok profile. TikTok allows you to include a brief bio in your profile, and this is a great place to feature your branded hashtag or a few critical hashtags related to your niche. When users click on a hashtag in your bio, they’ll be taken to that hashtag’s feed to discover your content and other related videos.
