How to Get More Views on TikTok Hashtags

Using the right TikTok hashtags can feel like trying to guess a secret password. You know it’s the key to unlocking more views, but you’re never quite sure which combination will work. This guide cuts through the confusion. We're going to break down a simple, repeatable strategy for choosing hashtags that actually help the algorithm - and your future followers - find your content.

Why Hashtags Still Matter on TikTok

With TikTok’s famously powerful algorithm, it’s easy to wonder if hashtags are even necessary anymore. The short answer is: yes, absolutely. While the "For You" page is brilliant at serving content, hashtags act as critical signposts that help the algorithm do its job faster and more accurately.

Think of them this way:

• They Tell the Algorithm What Your Video Is About: When you upload a video, the algorithm analyzes the visuals, audio, and your caption to categorize it. Hashtags are explicit, direct labels that confirm the topic. A video with #vegancooking tells the algorithm exactly who to show it to first: users who have already engaged with other vegan cooking content.
• They Connect You to Niche Communities: Communities on TikTok are often built around hashtags. #BookTok isn't just a tag, it's a bustling community of readers and authors. Using a relevant community hashtag gets your video in front of a warm audience that is already looking for content just like yours.
• They Improve Your Discoverability in Search: TikTok is quickly becoming a major search engine, especially for younger audiences. When someone searches for "easy dinner ideas" or "fall fashion trends," videos with relevant keywords and hashtags in the description are far more likely to appear.

Without hashtags, you're making the algorithm work harder to find your audience. With them, you’re giving it a clear map to the right viewers.

The Three Tiers of TikTok Hashtags: Your Foundation for Discovery

The most effective hashtag strategy isn’t about just grabbing trending sounds or popular tags. It's about creating a balanced mix that serves different purposes. The easiest way to do this is to think of hashtags in three distinct tiers.

Tier 1: Broad/High-Volume Hashtags (1B+ Views)

These are the giants of the TikTok world. Think of tags like #fyp, #viral, #tiktok, or #foryoupage. They have billions, sometimes trillions, of views and are used on millions of videos every single day.

• Purpose: Their primary function is to signal to the algorithm that you want your content pushed to a wide audience. They are your lottery ticket for broad reach. Using one or two of these gives your video a chance, however small, to get picked up and tested with a gigantic pool of viewers.
• The Catch: Because they are so popular, the competition is astronomical. Your video will be a tiny drop in a massive ocean. Relying only on these tags is a common mistake that leads creators to feel like they’re shouting into a void.
• Example Use Case: You create a hilarious, relatable video about working from home that has universal appeal. You add #fyp to it in the hopes that it gets a shot at massive exposure.

Tier 2: Niche-Specific Hashtags (1M to 500M+ Views)

This tier is where you’ll find your people. These are hashtags related to your content's specific topic, industry, or interest group. They are focused but still have significant volume and an active audience.

• Purpose: These hashtags connect your content directly with viewers actively interested in your niche. If someone regularly watches #cleantok videos, using that tag on your bathroom organization video makes it highly likely TikTok will serve it to them. This is how you attract followers who will stick around.
• The Power: While they have fewer views than the broad tags, the audience is far more engaged. Getting views from this group signals to the algorithm that your content is high-quality and relevant, which can help it break out to wider audiences later.
• Example Use Case: You're a fitness coach sharing a video on proper deadlift form. You'd use tags like #workouttips, #gymtok, or #deadliftform.

Tier 3: Ultra-Niche or Community-Specific Hashtags (Under 1M Views)

These are the highly specific, low-competition keywords for your content. They could describe the content even more precisely, be related to a local community, or even be a branded hashtag you've created.

• Purpose: These tags help you dominate a small, highly relevant conversation. The competition is incredibly low, meaning your video has a high chance of being one of the top posts for that specific tag. It's fantastic for TikTok SEO and building a loyal community.
• The Benefit: Someone searching for a very specific term, like #bostonvintagefinds, is a highly motivated viewer. If your video is what they’re looking for, you’ve likely found a new, loyal follower. You can also create your own unique tag (e.g., #JanetsKitchenRecipes) to group all your content together and encourage user-generated content down the line.
• Example Use Case: You film a review of a small coffee shop in Austin, Texas. You could use #austincoffeeshops or #eastaustincoffee.

Crafting Your Perfect Hashtag Mix: A Step-by-Step Strategy

Now that you understand the tiers, let's put them together into an actionable formula. Overloading your caption with a dozen hashtags is unnecessary and can look spammy. The sweet spot is typically between 3-5 well-chosen hashtags per video. Here’s a simple recipe for success:

The 1-3-1 Mix Formula:

• 1 Broad Hashtag (Tier 1): Pick one, like #fyp or #viral, to enter the high-reach lottery.
• 2-3 Niche Hashtags (Tier 2): This is the core of your strategy. Choose a few tags that accurately describe your content and the community you want to reach.
• 1 Ultra-Niche or Branded Hashtag (Tier 3): Add a super-specific tag to capture targeted search traffic or build your brand.

Example in Action: A Video on Making Sourdough Bread

Imagine you just finished editing a satisfying video teaching beginners how to feed a sourdough starter. Here’s how you could apply the formula:

• Broad Tag: #fyp
• Niche Tags: #sourdough, #bakingtiktok, #breadmaking
• Ultra-Niche Tag: #sourdoughforbeginners

This mix does it all. #fyp seeks wide discovery, the niche tags target bakers and bread enthusiasts, and #sourdoughforbeginners perfectly captures anyone searching for exactly what your video is about.

How to Find Effective Hashtags (Without Hours of Research)

The best hashtags aren't secret, they're hiding in plain sight. Here are a few simple ways to find the ones you need.

1. Use the TikTok Search Bar

This is the most powerful and underrated tool at your disposal. Start typing a keyword related to your video (e.g., "skincare") into the search bar. Then, tap on the "Hashtags" tab. TikTok will show you a list of related hashtags and the number of views each one has. This is a goldmine for finding Tier 2 and Tier 3 tags with proven audiences.

2. Analyze Competitors and Niche Leaders

Find 5-10 creators in your niche who are making the kind of content you want to make. Don't look at their average videos, look at their best-performing ones (the ones with the most views and engagement). What hashtags are they using? You’ll start to see patterns. Don’t just copy and paste their list - use it as inspiration to find the relevant tags for your unique content.

3. See What the "For You" Page is Showing You

Your FYP is a personalized research tool. As you scroll, pay attention to the tags used on videos similar to what you create. The algorithm is already showing you what it categorizes as relevant content in your area of interest. If you constantly see videos with #diyproject, that's a strong signal it's a tag worth considering for your own DIY video.

Common Hashtag Mistakes You Should Avoid

Just as important as knowing what to do is knowing what not to do. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Using Misleading or Irrelevant Hashtags: Never tack on a trending hashtag like #beautytok to your recipe video just to chase views. It confuses the algorithm and irritates viewers who are looking for something else. This can lead to quick scrolls away from your video, which tells TikTok your content isn't a good match for that audience.
• Relying Only on Broad Hashtags: Posting a video with just #fyp and #viral is not a strategy. You aren't giving the algorithm enough specific information to find your ideal audience, resulting in your content getting lost.
• Setting and Forgetting Your Hashtags: Don't use the exact same block of 5 hashtags on every single video you post. Each video is unique. While some of your niche tags will stay the same, you should always tailor your hashtags to the specific topic of that video. A video about serums needs different tags than a video about moisturizers, even if they both fall under #skincare.

Final Thoughts

Getting more views with hashtags isn't about finding a single secret tag or gaming the system. It's about communicating clearly. By using a balanced mix of broad, niche, and ultra-niche hashtags, you give the algorithm and your viewers a crystal-clear understanding of what your content is about, which helps it find the right audience every single time.

That structured approach is powerful, but remembering your unique hashtag formulas for different content pillars across TikTok, Reels, AND Shorts can get overwhelming. We actually built Postbase to eliminate that exact kind of chaos. With our visual content calendar, you can plan and schedule all of your short-form video content from one place, ensuring your captions, hashtags, and timing are perfectly aligned with your strategy without ever feeling like you're drowning in spreadsheets.

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