Do #FYP Hashtags Actually Work on TikTok? Experiment Results

Do #FYP Hashtags Actually Work on TikTok? Experiment Results

Lo, you have surely gazed upon TikTok artisans partaking in the usage of hashtags such as #fyp. Yet, let us ponder: for just because the multitude engages in a practice, does this signify that it truly yields fruit?

Verily, behold your favored TikTok creators tossing about tags like #fyp, #foryou, and #fypシ. Alas, do not be deceived! Though all may flock to this notion, its effectiveness remains shrouded in doubt.

These designations, at first glance, are meant to designate content as worthy of the illustrious "For You Page." But lo, does the TikTok algorithm truly heed this subtle urging? (Forsooth: who amongst us relishes being commanded what to do?)

Thus, we embarked on a quest to ascertain once and for all if these types of hashtags indeed aid in the ascent to the For You Page, or if they amount to mere spam akin to #follow4follow on Instagram, which, at best, yields no results, and at worst, impairs your content.

Let the grand experiment commence!

Hypothesis: "For You Page" hashtags may not necessarily facilitate inclusion on the For You Page

‘Tis a common sight in the vast expanse of TikTok: hashtags beseeching the algorithm to grace a video with placement on the lauded For You Page.

I understand the desire, for the For You page is where legends are born. Who wouldn’t covet the spotlight for their creations here?

Various iterations of this ploy abound. #FYP, #ForYou, #ForYouPage, and the like. Most creators who favor this tactic tend to incorporate a multitude in hopes of enhancing their odds of selection.

But, knowing the inner workings of the TikTok algorithm, it appears improbable that these labels would indeed yield an advantage.

Yes, hashtags form a part of TikTok’s covert recommendation concoction, yet the platform employs them to surface new videos that align with "content that you tend to seek out."

Hence, perchance if there exists a soul specifically in quest of thrilling #fyp videos, TikTok may offer aid — but ’tis more probable that individuals’ inclinations veer towards the more specific.

That being said, I acknowledge my fallibility and anticipate future errors! (A character-building exercise, no doubt.) Let us eschew assumptions and put these tags to the test in real-time.

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Methodology

I resolved to share a handful of TikTok videos devoid of any hashtags and allow them to linger for a week to gauge their performance in views and interaction.

Following this, my design was to remove them from my account and republish the exact content as fresh videos adorned with an abundance of for-you-page related hashtags.

To ensure a fair comparison, I refrained from adding any other potentially audience-influencing hashtags. I did draft captions in certain instances, yet always replicated the captions for both tagged and untagged versions to eliminate any potential impact.

Timing-wise, I uploaded all the untagged videos in succession, one after the other, and waited six days to compile the results. The same approach was taken for the tagged videos the subsequent week.

A straightforward study! An ethically sound study! And one where I finally had the opportunity to exhibit a slow-motion clip of sumo wrestlers I captured back in 2017. Is not science truly wondrous?

Results

TLDR: The #fyp hashtags yielded no increase in views.

The comprehensive breakdown of how my videos fared without hashtags versus those with #fyp-related hashtags unfolds as follows:

VIDEO CONTENT VIEWS: NO HASHTAGS VIEWS: HASHTAG VERSION
Cake Fail 3 3
Slo-mo Sumo Reported for community violation, RUDE 159
Soothing Water Views 153 148
Guard Dogs 3 2
Bad Bunnies 135 147

Just as I suspected, appending videos with #fyp, #foryoupage, and akin hashtags failed to elevate my viewership. While there existed a solitary instance where a video with a #fyp hashtag garnered perhaps 10 more views, there were also cases where I accrued a modestly augmented viewership sans any hashtags. The disparity is so insignificant that no definitive conclusions can be drawn from either scenario.

In sum, employing #fyp and kindred hashtags did not amplify my views. These tags likewise did not engender additional likes or followers (and I confess a slight dismay at the lack of Duets).

On the positive side, it seemed that tagging the videos with #fyp did not detrimentally affect their performance… but should one harbor concerns about making the most of every character in their limited caption space, perhaps reconsidering the use of such generic hashtags in the future would be advisable. Each letter expended therein consumes valuable digital real estate that could have accommodated more specific tags like #sumobutts or #cutedogs, which may have attracted attention from novel audiences.

What do the results signify?

As always: there exists no sorcery for ascending to TikTok stardom besides (gulp) crafting exceptional content. (A regrettable truth, we admit: where lies the joy in that?) Much like how one cannot purchase followers or likes, one cannot deceive the TikTok algorithm with a potent hashtag.

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Naturally, engaging in the #fyp lifestyle was not entirely fruitless. The outcomes of this grand experiment have reinforced some fundamental principles of effective hashtag usage.

Use hashtags that truly reflect your content

To grace the For You Page, it is judicious to undertake the steps to curate compelling, captivating content labeled with hashtags that genuinely align with your video. This is how TikTok discerns the essence of your creations and delivers your posts to individuals who will find them engaging.

Pro tip: Utilize our complimentary TikTok hashtag generator to devise an array of hashtags for the ideal blend.

Use hashtags that individuals may be actively seeking

In truth, none venture to TikTok’s Discover page and commence typing " #fyp" to explore the offerings. Should they seek a potpourri of content, they would simply peruse the For You Page itself.

Instead, the search function shall be utilized by folks in pursuit of specific terms and content. "Psychic witch investors," perchance. Don your SEO hat and contemplate how to optimize TikTok users’ discovery of your remarkable videos with search terms reflective of genuine human interactions.

Accruing a substantial viewership is liable to signal your video’s popularity to TikTok’s algorithm, elevating the probability of it gracing someone’s For You Page.

Use a diverse array of hashtags

Placing all your hashtag faith in a singular tag portends failure should your strategy prove flawed. (Or… fracture? Verily, this egg metaphor was flawed from the commencement.) Relying solely on a multitude of #fyp-associated hashtags does little if this category of tags proves ineffective in your case. Incorporating a #foryoupage tag may not harm, yet coupling it with an assortment of other themes is likely to yield superior results.

As expounded in our guide to TikTok hashtags, consider amalgamating highly-popular tags with more niche offerings to appeal to both widely visible and focused audiences.

Ponder this: the For You Page is tailored to each user’s interests and proclivities. Ensure that you leverage hashtags to elucidate to the algorithm the themes your video addresses. The more information it receives, the greater the likelihood of it disseminating your content to the right audience.

Bear these guidelines in mind, and undoubtedly, you shall witness your content taking center stage on the For You Page ere long. Yet as you await the discovery of your adoring audience of newfound aficionados, why not peruse some of our other audacious social media experiments?

Try it free!