Yes, people definitely search hashtags on TikTok. Hashtags are an important discovery tool on TikTok that allow users to find videos and connect with communities around specific topics, trends, challenges, interests, and more. Searching hashtags is one of the primary ways that TikTok users explore new content and accounts beyond just their For You feed.
Why do people search hashtags on TikTok?
There are several key reasons why searching hashtags is so popular on TikTok:
- Discover new content and creators: Searching a hashtag is the easiest way to find a whole feed of videos focused on a particular topic from a wide range of accounts.
- Join trending challenges: Many viral challenges and meme trends on TikTok are organized around specific hashtags that users search to participate.
- Dive deeper into interests: Users can search niche interest tags like #BookTok or #FashionTikTok to connect with communities around their hobbies.
- Find sounds and songs: Every sound and song used in TikTok videos has an associated hashtag that can be searched.
- Research brands and products: People search branded hashtags like #TargetHaul or #Sephora to see TikTok content about specific companies and products.
In addition to discovering new content, creators also search hashtags to better understand different niches, identify trending topics, conduct audience research, and optimize their own content strategies.
How do people search hashtags on TikTok?
TikTok offers a few different options for searching hashtags:
- Search bar: You can type any hashtag into the search bar at the top of the app homepage and tap the search icon to view top videos using that tag.
- Discover page: The Discover tab features a Trending Hashtags section that shows currently popular tags you can tap on to search.
- In posts: If you tap on a hashtag used within a video caption or comment, it will also open up the hashtag search results.
- Profile tags: Viewing the Hashtags section on a creator’s profile shows trending tags they commonly use.
You can also save hashtags you frequently search to your Favorites for quick access. The search results display top videos using the hashtag as well as the total views and number of posts. You can scroll through the feed, like videos, follow creators, or share content.
What are the most searched hashtags on TikTok?
Some of the most searched and viewed hashtags on TikTok include:
- #fyp – Stands for “For You Page,” this hugely popular tag helps videos get discovered by more users.
- #foryou – Another tag used to increase reach to the For You feeds.
- #viral – Videos tagged with #viral aim to catch on and spread widely.
- #follow – Used by creators hoping to gain more followers.
- #tiktok – Broad tag for anything trending on TikTok.
- #funny – Funny videos always perform well.
- #dance – Dance challenges dominate TikTok trends.
- #food – Food content is hugely popular, like recipes and restaurant reviews.
- #comedy – For comedy skits and humor videos.
- #music – Showcases lip-syncs, song covers, and music trends.
Trending hashtags and challenges also spike in searches, along with interest-based niches like #BookTok, #CleanTok, and #FashionTikTok. New branded hashtags tied to viral products, songs, or influencer campaigns also often emerge in the most searched rankings.
Tips for optimizing hashtags on TikTok
To increase the chances of your TikTok videos appearing in hashtag searches, keep these tips in mind:
- Include a mix of popular and niche hashtags: Combine broadly searched tags like #fyp with more targeted ones relevant to your content.
- Research trending and top hashtags: Stay on top of which tags are currently popular to capitalize on trends.
- Use enough (but not too many) tags: Shoot for 5-10 well-selected hashtags per post.
- Place hashtags at the end: Burying them in a comment can reduce visibility.
- Use branded hashtags: Jump on tags tied to trending songs, products, shows, etc.
- Create your own hashtag: Come up with a unique hashtag brand followers can search for.
- Analyze performance: See which hashtags perform best for your niche.
Finding the right mix of popular and niche hashtags that align with your brand and content style takes experimentation. Analyze which tags drive the most profile visits, shares, follows, engagement, and video views over time.
Should you use banned or blocked hashtags?
No, avoid using banned or blocked hashtags on TikTok. TikTok moderates hashtags that are associated with dangerous challenges, illegal or unethical content, hate speech, harassment, pornography, and spam. Searching these tags gives a “No results” message.
Using banned hashtags can get your account flagged or banned. Stick to viral trending tags relevant to your brand that don’t violate community guidelines.
Some examples of banned hashtags include:
- #PickerChallenge – Associated with dangerous/harmful challenges.
- #HateSpeech – Violates community values against hate.
- #Drugs – Promotes illegal drug use.
- #DroptheTowel – Linked to nudity.
- #SpamComments – Used for spam.
Check TikTok’s Community Guidelines and regularly refresh your hashtags to avoid prohibited ones. Use tags authentically tied to your content.
Should small accounts use popular hashtags?
Yes, small and new accounts on TikTok can and should use popular hashtags. In fact, leveraging trending hashtags is one of the best growth strategies for new TikTok users.
Big hashtags like #fyp, #foryou, and #viral are searched billions of times. Including these gives small accounts opportunities for virality. Even if you don’t go viral, these hashtags get your videos in front of larger, more engaged audiences.
Small creators should also jump on challenge hashtags while trends are peaking. The key is balancing one or two of these huge tags with more niche ones actually relevant to your content.
Research which large hashtags align with your niche and remain active after peaking. For example, #BookTok and #CleanTok remain popular after book and cleaning challenges fade.
Big accounts tend to dominate the top posts for major hashtags. But new users can still benefit by targeting engagement in the recent or live feeds.
Should businesses use hashtags on TikTok?
Absolutely. Hashtags are one of the best tools brands have on TikTok for getting content found. The app makes it easy for users to search and engage with branded hashtags.
Here are some of the key benefits for businesses using TikTok hashtags:
- Increase visibility – Reach broader audiences beyond just your followers.
- Build communities – Connect with niche communities relevant to your brand.
- Showcase products – Get products featured in user content.
- crowdsource content – Inspire UGC and engage audiences.
- Track campaigns – Measure engagement and impressions.
- Drive traffic – Lead audiences to your website, shop, etc.
Brands should develop creative, catchy, memorable hashtags fans genuinely want to search and use. Hashtags should capture your brand identity and vibe vs overly sales-y or promotional.
Run regular contests encouraging UGC using your hashtags. This engages customers and gathers visual social proof.
Should TikTok hashtags match Instagram?
Not necessarily. While some broad hashtags like #fashion or #travel overlap between TikTok and Instagram, the platforms have very different hashtag cultures overall.
TikTok leans more toward trending challenge and meme hashtags that would be out of place on Instagram. Instagram hashtags tend to be more lifestyle and aesthetic focused.
Certain niche interest communities may use similar hashtags on both, like #BookTok and #Bookstagram. But viral dance and comedy hashtags succeed more on TikTok.
The formats also differ – TikTok users tend to tag fewer hashtags directly on their posts. Instagram captions often have rows of tags.
Analyze the top performing tags that align with your brand specifically on each platform. Target different trends and communities tailored to how users engage on TikTok vs Instagram.
Should hashtags be added to TikTok captions or comments?
Most TikTok creators add hashtags directly in the caption with their videos rather than commenting tags after posting.
Putting hashtags in the caption right next to your content makes them more discoverable in searches. Burying tags in the comments means fewer people will see them or use them to search.
However, some creators do strategically comment additional tags after posting to get ahead of trending challenges or hook into viral sounds as they rise. This takes more effort to stay on top of emerging trends.
A best practice is picking your main target tags to include natively in the caption. Add one or two bonus trending tags in the comments if you want to increase reach.
Should you follow TikTok accounts that use your branded hashtag?
Following user accounts that engage with your branded hashtag can be an effective community-building tactic on TikTok. But brands should be selective in who they follow to avoid seeming spammy.
Consider following these types of accounts interacting with your hashtag:
- Loyal brand advocates who promote you organically
- Influencers aligned with your niche, values and aesthetics
- High-quality content creators producing on-brand videos
- Industry leaders and partners relevant to your business
To identify the best accounts to follow, watch for those driving meaningful engagement vs quick low-quality posts. Favor accounts whose overall content complements your brand.
Following select standout users shows appreciation for their support. Just be thoughtful in who you interact with under your branded hashtag to protect your reputation.
Should you use hashtag symbols or spell out hashtags?
Using the hashtag symbol # is the standard best practice for TikTok. Writing out full hashtag words like #fyp is much less common.
The # allows hashtags to be instantly differentiated from ordinary words in your caption. This makes them easier for the algorithm to parse and for users to recognize as clickable tags.
Spelling out full hashtags looks messy, takes up more character space, and makes them less scannable for readers. The only advantage is hashtags words aren’t hidden if users have captions turned off.
Hashtag symbols should be used unless you have a creative purpose for writing out the word. Most TikTok creators and brands stick with # for consistent formatting and optimization.
Conclusion
Hashtags play a central role in TikTok discovery and engagement. Searching tags allows users to find videos and communities matching their interests. Following trending hashtags gives creators visibility in front of large new audiences.
Optimizing hashtags is key for both organic content creators and brands on TikTok. Include a strategic mix of popular and niche hashtags that resonate with your target viewers. Analyze performance data to refine tags over time.
When used effectively, hashtags help fuel the addictive customized For You feed that keeps people endlessly scrolling through TikTok. They tap directly into core user behavior on the platform.
