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TikTok has quickly become one of the most influential social media platforms, with 1.6 billion monthly active users in 2023 and billions of downloads.
Its fast-paced, algorithm-driven content makes it a powerful tool for creators, brands, and eCommerce businesses alike.
We’ll break down how to use TikTok hashtags strategically to increase visibility, tap into niche communities, and support your 2025 marketing goals – whether you’re aiming to go viral or drive sales.
TikTok hashtags: How do they work?
Hashtags on TikTok help the platform understand and categorize your content. They play a key role in how the algorithm decides which videos appear on a user’s For You page (FYP), ensuring your content reaches the people most likely to engage with it.
The algorithm considers three main factors:
- Account settings – language, device type, and location
- Content engagement – likes, shares, comments, watch time
- Video information – hashtags, sounds, video captions, and keywords
Hashtags also act as community tags, making it easier for users to find content in specific niches. For example, #smallbusiness connects you with entrepreneurial creators, while #LearnOnTikTok places your video among educational content.
For TikTok marketers, the right mix of trending, niche, and even branded hashtags (like your own company tag or campaign slogan) can improve discoverability and organic reach.
While popular hashtags like #foryou, #viral, and #trendingvideo can increase reach, TikTok now favors relevant, niche-focused content. Instead of chasing volume, focus on hashtags that reflect your content.
To create an effective strategy:
- Search strategically – Use TikTok’s search bar to explore topic-specific hashtags and check their view counts.
- Use the TikTok Creative Center – Find top-performing hashtags by industry, region, and trend data.
- Study your niche – Analyze what hashtags your audience and competitors are using to spark engagement.
- Create branded hashtags – Launch a hashtag challenge or contest to increase visibility and encourage user-generated content.
By understanding how hashtags affect discoverability, you can use them more intentionally, not just for views, but to build a loyal, engaged community around your brand.
Benefits of using TikTok hashtags
Whether you’re a creator, marketer, or business owner, here’s how the right hashtags can help you achieve better results:
1. Expand your reach to the right audience
With the right popular TikTok hashtags, your videos are more likely to appear on relevant For You pages.
2. Improve discoverability
Using trending TikTok hashtags gives your content a better chance of surfacing during peak interest moments, helping you ride the wave of what’s currently gaining traction.
3. Enhance engagement
Hashtags connect your TikTok videos to active platform communities. This means more likes, comments, and shares, especially when using TikTok viral hashtags associated with trending challenges or topics.
4. Build a niche community
Relevant hashtags for TikTok allow you to reach smaller, more targeted audiences. Over time, this can help you build a loyal community around your brand or content.
5. Track campaign performance
Custom or branded hashtags can help you track the impact of your campaigns and user-generated content. You can monitor how frequently your hashtag is used and how well it performs across TikTok.
6. Increase sales and conversions
Top TikTok hashtags, when combined with compelling calls to action or product-focused videos, can guide users from discovery to purchase, especially when they are compatible with TikTok’s shopping features.
7. Stay competitive
Your competitors are already using hashtags. Monitoring and using the best hashtags for TikTok ensures you don’t fall behind in a fast-paced content environment.
TikTok do’s and dont’s
Hashtags alone aren’t everything. Here are key TikTok dos and don’ts that also affect your growth and success.
Do
- Create a hashtag challenge for your niche
Follow established creator trends by networking through shared challenges and content formats, using the appropriate hashtags to increase visibility among engaged users.
- Post content at the right time
Post your content during active hours relative to your timezone. Seasonal changes will impact when most users are on the app, so be sure to align your content with updated engagement trends.
- Use featured songs
One of the primary ways users become viral is through popular and featured audio samples. 68% of users remember the brand better if they use a featured and topical song.
- Make full use of the description’s 500-character limit
Always write a description for your videos. Add recaps, call-to-action incentives, and links to your other social media accounts and brand products or services.
- Mix popular hashtags
Use both niche and trending hashtags. Selecting a good combination of hashtags might take several attempts – try starting with two broad ones for every niche-specific TikTok hashtag.
- Publish authentic, funny content
With other social networks already flooded by formal and scripted ads, use the platform’s strengths to develop emotional, exciting, and relatable impromptu content that will keep users interested.
- Provide value first
Market your brand last. People are looking for insights and entertainment, not your business home page. Use the video description, captions, and comments to engage with your audience without disturbing the flow of the content.
- Use relevant words in your spoken text
TikTok transcribes your voice with captions when creating content, and the algorithm picks relevant keywords and generic terms to further align your content with potential viewers.
- Track your analytics
To view your account analytics on the mobile app, navigate to Profile > Creator tools > Analytics. Alternatively, use this link in your browser.
Don’t
- Use irrelevant hashtags
Using viral hashtags that don’t match your content can hurt your brand’s credibility. Avoid stuffing your videos with random tags just to chase views – hashtag relevance matters just as much as quantity.
- Skip hashtags altogether
Skipping hashtags might work for established TikTokers with large followings, but for everyone else, they’re essential for reaching a broader audience.
- Put hashtags in the comments
Use comments to interact with viewers only. Commented hashtags are less likely to affect the algorithm and look silly to the keen-eyed Gen Z TikTok community.
- Make overly corporate, polished content
Again, TikTok values authenticity. Leave corporate formalities for other social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
- Post multiple TikToks in a row
Posting too frequently might affect how the algorithm perceives your content – relegating you to spam and automated view farming. Post content at least one hour apart from each post.
- Violate TikTok rules and guidelines
Be sure to keep your content friendly for all audiences, and thoroughly read the TikTok terms of service before posting anything.
- Overuse the #fyp and #foryoupage types of hashtags
Avoid overusing generic hashtags like #fyp – competition is steep, and there’s no solid evidence they boost visibility. Stick to one version rather than repeating the same tag in different formats.
Top 10 TikTok hashtags for 2025
To increase your reach, here are ten of the best TikTok hashtags for 2025 – trending, evergreen, and niche picks to drive views, engagement, and sales.
1. #fyp
Short for “For You Page,” this classic hashtag is still widely used. Pair it with niche tags to improve your video’s visibility.
2. #foryou
Another “For You Page” that users often include in hopes of raising their content’s visibility.
3. #foryoupage
The full version of FYP. To avoid redundancy, stick with just one of the three hashtags (#fyp, #foryou, or #foryoupage) per post.
4. #viral
Simple, broad, and effective. Often used with trending or highly shareable content.
5. #tiktokviral
Gaining traction in 2025, this tag strikes a good balance between reach and relevance.
6. #trendingvideo
Great for content using trending audio or formats. Helps your video get grouped with other popular posts.
7. #funnyvideos
Perfect for comedic or lighthearted content. A great example of what hashtags to use on TikTok for fun content.
8. #LearnOnTikTok
Go-to tag for educational or tutorial content. It’s also one of the most viral TikTok hashtags for business tips, how-tos, and product demos.
9. #smallbusiness
Connects you with entrepreneurs, eCommerce enthusiasts, and creators in the business space.
10. #challenge
One of the most popular TikTok hashtags for increasing engagement. Use it to participate in or start your own hashtag challenge.
Conclusion
TikTok hashtags are still one of the most effective tools for increasing reach, visibility, and engagement in 2025. As the platform leans into niche content, audience-specific relevance, and smarter hashtag strategies, think of hashtags as more than just labels. Use them as targeted signals to help TikTok categorize and promote your content.
With more brands and creators jumping in, competition is growing – but so are the opportunities. By focusing on niche hashtags, using tools like TikTok Creative Center, and staying authentic, you can carve out your space.
Ready to grow your business on TikTok? Whether you run a print-on-demand store, personal brand, or create short videos, a strong hashtag strategy will help you reach the right audience.
Here’s how to start:
- Choose a monetization model.
- Analyze the algorithm, competitors, and target audience.
- Research trending hashtags on TikTok and test niche categories regularly.
- Stay consistent, be authentic, and experiment often.
- Track trends and adapt quickly.
TikTok’s growth isn’t slowing down, and there’s still room for early movers to make a mark. Don’t wait for luck – use hashtags to make the algorithm work for you.
And if you’re in the print-on-demand game, follow PrintifyOfficial on TikTok for behind-the-scenes content and smart POD marketing tips.
