How to Categorize TikTok Videos

Knowing how to categorize your TikTok videos is the difference between building a loyal audience and shouting into the void. It’s a core skill that tells the algorithm exactly who needs to see your content, turning random viewers into dedicated followers. This guide will break down the essential methods for categorizing your videos, from leveraging TikTok’s built-in features to creating a strategic content pillar system that fuels growth.

Why Bother Categorizing Your TikToks?

It might seem like an extra step, but properly categorizing your content is one of the most powerful things you can do to grow your account. It's not just about keeping a tidy profile, it's about systematically telling TikTok's algorithm what you're an expert in and who your ideal audience is.

Here’s why it’s so important:

• It Feeds the "For You" Page Algorithm: The FYP is designed to serve users content they’ll love. When you consistently categorize your videos - through hashtags, playlists, and specific themes - you provide clear signals to the algorithm. It learns that you're the "go-to" account for vegan recipes or freelance business tips, and it starts showing your videos to users who actively engage with that type of content. Without clear categories, the algorithm gets confused, and your reach suffers.
• It Establishes Your Niche and Authority: When a new viewer lands on your profile, they make a split-second decision about whether to follow you. A profile with organized, categorized content immediately communicates your value. Playlists like "Marketing 101," "Productivity Hacks," and "CEO Mindset" instantly tell a visitor what to expect. A random collection of unsorted videos just feels chaotic.
• It Simplifies Your Content Creation: A solid categorization strategy is your roadmap. Instead of waking up and wondering what to post, you can look at your defined categories and know exactly what topics to cover. This prevents content burnout and stops you from posting random, off-brand videos that confuse your audience and dilute your message.

Method 1: Using TikTok’s Built-In Categorization Tools

TikTok gives you several free and powerful tools to organize your content directly within the app. Using them correctly is the foundation of any good categorization strategy. Let’s walk through them step by step.

Step 1: The Official "Post Settings" Category

This is the most direct signal you can send to the algorithm, yet it’s one many creators skip. Before you hit "Post," you have the option to officially categorize your video.

How to do it:

1. On the final post screen, after editing your video and writing your caption, scroll down and tap on "More Options."
2. Look for the "Select video category" option.
3. Choose the category that best fits your video. The options are broad (e.g., Education, Food, Beauty, Comedy, Gaming), but selecting one is far better than leaving it blank.

Always pick the most relevant category. If you’re sharing a funny story about learning to code, "Education" or "Tech" is a better fit than "Comedy" because you want to attract people interested in the core subject matter.

Step 2: Master Your Hashtags

Hashtags are the lifeblood of TikTok categorization. They are discoverability tools that connect your content to trending topics, niches, and user searches. But just throwing a bunch of popular tags on a video won't work. You need a strategy.

A great approach is using a tiered hashtag strategy:

• Broad Hashtags (1-2): These are high-volume tags with massive viewership, like #fitness, #marketing, or #recipe. You likely won’t rank high for these, but they tell the algorithm the general topic of your content.
• Niche Hashtags (2-3): This is your sweet spot. These tags are more specific and target a dedicated community. Instead of #fitness, you might use #kettlebellworkout or #postpartumfitness. Instead of #marketing, use #contentmarketingtips. These are the tags that attract your ideal followers.
• Community/Branded Hashtags (1): This is a custom hashtag unique to you, your brand, or a specific video series. For example, if you run a coffee brand called "Morning Rituals," you might use #BrewWithRituals. This encourages user-generated content and helps build a community around your creations.

Example for a creator teaching pottery:

• Broad: #pottery, #ceramics
• Niche: #potterywheel, #handmademugs, #beginnerpotterytips
• Branded: #ClayCreationsByChris

Step 3: Create and Use Smart Playlists

Playlists are arguably the most user-facing categorization tool on TikTok. They appear at the top of your profile page and allow you to group related videos together. This is your chance to turn a single video viewer into a binge-watcher.

Why Playlists are so effective:

• Organize Your Profile: You can guide viewers directly to the content they’re most interested in, creating a clean, organized experience.
• Increase Watch Time: When a viewer finishes a video in a playlist, the next one automatically cues up. This drastically increases your session watch time - a key metric for the algorithm.
• Showcase Your Expertise: Playlists named "Photoshop for Beginners," "Client Red Flags," and "Side Hustle Ideas" immediately position you as an expert with a wealth of knowledge on specific topics.

To create a playlist, you need to be eligible for the feature (it rolls out to creators). If you have it, go to a video you want to add, tap the three dots, and select "Add to Playlist." You can then create a new one or add it to an existing list.

Method 2: Building a Strategic Content Pillar System

Tools are only half the battle. A truly effective categorization strategy starts before you even press record. This is where content pillars come in. Content pillars are 3-5 core themes or topics that your account is built around. They are the foundation of your content strategy and dictate every video you create.

Step 1: Define Your Core Content Pillars

To find your pillars, think about the intersection of what you know, what your audience needs, and what you want to be known for. Ask yourself these questions:

• What topics could I talk about for hours?
• What problems does my product or service solve for my audience?
• What are the most common questions people ask me?
• What unique perspective can I offer?

Example: A Social Media Manager for Restaurants

• Pillar 1: Social Media Tips for Restaurants. (e.g., How to take better food photos, writing engaging captions for menu items.)
• Pillar 2: Behind-the-Scenes of Agency Life. (e.g., A day in the life, onboarding a new client, planning a content shoot.)
• Pillar 3: Restaurant Marketing Case Studies. (e.g., "See how we grew this pizzeria's account by 300%," analyzing viral restaurant marketing trends.)

Step 2: Map Your Pillars to TikTok Formats and Trends

With your pillars defined, you now have a framework for creating endless content ideas while staying on brand. The key is to keep things interesting by mixing up the video formats for each pillar.

Continuing with the social media manager example:

• Pillar 1 videos (Tips):
  • Talking head videos sharing 3 quick tips.
  • Use the green screen effect to review a restaurant’s Instagram profile.
  • Quick "how-to" tutorials using screen recordings.
• Pillar 2 videos (BTS):
  • Trending audio lip-sync videos about client meetings.
  • Short vlogs from a content shoot at a local cafe.
  • "GRWM" (Get Ready With Me) videos while discussing a business challenge.
• Pillar 3 videos (Case Studies):
  • Duet or Stitch a viral video and explain the marketing strategy behind it.
  • Tell a story about a massive client win.
  • Show a "before and after" of a client's social media performance.

Step 3: Merge Pillars with TikTok's Features

This is where everything comes together. Your strategic pillars should directly inform how you use TikTok's built-in categorization tools.

• Pillars Become Playlists: Each of your 3-5 content pillars should have its own dedicated playlist on your profile. A new visitor can immediately see your areas of expertise: "Marketing Tips," "Agency Vlogs," and "Client Results."
• Pillars Inform Hashtags: Create a bank of niche hashtags for each of your pillars. When you're posting a "Pillar 1" video, you know exactly which hashtags to pull from to ensure you’re reaching the right audience.
• Pillars Guide Your Posts: When selecting the official "Category" in your post settings, choose the one that aligns with the pillar your video addresses.

Step 4: Use a Content Calendar to Stay Consistent

Consistency is everything for the algorithm. A content calendar helps you visualize your pillar strategy and ensures you don't neglect any of your core topics. Plan out your week or month by assigning a different pillar to different days.

For example:

• Mondays: Pillar 1 (Tips & Education)
• Wednesdays: Pillar 2 (Inspiring Story/Case Study)
• Fridays: Pillar 3 (Behind-the-Scenes/Relatable Fun)

This creates a predictable rhythm that teaches the algorithm (and your followers) what to expect from you. You're constantly reinforcing your key categories, which is the fastest way to build authority and grow a targeted audience.

Final Thoughts

Properly categorizing your TikToks is an act of strategy, not just organization. It involves using both the platform’s tools like specific hashtags and playlists, as well as a high-level content pillar system to guide what you create. When these two methods work together, you give the TikTok algorithm a clear roadmap to find your ideal audience, resulting in more views, more followers, and more meaningful growth.

Staying consistent with content pillars and rotating through categories can get complicated fast, which is exactly why we built a visual calendar right into Postbase. I use it to map out my content pillars weeks in advance, making it simple to spot any gaps in my schedule and ensure I’m sending clear, consistent signals to the TikTok algorithm without drowning in spreadsheets. Because it was designed for short-form video from the ground up, I can upload and schedule my TikToks directly, helping me focus on creating great content instead of constantly wrestling with my tools.