Not many people know this, but YouTube has its own highly complex tag system. However, you can only make the most of this if you know the right tips and tricks. Like other platforms, YouTube hashtags can massively help your account’s growth. 

In this guide, the snsflow.com team walks you through hashtags on YouTube and explores how they help your channel.

What Are YouTube Hashtags?

As with other social media sites, hashtags on YouTube are certain words or phrases that help people find videos. These always start with a # symbol and never have a space. So, if you want to put a hashtag in a video reviewing a new product, you might use #NewProductReview.

Hashtags mainly go in the title or description of your YouTube video. Capitalizing each word isn’t necessary — but this “camel case” typing style can help people read it more easily. If any casual scroller can see what your video is about at a glance, they’re much more likely to watch it.

Your hashtags should be short. This makes them even simpler to read and avoids clutter. If your video title has more than one tag, people might simply keep on scrolling. Not only can this be an eyesore, but it might look like your channel only focuses on getting high engagement.

Figuring out the best YouTube hashtags takes time, especially when building your channel from scratch. However, if you use them well (and keep trends in mind), you’ll see a noticeable boost in views. In spite of this, there are still plenty of people who question how effective they are.

Do Hashtags Work on YouTube?

Engagement is a tricky topic on any site, but especially YouTube. Algorithms are always shifting, and even the most popular creators often don’t know how their videos will perform. However, it’s still possible to ride the waves of any trending tags. 

Here are just a few tips for making the most of hashtags for YouTube:

• Be specific: You’re going to be competing with thousands of videos if you just use broad hashtags in your videos. Appeal directly to your niche, and you’ll be more likely to find the exact audience you’ve been looking for.
• Follow the guidelines: YouTube sets out clear rules for using tags on your videos. This includes avoiding vulgar language and anything the platform views as harassment. If you break the rules, YouTube might close your account.
• Check other channels: Find out what YT channels similar to yours (including any direct competitors) use in their descriptions. This shows you which popular hashtags are worth sampling. Your home page can similarly help with this.
• Keep up with trends: Certain phrases and words gain more traction in response to fads and challenges across the site. Make sure you hop onto trends before they get old; each one will only last a few days.
• Don’t stuff your tags: YouTube can tell when you’re throwing popular keywords in a video description to get high engagement. If the platform notices you doing this, they can (and will) hide you from the algorithm.
• Avoid official recommendations: Though YouTube has its own suggestions for tags, it may be best to ignore these. Only thorough research and online tools can show you which hashtags consistently give the best results.

How To Add Hashtags to YouTube Videos

If you know which hashtags you want to use, adding them to your video is simple. When you’re uploading or preparing to publish a video, type them into the title or description. Always add the hashtag symbol (#) at the start of each one. Without this, YouTube may struggle to tell which keywords are the best fit for your content.

As with any online strategy, make sure your chosen tags clearly suit your video. You should also check that there’s no confusion and overlap with other topics. 

The video format is another major consideration. For example, YouTube Shorts hashtags follow entirely different rules. You’ll need to build a hashtag strategy that goes well with your specific content types.

You can edit the description or title whenever you wish — even after uploading the video. Some content creators intentionally do this several times to catch different parts of the algorithm. Your video might take some time to get traction. This means you’ll have an opportunity to experiment with multiple hashtag “rounds” to see how they affect the video.

How Hashtags Help Your YouTube Experience

There are a number of benefits to using tags across your YT videos. But how do hashtags work on YouTube? What exactly do these keywords do that makes them so useful? Here are a few of the main ways hashtags can help you out.

1. Finding Your Audience

Using hashtags makes it easier for the right people to find your content. With billions of monthly active YouTube users (according to DataReportal), you need to zero in on your niche. This is the key to engaging viewers so they stick around. Your target audience is out there; you just have to find it.

2. Categorizing Your Videos

Your hashtags effectively create a “category” relating to the terms or phrases you use. This put your content alongside other videos that are likely similar to yours. As a result, anybody watching those will likely see you in their recommendations. This is especially useful if you’re, for example, joining a popular YouTube challenge or trend.

3. Using YouTube’s Algorithm

YouTube works hard behind the scenes to make sure people see content that suits them. Using relevant hashtags boosts the chances of them finding your content while searching or casually scrolling. This works even when people Google the topics in your video. In many ways, YouTube hashtags are a form of SEO.

4. Getting on the Home Page

If your videos find their way to the YT home page, you’ll enjoy a massive boost in engagement. This page looks different for everybody. However, YouTube uses a number of factors to decide which videos it promotes. Adding hashtags appropriately is just one of these — but it could make a big difference to your viewership.

Finding the Best YouTube Hashtags

You only have so many chances to get your YouTube tag strategy right. While you might have a few days to pick up traction, the algorithm will eventually move on. This means you need to find hashtags that work as soon as you publish the video.

YouTube’s home page isn’t just a target for you to reach. It’s also a great way of finding out why certain videos are getting a lot of love. Check this and your recommendations to see which tags are currently making the rounds on the platform.

There are also third-party tools that can give you tag ideas. A YouTube hashtag generator might be exactly what your channel needs to keep up with current trends. These apps listen out for the top tags that fit your audience as well as your industry.

Your competitors can be another great source of inspiration. If you both have skincare channels, for example, they may use tags such as #Skinfluencer, #SkincareRoutine, or #SkincareHaul. It’s vital that you don’t just copy them; however, only use tags that fit with your specific video.

You can also find trending keywords using the platform’s own hashtag suggestions. Simply add a # symbol to YouTube’s search bar, and you’ll see their recommendations. However, it helps to add more specific words so you can find hashtags that are relevant to your niche.

How Many Hashtags Should I Use on YouTube?

Some people add every keyword they can think of to their content. This can seriously drag your viewership and engagement down, however. YouTube knows when creators are just spamming a bunch of unrelated hashtags to take advantage of their algorithm. You should stick to five tags on average — and never use more than 15 on one video.

Going beyond 15 will cause the site to simply ignore all of your tags. Use only one in your title to avoid cluttering it. You must also keep in mind that only your first three description tags will show up above the title. Make sure these three hashtags are the ones that are most relevant to your content.

Similarly, using zero (or just 1-2) tags is usually a mistake. This stops you from making the most of YouTube’s discovery features. If you’re struggling to find good options, you could use online tools to discover trending hashtags on YouTube. Avoiding tags entirely will limit your content and stop you from finding an audience to appreciate it.

YouTube Shorts Hashtags: Are They Different?

YouTube Shorts are the site’s answer to TikTok and the rise of short-form content. These videos are under 60 seconds long and even have their own dedicated part of the platform. Though you can still discover them while browsing as normal, some people only engage with the Shorts side of YouTube.

This different format will naturally affect how you use your hashtags. For example, Shorts might have entirely separate trending tags. If you’re planning to post a Short, make sure your keyword research reflects this format. You might have to develop an entirely separate strategy — or even target a different audience altogether.

Short-form content is especially popular with younger demographics. Research by HubSpot has shown us that most Gen Z viewers (57%) prefer this to long-form content. This adds yet another challenge to your hashtag strategy. However, it also serves as an opportunity for your channel to connect with a new age group.

Shorts use vertical videos that play better on phone screens. For this reason, it might be best to assume most Shorts viewers will use their phones. Knowing where to put hashtags on YouTube Shorts will thus help you avoid visual clutter. On this note, only use one short tag in the title.

As short tags are best for these videos, the trending hashtags are relatively broad. For example, #Funny, #Fitness, and #Comedy are incredibly common. As short-form content has little time to explore a topic, many of these videos are rapid-fire jokes. If you’re posting a funny Short, use the tags that match.

How Does a YouTube Hashtag Generator Work?

YouTube tag generators use social listening to find high-engagement keywords. These tools are mainly available through your browser. You can simply put a keyword into the site’s text box and see dozens of useful options. However, you still have to choose wisely from this selection for the best results.

Many of these tools are starting to use artificial intelligence when creating their hashtag list. The app you use might ask for your video’s title (or even the full description) when you use it. This is so the hashtag generator can build a full catalog of relevant, helpful keywords.

YT hashtag generators need frequent updates in order to keep up with trends. The most popular video tags today may be completely different tomorrow. These tools will likely show you metrics for each hashtag it flags up. However, you shouldn’t just go for the most popular tags.

Hashtags with a lot of videos will naturally mean a lot of competition. Find somewhat niche tags that your audience will be keeping an eye on. Mix these in with the broad ones, which could still get results. Most tools can’t find this balance for you; you’ll have to be the one to decide.

How To Check Trending Hashtags on YouTube

One of the main ways to discover popular tags is via YouTube’s home page. This gives you the option to browse over a dozen special categories that relate to your channel. These account for both the content you post and the videos you watch. Checking the categories will show you the specific videos relevant to you that are doing well.

There’s also YouTube’s specific Explore section. On the desktop site, press the three horizontal lines in the top left corner to open the sidebar. Scroll past the Subscriptions section, and you’ll see the Explore heading with 11 unique topics. These include:

• Trending (Across all video types and genres)
• Music
• Movies & TV
• Live (Current live streams on YouTube)
• Gaming
• News
• Sports
• Learning
• Fashion & Beauty
• Podcasts
• Playables (YouTube’s built-in games)

Clicking on these will show you the most popular videos within those categories. The video titles and descriptions will then highlight the tags you can use for similar results. However, you’ll need to be mindful of the platform’s tag limits. 

Always ask yourself, “How many hashtags should I use on YouTube?? No matter which category your video falls under, the answer is three to five at most.

It may be harder to find trending tags on Shorts. This is because there’s no real way to separate these videos into distinct topics or categories. Instead, the algorithm on the Shorts page always broadcasts videos that are relevant to you.

While this can make your job easier, the platform could still get this wrong. For example, it may give more weight to the videos you watch instead of the ones you post yourself. This means you might struggle to find trending videos that match your content strategy.

Where To Put Hashtags on YouTube

You should put your YT tags in the titles and descriptions of your videos. Some people use their comments section as extra hashtag space, though this doesn’t help. YouTube’s search function only uses the description and title to decide how (or where) to show a video. Comment hashtags won’t help your content appear on that tag’s specific page.

Once you know how to add hashtags to YouTube videos, your next step is learning where to put each one. This is because the order and specific placement will make a difference. 

The hashtag in your title may be what catches someone’s eye while scrolling, for example. Make sure it gives a clear (and positive!) impression of your video.

Your first three description tags will show up between the title and the video player. These should be the hashtags you most closely associate with your content. They also shouldn’t have spoilers for the video they’re about to watch. If there’s a special guest appearance you want to keep secret, make their name your fourth or fifth tag.

YouTube hashtags are a great tool for growing your following, but your other networks have to keep up. If you need help with your IG, snsflow.com offers an organic paid follower service that’s sure to help.

Our deals make sure you get great long-term engagement, which you’ll never get if you use bot followers. Try snsflow.com today to see a massive boost in your followers, no matter your hashtag strategy.