The average TikTok user spends 58 minutes on the app every day. If your content only reaches them once or twice a month, that’s just 20 seconds of their attention in 30 hours—hardly enough to make a lasting impression. To ensure your brand is memorable, it's crucial to reach your audience and find your niche consistently.
Incorporating hashtags into your posts can significantly boost your video's visibility and potential to go viral. However, success isn’t guaranteed. Many brands use hashtags but fail to harness their full potential. What's needed is careful hashtag selection and a deep understanding of their impact to get ahead.
This article will guide you through the best practices for growing your popularity on TikTok. You'll learn how to use hashtags effectively, create engaging content, and connect with your target audience to maximize your reach and impact on the platform.
Hashtags are a great tactic to ensure your influencer marketing content is reaching your target audience. But not all hashtags are made equal. Some hashtags snowball in popularity while others fade.
There are typically a few elements that decide how a hashtag performs:
Hashtags are more important on TikTok than any other social media platform thanks to its unique algorithm, which promotes engaging videos even from accounts with low follower counts.
To take advantage of this opportunity, brands must use hashtags that make it easy for TikTok to direct their content to their target audience. These are the people most likely to engage with the content and, therefore, boost its popularity.
How does that work in action?
The opportunity to go viral usually comes after the initial boost that occurs just after the content is uploaded to TikTok. It's designed to gauge a video's potential by showing it to a small group of users. Which users these are will, in part, depend on the hashtags featured in the TikTok caption. If it quickly gains likes, comments, and shares, the algorithm pushes it onto more FYPs, significantly increasing its visibility. How people interact with the content in the initial 24-48 hours is key. It's at this moment that a video can gain the engagement necessary to reach viral status.
As a video reaches peak engagement, it may become part of larger trends, maintaining visibility for days or even weeks through the hashtags featured. However, over time, newer content takes precedence, and the video’s views and interactions will decline.
Considering this lifecycle, hashtags make your content and brand more visible, increase engagement, and help you become part of a broader community. It ultimately contributes to a stronger and more engaged audience base.
Users follow the hashtags that interest them, and brands must leverage them to reach their target audience and grow brand awareness.
The most popular hashtags are highly competitive by nature. Typically, they have over 1 billion views and are featured in hundreds of thousands of posts. These popular hashtags are also very general and appeal to a large number of people.
Here are the 5 of the most popular hashtags from the last 120 days:
These general hashtags are relevant to large TikTok trends and the biggest summer events, such as Taylor Swift's Era's Tour and the Euros 2024.
The ideal formula is a mixture of highly popular, generalised hashtags and less competitive niche hashtags that tell TikTok exactly what your content is about and promote it to the most people possible.
Let's shift from general to more industry-specific hashtags. These TikTok hashtags are still very popular, yet they are more specific and, therefore, don't have the same reach as the top hashtags.
Here are the most common hashtags by niche:
There is technically no limit to the number of hashtags you can add to a post. However, they must fit within the 2,200-character limit for TikTok captions. While you can fit many into that limit, 3 to 5 hashtags is generally considered the sweet spot for optimal engagement and to prevent content from feeling inauthentic. These hashtags should be used wisely and tell TikTok exactly what your content is about.
Getting on the FYP is challenging. This is content that TikTok has decided a user may like and is the first page a user lands on. It consists of a combination of content from TikTok accounts the user follows and recommended videos decided by the algorithm.
There are a number of hashtags specifically designed to push content to the FYP, such as #fyp, #foryoupage, #foryou, #trending, #viral, and #xybca. These are highly competitive hashtags—there are over 4 billion posts featuring #fyp.
While these hashtags can help content gain visibility, using them alongside specific hashtags for your niche is best. These targeted hashtags help attract a more engaged audience who is genuinely interested in your niche and likely to fit your target audience.
While hashtags can stay popular for months or even years, trends often change rapidly. Reacting quickly isn't an option; it's essential.
Brands need to stay updated to launch hyper-effective campaigns that reach the most people.
The following are the key methods for identifying which hashtags are trending in your niche.
You can start by exploring TikTok’s Explore feature, where you can view popular content in your industry. Simply click the most relevant niche and analyse the top content to discover trending hashtags, sounds, and effects tailored to your industry and which content is popular. This page is updated frequently, reflecting the most recent trends across various categories.
To deepen your research process, ask yourself the following questions: Which of your competitors are most successful on TikTok? Which influencers excel in your niche? Who is dominating the conversations on TikTok in your industry?
Once you can answer these questions, you will know some of the top places to look for hashtags. Competitors and industry leaders are likely using the best hashtags to reach your target audience.
Follow these popular influencers and accounts within your niche to gain a better idea of the specific hashtags that are popular in your field.
Seek out hashtags that are very specific to the content you want to create. This will ensure that you reach the right people. In addition, complete hashtag searches to view the types of content these accounts are posting. For example, for a beauty brand promoting an acne treatment for adults, using #beauty alone may mean content getting lost, but adding a niche hashtag like #acnetreatment or #adultacne will be more specific. In addition, create a branded hashtag to tell the TikTok algorithm what your brand is about and unify user-generated content.
The TikTok Creative Center is a valuable resource for accessing real-time insights into trending hashtags, sounds, and video ideas. This tool helps you identify both short-lived and long-standing trends. It helps you to create content that resonates with your target audience. Simply enter the Creative Center and view the most popular hashtags in your niche.
You can also search hashtags on the Creative Center to analyse them. Familiarity with these tools is essential. It will also give you metrics for your own campaigns and allow you to check which content and, therefore, which hashtags have been most successful. Remember to also view likes and followers—these metrics mean your content is engaging people and likely reaching your target audience.
Hashtag searches are the first step, but it is not the most challenging. It won't do to pump out stale content and match it to popular TikTok hashtags. You need effective, compelling, and interesting content that people watch and engage with.
Here's our guide to content that reaches and impacts your target audience.
Marketers should have a good understanding of their target audience. Knowing what they enjoy ensures your videos are relevant and compelling.
Use TikTok's analytics to see which types of content your audience interacts with the most. This will allow you to tailor your strategy to these preferences for better engagement.
Utilising trending audio is a powerful strategy on TikTok to boost your content's visibility. TikTok’s algorithm often prioritises trending sounds, increasing the likelihood of your video appearing on the FYP.
Incorporating trending audio can also significantly enhance engagement. When users search for or interact with a particular sound, your video can appear in these searches. This exposure can lead to higher view counts and more followers.
Additionally, popular sounds help your content feel current and relatable, encouraging more users to watch, like, and share your videos.
Ensuring your content is high quality is essential for engaging viewers on TikTok. Good lighting and clear audio are fundamental; consider investing in a good smartphone camera or a ring light to enhance your video quality. Clear, crisp visuals and sound can make a significant difference in how your content is perceived and can keep viewers watching longer.
In addition to basic quality improvements, using editing tools can elevate your videos further. Take advantage of TikTok’s built-in editing features and third-party apps to polish your videos. Adding effects, text overlays, and transitions can make your content more engaging and visually appealing. These enhancements not only capture attention but also encourage viewers to interact with and share your videos.
Participating in trends is an excellent way to increase your visibility on TikTok, but it’s important to do so creatively. Add unique twists to trending challenges to make your content stand out. By putting your spin on popular trends, you can attract more attention and differentiate yourself from other creators.
Incorporating humour and authenticity into your videos can also make a significant impact. Authentic content resonates more with viewers, as it feels genuine and relatable. Adding a humorous touch can enhance this connection, making your videos more enjoyable and shareable. This combination of creativity, humour, and authenticity can help you build a stronger connection with your audience and increase your chances of going viral.
Crafting compelling narratives in your videos is essential for keeping viewers engaged from start to finish. By creating content with a clear storyline, you can capture and maintain the audience's attention, making your videos more memorable and impactful.
Sharing relatable experiences or stories that your audience can connect with is equally important. When viewers see themselves in your content, they are more likely to engage, comment, and share. Relatable storytelling fosters a deeper connection with your audience, encouraging them to follow your account and return for more content.
Leveraging TikTok's built-in features can greatly enhance the appeal and reach of your content. The duet and stitch features are particularly useful for interacting with trending content and collaborating with other creators. These tools allow you to create side-by-side videos with other users’ content or seamlessly integrate parts of their videos into your own, fostering engagement and expanding your audience.
Incorporating popular effects and filters into your videos can also make them more engaging and visually appealing. These tools help you stay relevant by tapping into current trends and making your content stand out. Using effects and filters creatively can capture viewers' attention and encourage them to watch, like, and share your videos.
Maintaining a regular posting schedule is crucial for keeping your audience engaged and increasing your chances of being featured on TikTok. Aim to post at least once a day to stay relevant and keep your followers interested in your content. Consistency helps build anticipation and encourages viewers to check back for new videos regularly.
Timing is also key to maximising engagement. Analyze when your target audience is most active and schedule your posts during those peak times. This ensures that your content reaches the maximum number of viewers when they are most likely to interact with it.
Engagement with your audience goes beyond just posting content. Actively respond to comments to build a sense of community in the comment section and make your followers feel valued. This interaction can foster loyalty and encourage more active participation.
Finally, include clear calls to action in your videos and encourage viewers to like, comment, share, and follow your account. Clear and direct prompts can significantly increase engagement rates and help grow your follower base.
Collaborating with others is a powerful strategy to grow your presence on TikTok. Partnering with influencers and other creators in your niche can help you reach new audiences and increase your visibility. These collaborations can introduce your content to a broader and potentially more engaged audience, boosting your follower count and overall engagement.
Some creators are great at selecting hashtags that align with their video’s theme. It improves their chances of reaching the right viewers and increasing overall engagement on posts.
Here are a few examples:
Brooke James, a prominent TikTok influencer, effectively uses hashtags to amplify her reach and engagement on the platform. In her video, she employs a mix of trending and niche hashtags that align with her content, ensuring it reaches both broad and targeted audiences.
James often incorporates popular TikTok hashtags, such as #shopping #haul #viral, to tap into trending conversations. This strategic use of hashtags not only enhances visibility but also fosters a sense of community among her followers, driving higher interaction and engagement. She now has 951K followers.
Princess Andre, a notable TikTok influencer with 744.5K followers, adeptly uses hashtags to maximise her reach and engagement on the platform. By integrating trending and niche-specific hashtags into her content, she ensures her videos are discoverable by a broad audience while also connecting with those interested in specific topics. For example, she used #barbie #fyp in her TikTok caption for a video lip-syncing to a scene from the film Barbie. This approach not only increases her visibility but also enhances engagement and interaction with her content. Through strategic hashtag use, Princess Andre effectively taps into trending discussions and fosters a dedicated community of followers.
Saffron Rose, known for her entertaining and humorous TikTok content under the handle @havealaffwithsaff, skillfully uses hashtags to boost her video's visibility and engagement. In her videos, Saff employs a combination of trending and relevant hashtags that align with her comedic style and audience interests.
For her content about agoraphobia, she uses #exposuretherapy #agoraphobia #mentalhealth. Alternatively, while dancing at a festival, she tagged #benhemsley #onthewaterfront. She also posts content as a dancer using #dancer and #comedy #scousetiktok #relatable #aesthetics #lips for comedy content about lip filler.
This strategy ensures her content reaches a wider audience, engaging both her existing followers and new viewers.
For brands trying to decide whether the latest trend is still hot, competitive analysis is essential. Effectively monitoring and adapting to hashtag trends is crucial for staying relevant on social media platforms like TikTok.
Here are some tools and strategies:
The TikTok Creative Center provides insights into trending hashtags, sounds, and video ideas. This tool helps you stay updated with the latest trends across various categories.
Kolsquare is a powerful social listening tool that tracks hashtag performance and trends in real-time. It offers data-driven insights, allowing you to refine your hashtag strategy based on what’s currently resonating with audiences.
You can directly search your competitors to discover which hashtags they are using. Then, simply click to learn key data about the hashtag, including the average engagement rate on each social media platform.
With only 3-5 hashtags on each post, you must use them wisely. Kolsquare allows you to choose the right hashtags for your campaigns and provides tracking to identify which hashtags gain the best results for your competitors.
Book in for a Kolsquare demo today.
Let's distil everything to help you find and make the most of the best hashtags for your brand. Trending hashtags not only inspire fresh content ideas but, when combined with effective storytelling, can significantly boost engagement and make your content more likely to go viral.
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