What are the best ways to use hashtags to improve your business’s TikTok SEO? Can using the right hashtags improve your chances of being noticed on TikTok? Are hashtags the same as SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is one of the most important aspects of any online business in 2022. It is the way in which you can optimise your business’s website and social media pages to be on the first page of search results.
The same idea applies to TikTok. Just like you want to ensure your website reaches your target audience in a quick and easy way. The same concept applies to the content you put on TikTok. You want it to reach your target audience.
The best way to do this? Hashtags!
What are hashtags?
Hashtags are like keywords. That being said, they are not exactly the same either.
Keywords for SEO are placed throughout your content and are there with the aim of helping the Google bots make sense of your content.
Hashtags on the other hand, are not placed throughout your content but in addition to your content. The aim of hashtags is to help the social media algorithm push your content further than just your current followers.
A great way to think of hashtags would be to think of topic categories in a library. If you are interested in geography, you are not going to look in the children’s literature section. In the same way, businesses would not use hashtags that are not relevant to their industry. Simply put, you would not be attracting the attention of your target audience.
On TikTok (similar to Instagram) users are able to search and follow different hashtags.
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What are the best Hashtags to use on TikTok?
It is vital that you make sure that your hashtags are relevant to your target audience as well as your industry.
If you are a pet supply store, using hashtags like #catsoftiktok or #dogsoftiktok are okay. If you’re in digital marketing, they are not exactly relevant.
Much like keywords for website SEO, the intent behind the hashtag is vital. If people aren’t looking for what you’re putting out – it’s not going to get found. To organically showcase products from your store, you could use #dogtoys or #cattoys.
Some of the best hashtags are the “universal” ones. On TikTok this includes the hashtags #FYP #foryoupage #foryou. These universal hashtags allow your content to be seen on the For You Page of users that are interested in similar content to yours.
As another example, the hashtag #smallbusinesses may seem like a great one for any small business owner. Unfortunately, it’s not a great choice, as your content is directed to other small business users.
What makes a good TikTok hashtag then?
Hashtags that are specific, both to your industry and locality are great. These hashtags direct content to audiences close to your business and that are already engaging with similar content.
Another great tip is to join pre-existing community hashtags. To go back to our library example, #booktok is a great tag to use to attract bookworms.
Keep an eye on what your competitors and audience are using in their hashtags. This can also help you find great hashtags (and some not so great ones) within your “niche”. An important note here is to have a mix of community/general hashtags that are relevant, and niche hashtags that are specific. This will help your content reach a wider audience.
Community hashtags tend to have a broader audience but their competition to feature is higher. Niche hashtags tend to have a smaller audience, but your content is more likely to feature in a user’s feed.
A third great way to use hashtags is to create a branded hashtag. This is a great way to engage your audience and engage with your audience. It can help them find you, and you find posts about your business.
It’s as simple as making a hashtag with your brand’s name and encouraging customers to use it.
Conclusion
Good hashtags are hard to find, but they are a necessary part of any social media strategy. It is important to use hashtags that are relevant to your business/niche, specific enough that they attract an engaged audience, but general enough that they feature in relevant feeds.
