May 31, 2023
By:Emily Harper
TikTok has taken the world by storm, allowing regular folk to create their video content with backing audio and video effects and do what their favorite celebrities and creators do.
It’s like a dream come true for casual filmmakers who could never pursue their passions. TikTok has made everyone into a video creator. While creating on TikTok is one thing, having your content easily discovered is another altogether.
If you aren’t willing to spend money to promote your content inorganically, you can use the underutilized feature of the platform borrowed from other, older social platforms: Hashtags.
Users use TikTok hashtags to find content that interests them or trends making rounds.
We look at some of the best tricks to get the best out of your TikTok hashtags.
TikTok SEO is gradually picking up, with users and content creators realizing that hashtags are one of the best ways to find the content you are looking for.
Like every other platform that uses them, TikTok hashtags are words written without spaces and preceded by the “#” symbol. Users looking for a topic must enter the hashtag in the search to see all content posted using the hashtag.
Hashtags are user-created bookmarks for content. The hashtag you are looking for may not accurately describe what you offer. It may not be grammatically correct, and in some cases, it may include inter-lingual aspects.
Depending on your business type and the message you communicate, pick the best TikTok hashtags using TikTok’s Trend Discovery.
Your time is the only investment you need to research the right hashtag. Be patient, especially initially, as you begin understanding the type of hashtags that can be used on your TikTok content to attract higher engagement.
Hot tip: An amazing TikTok logo is another way to grow your engagement as a brand on the platform.
Any piece of content can go viral on TikTok, which is why a large number of people embrace the platform.
If your content goes viral, so will the hashtags you use in the caption. It could be the name of the song you’re dancing to or a challenge your brand has presented to users. To rule the popularity charts, create new and niche hashtags that have never been used.
Mix these unique hashtags with popular hashtags. The Popular hashtags will attract users interested in the topics you cover. Once you catch their attention with your content, they will hook onto your niche hashtag, and that’s when the fun begins.
TikTok’s algorithm is designed to reward trending content and those who follow trends. TikTok sponsors some trends, while others are organic. Use the platform’s search tool to see which TikTok hashtags are trending at a specific time. Jump onto the bandwagon and create content that falls within the template or style of the hashtag.
The Search, Discover, For You, and Following sections on TikTok gives you an insight into trending videos on the platform. Look for the captions on these videos, find the intriguing hashtags, click on them, check their popularity, and use them in your content.
You do not want to create a long list of hashtags at the bottom of your videos because it dilutes the relevance of your videos.
While TikTok is liberal with the number of hashtags it allows, it is advisable to keep the number between three and five. This way, you keep your caption section clean and have enough room to write an impactful caption.
If you run out of space to write your TikTok hashtags, you can write some down in your comments section. These hashtags will also attract users who are searching for specific words.
Using trending hashtags is advisable to be discoverable. But other than being useful for discovery, hashtags can also be used as bookmarks. Your branded content can use a unique hashtag crafted specifically for your brand.
Use this hashtag across all your branded posts, and whenever you want to look for your brand’s content, simply key in the TikTok hashtags.
Coca-Cola used #ShareACoke for one of its campaigns. Since the hashtag served as a call to action that could be acted out on TikTok, it caught on, and users began using the brand’s hashtag, increasing the organic traffic. #ShareACokeChallenge garnered 82.5 million views.
TikTok’s most unique value proposition is the hashtag challenge.
These challenges are triggered by a source video where a specific action is acted out, and users are invited to perform the challenge or beat it. The challenge could be performing a dance step, saying something quickly, or even kicking off bottle caps precisely.
Your followers will be the first few to partake in the challenge, creating unique content and attracting other users to be a part of the trend. Branded hashtag challenges effectively increase views and shines a light on your voice on TikTok.
Is there a limit to the number of hashtags you can use on TikTok? No. TikTok encourages users to use more hashtags to attract more users from the platform.
But as a branded account, you want to avoid creating an impression of being desperate for views and followers. Use the caption section to write an interesting and informative caption that describes your content perfectly.
TikTok limits the number of characters that can be used in the caption. You can only type up to 2,200 characters in the caption, which includes captions, links, and hashtags. An ideal balance is a caption that spans no more than a couple of lines, followed by three to five hashtags.
Researching the competition gives your brand the edge. Your competition on TikTok may not only include other businesses that operate in your space. It can also include brands that are getting their TikTok game right. Keep a close eye on them because they have better access to trends and new developments on TikTok.
Use TikTok analytics tools like SocialInsider to decipher your reach, most effective hashtags, and most importantly, who your biggest competitors are.
Hashtags used by popular TikTok accounts are generally the most popular ones around. Identify them, measure their appropriateness with your message, and use them liberally. No one owns hashtags. They’re one for all.
As a crowd-sourced social media platform, TikTok encourages users to set their trends rather than dictating what should trend.
Audiences create their own rules and set their hashtags. It helps to understand which hashtags your audience uses when expressing a specific idea related to your business.
Hashtags have another secret function. They’re powerful identifiers for your audience. If you want to reach out to programmers, find hashtags that programmers use to describe themselves. If you’re reaching out to bikers, look for their preferred identifiers.
By understanding which TikTok hashtags your audience uses to describe themselves, you can place your brand on the platform where they’re comfortable. This applies to individuals and groups of users too.
Car lovers who have an affinity for a specific brand will collectively use a hashtag they are proud of. By researching hashtags relatable to larger communities, you can have a bigger brand impact on users.
What are some commonly asked questions about TikTok hashtags? Get your questions answered with these three FAQs.
They certainly do! Hashtags are a great way for users to discover new material and engage in conversations on TikTok, as well as Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites. If hashtags on TikTok are not working for you, you’re likely using them incorrectly.
Statistics show that "entertainment" is the most often consumed type of content on TikTok around the world. There have been 535 billion impressions of this exact hashtag. Following closely behind are videos about dance, practical jokes, physical activity, and do-it-yourself home improvement projects.
Hashtags on TikTok function similarly to those on Instagram in that they classify content and facilitate user searches. However, it's critical to employ appropriate hashtags. Consider these to be keywords that will tell the social media algorithm gods what your video is about.
TikTok hashtags are clickable, making them easy to access. In your research, when you come across any hashtag in a caption, simply click it and have it lead you to a customized feed containing content that uses the hashtag. While other social media platforms mourn the death of organic marketing,
TikTok hashtags are keeping the flame of organic discoverability burning. Use it for your brand while the sun still shines on the organic side of the internet.