Hashtags have become an indispensable tool for discoverability and growth on TikTok. Whether you‘re a brand, influencer, or casual user looking to expand your reach, understanding how to leverage hashtags strategically is essential for success on the platform.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about TikTok hashtags in 2024. From the latest trends and best practices to data-driven strategies and real-world examples, you‘ll walk away with an expert-level understanding of how to use hashtags to achieve your TikTok goals.
Why Hashtags Are Essential on TikTok
TikTok has revolutionized the social media landscape with its unparalleled ability to launch users and content to viral fame. As of April 2023, the short-form video platform boasts:
- Over 1.5 billion active monthly users
- An average of 650,000 new users joining daily
- 38% of users engaging with the app at least once per day
(Source: Business of Apps)
What sets TikTok apart is its unique discovery-focused algorithm that curates a personalized feed of short-form videos for each user, known as the For You Page (FYP). This algorithm heavily weighs user engagement to determine which videos to surface and promote.
Hashtags are one of the primary signals TikTok uses to understand the subject matter of a video and match it to users who are likely to find it interesting. Strategic use of hashtags exposes your video to audiences beyond your existing followers, massively expanding your reach.
According to a study by Statista, videos with hashtags on TikTok have an average engagement rate that is 12% higher compared to videos without hashtags. Hashtags are also the top discovery method on the platform, with 67% of users saying they find new content and accounts to follow through hashtags.
(Source: Statista)
Simply put, if you want your content to be seen on TikTok, hashtags are non-negotiable. Not using hashtags is essentially leaving your content‘s reach up to chance. Being intentional about your hashtag strategy, on the other hand, is a powerful way to boost your content‘s visibility and grow your audience.
The TikTok Hashtag Landscape in 2023
TikTok‘s hashtag ecosystem is dynamic and fast-moving, with new trends and challenges emerging daily. In 2023, we‘re seeing a mix of long-standing popular hashtags and fresh trends driven by the platform‘s ever-evolving user base and content formats.
Some of the most used TikTok hashtags of all time include:
| Hashtag | View Count (Billions) |
|---|---|
| #foryou | 2,630.3 |
| #fyp | 2,500.0 |
| #tiktok | 1,300.0 |
| #xyzbca | 1,000.0 |
| #viral | 422.0 |
| #trending | 415.2 |
| #foryoupage | 290.5 |
| #love | 235.8 |
(Source: InflueNex)
However, the most popular hashtags are not necessarily the most effective for every user or brand. Overly broad tags tend to be saturated with content, making it harder to stand out. The key is finding a balance between reach and relevance.
In 2023, we‘re seeing a continued rise in niche-specific and community-focused hashtags. These tags cater to specific interests, industries, or content genres, fostering tight-knit communities of engaged users. Some examples include:
- #TechTok: A hashtag for tech-related content, tips, and discussions
- #TeacherTok: A community for educators to share advice and classroom content
- #CottageCore: An aesthetic and lifestyle movement celebrating rural, cozy living
- #WitchTok: A tag for spirituality, magic, and witchcraft-related content
- #AltTikTok: An alternative community for quirky, underground content and humor
By niching down with targeted hashtags, creators can attract highly engaged followers who are passionate about their specific content pillars. This also makes it easier to achieve viral reach within a smaller, more targeted community.
We‘re also seeing a resurgence of storytelling and education-focused hashtags, such as:
- #StoryTime: Videos where creators share interesting life stories and experiences
- #TikTokTaughtMe: Educational content teaching unique skills or knowledge
- #BusinessTips: Advice and strategies for entrepreneurs and professionals
- #LearnOnTikTok: TikTok‘s official campaign for learning and educational content
This shift reflects TikTok‘s growing focus on inspiring knowledge-sharing and community-building on the platform. Creators who can entertain while providing value are well-positioned to gain traction.
How to Find the Right TikTok Hashtags for Your Content
Hashtag research is both an art and a science. The goal is finding a balance of relevant, high-interest hashtags that are not overly competitive. Here‘s a step-by-step framework for identifying the optimal tags for your TikTok strategy:
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Brainstorm keywords: Start by listing out keywords and phrases that describe your content, account themes, and target audience interests. Consider terms for your industry, niche, content pillars, video formats, and related communities.
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Use TikTok‘s search function: Enter your keywords into TikTok‘s search bar and look at the top hashtags that appear. TikTok auto-populates suggestions based on popularity, giving you a sense of high-volume tags. Click through to each hashtag page to view related tags, top videos, and content themes.
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Assess hashtag competition and volume: When evaluating a hashtag, look at the total number of views and consider the types of content showing up in the top videos. Very broad hashtags with billions of views will be harder to rank for. Look for a sweet spot of moderate-to-high volume tags relevant to your niche.
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Check your TikTok analytics: See which hashtags your audience is already using and engaging with. TikTok‘s native Analytics tools allow creators with a Business or Creator account to view top hashtags driving views, likes, comments, and shares on their videos.
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Analyze competitors: Research the hashtags top creators and accounts in your niche are using. Look for high-performing videos and note common trends in their tags. Don‘t just copy their strategy but use it as inspiration to identify tags that resonate with your shared audience.
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Use hashtag tools: Hashtag analytics tools like Exolyt and TikTok Hashtags provide data on hashtag popularity, reach, and trends. Some allow you to track hashtag performance over time, analyze competitors‘ tags, and get personalized suggestions based on your content.
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Scope out trends: Stay on top of the latest trending hashtags on TikTok‘s Discover page. Join in on viral challenges and trendy tags that align with your brand and content pillars. Participating in mainstream hashtags, especially early on, is a powerful way to boost visibility.
Remember, hashtag research is an ongoing process. Regularly refresh and update your hashtag lists as new trends emerge and your content strategy evolves. Experiment with a mix of general and specific tags, hopping on hot trends while also establishing dominance in your niche.
Best Practices for TikTok Hashtags in 2024
Hashtags may seem straightforward, but using them strategically requires some nuance. Here are 10 best practices to keep in mind for a strong TikTok hashtag game:
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Prioritize relevance: Only use hashtags that accurately describe your video content. Avoid using trending but irrelevant tags – it comes across as spammy and inauthentic. TikTok‘s algorithm is smart enough to detect this.
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Use specific, niche hashtags: Pair broad hashtags with more specific, lower-competition tags to boost your odds of reaching a targeted audience. For example, instead of just using #makeup, include #makeuptutorial, #promakeup, or #weddingmakeup based on the video.
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Keep it concise: TikTok allows up to 300 characters in captions, but aim to keep it brief. Stick to 3-5 hyper-relevant tags per post. Using too many hashtags looks cluttered and desperate. Let your content do the heavy lifting.
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Develop a branded hashtag: Create a unique, brand-specific hashtag for your business or personal account. Use it consistently to establish your brand, encourage shares, and track user-generated content. Keep it short, simple, and memorable.
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Don‘t be repetitive: Vary your hashtags across videos to reach different sub-communities and test what works. Repeating the same set of tags in every post limits your reach and growth potential. Aim for a mix of general, niche, and trending on each post.
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Capitalize on trends: Follow the Discover page to stay on top of emerging hashtag trends and join the conversation early. Put your unique spin on trending tags and challenges to ride the wave while showcasing your personality.
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Place hashtags smartly: TikTok scans captions, comments, and video text for hashtags. Place core hashtags in your caption and add a few extras in the comments. For text overlays, only tag words or phrases that make sense to be clickable.
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Consider content themes: Use hashtags that reflect your general content buckets and post formats. Educational content might include #LearnOnTikTok or #TikTokTaughtMe, while relatable humor could use tags like #RelatableTikToks or #SoTrue.
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Target your location: If your brand or content has local appeal, incorporate geo-specific hashtags for your city, state, or country. You can also use language-specific tags like #deutsch or #español to reach regional audiences.
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Encourage viewers to engage: Include call-to-action phrases like "comment below," "duet this," or "stitch this" alongside your hashtags. Getting viewers to comment, share, or create response videos signals high engagement to the algorithm, boosting your video‘s reach.
Remember, hashtags are just one part of the TikTok formula. Focus on creating genuinely entertaining, valuable, or relatable content that resonates with your unique audience. Promoting that great content strategically with hashtags is the key to TikTok success in 2024.
Conclusion
TikTok‘s unprecedented ability to make anyone go viral has made it an essential platform for brands and creators alike. But with over 1 billion active monthly users and counting, breaking through the noise requires a savvy hashtag strategy.
Used correctly, hashtags amplify your content‘s reach, attract highly engaged followers, and ultimately drive more views, engagement, and growth. The key is developing a data-driven approach to hashtag selection, backed by diligent research and a commitment to adding value to the TikTok community.
By following the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, you‘ll be well on your way to hashtag mastery and TikTok success in 2024. Stay agile, keep experimenting, and most importantly – have fun creating content that excites both you and your audience.
Happy TikTokking!
