Good Hashtags for TikTok: How Do You Turn Them Into a Growth Tool?

Everyone uses them, but few understand how to use them correctly. Hashtags on TikTok are much more than just keywords – they’re the engine that drives your content to the right audience, helping TikTok’s algorithm understand exactly what you want people to know about you.

To succeed on TikTok, you need a smart strategy. It’s not enough to use #foryou or #fyp and hope for the best. We’re here to show you how to build a hashtag strategy that brings real results.
It’s amazing that in today’s world there are so many great ways to market yourself besides building a website and organic SEO.

Types of hashtags: the key to finding your audience

The most common mistake is using only general, popular hashtags. The key to success is creating the right mix of hashtags with different purposes.

1. General, broad hashtags

These are hashtags with billions of views, like #foryou, #fyp or #viral. They’re meant to reach a very broad audience, but competition for them is especially high. Using them is recommended, but only as part of an overall strategy. Don’t rely on them alone.

2. Unique, niche hashtags

These are the hashtags that define your community and field. For example, if you’re bookkeepers, instead of #business, use #accounting or #financialmanagement. Hashtags like these are less competitive, and they bring you users who are genuinely interested in the topic and more likely to follow you.

3. Trending hashtags

Trends come and go, and using them correctly can skyrocket your views. Look for popular hashtags related to your video. For example, if there’s a trend around a new song, use the song’s hashtag. Note: use them only if they’re relevant – otherwise you’ll look untrustworthy.

4. Your brand hashtag

Create a hashtag unique to your brand, for example: #WSOmarketing. Encourage your community to use it. It builds presence, strengthens the brand and makes it easy for users to find all your content in one place.

How do you build a winning hashtag strategy?

Building the right hashtag list is like building a soccer team. You need different players to perform different roles.

1. Start with research: Use TikTok’s search engine to research popular hashtags in your niche. Look for the hashtags your competitors use, and examine which ones work for them.
2. Mix different types: Don’t use only popular hashtags. The winning mix looks like this:
   • 1–2 broad hashtags: To reach a large audience.
   • 3–4 niche hashtags: To reach a precise, quality audience.
   • 1–2 trending hashtags: To connect with the spirit of the times.
   • 1 brand hashtag: To build community.
3. Place hashtags wisely: Add them at the end of the video description, after the text. That way, they won’t interfere with the reading experience or hurt your message.
4. Avoid overly general hashtags: For example, #car or #food isn’t enough. Instead, use #electriccar or #veganfood. The more specific you are, the more precise the audience you’ll attract.
5. Hashtags aren’t magic: Remember, hashtags alone won’t make your video go viral. They work best when you have quality, interesting and relevant content.

Applying the method: hashtag examples by category

To make the strategy concrete, let’s look at a few prominent examples and see how we’d choose the right hashtags for each.

1. Category: cooking / food

• Broad hashtags: #food, #cooking, #recipes, #foodie
• Niche hashtags: #veganfood, #healthycooking, #quickrecipe, #desserts, #homebaking
• Trending hashtags: #pizzarecipe, #tahinichallenge (depending on hot trends on TikTok).
• Brand hashtag (example): #ShellysPastries

Explanation: Instead of using only #food (which has billions of views), we add hashtags like #quickrecipe that speak directly to an audience that wants easy solutions. That way, the video can go viral in a more specific niche too, with a better chance of reaching an audience that will truly connect with you.

2. Category: fitness / training

• Broad hashtags: #fitness, #workout, #gym, #training
• Niche hashtags: #homeworkout, #fullbodyworkout, #yogaisrael, #matpilates, #personaltraining
• Trending hashtags: #exercisechallenge, #muscleworkout (depending on the challenges and trends running).
• Brand hashtag (example): #DanielsStudio

Explanation: When a user searches for #homeworkout, they already know what they want. This is a warm audience that our niche hashtag addresses directly. It’s more effective than trying to compete on #fitness, which has millions of videos.

3. Category: marketing / small businesses

• Broad hashtags: #marketing, #business, #smallbusiness, #entrepreneur
• Niche hashtags: #digitalmarketing, #organicseo, #freelancers, #startingabusiness, #marketingtips
• Trending hashtags: #chocolatetruffles (if that’s the current trend on TikTok).
• Brand hashtag (example): #WSOmarketing

Explanation: For a professional audience, it’s important to be specific. Using #smallbusiness attracts a focused target audience, while the brand hashtag #WSOmarketing builds your presence as a brand that addresses a professional audience and provides value.

4. Category: art / painting

• Broad hashtags: #art, #painting, #artist, #artwork
• Niche hashtags: #israeliartists, #digitalpainting, #oilpainting, #paintingworkshops
• Trending hashtags: #paintingchallenge, #freehandpainting (if it’s a popular trend).
• Brand hashtag (example): #NoasCreations

Explanation: Specific hashtags like #israeliartists build a local community and connect you with other creators and potential customers in Israel, and they’re much more effective in the long run than a general hashtag like #art.

This method works for any topic. All you need to do is research your community, mix general, niche and trending hashtags, and that way reach exactly the audience you want.