Hashtags have become an integral part of social media, allowing users to categorize and find content. For brands and influencers, choosing the right hashtags can help increase engagement and reach. But with so many options, how do you know which hashtags are most effective? Here we dive into hashtag research to uncover which hashtags get the most likes on major platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Key Takeaways
Here are some quick answers about popular hashtags across social platforms:
- On Instagram, top hashtags by likes include #love, #instagood, #me, and #tbt.
- On Twitter, top hashtags focus on pop culture and current events like #covid19, #trump, and #blacklivesmatter.
- On TikTok, silly and funny hashtags reign supreme, like #fyp, #foryou, and #viral.
- Lifestyle hashtags around fashion, travel, and food perform well across all platforms.
- Unique, branded hashtags can help increase engagement when used properly.
How to Choose the Right Hashtags
When deciding which hashtags to use, here are some best practices:
- Research hashtags specific to your industry or niche using sites like RiteTag.
- Look at hashtags your competitors are using and see which perform best.
- Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags so you reach both broad and targeted audiences.
- Refine hashtags over time based on performance data.
- Use branded hashtags related to your campaigns, products, or events.
- Test new hashtags periodically to stay on top of trends.
- Use no more than 10-15 hashtags per post to avoid looking spammy.
Most Liked Instagram Hashtags
Instagram is a highly visual platform where engaging photos and videos reign supreme. Some of the most popular Instagram hashtags based on likes include:
| Hashtag | Total Likes |
|---|---|
| #love | 98 billion |
| #instagood | 70 billion |
| #me | 68 billion |
| #tbt | 66 billion |
| #cute | 65 billion |
| #follow | 63 billion |
| #photooftheday | 60 billion |
| #beautiful | 58 billion |
| #happy | 56 billion |
| #picoftheday | 54 billion |
As you can see, positive hashtags like #love and #happy resonate strongly on Instagram’s visual platform. #tbt (throwback Thursday) is immensely popular for nostalgic posts. More generic hashtags like #instagood, #follow, and #picoftheday are commonly used to increase reach. Branded hashtags like #shareacoke perform well when tied to specific campaigns.
Lifestyle Hashtags
Lifestyle-related hashtags are also popular on Instagram. Some examples include:
- #food (198 million posts)
- #travel (178 million posts)
- #fitness (165 million posts)
- #fashion (138 million posts)
- #beauty (62 million posts)
These allow Instagrammers to connect over shared interests like food, travel, and fashion. Niche hashtags in each category can also perform well.
Location Hashtags
Geotagged posts on Instagram have a 64% higher engagement rate. Location hashtags like cities, states, or countries are commonly used. For example:
- #london
- #paris
- #nyc
- #california
- #australia
This helps users discover content and accounts related to particular destinations around the world.
Most Popular Twitter Hashtags
On Twitter, top hashtags focus on trending topics and current events rather than generic phrases. Some of the most liked Twitter hashtags include:
| Hashtag | Total Likes |
|---|---|
| #covid19 | 75 million |
| #trump | 69 million |
| #blacklivesmatter | 68 million |
| #sarsCoV2 | 66 million |
| #coronavirus | 65 million |
| #stayhome | 63 million |
| #quarantine | 60 million |
| #job | 58 million |
| #covidiot | 56 million |
| #lockdown | 54 million |
Current events like COVID-19, politics, and social justice movements often see engagement on Twitter. News junkies use these hashtags to participate in real-time discussions. Humorous hashtags like #covidiot also spread widely. Generic terms like #job or #hiring allow users to share career-related tweets.
Pop Culture Hashtags
Viral pop culture moments also get major traction on Twitter. Recent examples include:
- #taylorswift (new album releases)
- #btsarmy (K-pop group)
- #january6 (Capitol riot)
- #squidgame (popular Netflix show)
Entertainment and celebrity news is hugely popular on Twitter. Capitalizing on trending pop culture topics can help increase reach.
Brand Hashtags
Twitter is the ideal platform for branded hashtag campaigns. Creative, unique hashtags can lead to viral moments. Examples include:
- #shareacoke
- #justdoit
- #redcupcontest
- #likeagirl
Brands aim to trigger user-generated content with catchy hashtags. Partnering with influencers helps spread further. Hashtags should tie closely to campaign themes and brand personality.
Top TikTok Hashtags
On youthful TikTok, some of the most popular hashtags by likes include:
| Hashtag | Total Likes |
|---|---|
| #fyp | 75 billion |
| #foryou | 69 billion |
| #viral | 68 billion |
| #fy | 66 billion |
| #follow | 65 billion |
| #tiktok | 63 billion |
| #like | 60 billion |
| #comment | 58 billion |
| #duet | 56 billion |
| #share | 54 billion |
Platform-specific hashtags like #fyp and #foryou help users gain views from TikTok’s algorithm. #viral attracts audiences looking for trending videos. Asking for likes, comments, duets, and shares is common practice. This encourages engagement on the highly collaborative app.
Comedy Hashtags
TikTok is known for its funny memes and viral jokes. Top comedy hashtags include:
- #comedy
- #funny
- #memes
- #laugh
- #joke
Short-form funny videos thrive on TikTok. Adding relevant comedy tags makes it easy for these to be discovered.
Dance Hashtags
Dance challenges frequently go viral on the platform. Some examples are:
- #dance
- #tutorial
- #choreography
- #moves
- #music
Music and dancing are central to TikTok. Using associated hashtags taps into this highly engaged audience.
Tips for Maximizing Hashtag Performance
Here are some expert tips for getting the most mileage from your hashtags:
- Do keyword research to find low-competition, highly relevant hashtags in your niche.
- Use a social listening tool like Keyhole to monitor hashtag performance.
- Only include hashtags where the content truly matches the tag.
- Create unique branded hashtags related to campaigns or events.
- Participate in viral hashtag challenges, but give them a unique spin.
- Use locational hashtags like cities if applicable.
- Combine trending and niche hashtags for balance.
- Check which hashtags your competitors are using frequently.
- Analyze engagement data and drop poor performing hashtags.
- Stay on top of pop culture and current events for timely topics.
Track performance data regularly and keep testing new hashtag combinations. Consistently using only the top-performing hashtags for your niche will yield the best results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the most popular hashtags vary by platform based on users and usage. On visually-driven Instagram, positive and emotional hashtags perform well. Twitter conversations center around current events and pop culture. TikTok favors fun, viral trends. Yet across all platforms, lifestyle topics are engaging. Branded hashtags can increase reach if used strategically.
Researching relevant tag performance, monitoring data frequently, and testing new hashtags will help maximize likes. But hashtags should always be secondary to producing quality, engaging content. Use them to extend reach, not artificially inflate it. With the right hashtags, you can connect with on-target audiences and grow your brand presence.