How to Add Tags to a TikTok Video

Adding the right tags to your TikTok video is the most direct way to get your content in front of the right audience and signal to the algorithm what you're all about. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add different types of tags to your videos, move beyond the basics with a smart tagging strategy, and show you which common mistakes to avoid. Think of it as your complete roadmap to getting discovered.

What Are TikTok Tags and Why Do They Matter?

On TikTok, “tags” are more than just hashtags. They are specific labels you can add to your video that give the app - and its users - context about what’s inside. These tags are fundamental to the platform's discovery engine. When you upload a video without any tags, you're essentially asking the algorithm to guess who might find it interesting. By adding strategic tags, you take control and provide clear directions.

There are three primary types of tags you can use on TikTok:

• Hashtags (#): These are keyword-based tags that categorize your content. Think of them as filing labels for your video. They help users find content related to topics they're interested in, like #cleantok or #filmmakingtips.
• User Tags (@): Also known as mentions, these tags link to another user's profile. You use them when collaborating with another creator, crediting someone for an idea, or directing your video's message toward a specific account.
• Location Tags: These geo-tags add a physical location to your video, making it discoverable to people in or interested in that specific place. It’s incredibly powerful for local businesses, travel content, and event coverage.

Using a mix of these tags correctly can dramatically increase your video’s visibility, attract followers who genuinely care about your niche, and ultimately help you build a community around your content.

The Step-by-Step Guide: How to Add Tags to Your TikTok Video

Adding tags happens on the final screen right before you hit "Post." After you’ve recorded or uploaded your clip and finished all your edits with text, sounds, and effects, you’ll land on the Post page where you write your caption. This is where the tagging takes place.

How to Add Hashtags (#)

Hashtags live directly within your video’s caption. It’s the most common form of tagging, and it's built directly into the text field.

1. Start Your Caption: Begin typing out the description for your video in the "Describe your video" field.
2. Add the '#' Symbol: Once you're ready to add a hashtag, either after your caption or as part of it, type the pound symbol (#).
3. Begin Typing Your Keyword: As you type a word, like "marketing," TikTok will immediately start suggesting popular hashtags along with the number of views videos with that tag have received (e.g., #marketing - 20.1B views).
4. Select or Finish Typing: You can either tap one of the auto-suggestions to add it automatically or continue typing your own unique hashtag. Press the spacebar to finalize one hashtag and begin the next one.

Pro-Tip: Keep your caption text relatively short and a bit mysterious to make room for your hashtags and keep viewers focused on the video itself.

How to Add User Tags (@Mentions)

Tagging another user is a great way to collaborate, give a shout-out, or prompt a response. You can do this in the video description or in a separate field dedicated to tagging.

Tagging Users in the Caption:

1. Use the '@' Symbol: In the same caption box where you add hashtags, type the "@" symbol.
2. Start Typing the Username: As you type the username, a list of matching accounts will appear. TikTok's search here is pretty good, so you usually only need the first few letters.
3. Select the Account: Tap the correct user profile from the list. Their handle will turn into a bold, clickable link in your caption once the video is posted.

Tagging Users via the 'Tag People' Button:

1. Find the Option: On the Post screen, look for an option labeled "Tag people" with a little person icon next to it.
2. Search and Select: Tapping this opens a new screen where you can search for and select multiple accounts to tag. This is useful if you want to tag several people without cluttering your main caption.
3. Confirm Your Tags: Once you've selected everyone, press "Done." A list of the tagged accounts will now be displayed on the Post screen above the Location tag option.

How to Add Location Tags

Location tags are fantastic for connecting with a local audience or documenting your travels. The option is clearly laid out on the Post screen.

1. Tap 'Location': Find and tap the "Location" option, which usually appears right below the "Tag people" button.
2. Allow Location Access (If Prompted): If you haven't enabled it before, TikTok might ask for permission to access your phone’s GPS. This allows it to automatically suggest places near you.
3. Choose Your Location: You can either select one of the suggested locations nearby, or you can use the search bar at the top to find any specific city, landmark, or business in the world.
4. Confirm: Once selected, the location will appear in gray text on the Post screen and will be displayed on your video after it's published. Viewers can tap this location to see other videos tagged in the same place.

Beyond the Basics: A Smart Tagging Strategy for Growth

Knowing how to add tags is only half the battle. Knowing which tags to add is how you build a real growth strategy. Simply slapping #fyp on every video isn't going to get you very far. You need a thoughtful, tiered approach.

Crafting the Perfect Hashtag Mix

Think of your hashtag strategy as a pyramid. You want a healthy mix of very popular tags, moderately specific tags, and hyper-niche tags.

• 1-2 Broad Hashtags (100M+ Views): These are the giants like #fyp, #viral, or #tiktok. Using them is like buying a lottery ticket - you have a tiny chance of reaching a massive audience, but you’re competing with millions of other videos. They shouldn’t be your main strategy, but using one or two won’t hurt.
• 3-4 Content-Defining Hashtags (1M-50M Views): These describe the topic or category of your video. If you share sourdough recipes, this would be #sourdoughbaking or #breadmaking. They are specific enough to attract people who are genuinely interested in your topic. This is the sweet spot where targeted discovery happens.
• 3-5 Niche or Community Hashtags (<,1M Views): These are highly specific tags that connect you with your core community. For that sourdough creator, it might be #beginnersourdough or #sanfranciscosourdough. These tags have less competition and are used by dedicated fans. Converting a viewer from a niche hashtag is much more likely because the content is exactly what they were looking for.

Example in Action: A painter in Brooklyn sharing a timelapse video could use this mix:
- Broad: #art, #painting
- Content-Defining: #timelapse, #oilpainting, #artprocess
- Niche: #brooklynartist, #pleinairpainting, #smallcanvasart

How to Research Effective Hashtags

Don't just guess what hashtags to use. Do a little recon work:

• Spy on Competitors: Look at other creators in your niche who have a similar audience size. What tags are they using on their successful videos? Don't copy them verbatim but use their strategy for inspiration.
• Use the TikTok Search Bar: Type in a general keyword related to your video (e.g., "coffee"). Tap over to the "Hashtags" tab to see all the related tags and their view counts. You'll often find great niche ideas here.
• Analyze Your 'For You' Page: As you scroll your feed, pay attention to the hashtags on videos similar to what you want to create. This is TikTok telling you directly which tags it associates with that style of content.

Using @Mentions and Location Tags Strategically

These tags have specific, powerful uses that can significantly amplify your reach.

User Tag Strategy: Reserve @mentions for situations where they add direct value. Never tag large, random accounts hoping they’ll see it. Instead, use them when:
- You’re replying to another user's comment with a video.
- You’re collaborating with or featuring another creator in your video.
- You're using a filter or sound made by another creator and want to give them credit.
- You're reviewing a product and want to tag the brand's official account.

Location Tag Strategy: If your content or business has any link to a physical place, use location tags.
- For Local Businesses: Always tag your city, neighborhood, or specific business location. This makes it easier for local customers to find you when searching.
- For Travel Creators: Get specific. Don't just tag "Italy." Tag "Trevi Fountain, Rome" or "Trastevere Neighborhood." Users often search by these hyper-specific locations when planning trips.
- For Event and lifestyle Creators: Are you at a concert, farmers market, or coffee shop? Tag it! It connects your content to a shared experience others might also be searching for.

Common Tagging Mistakes to Avoid

A bad tagging strategy can be just as ineffective as no strategy at all. Here are the most common pitfalls to sidestep:

• Using Irrelevant Hashtags Just for Views: Tagging a cooking video with #gamingsetup because it's trending might get you some initial unqualified views, but it confuses the algorithm. In the long run, this tells TikTok you don't know who your audience is, which harms your account's authority on its actual topic.
• Relying Only on Massive, Broad Hashtags: Thinking `#fyp` and `#viral` are all you need is a rookie mistake. Your content will be instantly buried under a constant flood of new videos. Without specific and niche tags, it has almost no chance of finding its target audience.
• Hashtag Stuffing: While TikTok’s caption limit is generous, filling it with 30 hashtags looks spammy and unprofessional. Focus on 5-8 highly relevant, well-researched hashtags for the best results. Quality always beats quantity.
• Using Banned or "Shadowbanned" Hashtags: While the concept of a "shadowban" is widely debated, what's certain is that TikTok suppresses content associated with hashtags that violate community guidelines. Steer clear of tags related to sensitive, explicit, or hateful content. It’s not the tag itself that "bans" you, it's the association with rule-breaking content that gets your video deprioritized.

Final Thoughts

In short, mastering tags on TikTok is about providing clear, strategic signals. By combining a mix of broad, specific, and niche hashtags with thoughtful user and location tags, you give the algorithm a precise roadmap to find the viewers who will become your next dedicated followers.

Getting your tagging strategy right across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can sometimes feel like a lot to juggle. As creators ourselves, we built Postbase to streamline this entire process. Our platform is actually designed for today’s video-focused reality, allowing us to manage and customize all our short-form video content from one clean visual calendar. For our team, it means less time switching between apps and more time focusing on what really matters - creating content that connects.