TikTok Hashtag Strategy: How to Rank in Search and the For You Page (FYP)

TikTok Hashtag Strategy: How to Rank in Search and the For You Page

Hashtags on TikTok are more than decoration — they’re a discovery tool.

Used the right way, hashtags can:

• Get your content discovered by the right audience

• Improve searchability inside TikTok

• Help videos reach the For You Page (FYP)

• Signal your niche and content intent to the algorithm

But most creators either overuse them, use irrelevant tags, or copy-paste the same list every time.

Let’s fix that.
Here’s a proven hashtag strategy to help you rank in both search results and on the FYP.

🔍 How TikTok Uses Hashtags

TikTok’s algorithm looks at three things:

1. What the video is about (captions, audio, visual)

2. Who might like it (viewer behavior, niche)

3. Where to show it (based on hashtags + interactions)

Hashtags help TikTok figure out where your video fits — like labels for the algorithm.

🧠 The 3-Tier Hashtag Strategy

Use a mix of:

✅ 1. Broad/Trending Hashtags (1–2 per video)

Help you land on FYP and connect with trending topics.

Examples:

• #fyp

• #foryou

• #viral

• #trending

• #TikTokTips

🎯 Purpose: Boost initial exposure and catch trend momentum

✅ 2. Niche-Specific Hashtags (2–3 per video)

Tell the algorithm what your content is about.

Examples (for creators):

• #SocialMediaGrowth

• #TikTokMarketing

• #SmallBusinessTips

• #FitnessJourney

• #MakeupTutorial

🎯 Purpose: Target a relevant audience with higher intent

✅ 3. Community/Location Tags (1–2 per video)

Help you tap into a micro-community or geographic area.

Examples:

• #MomsOfTikTok

• #BookTok

• #GenZTikTok

• #UKTikTok

• #NYCFoodie

🎯 Purpose: Strengthen engagement and relatability

📊 How Many Hashtags to Use?

TikTok allows up to 100 characters in captions — use 5–7 hashtags max.

✅ Too few = not enough context
❌ Too many = looks spammy and confuses the algorithm

Balance is key.

🔁 Hashtag Tips That Actually Work

• Put hashtags at the end of your caption, not the start

• Change hashtags based on the theme of the video

• Track hashtag performance in TikTok Analytics

• Create your own branded hashtag (ex: #SocialBulkerTips)

• Use auto-complete in TikTok search bar to find what people are searching

🔍 How to Rank in TikTok Search

TikTok is becoming a search engine. People now type things like:

• “Best coffee shops in NYC”

• “TikTok growth tips”

• “How to fix iPhone camera”

To rank in TikTok search:

1. Use your keyword in the on-screen text

2. Say it out loud in the video (TikTok can hear it)

3. Include it in the caption and hashtag

📌 Example:
Keyword: “Instagram growth strategy”
Hashtag: #InstagramGrowth
Caption: “Here’s my 3-step Instagram growth strategy”
Spoken: “If you want to grow on Instagram, do this…”

That’s how you appear in search AND the algorithm feed.

❌ Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

• 🚫 Copy-pasting the same hashtag group on every video

• 🚫 Using only #fyp without context

• 🚫 Using trending hashtags that don’t relate to your video

• 🚫 Overstuffing with low-effort hashtags

Remember: Quality > Quantity.

Final Thoughts

The right hashtags are like SEO keywords for your TikTok videos.
They help TikTok understand, categorize, and show your content to the right people — faster.

✅ Use a balanced mix
✅ Match your hashtags to your video’s message
✅ Update your strategy as your audience grows

At socialbulker.com, we help creators build visibility, followers, and sales — one optimized post at a time.