How many hashtags should I use on TikTok? This is a common question, and the answer might surprise you. In this post, we’ll explain how to avoid common mistakes and maximize your TikTok visibility.
Hashtags are a crucial part of TikTok, helping to organize content and connect users with the trends they care about. But how many hashtags should you actually use on TikTok to boost your reach and increase your chances of going viral?
Many businesses, influencers, and brands make the mistake of loading their captions with too many hashtags on TikTok, thinking it will drive more engagement. However, this approach can backfire. To truly stand out and maximize your TikTok success, you need to include hashtags strategically, not just in excess.
In this post, we’ll highlight 5 hashtag mistakes you should avoid to improve your TikTok reach and visibility.
How Do TikTok Hashtags Work?
TikTok hashtags function similarly to those on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by helping both users and the TikTok algorithm discover and categorize your content. When you use relevant hashtags, it signals to TikTok what your video is about, making it easier for the algorithm to suggest your content to the right audience.
Hashtags on TikTok are essential for increasing video visibility and boosting virality. They not only help users find trending content but also allow businesses to identify competitors and engage with user-generated content. For example, you can leverage TikTok hashtags to showcase customer testimonials, promote brand awareness, or tap into trending topics to expand your reach and improve engagement.
How Many Hashtags Should I Use on TikTok: Common Mistakes Explained
When used correctly, TikTok hashtags can increase your online sales and expand your reach across social media, among other benefits.
However, there are some potential pitfalls that include:
Mistake 1: Using Irrelevant Hashtags
As tempting as it might be to invest heavily in high-performing hashtags and trending tags when building your social media campaigns, it’s important to remember not all popular hashtags will be relevant to you.
Before you start adding hashtags to your TikTok campaigns, ask yourself whether they apply to your business, niche, and the customers you want to reach.
While popular hashtags that aren’t relevant to your audience might expand your reach at first, they may draw attention that doesn’t engage or convert. If you’re not sure whether a hashtag is relevant to your business, consider searching for it on TikTok and exploring how other companies are using the tag.
You can also check out your competitors for insights into common hashtags that might be valuable in your industry.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Popular Hashtags for TikTok
As mentioned above, every trending hashtag will not be relevant to your company. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore popular tags completely. Finding high-performing best hashtags that appeal to your target audience can be an excellent way to increase your growth.
Keep in mind that the trends regarding TikTok content change quickly. A hashtag that’s extremely popular one week might not be as powerful the next. Follow influencers and competitors in your field for insights into which hashtags are trending.
Think about the words people will commonly search for when looking for your business online.
For instance, if you run a tech company, tags like “Tech” or “Technology” might be valuable options. Or, if you’re selling products or services in a specific part of the world, using geo-specific hashtags related to your target location can help you find customers who are close to your business.
Mistake 3: Using Too Many Hashtags on TikTok
Is using too many hashtags bad on TikTok? There are some nuances you’ll need to be aware of; you cannot assume it is the same as Instagram. For instance, on Instagram, using between 20-30 hashtags can significantly increase your reach and engagement. But on TikTok, using dozens of hashtags can actually deter your target audience.
A good way to determine exactly how many tags you should be using in your campaigns is to experiment. Start with 3-5 hashtags and pay attention to how much engagement and reach you get.
Mistake 4: Not Using Hashtags in Your Captions
Hashtags are crucial to ensuring customers can find your posts, and TikTok can organize your content. And while there are some major brands out there with millions of followers that neglect to use hashtags, you cannot compare your brand to them. They generally already have a very engaged audience.
If you want to learn how to grow your TikTok reach, consistently using hashtags is essential.
Studies show that users with at least 1-3 hashtags on their posts usually get around 27% more engagement. Always include at least one tag in your TikTok campaigns.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Hashtags on your Social Feed
Learning how to embed a TikTok video feed is valuable for growing brands.
A TikTok aggregator can collect valuable content from your social media feeds and display it on your website, providing visitors with up-to-date insights and information.
The best TikTok embed tools will allow you to leverage hashtags to create highly relevant campaigns. You can use tools like Juicer to display content linked to a specific hashtag, making it easy to display user and brand-specific posts.
Hashtag Best Practices for Your TikTok Strategy
If you’re not taking advantage of the right hashtags, you are missing out. When planning your next TikTok marketing campaign, make sure you:
- Understand your target audience: research your audience by analyzing posts from customers, influencers, and other competitors in your niche. Find out what kind of content your customers respond to.
- Experiment with hashtags: experiment with a range of hashtags, including high-performing hashtags, trending tags, niche tags, and geo-specific hashtags that may appeal to customers. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any symbols or punctuation marks in hashtags unless it’s trending.
- Create your own hashtags: don’t be afraid to experiment with hashtags you create yourself. This can be a great way to inspire your customers and earn user-generated content you can use in your marketing campaigns going forward.
It’s also worth paying attention to your analytics and metrics from each social media campaign.
Look at your engagement rates, click-through rates, and other KPIs to determine the tags on posts that help you expand your reach, earn new sales opportunities, and connect with customers.
Tips to Find Relevant Hashtags on TikTok
Here are some solid tips that you can practically implement today:
- Explore Trending Hashtags: Check TikTok’s “Discover” page to see popular and trending hashtags in your niche. This helps you stay updated with what’s relevant.
- Analyze Competitors: Look at what hashtags your competitors or similar accounts are using. This can give you insight into which hashtags are working well in your industry.
- Use Niche Hashtags: Instead of focusing on broad, highly competitive hashtags, target niche-specific ones that align closely with your content and audience. This can help you reach a more engaged group.
- Leverage TikTok’s Search Function: Start typing keywords related to your content in TikTok’s search bar. The auto-suggest feature will display related hashtags that are commonly searched by users.
- Look for Hashtags in Viral Videos: Review viral TikTok videos in your niche to see which hashtags they’re using. This can give you inspiration and help you understand what resonates with viewers.
- Experiment and Track Results: Try different hashtags in your posts and monitor their performance. Use TikTok’s analytics to see which hashtags bring the most engagement, and refine your strategy accordingly.
- Check Influencers in Your Industry: See what hashtags influencers and content creators in your field are using to tap into their established audience base.
Make the Most of Your Hashtags for Tiktok with Juicer Social Wall
Hashtags are a powerful tool on TikTok, and without the right ones, achieving consistent growth can be a real challenge. They help categorize your content, increase visibility, and engage the right audience. However, it’s not just about adding random hashtags to your posts.
Using hashtags effectively involves more than simply picking popular tags. It’s crucial to know which hashtags align with your brand, niche, and target audience. Focus on selecting hashtags that will actually drive engagement and connect with users who are genuinely interested in your content.
When building your TikTok campaign, carefully target hashtags that resonate with your content’s theme. Whether you’re promoting a product, sharing valuable information, or jumping on a trend, the right hashtags can significantly impact your reach and growth.
To take it a step further, consider showcasing hashtag-specific content directly on your website. Juicer’s platform allows you to aggregate and display content related to specific hashtags, helping you further engage with your audience and build a community around your brand.
Learn more about Juicer’s plans and how you can leverage hashtag-specific content to enhance your TikTok campaigns and website engagement.
TikTok Hashtag FAQs
It’s better to use fewer, relevant hashtags —around 3-5—to boost engagement without overwhelming your audience.
Yes, using too many hashtags can make your video post look cluttered and may reduce engagement.
Yes, using hashtags on TikTok helps categorize your content, making it easier for users to find and increasing your chances of reaching a larger audience.
Easy, simply add relevant tags to your video caption that describe your content or relate to trending topics. Aim for 3-5 hashtags, mixing general, niche, and trending ones to increase visibility and engagement.
You shouldn’t use popular hashtags if they’re not relevant to your content, as they may attract the wrong audience and reduce engagement. It’s better to use hashtags that are specific to your niche to reach users who are genuinely interested in your content.
Yes, TikTok allows up to 100 characters for hashtags in a caption, which typically translates to about 3-5 hashtags. While there’s no strict limit on the number of hashtags, it’s recommended to avoid overloading your post with too many to maintain clarity and engagement.
