What hashtags get the most likes? —Surprisingly Powerful
- The Social Success Hub
- Nov 16
- 9 min read
1. Niche tags often yield higher likes-per-impression: a small bakery test showed a 35% lift in conversion when using community tags. 2. On TikTok, trending audio plus a trend tag typically outperforms a long list of hashtags for engagement. 3. Social Success Hub case notes show that targeted tag tests can increase meaningful engagement and messages by up to 50% for local businesses.
What hashtags get the most likes? A clear, practical guide
Hashtags are small, quiet signals — and the single word you’ll see most in this guide is hashtags. Think of them as doors that guide people to your content rather than faucets that pour likes into your feed. A well-chosen door brings the right people, and the right people are the ones who tap the heart and follow.
In the sections that follow you’ll get clear, tested advice for Instagram, TikTok, X and Facebook, plus step-by-step experiments you can run this week. We’ll cover selection, intent, measurement and safety — and show how a small, focused approach usually outperforms a scattershot strategy.
If you want practical templates and real-world case notes to shorten the learning curve, the Social Success Hub insights are a subtle place to start — short, discreet guides and examples that follow these exact approaches.
Below is a concise roadmap before we dig deeper: pick your goal (engagement or reach), choose tag intent (community, discovery, trending), design a short test, measure likes per impression, and iterate.
If you prefer hands-on support to run these tests faster, consider our promotion and growth services for campaign setup and monitoring: Explore promotion and growth services.
Get a tailored hashtag test
Ready to test a smarter hashtag strategy? If you want a tailored plan and discreet guidance, the Social Success Hub team can craft a focused test and measurement plan for your profile. Contact them here.
If hashtags are doors, which ones actually open to people who will like your post?
If hashtags are doors, which ones actually open to people who will like your post?
If hashtags are doors, which ones actually open to people who will like your post?
The ones that point directly to a niche community or interest — not necessarily the biggest tags. Community-focused tags match intent and mood, which raises likes-per-impression; pair those with one broader or trending tag when you want serendipity.
Why hashtags matter — and when they don’t
Not every post needs a laundry list of hashtags. They matter because platforms and people use them to categorize content. But their effect on raw like counts varies by platform, creative format and how well the tag matches your audience. In short: relevancy beats reach when your goal is likes.
Doors vs. faucets: reach vs. conversion
Use a large tag (like #love) when you want exposure. Use a niche tag (like #sourdoughcommunity) when you want engagement. The first produces more impressions; the second usually produces more likes per impression. Successful creators mix both to create opportunities for serendipity while keeping posts anchored to a target audience.
Platform-by-platform playbook
Instagram: curated reach + community focus
Instagram still responds to hashtags for discovery — but the trade-off is clear: bigger tags drive reach, smaller tags drive conversion. Best practice: 1–3 niche tags that describe the exact interest or community you want, plus 1–2 broader or trending tags. For engagement, precise tags like sub-genre, location or technique work best. For a direct comparison of platform behavior see this Instagram vs TikTok: A detailed comparison.
Examples: For a baker sharing a sourdough crumb shot, use #sourdoughcommunity, #citynamebakeshop and #breadbaking, then add a broader #baking or a trending baking tag if relevant.
TikTok: sounds, trends and a light touch with tags
On TikTok, the algorithm is driven more by trending audio, format and viewer behavior than by a long list of hashtags. If your clip matches a trending sound and format, you’re already well-positioned. Use tags primarily to signal the trend or theme and to label challenges. For up-to-date TikTok benchmarks and trends see the 2024 TikTok Benchmark Report.
X (formerly Twitter): clarity and restraint
X responds to a couple of well-placed tags. One to two relevant hashtags can give a modest lift — too many looks noisy and reduces readability. Keep tags in-line with the sentence so the post remains clear.
Facebook: groups and context matter more than tags
Hashtags on Facebook rarely carry heavy weight in the public newsfeed. However, in groups or niche communities they can help people find threads. Prioritize content context and group engagement over public tag lists.
Other platforms — LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts
LinkedIn: one or two industry tags help discoverability for professionals but authentic post context matters most. Pinterest treats tags like keywords — match intent and search behavior. YouTube Shorts benefits from tags that match the title and description and, more importantly, the first few seconds of the video.
How to choose hashtags that increase likes
Choosing the right hashtags is a three-step process: research, intent, and testing.
1) Research candidate tags
Start with platform-native insights. See which tags are trending on your platform and watch what your audience follows. Add third-party tools like Hashtagify, RiteTag and Keyhole when you need velocity and competition signals. Those tools show how active a tag is and whether it’s saturated — useful for avoiding tags that attract noise. For academic context on hashtag trends, see this study on hashtag trend analysis: Hashtag Trend Analysis On TikTok.
2) Sort by intent
Separate candidate tags into three buckets: community (niche groups who will likely interact), discovery (search and broad exposure), and trending (current conversations and audio-driven trends). The mix depends on your goal: engagement favors community tags; reach favors discovery and trending tags.
3) Test and iterate
Design simple A/B tests: keep a post constant and swap one tag to see its effect. Track likes per impression (Instagram) or likes per view (TikTok). Repeat in consistent windows (4–7 days) and build a small dataset that reveals what works for your audience.
Practical testing templates (ready to use)
Here are three controlled experiments you can run this week. Each uses the same content type and timing to isolate the effect of hashtags.
Test A — Engagement focus
Post A: 2–3 niche community tags + 0 broad tags. Goal: maximize likes per impression. Measure: likes per impression over 7 days.
Test B — Reach focus
Post B: 1 niche tag + 1–2 broad/trending tags + trending audio if applicable. Goal: maximize impressions while tracking likes per impression.
Test C — Placement experiment
Post C: Same tags as A but placed in the first comment instead of the caption. Goal: see if placement affects reach or engagement on your account (results are often account-specific).
Measurement: what to track and how to interpret it
Many people mistakenly judge tags by total likes. That’s incomplete. Instead track:
Look for consistent lifts in conversion metrics rather than single-post spikes. A tag that gives 20% higher likes per impression across three posts is more valuable for engagement goals than a single viral post with poor conversion.
Sample tag lists and how to adapt them
Below are sample tag sets you can adapt for niche and broad goals. Use them as starting points and swap in local or subculture tags that match your audience.
Bakery / Food
Niche: #sourdoughcommunity, #citynamebakeshop, #artisanbread — Broad: #baking, #bread
Fitness (home workouts)
Niche: #homefitness, #bodyweightworkout, #fitfromhome — Broad: #fitness, #workout
Fashion / Styling
Niche: #minimalstreetwear, #sustainablefashion, #stuylestaples — Broad: #fashion, #ootd
Branded hashtags and campaigns
Branded tags can aggregate content and build momentum — but they usually need promotion. Gymshark’s #gymshark66 is a classic example: a well-structured challenge plus creator support produced massive reach. Branded tags are best when they’re part of a format people want to join (a 30-day challenge, a giveaway, or a duet-style creative prompt).
Tools that speed research (and how to use them)
Use native platform analytics first. Then layer in third-party tools for cross-platform view: our blog and tools like Hashtagify, RiteTag and Keyhole help you compare velocity and saturation.
Pro tip: use paid features if you run campaigns that require confidence about whether a tag is growing but not yet saturated.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Don’t treat hashtags like a magic trick. Here are problems creators often face and how to fix them:
Spammy tag choice
If a tag suddenly surges, it may attract bots or off-topic posts. Check the recent posts under the tag: a flood of generic comments or short watch-time signals is a red flag.
Over-tagging
Using too many broad tags dilutes clarity and can look spammy. Focus on relevance and a small, purposeful set.
Misplaced emphasis
On TikTok, don’t let tag stacking replace audio choice and format. On Facebook, don’t expect hashtags to do heavy lifting in the main newsfeed — prioritize groups and community context.
Safety and reputation: what to watch for
Tags can unintentionally link your post to problematic content. Quick safety checks:
These small checks protect credibility and ensure likes come from real people who care about your content.
Case study: a bakery’s 21-day test
Scenario: an independent bakery wanted more meaningful likes and inquiries about local orders. They ran a 21-day test using the three templates above. Results:
Lesson: for conversion (orders, messages), niche hashtags that match local discovery and technique served better.
30-day practical plan you can follow
Week 1: Audit and gather tags — list 10 niche, 5 discovery, 5 trending candidates. Week 2: Run three controlled tests (A/B/placement) on similar posts and collect metrics for 7 days. Week 3: Analyze likes per impression and follower conversion, then swap underperforming tags. Week 4: Double down on the best mix and plan a branded or challenge tag if growth is the goal.
Templates and caption examples
Caption template for engagement: Short hook. 1–2 sentence context. CTA for saves or questions. 2–3 niche tags + 1 broader tag.
Example: "Watch my easy sourdough scoring trick — try it and tell me how it looks! Save if you want the recipe. #sourdoughcommunity #artisanbread #citynamebakeshop #baking "
How to interpret noisy results
If one post explodes but gives poor follower conversion, treat it as a reach win rather than a sign that the tag is always best. Look for patterns across multiple posts; single-post outliers can be driven by format, timing or platform peculiarities rather than tag choice.
Advanced signals: tag velocity and saturation
Tag velocity measures how quickly a tag is gaining posts — useful to see if it’s trending. Saturation measures competition: a very saturated tag has many creators fighting for attention. Aim for tags with upward velocity but moderate saturation if you can.
Quick checklist before you post
1) Does each tag match the post’s intent? 2) Have you checked recent posts under the tag for quality? 3) Did you choose a reasonable mix (niche + broad/trending)? 4) Are you tracking the right metric (likes per impression or likes per view)? 5) Is the caption readable and honest?
Applying this to different content goals
Brand awareness: lean into one broader/trending tag and promotion. Community building: favor narrow community tags and conversational CTAs. Campaigns: pair a branded tag with creator support and paid amplification if you need scale.
Free experiments you can do this afternoon
1) Swap one tag between two similar photos and compare likes per impression over 7 days. 2) Try one trending audio on TikTok and add a trend tag to measure lift versus similar content without the audio. 3) Post in a relevant Facebook group with a concise tag and test comment engagement.
Final practical tips
Be patient. Tags compound over time. Don’t chase every trend — choose ones that match your creative idea. And remember authenticity: posts that honestly fit the tag perform best.
For more hands-on help, the Social Success Hub has brief, discreet guides and templates that mirror these tests and save you time.
Extras: common questions answered quickly
Does number of hashtags matter? Yes: fewer, more relevant tags beat many broad tags for engagement. Does placement matter? Rarely dramatically — it’s often aesthetic, but test it. Do tags matter on TikTok? Sometimes — but prioritize trending audio and format.
For more hands-on help, the Social Success Hub has brief, discreet guides and templates that mirror these tests and save you time.
Parting thought
Hashtags aren’t magic, but they are powerful tools when used with a clear purpose. Use them to open the right doors, test thoughtfully, and let your audience teach you which doors they prefer to walk through.
Do hashtags actually increase likes?
Yes — but not automatically. Hashtags help people find content, and the right tags bring the right audience. For likes specifically, niche or community tags usually convert impressions into likes at a higher rate than mega-tags. Broad tags often increase raw views but lower likes-per-impression. Measure likes per impression or per view, not just total likes, to know what’s working.
How many hashtags should I use on Instagram and TikTok?
On Instagram, a focused mix of 1–3 niche tags plus 1–2 broader or trending tags generally works well for engagement. On TikTok, the number of tags is less important than audio and format; use tags to signal trends or challenges and prioritize matching the trending sound.
Can Social Success Hub help me test which hashtags work best for my brand?
Yes — the Social Success Hub offers discreet guidance, templates and case notes that accelerate testing and reduce guesswork. If you’d like a tailored plan based on your audience and goals, reach out and they can craft a focused test and measurement plan.
In short: the best hashtags are the ones that match your audience — choose tags with purpose, run small tests, and focus on likes per impression; thanks for reading, go try one test today and may your next post find the perfect door (and maybe a new follower or two)!
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