How to Use Hashtags on TikTok

Using the right hashtags on TikTok can be the difference between your video getting lost in the noise and landing squarely on the For You Page of your ideal audience. This guide breaks down exactly how to find, choose, and use hashtags to drive discovery, build a community, and grow your account. We'll cover everything from building the perfect hashtag mix to a step-by-step workflow you can start using today.

Why Your TikTok Hashtag Strategy Actually Matters

Think of hashtags not as an afterthought you slap onto a video, but as a critical part of TikTok's search engine optimization (SEO). When you use a hashtag, you're giving the TikTok algorithm direct information about what your video is about, who it's for, and where it fits within the platform. This helps TikTok categorize your content and push it to users who have shown interest in those specific topics.

A smart hashtag strategy accomplishes three main things:

• Boosts Discoverability: Well-chosen hashtags are your ticket to appearing on the For You Page (FYP). When a user engages with a video tagged #homesteading, TikTok is more likely to show them your video if it's also tagged with #homesteading.
• Builds Community: Niche hashtags connect you with a targeted audience that shares your specific interests. Using #potterytiktok or #booktok finds people who are genuinely passionate about those subjects, leading to higher engagement and more loyal followers.
• Adds Context: Hashtags quickly tell viewers and the algorithm what to expect. A video of someone cooking might be for meal prep (#mealprep), a specific diet (#ketorecipes), or just for entertainment (#cookingfails). Each tag attracts a different viewer.

The Anatomy of a Perfect Hashtag Mix

The most common mistake on TikTok is using only massive, generic hashtags like #fyp or #viral. While they have billions of views, they are also incredibly competitive and tell the algorithm almost nothing specific about your video. Great results come from blending different types of hashtags together.

Broad, High-Volume Hashtags

These are the general, top-level tags related to your industry or content category. Think of them as the "big buckets." They have a ton of traffic but also a ton of competition.

• What they are: Tags with millions or even billions of views.
• Examples: #marketing, #smallbusiness, #fitness, #travel, #foodie.
• How to use them: Use one or two per video, paired with more specific tags. They expand your potential reach but shouldn't be the foundation of your strategy. By themselves, they're like shouting into a hurricane.

Niche & Content-Specific Hashtags

This is where the real connection happens. These ultra-targeted hashtags describe exactly what's in your video and connect you to passionate, highly engaged communities.

• What they are: More descriptive tags with a lower view count (from thousands to a few million views) but a much more focused audience.
• Examples: Instead of #marketing, try #socialmediamarketingtips. Instead of #fitness, try #athomeworkoutforwomen. Instead of #smallbusiness, try #smallbusinesstipsforcreators.
• How to use them: These should make up the core of your strategy. Aim for 2-3 of these per video. They signal to the algorithm precisely who should see your content, increasing the likelihood of likes, comments, and follows from the right people.

Trending Hashtags & Challenges

TikTok is built on trends. Tapping into a trending hashtag, sound, or challenge can give your video an enormous visibility boost while it's popular.

• What they are: Tags tied to current events, popular sounds, platform-wide challenges, or memes that are exploding in popularity.
• How to use them: Only use a trending hashtag if you can creatively and authentically tie it to your content. Forcing a trend onto an irrelevant video just feels spammy and can turn viewers off. Check TikTok's "Friends" tab or the search suggestions for trending topics.

Branded Hashtags

A branded hashtag is a unique tag specific to your business, campaign, or community. It’s an excellent way to organize user-generated content (UGC) and build a dedicated space for your brand on the platform.

• What they are: A custom tag you create, like #NikeJustDoIt or, for a smaller brand, something like #GlowingWithGlossier.
• How to use it: Encourage your audience to use your branded tag when they post about your products or services. You can run contests or feature videos that use the tag. It turns your audience into active participants and creates a portfolio of social proof. Add it to your relevant videos to reinforce it.

How to Find Winning Hashtags for Your TikToks

Finding the right hashtags doesn't have to be guesswork. With a little research, you can build a solid library of tags that consistently perform for your niche.

Step 1: Use the TikTok Search Bar

This is the simplest and one of the most effective methods. Go to the search bar in the TikTok app and start typing a broad keyword related to your video. Let's say your video is about making sourdough bread.

1. Type "sourdough" into the search bar.
2. Don't hit search yet. Look at the autocomplete suggestions that pop up. Phrases like "sourdough for beginners," "sourdough scoring," and "sourdough recipe" are ideas for more niche hashtags.
3. Now, tap search and navigate to the "Hashtags" tab. TikTok will show you a list of related hashtags and their view counts. You'll see a mix of broad tags (#sourdough) and more specific ones (#sourdoughtok, #sourdoughbaking, #sourdoughstarter).

This helps you find hashtags that real users are actively searching for and gives you a feel for which tags are broad vs. niche.

Step 2: Learn From Your Niche Peers

Identify 5-10 creators in your niche who are making content similar to yours - especially those who have a similar follower count or are slightly larger than you. They aren't your competitors, they're your study guides.

Scan their recent, high-performing videos. What hashtags are they using consistently? Are they blending broad and niche tags? Pay attention to a creator who posts about social media strategy, you might see a mix like #socialmediamarketing (broad) + #tiktokstrategy (niche) + #contentcreatortips (niche).

Don't just copy and paste their tags. Use their strategy as inspiration to find the tags that are most relevant for your specific video. This helps you understand what's already working in your content ecosystem.

Step 3: Check TikTok's Suggestions During Upload

When you're in the final step of posting your video, right before you hit "Post," start typing '#' in the caption box. TikTok’s AI will analyze your video's visuals, audio, and your past content to recommend relevant hashtags. These suggestions can be surprisingly accurate and often include trending or highly relevant tags you might have missed.

Your No-Fail TikTok Hashtag Workflow

Now that you know the building blocks, let's put it all into an actionable process. Aim for a total of 3-8 carefully chosen hashtags per video. Quality is far more important than quantity.

Step 1: Define Your Content Pillars and Create Hashtag "Buckets"

Most creators have 3-5 recurring themes, or "content pillars," they post about. Before you post, create a simple list or spreadsheet with these pillars. For example, a small coffee shop's pillars might be: "Behind-the-Scenes," "Coffee Education," and "New Drinks."

Under each pillar, research and list 10-15 relevant hashtags using the methods above. Create a mix of broad and niche tags. This way, when you post a video, you already have a pre-vetted list to pull from instead of searching from scratch every time.

Step 2: Balance the Mix for Each Video

For every video you post, pick a dynamic combination of hashtags from your buckets. A good rule of thumb is:

• 1-2 Broad Hashtags (e.g., #coffee, #barista)
• 2-3 Niche Hashtags (e.g., #latteartvideo, #specialtycoffee, #coffeetok)
• 1 Trending or Audience-Specific Hashtag, if applicable (e.g., #coffeeloversclub, #localcoffeeshop)

This blend gives you the best of both worlds: broad potential reach combined with highly targeted community engagement.

Step 3: Place Your Hashtags In the Caption

Your video's caption on TikTok has a character limit, and hashtags count toward it. Place your hashtags at the end of your caption. The text part of the caption is your hook and should communicate the video's value, while the hashtags do the categorization work for the algorithm.

Step 4: Review and Refine

Go to your creator tools and check your analytics. Under the "Content" tab, you can view individual videos and see a breakdown of traffic sources. This will show you how many viewers found your video from the "For You" page, from search, and from following hashtags.

If you notice certain videos performed exceptionally well on the FYP, look at the hashtags you used. Was there a specific combination that worked? Use that data to inform your future hashtag choices.

Common TikTok Hashtag Traps to Avoid

• Using Irrelevant Hashtags: Don't try to "hack" the system by using a popular but unrelated tag like #taylorswift in hopes of getting views. It misleads the algorithm, annoys users, and can lead to your video being shown to the wrong audience, hurting its engagement metrics.
• Relying Only on #fyp or #foryoupage: These hashtags are so oversaturated that they provide almost zero value for categorization. While using one won't hurt, it's not a magic bullet for virality. Focus on descriptive, relevant tags instead.
• "Set It and Forget It" Strategy: Trends and popular keywords change constantly. Revisit your hashtag buckets every month or so to prune underperforming tags and research new ones.
• Ignoring Community Etiquette: Some niche hashtags, like #AutismAcceptance, are tied to specific communities. Before using a sensitive or community-focused tag, make sure your content is genuinely additive and respectful of that space.

Final Thoughts

Mastering hashtags on TikTok is less about finding a secret formula and more about thoughtful, consistent strategy. By viewing them as a tool for clear communication - with both the algorithm and your audience - you can turn them into a powerful driver for growth, community, and brand awareness.

Running a smart hashtag strategy means staying organized and consistent. When I'm planning my content calendar, I keep lists of researched hashtags for different topics right inside my content plans. With a tool like Postbase, we built this kind of thinking directly into the workflow. You can visually plan your videos for weeks at a time, customize captions, and save your curated hashtag lists to add to your TikToks in seconds - it saves a ton of time and keeps your strategy on point without toggling between different apps.