Stop looking for a secret list of hashtags to go viral—that list doesn't exist. Based on my experience generating over 40 million views, the key for a small business is using hashtags for targeted reach, not just random views. Hashtags can't save a bad video, but they give a good video the nudge it needs to find the right people—the ones who might actually pay you. Who cares about a million views from teenagers if you're a B2B consultant? You need 5,000 views from potential clients. Here's the simple 3-tier strategy I use to do just that.
How TikTok Hashtags Actually Work
Hashtags on TikTok work as a targeting mechanism, not a magic trick for virality. They are simple labels that tell the algorithm what your video is about and who might be interested in it. TikTok then shows your video to a small test group based on these labels. If that group watches, likes, and shares, the video gets pushed out to a wider, similar audience. If they swipe away, your video's momentum is dead. This is why chasing irrelevant trends is a mistake: you get views from the wrong audience, they ignore it, and you signal to the algorithm that your video isn't engaging. Your goal isn't just reach; it's relevant reach.
The 3-Tier Hashtag Strategy for Businesses
An effective hashtag strategy uses a 3-tier system to mix super-specific targeting with broader reach. I've found that using 3-5 total hashtags is the sweet spot to provide clear signals to the algorithm without adding clutter. This method involves carefully selecting tags from three distinct categories.
Tier 1: Niche-Specific Hashtags (1-2 tags)
Tier 1 hashtags are niche-specific tags that target your ideal customer with high purchase intent. The search volume is low, but the user intent is sky-high.
- Examples:
#torontodentist,#smallbusinesslawyer,#saasfounder,#nycfitnesscoach - Why: You're trying to find your ideal customer. The person searching
#torontodentistneeds a dentist in Toronto, right now. One view from them is worth a thousand from random scrollers. - How: Get in your customer's head. What would they actually type into TikTok search? It's usually your job + your city, or your service + your target audience (like
#marketingforstartups).
Tier 2: Topic/Industry Hashtags (2-3 tags)
Tier 2 hashtags are broader topic or industry tags that help you find people interested in your field, building a long-term audience. This is how you establish yourself as an expert and grow a community of followers who might buy later.
- Examples:
#businessadvice,#dentalcare,#startuptips,#personalbranding,#contentstrategy - Why: This is how you grow. You're reaching past the people ready to buy today and building a community of followers who might buy tomorrow.
- How: Spy on your competitors. See what tags the successful people in your niche are using on their solid, high-performing videos (ignore the one-hit wonders). You can also just type a keyword into the TikTok search bar and see what hashtags it recommends.
Tier 3: Broad/Trending Hashtags (0-1 tag, optional)
Tier 3 hashtags are the huge, generic tags like #entrepreneurship or whatever sound is trending this week. While they offer a lottery ticket for a quick visibility boost, they are just as likely to mess up your targeting and tank your engagement with the people who matter. For a business, it's often a waste of a hashtag slot. My one video that hit 1.7M views used a trend, sure, but the content was still tied to my niche. The hashtags were just the final label. Don't bank on this for real growth.
Look, finding the right mix of tags for every single post by hand is a total grind. I did it for three years straight—tracking competitors, watching trends, trying to connect the dots. It's why I ended up building Dalea AI. The content planner just does all that analysis for you, suggesting ideas and the right hashtags so you're not just guessing anymore.
How many hashtags should I use on TikTok?
You should use 3 to 5 relevant hashtags on TikTok. Even the official TikTok recommendation supports using a mix of niche and broader tags. Slapping 20 tags on your video doesn't help; it confuses the algorithm and looks spammy. Relevance always beats quantity.
Should I use #fyp, #foryou, or #foryoupage?
No, you should not use generic hashtags like #fyp, #foryou, or #foryoupage. They are the most used tags on the platform, which makes them completely useless for targeting. They tell the algorithm nothing specific about your video and waste a precious slot that could be used to find an actual customer. Your video gets on the For You Page because it's good, not because you used a #fyp tag.
Do hashtags in the comments section work?
No, hashtags in the comments section do not work for discoverability. This is a common myth; the algorithm only analyzes the video's caption to categorize your content and determine its audience. There is no proof from TikTok or reputable sources like Sprout Social that this tactic works. Keep your hashtags in the caption.
Can I edit or add hashtags to a TikTok video after posting?
No, you cannot edit or add hashtags to a TikTok video after it has been posted. Once a video is live, the caption is locked. Your only option is to delete and re-upload, but I almost never recommend this as you will lose all existing views, likes, and comments. Always double-check your tags before you hit post.
The Biggest Mistake: Focusing on Hashtags Instead of Content
The single biggest mistake on TikTok is focusing on hashtags instead of content quality, because no hashtag strategy can save a video with low watch time. It took me over a year of posting before a single video cracked 10,000 views, and the most important factor is always watch time.
My videos that blew up weren't because of some magical hashtag combination. They worked because they had a killer hook and provided real value, which you can see in the share and save counts. I break down why those are the only numbers I really care about in my post on social media metrics that actually matter.
A good hook is everything. It can be the difference between 1,300 views and 14,000 on the same video idea. So stop wasting 30 minutes stressing about hashtags and spend that time on your first sentence. The AI script generator in Dalea is built for this—it helps you write hooks that actually stop people from scrolling.
The Bottom Line
There is no secret list of viral hashtags, so stop looking for it. Instead, use this simple 3-tier strategy:
- Niche (1-2 tags): Find your customers.
- Topic (2-3 tags): Build your audience.
- Broad (0-1 tag): Take a small chance on more reach (only if it makes sense).
Put 80% of your energy into making a great video and 20% into picking a few smart hashtags. That's how you build a business on TikTok, not just a follower count.
And if you're tired of the content grind, check out Dalea AI. You get a custom strategy, video ideas, and scripts based on real data from your niche. I built it to solve my own content problems, and you can try it out with a free profile analysis. It's what I use, and it's only $9.90 a month.
Founder of Dalea AI. I write first-person posts about why I built the product, how it works under the hood, and what I learn helping creators grow on Instagram and TikTok with AI.
