Tiktok is one fast growing application, with Forbes Magazine claiming that it is time for brands to move to Tiktok. What makes Tiktok stand out? Simple, it is one of the few social media apps that somehow allows for anyone to go viral and gain attention. How? Hashtags!

Just like Instagram, Tiktok visibility can be enhanced through hashtags. But in contrast to most popular social media applications, Tiktok's algorithm remains a mystery. But we have some tips to give you in this blog. To better understand Tiktok, you really have to just go through a trial and error period. We will discuss how to use trial and error with hashtags later in this blog. But first let us further understand why it is that you need hashtags.

A lot of people might argue that using hashtags on Tiktok is not as effective as you would think it is. That argument is true, only if you are using the WRONG hashtags. After all Tiktok's explore page has a section of the trending hashtags where people can view videos with the trending hashtags. So how can the wrong hashtags manipulate your visibility? Tiktok might not promote your videos on the "for you page" if it feels like the hashtags do not resonate with the content. Yes! this could be considered as a spam. Here are our 3 tips, to shoot your hashtag game to maximum effect.

1. Be specific

2. Use trending hashtags

3. Research your competitors

So let's dive in and discuss how to actually put these tips to action.

Being Specific

Finding a niche is crucial to target the right people on every app. You need to know your niche market, as in who you are targeting. This step will be quite a challenge to grasp. But through a little research or as extensive as you'd like, you can find what are the good hashtags to be used in your domain. You need to target the community you are looking to gain attention from. So first know who are the accounts that you want to see your content?  research the trending hashtags in that community, work around it. Tiktok does send videos to the "for you page" of people who are likely to enjoy your video. For example if you are a makeup artist you can use the most famous makeup related hashtag #makeuptutorial (along with others) which has around 7 billion views. Now your video will be on #makeuptutorial page, and Tiktok will also send the video to people who have previously enjoyed and interacted with this hashtag. Be patient.

Using Trending Hashtags

Along with using specific hashtags, you might as well use trendy hashtags. You need to make sure that the ones you are using actually resonate with your content. One way to see the trending hashtags in your domain is to search in the hashtags section. Let's keep on using the makeup example, Let us just type makeup in the "discover" page and then go to the hashtags, and see what are the most used and viral ones. Once you find what you need, they are yours to use them.

Researching Your Competitors

In order to secure a success strategy on Tiktok you need to look at previous success stories. Yes a little bit of spying and stalking could be of benefit. But hey you do not have to mimic every move leaders in your domain have made, give it your own twist. Look at what hashtags they use, or have used in the past, and find a non-branded repetitive one. Getting inspired from success stories can also help you understand when and how often you should be posting on Tiktok.

Now that you have a few tips in your pockets. Let's move on to popular questions.

How many hashtags per post should you include per post?

Most would say 3-4 and many others would say up to 5. Our tip is going as high as 8 hashtags per post won't do no harm. But if you exceed 8 and include so many hashtags on your post, your work will not be as effective as you would like it to be. Why? Because that might look like a spam to Tiktok algorithms.

Does tagging videos with #fyp #foryou and #foryoupage have an effect on video performances?

The truth is that there are no accurate answers to this question. Here comes the role of trial and error. What we suggest you do is to post the same video twice once with the fyp hashtags and another with the researched and branded hashtags, and see where your video's traffic came from using a Titktok Pro account.

Have a nice creative journey.