When you picture hashtags, you may think of platforms like Instagram or X (formerly Twitter). But hashtags play an important role on YouTube too—and the Shorts feature is no exception.

This article will explain how to use the best possible hashtags for your unique video content. By following the pro tips below, you can maximize the views of your YouTube Shorts. 

Who knows? You may even become a YouTube hashtag expert in the process.

How do hashtags work on YouTube?

Hashtags help creators optimize their content. On YouTube, you can add these phrases to your videos to let people know what your uploads are about. Creators can include hashtags in their YouTube video descriptions or titles, or directly above their video titles. 

Just like on any other social media platform, hashtags follow the hash or pound (#) symbol. This makes them clickable. 

For example, say you’re a comedian. By using the hashtag #standupcomedy, your audience can click on that hashtag and find related videos. You can also get more specific and include a hashtag of, say, your brand name. Viewers can click on that hashtag and get more of your content specifically.

Why use hashtags on YouTube Shorts?

There are several ways hashtags can help YouTubers. Engagement and discoverability are huge, but there’s a whole lot more to it than that. The hashtag symbol can be very effective for video creators. 

Here are some of the reasons to use hashtags on YouTube Shorts:

Get more video views

Hashtags can help you boost important metrics like views and engagement. When a viewer clicks on a hashtag, they’ll be redirected to all the videos that feature that same hashtag. This means that if you use the same tag on multiple videos, you can get even more views and YouTube channel subscribers.

Make your Shorts more discoverable

Hashtags make YouTube videos—including Shorts—more accessible by linking them to different topics, trends, or places. Creators should use them not only to optimize their content for search, but to connect with viewers in their exact niche. This is a solid way of strengthening ties with your target audience.

Embrace video trends

Often, the right trending hashtag will broaden your audience. But trending hashtags are a double-edged sword. If your video isn’t relevant, it’ll slip through the cracks of the YouTube algorithm. Yet if you upload a YouTube Short that’s seriously aligned with a trend, your content will get more traffic. 

Categorize your Shorts

Hashtags help content creators connect with new viewers—and develop better relationships with existing ones. By using hashtags to categorize your Shorts in different playlists, you can keep your channel organized. This practice will also help your audience save time if they’re looking for a specific video.

It doesn’t take long to add a few hashtags to your YouTube Shorts. The process is easy, and most content creators find that it’s completely worth their while.  

How to add hashtags to your YouTube Shorts

You can add hashtags to your video title and description whenever you record a YouTube Shorts video.

Follow these steps to add a hashtag to your Short:

• Enter the # symbol in the title or description of your Shorts video.
• Start typing a topic or keyword. YouTube will then suggest popular hashtags based on what you write.
• Choose a recommended hashtag from the list. You can also create your own.

Note that you can add many hashtags to your description, but only three can be listed by your video title. Both the hashtags in your title and those in your description will appear in search results. 

YouTube Shorts: popular hashtags in 2024

Some YouTubers may choose popular hashtags like #viral or #youtubeshorts, but these tags don’t indicate what your video is about. Since you only want to use a handful of hashtags on each YouTube Short, we recommend focusing on your niche.

You can also take a look at YouTube’s recommended hashtags. Remember that when you start to add a hashtag to your Short, the platform will offer suggestions. 

YouTube may also recommend hashtags you’ve used on past videos. These options feature a clock icon to clearly show that you’ve used them before.

And recommended hashtags aren’t limited to YouTube. AI-powered platforms like OpusClip can also suggest hashtags for your YouTube Shorts videos.

Things to avoid when using hashtags on YouTube Shorts

Creators have free rein with hashtags on YouTube—to an extent. Like any social media platform, YouTube only allows hashtags that meet its Community Guidelines.

Here are some things to avoid when using hashtags on YouTube (including YouTube Shorts):

Spaces

Hashtags don’t have spaces. If you’re uploading a travel vlog and want to tag Cinque Terre in Italy,  this means you’ll use #CinqueTerre or #cinqueterre instead of #Cinque Terre. And this is more than a best practice—if you add a space, your hashtag won’t work properly. 

Irrelevant hashtags

Whatever you do, don’t add hashtags that don’t relate to your YouTube Shorts video. Misleading or unrelated hashtags won’t achieve the results you’re hoping for. Not only that, but they could get your upload booted from YouTube altogether.

Over-tagging

Always opt for quality over quantity—in your YouTube videos, and in the actual hashtags you use. This is because the more tags you add to your content, the more overwhelmed your audience becomes. If your YouTube upload has over 60 hashtags, all your tags will be ignored. 

By now, you should have a clear sense of how hashtags work. We’ve talked about what to look for and what to avoid. But how can you make the best possible use of hashtags on your Shorts? 

Best practices for hashtags on YouTube Shorts

Now that you’ve learned what not to do with your hashtags, let’s go over some key strategies. By following the tips below, you can maximize your reach using hashtags on YouTube Shorts.

Create branded hashtags

You shouldn’t rely completely on branded hashtags. Definitely plan on using at least one branded option, though. By creating a hashtag that incorporates your brand in some way, you can maximize engagement. Whenever a viewer clicks on a branded hashtag, they’ll be directed to other videos on your channel.

Check out your competition

You don’t want to copy your competitors, so avoid pasting the exact tags they’re using. But seeing what other creators in your niche are doing can give you valuable insights. Take a look at what’s working for other people, and see how you might be able to factor it into your current hashtag strategy.

Add up to 3–5 hashtags

YouTube may let you use a long list of different hashtags, but that doesn’t mean you should. Be judicious about which ones you choose for your Shorts videos, and try to choose just three to five options per upload. In some cases, a single hashtag may be ideal. 

Be relevant (and targeted)

The strongest YouTube hashtags are directly related to your Shorts videos (or your channel in general). Try to be as relevant as possible, and only select hashtags that will target interested viewers. Don’t forget that misleading hashtags are banned—and run the risk of frustrating your audience.

Are you looking for more guidance on hashtags for YouTube Shorts? OpusClip’s new Calendar feature can recommend powerful YouTube hashtags for you.

Conclusion

Whether you’re on YouTube or another platform, hashtags can be tough to navigate. You don’t want to overuse them, but foregoing hashtags completely is a missed opportunity. At OpusClip, we’re here to help YouTubers manage their Shorts hashtags—and expand their reach in the process. Our Calendar feature will recommend the best possible hashtags for each video upload. Look no further for an important tool that’ll get your content in front of your ideal audience.

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