Beyond #FYP: How to Find Niche Hashtags That Actually Work in 2025

Posted on: October 28, 2025

Let's face it: we've all been there. You create an amazing piece of content, pour your heart into it, and slap on the biggest hashtags you can think of – #fyp, #explorepage, #viral, maybe even #trending. You hit post and... crickets. Sound familiar?

The truth is, while chasing viral trends feels like the key to social media growth, using massive, oversaturated hashtags often means your content gets **buried in seconds**. Millions, sometimes billions, of other posts are using those same tags, making it nearly impossible to stand out.

But what if the goal wasn't just *more* eyes, but the *right* eyes? Real, sustainable growth often comes from connecting with the audience that's genuinely interested in what you offer. The secret? **Niche hashtags.**

In this post, we'll dive into why these smaller, more specific tags are your secret weapon for visibility and engagement. We'll cover how to find them manually and introduce how tools (like the ones right here on Will It Trend?) can supercharge your hashtag strategy. Let's get started!

Why Niche Hashtags are Your Secret Weapon

So, why bother hunting for smaller tags when the big ones promise massive reach? Think of it like fishing: you can cast a giant net in the open ocean and hope to catch *something*, or you can find a smaller cove where the specific fish you want are known to gather. Niche hashtags are that cove. Here's why they're so powerful:

• Less Competition, More Visibility: It’s simple math. A tag like #art has hundreds of millions of posts. Your amazing artwork posted there might be seen for a fleeting moment before it's buried. But a tag like #watercolorbeginner or #procreateportraitstudy has far fewer posts. This means your content stays visible for longer to people actively searching for that specific topic.
• Attract Your Ideal Audience: Someone scrolling through #fyp might like anything. Someone searching #sustainablefashionfinds or #vegandinnerrecipes knows *exactly* what they want to see. Using niche tags acts like a magnet, drawing in viewers who are already interested in your specific content, making them much more likely to engage and follow.
• Higher Engagement Rates: Because you're reaching a more targeted and interested audience, you'll often see better engagement (likes, comments, saves, shares) on posts using niche tags. These users found what they were looking for, so they're more inclined to interact.
• Teach the Algorithm: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok want to show users content they'll enjoy. When you use specific, relevant hashtags, you're giving the algorithm clear signals about what your content is about and who might like it. This helps the platform categorize your post correctly and show it to a more relevant audience beyond just the hashtag feed itself.

In short, while big tags offer potential *impressions*, niche tags offer potential *connections* and genuine audience growth.

Finding Niche Hashtags: The Manual Method

Alright, you're convinced niche hashtags are worth the effort. But how do you actually *find* them without getting lost in a sea of options? While tools can speed things up (more on that later!), learning how to research manually builds a great foundation. Here's how to start digging:

1. Start Broad, Then Go Deep: Begin with a main, broad keyword related to your post. Let's say you're posting about creating digital art on an iPad. Your starting point might be #digitalart.
2. Use Platform Suggestions: Type that broad hashtag directly into the search bar on Instagram or TikTok. Don't just look at the post count; pay attention to the "Related" or "Suggested" hashtags that the platform shows you. Searching #digitalart might lead you to suggestions like #procreateart, #digitalillustration, #ipadart, or #artistsoninstagram. These are your next layer down. Click on a few promising ones.
3. Spy on Your Peers (Ethically!): Find posts using those medium-sized tags that are performing well, especially from creators who are similar in size to you or maybe just a bit larger. What *other* specific hashtags are they using in their captions or comments? Avoid copying huge accounts directly, as their strategies might not work for smaller ones. Look for tags you haven't seen before that seem relevant and have a reasonable post count (maybe under 100k or 50k, depending on your niche).
4. Think Like Your Audience: Put yourself in your ideal follower's shoes. If they were looking for *exactly* the kind of content you just created, what specific words or phrases would they type into the search bar? Instead of just #food, they might search for #easyweeknightdinner, #glutenfreedesserts, or #mealprepsunday. Brainstorm these specific search terms.
5. Combine & Get Creative: Mix and match keywords. Combine your main topic with descriptive words, locations, techniques, or outcomes. For example:
   • #AIart + tutorial = #aiarttutorial
   • #knitting + beginner = #beginnerknitting
   • #veganrecipe + quick = #quickveganrecipe

Keep a running list (a simple notepad or spreadsheet works great!) of the promising niche hashtags you find. Note down the tag and maybe its approximate post count to get a feel for its size. This manual process takes a bit of time, but it really helps you understand the language your target audience is using.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using Hashtag Tools

Manually digging for hashtags is a valuable skill, but let's be honest – it can eat up a lot of time. Luckily, there are tools designed specifically to speed up this process and give you even more insights.

Start with Will It Trend?

Right here on Will It Trend?, our free Hashtag Generator is a great starting point. Just enter your main topic (like "side hustle" or "ai art"), and it will instantly give you:

• Simple variations of your term.
• Suggestions pulled from our growing database of curated hashtags for various topics.
• A mix of relevant general tags to round out your list.

It's designed to give you a quick, broad set of ideas without any complex setup. Give it a try!

Level Up with Specialized Tools

While our generator is fantastic for quick ideas, dedicated hashtag tools offer more advanced features like:

• Performance Analytics: See how popular a hashtag is, how competitive it is, and even track the performance of your posts using specific tags.
• Larger Databases: Access huge libraries of hashtags across countless niches.
• Competitor Analysis: See which hashtags similar accounts are using successfully.
• Grouping & Saving: Organize your researched hashtags into sets for easy reuse.

For these deeper insights, tools like **Metricool** can be incredibly helpful. They often provide detailed analytics on tag performance and help you discover low-competition options specific to your niche.

For these deeper insights, we recommend a specialized tool like Metricool. You can get started here: Try Metricool Free

Using a combination of quick generators (like ours!) and more in-depth research tools gives you the best of both worlds – speed and strategy.

Putting It All Together: Hashtag Best Practices

Okay, you've done your research – you've brainstormed manually, maybe used a tool, and you have a solid list of potential hashtags. Now, how do you deploy them for maximum impact? It's not just about quantity; strategy matters. Here are some key best practices:

• Aim for the "Magic Mix": Don't just load up on tiny niche tags or giant broad ones. The most effective strategies often use a blend:
  • A Few Broad Tags: Include 2-3 larger tags related to your general topic (e.g., #digitalmarketing, #contentcreator) to potentially reach a wider audience.
  • Plenty of Specific Tags: This is the core. Use 10-15 medium-sized, highly relevant tags that accurately describe your post (e.g., #instagrammarketingtips, #socialmediastrategy, #smallbusinessmarketing). These are where you'll likely find your most engaged audience.
  • Several Niche/Community Tags: Add 3-5 very specific, smaller tags that target your ideal follower or community (e.g., #marketingforcoaches, #etsysellersofinstagram, #procreatebeginner).
  • *(The exact number varies by platform and expert, but aiming for 15-30 total tags on platforms like Instagram is a common starting point).*
• Relevance is King: This is non-negotiable. Only use hashtags that are *directly* relevant to the specific content of your post. Using irrelevant trending tags just to get views will likely attract the wrong audience, hurt your engagement rate, and annoy users.
• Check for Banned Tags (Quickly!): Occasionally, platforms ban or limit the reach of certain hashtags (often due to misuse). Using even one banned tag can sometimes reduce the visibility of your entire post. Do a quick online search for "banned Instagram hashtags list 2025" (or for the current year) before finalizing your set, especially if using less common tags.
• Rotate Your Hashtag Sets: Avoid copying and pasting the exact same block of 30 hashtags onto every single post. This can look spammy to the algorithm. Keep several lists of relevant tags for different sub-topics within your niche and rotate through them, always customizing a few for each specific post.
• Caption vs. Comment? On Instagram, you can place hashtags directly in the caption or in the first comment. Which is better? Functionally, both work – Instagram will index your post for tags in either location.
  • Caption: Keeps everything together, ensures tags are posted immediately. Can look cluttered if you use many.
  • First Comment: Keeps the caption cleaner. Some users prefer this aesthetic. There's a tiny delay in posting the comment.
  • Recommendation: It often comes down to personal preference. Try both and see what feels best for you!

By strategically choosing and using a mix of relevant hashtags, you give your content the best chance of reaching the right people who will actually appreciate and engage with it.

Conclusion

So, is chasing those massive, viral hashtags a complete waste of time? Not necessarily. But relying on them *alone* often leads to frustration and slow growth. By shifting your focus to include **specific, relevant, niche hashtags**, you move from shouting into a void to having targeted conversations with the people most likely to appreciate your content.

Remember, the goal isn't just to be seen, but to be seen by the *right* audience. Niche hashtags help you cut through the noise, connect with your ideal followers, improve your engagement, and even teach the algorithm who to show your content to.

Start exploring the specific language of your community today. Use the platform's suggestions, see what your peers are using, and think like your target audience.

Ready to find some great tags right now? Give the Will It Trend? Hashtag Generator a try!

What's your favorite niche hashtag strategy? Share your tips! (Comments coming soon!)