How to Add Hashtags to a TikTok Video

Adding hashtags to your TikTok video is the single most important step for getting your content discovered. It’s how you tell the algorithm what your video is about and, more importantly, which viewers are most likely to enjoy it. This guide gives you the practical, step-by-step instructions for adding hashtags and the expert strategy needed to choose the right ones for sustainable growth.

Why Hashtags Are Your Direct Line to the For You Page

On platforms like Instagram or Twitter, hashtags often feel like an afterthought - a way to categorize content for search. On TikTok, they are fundamental to how the entire discovery engine works. When you publish a video with specific hashtags, you’re not just labeling it, you’re giving the TikTok algorithm direct instructions on where to send it for its initial test audience.

Think of it like this: When you post, TikTok shows your video to a small group of users. If they watch, like, comment, and share, TikTok pushes it to a larger group, and so on. Your hashtags help TikTok pick that initial, crucial test group. If you use #knittingtutorial, TikTok will show it to users who have previously engaged with knitting content. If that audience loves it, your video has a much higher chance of going viral and landing on For You Pages across the globe.

Ultimately, a strong hashtag strategy helps you:

• Reach your target audience: Connect with people who are actually interested in your niche.
• Improve discoverability: Your videos will appear in search results for the hashtags you use.
• Ride trending waves: Participating in trends and challenges via hashtags can give your content a near-instant visibility boost.
• Build a community: Using specific niche or branded hashtags helps foster a sense of community around your content and brand.

How to Add Hashtags to a TikTok Video: The Step-by-Step Process

Adding hashtags is incredibly straightforward and integrated directly into TikTok’s posting process. Let's walk through it from start to finish.

Step 1: Create and Edit Your Video

First, either record your video directly in the TikTok app or upload a pre-recorded video from your camera roll. Proceed through all the usual editing steps - trimming your clips, adding sounds, applying filters, placing text overlays, and adding any stickers or effects you want to use. Once you are happy with how your video looks, tap “Next” in the bottom right corner to move to the final posting screen.

Step 2: Navigate to the Post Screen

This is where the magic happens. The Post screen is your final checkpoint before your video goes live. Here, you’ll write your caption, choose your cover image, tag other accounts, adjust privacy settings, and, most importantly, add your hashtags.

Step 3: Write Your Caption and Add Hashtags

Your hashtags are part of your video’s caption. You can either place them after your caption text or use them as part of the sentence itself. To add a hashtag:

1. Tap into the caption field where it says “Describe your video.”
2. Type the pound symbol (#).
3. Begin typing the word you want to use as a hashtag. For example, if you're making a video about baking sourdough, you would type #sourdough.
4. As you type, TikTok will automatically suggest popular hashtags along with the number of views each tag has accumulated. This is direct insight into what’s popular and relevant. Selecting one of these suggestions is often better than typing your own from scratch, as it prevents typos and connects your video to an existing content library.
5. Repeat this for all the hashtags you want to include. Just add a space between each one.

Once you’ve selected your hashtags, filled out the rest of the options, and are ready to publish, just tap the “Post” button! Your video will go live with perfectly formatted hashtags, ready for the algorithm to categorize and distribute.

Choosing the Right Hashtags: The Strategy Behind the Tag

Knowing how to add a hashtag is simple. Knowing which hashtags to choose is what separates amateur creators from seasoned social media pros. Dropping random, irrelevant, or overly broad tags can be worse than using none at all. A thoughtful strategy is built around relevance, audience, and discoverability.

1. The Hashtag Funnel: A Mix of Broad, Niche, and Specific

The most effective strategy doesn't rely on one type of hashtag. It uses a mix to target different audience sizes. Think of it like a funnel, from wide at the top to narrow at the bottom.

• Broad Hashtags (1-2 per post): These are high-volume tags with hundreds of millions or billions of views (e.g., #food, #diy, #fitness). Using one or two of these gives you a small chance to compete on a massive stage, but your content can easily get lost. Don’t rely solely on them.
• Niche Hashtags (2-3 per post): This is the sweet spot. These tags are more specific and target a dedicated community (e.g., #mealprepideas, #woodworkingprojects, #homegym). The audience is smaller but far more engaged because the content is directly relevant to their interests. Your video has a much higher chance of standing out here.
• Ultra-Specific or Branded Hashtags (1 per post): These are hyper-targeted. They might describe your exact content (#howtomakebirriatacos), be a branded hashtag you created for your business (#SarahsSourdough), or relate to a very small, passionate subculture.

Example in action for a homemade pizza video:

• Broad: #pizza
• Niche: #homemadepizza, #pizzanight, #pizzarecipe
• Ultra-Specific: #oonipizzaoven

This mix gives your content the ability to reach a broad audience while also deeply connecting with a targeted, passionate community that’s more likely to engage.

2. Finding Relevant Hashtags: Your Research Toolkit

Don't just guess what hashtags will work. Spend a few minutes on research every week to stay on top of what's relevant in your niche.

• TikTok's Search Bar: Type a keyword related to your video into TikTok's main search bar. Tap on the "Hashtags" tab to see a list of related tags and their view counts. This is the fastest way to find popular and relevant options.
• Look at Your Competitors: See what other successful creators in your niche are using. Don’t copy their entire list for every video, but pay attention to the recurring tags that seem to perform well for them.
• Check Trending Content: The “For You” page is your best friend. As you scroll, note the hashtags being used on viral videos, especially those related to your industry or content style. If you notice a trend, and it fits your brand, it might be worth joining in.

3. Understanding Trending vs. Evergreen Hashtags

Your strategy should also account for timing. Some hashtags are useful forever, while others have a very short lifespan.

• Evergreen Hashtags: These are tags that are always relevant to your niche (#veganrecipes, #dogtraining, #learnontiktok). They consistently draw in a targeted audience day after day. The majority of your hashtags should be evergreen.
• Trending Hashtags: These are tied to current events, challenges, or popular sounds. Joining a trend can give your video a temporary but powerful boost. However, if the trend is completely irrelevant to your content, it can confuse the algorithm and your audience. Only use a trending hashtag if you can genuinely connect it to your video's message.

Common TikTok Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

Making a few simple mistakes can seriously limit your video's reach. Steer clear of these common pitfalls:

• Overloading with hashtags: Don't stuff your caption with 15-20 hashtags. This looks spammy and can dilute your message. The optimal range is typically 3 to 5 highly relevant hashtags. Quality beats quantity every time.
• Using #fyp, #foryou, or #viral: Years ago, these might have helped. Today, the algorithm is so sophisticated that it knows you want to be on the For You page without you telling it. These tags are oversaturated and waste a valuable hashtag slot that could be used for a more specific, targeted keyword.
• Using the same block of hashtags on every video: Copying and pasting the same set of tags tells the algorithm that all your content is identical. Vary your hashtags with each video to reflect its unique subject matter. This helps TikTok push your content to new, diverse audience segments.
• Using irrelevant or misleading hashtags: Never use a popular hashtag just to get views if it has nothing to do with your video. For example, adding #taylorswift to your cat video will annoy users and signal to the algorithm that your content doesn't match viewer expectations, which may hurt its performance.

Final Thoughts

Mastering TikTok hashtags is about transforming them from a simple label into a powerful tool for strategic discoverability. By focusing on a mix of broad, niche, and specific tags that are hyper-relevant to your content, you provide a clear roadmap for the algorithm to find your ideal audience, helping you build a dedicated community one well-tagged video at a time.

Developing unique hashtag strategies for different content pillars and platforms can get complicated, especially when you need a clear view of your schedule. Creating great content is hard enough, managing it shouldn't be. That’s why we designed Postbase with a clean, visual calendar that lets you plan weeks or months of content ahead of time. You can see your entire strategy across every platform at a glance, making it easy to spot gaps and ensure your hashtag approach stays consistent and effective without drowning in spreadsheets.