Ultimate Guide to TikTok Hashtag Combinations

Unlock the potential of TikTok hashtags with strategies for combining general, niche, and trending tags for maximum engagement and visibility.

Growth
March 9, 2025
Ultimate Guide to TikTok Hashtag Combinations

Hashtags on TikTok are essential for boosting visibility, engagement, and connecting with the right audience. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use them effectively:

  • Why Hashtags Matter: They help categorize your content, target specific audiences, and increase discoverability.
  • Types of Hashtags:
    • General (#FYP, #Viral): Broad reach but lower engagement.
    • Niche (#VeganMealPrep, #HIITWorkout): Smaller reach but higher engagement.
    • Trending (#DanceChallenge): Short-term visibility boost.
  • Best Practices:
    • Combine general, niche, and trending hashtags for balance.
    • Use TikTok’s Discover tab and tools like OkGrow to research relevant hashtags.
    • Track metrics like views, engagement rate, and follower growth to refine your strategy.
  • Common Mistakes:
    • Avoid overusing generic hashtags like #fyp.
    • Don’t skip niche hashtags - they help you connect with engaged audiences.
    • Always have a clear plan for your hashtag choices.

To succeed, experiment with hashtag combinations, analyze performance, and adjust regularly for consistent growth.

Best TikTok Hashtag Strategy To Go Viral Fast

TikTok

TikTok Hashtag Basics

Getting hashtags right on TikTok can help you reach a much larger audience.

How TikTok's Algorithm Uses Hashtags

TikTok uses hashtags to organize and distribute your videos effectively. Here's what happens when you use hashtags:

  • Categorizes your video under specific topics.
  • Connects it with users who engage with similar hashtags.
  • Tests your content with different audience groups to gauge interest.

General vs. Niche Hashtags

To build an effective hashtag strategy, you need to understand the differences between general and niche hashtags:

Hashtag Type Examples Ideal For Typical Results
General #FYP, #ForYou, #Viral Reaching broader audiences High views but lower engagement
Niche #VeganMealPrep, #HomeWorkoutRoutine Targeting specific groups Fewer views but higher engagement
Trending #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, #DanceChallenge Short-term boosts Temporary increase in visibility

Using a mix of these types can deliver better results. For instance, a fitness creator might pair #FitnessMotivation with #KettlebellWorkout to reach both a wide audience and a more targeted group. This balance helps you achieve both visibility and meaningful interactions.

Trending hashtags can give your content a quick boost, but you need to use them wisely. Here's how:

  1. Research Current Trends
    Check TikTok's Discover page or use tools like OkGrow's AI to find trending hashtags in your niche.
  2. Check Relevance
    Only use trending hashtags that align with your content. Irrelevant tags can hurt your credibility.
  3. Post at the Right Time
    Aim to post within 24-48 hours of a trend starting to maximize visibility.

Focus on your core content themes while using trending hashtags as occasional enhancers. Up next, we'll dive into research methods and tools to fine-tune your hashtag strategy.

Mixing General and Niche Hashtags

Combining broad and niche hashtags is a smart way to increase your content's visibility while also reaching specific audiences.

Why Use a Mix of Hashtags?

Using a balanced mix of hashtags helps you:

  • Reach More People: General hashtags attract a larger audience.
  • Target Specific Groups: Niche hashtags connect with users interested in your topic.
  • Stay on Topic: Relevant hashtags make it easier for TikTok's algorithm to categorize your content.

Now, let's look at how to create effective hashtag sets.

Creating Effective Hashtag Sets

  • Blend Broad, Niche, and Trending Tags: This combination ensures your content gets both wide exposure and targeted engagement.
  • Focus on Your Content: Pick hashtags that match your video's theme. For instance, a cooking tutorial might include tags like #CookingTips or #EasyRecipes.

Keeping Your Strategy Sharp

To make the most of your hashtags, align your choices with performance data:

1. Leverage AI Tools

Use platforms like OkGrow to discover niche-specific hashtags that align with your content.

2. Track Your Results

Pay attention to metrics like view-to-like ratios, watch time, and follower growth to see which hashtags are working.

3. Adjust as Needed

Replace tags that aren't performing well with ones that better suit your content and audience. Fine-tuning your strategy over time will keep your hashtag game strong.

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Hashtag Research Methods and Tools

To find the best hashtags on TikTok, you’ll need to use a mix of TikTok’s built-in features and external tools.

TikTok's Search Features

Start with TikTok’s Discover tab to check how many views a hashtag has and explore related tags. The Trending section shows daily popular hashtags in your region. TikTok’s auto-complete feature is also handy - it suggests related hashtags along with their view counts.

Once you’ve explored TikTok’s tools, consider adding external platforms to fine-tune your hashtag selection.

External Hashtag Tools

External platforms can take your hashtag research to the next level. For example, OkGrow’s AI platform provides features like:

  • Smart auto-targeting to find niche hashtags
  • Real-time analytics to track performance
  • Precise targeting for specific audiences
  • Recommendations tailored to different languages

These tools work hand-in-hand with TikTok’s native features, giving you a more data-focused approach to hashtag research.

Insights from Top Creators

Tools aren’t the only way to improve your hashtag strategy - studying successful creators is just as important. Look at creators who consistently get good engagement (not just viral hits). Pay attention to their most engaging posts, focusing on the hashtags they use repeatedly and how they mix broad and niche tags.

To stay organized, save effective hashtag combinations in a spreadsheet. Group them by content type and performance metrics for easy reference.

Track and Improve Hashtag Results

Key Metrics to Watch

To understand how your hashtags are performing, focus on these metrics:

  • View-to-Like Ratio: Check how many likes your content gets compared to total views. This shows how appealing your content is.
  • Follower Growth Rate: Track how many new followers you gain daily or weekly.
  • Engagement Rate: Use this formula: ((likes + comments + shares) / views) * 100.
  • Hashtag Reach: Measure how many views each hashtag or hashtag group generates.

Experimenting with Hashtag Groups

Trying out different hashtag combinations can help you find what works best. Here's how to do it:

  • Control Group: Stick to your usual hashtag mix as a baseline.
  • Test Groups: Create two or three variations by tweaking:
    • Broad vs. niche hashtags
    • Trending vs. evergreen hashtags
    • Industry-specific vs. general hashtags

Track the performance of each group over five to seven posts. Use a table like this to organize your data:

Hashtag Group Avg Views Engagement Rate Follower Growth
Control Mix 10,000 12% +150/week
Niche Focus 8,000 15% +200/week
Trend Heavy 15,000 9% +175/week

This approach helps you identify which combinations drive the best results.

Keep Your Strategy Fresh

  • Weekly Reviews: Check analytics regularly to spot trends in engagement and follower growth. Identify which hashtags are performing well.
  • Monthly Adjustments: Refresh your hashtag groups to align with trending topics, seasonal changes, algorithm shifts, or evolving audience interests.
  • Quarterly Analysis: Take a deeper dive into your data every few months. Tools like OkGrow's PDF growth reports can help you track patterns and make informed decisions for long-term success.

Top Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

Overusing Generic Hashtags

Relying too much on broad hashtags like #fyp, #viral, or #trending can hurt your reach. These tags are used in millions of posts, making it harder for TikTok’s algorithm to connect your content with the right audience. Instead, pair one or two general hashtags with more specific, niche-focused ones to better target your viewers and improve engagement.

Skipping Niche Hashtags

Leaving out niche hashtags can prevent your content from reaching users who are genuinely interested. Niche hashtags help you:

  • Connect with a more engaged audience
  • Make your content easier to find
  • Increase interactions from your target community

By combining niche hashtags with a few general ones, you can ensure your posts are seen by the right people, improving your overall hashtag strategy.

Using Hashtags Without a Plan

Randomly picking hashtags without a clear strategy can lead to inconsistent results. Create a set of core hashtags that align with your content and rotate them regularly. Use insights and data to refine your choices, helping you maintain steady growth and engagement in your niche.

Conclusion: Next Steps for Hashtag Success

To achieve better results with your hashtags, focus on a strategy driven by data. Use TikTok's built-in analytics to track metrics like view counts, engagement rates, and follower growth for each hashtag combination you test.

Experiment with different hashtag mixes in a structured way, giving each group enough time to gather meaningful data. This approach ensures you can make informed decisions based on actual performance.

Take advantage of AI-powered tools to enhance your hashtag research and tracking. Platforms like OkGrow provide features designed to improve hashtag selection and audience targeting. Marvin McKinney, Project Manager at EightSleep, shared his experience:

"OkGrow is an exceptional service. It's AI-powered features have significantly boosted my TikTok engagement organically. I've seen a noticeable increase in likes, comments, and followers."

Here’s how you can put your plan into action:

  • Analyze TikTok analytics to find the most effective hashtag combinations.
  • Research trending hashtags relevant to your niche.
  • Create a testing schedule for experimenting with new hashtag groups.
  • Monitor performance metrics for each hashtag mix.
  • Refine your strategy based on the insights you gather.

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