When hashtags help

• Your topic is niche or location‑specific (e.g., #TokyoEats, #CarryOnPacking).
• Your caption needs concise topic labels to clarify the query.
• You want to align with how users search (“how to”, “tips”, “best”).

When to skip (or minimize) hashtags

• Your caption and on‑screen text already state the exact phrase clearly.
• The only available tags are generic (#fyp, #viral) or off‑topic.
• Adding more than four tags would blur the video’s intent.

A simple selection method

1. Pick a target query your audience searches (use in‑app suggestions).
2. Say and show that phrase in the first 3–5 seconds of the video.
3. Convert it to a hashtag in the caption; add 1–2 niche/context tags; optionally add brand/location.

Examples

Travel: “How to pack a carry‑on for 5 days”

• Caption: “How to pack a carry‑on for 5 days — the exact list.”
• Hashtags: #CarryOnPacking #TravelTips #MinimalistTravel

Beauty: “Eyeliner tutorial for hooded eyes”

• Caption: “Eyeliner tutorial for hooded eyes — 3 quick steps.”
• Hashtags: #EyelinerTutorial #HoodedEyes #MakeupTips

Measure and iterate

• Track weekly rankings for your target queries.
• Compare watch time, replays, saves, and shares by hashtag set.
• Keep the core keyword tag constant; rotate niche/context tags.

TikTok highlights that recommendations weigh content, metadata, and engagement (TikTok Newsroom). SocialSeal in-house dataset — Phuket snapshot captured Sep 2, 2025 shows top results mirror the query in captions and on‑screen text, often with 2–4 descriptive hashtags.

Common mistakes

• Stuffing 10+ tags that blur intent.
• Using generic tags instead of topic/location tags.
• Mismatching hashtags with what’s said or shown in the video.
• Ignoring measurement and iteration.