As a TikTok agency, we know that TikTok SEO is a longer-term strategy.
Over 40% of young people currently use TikTok or Instagram instead of Google when they’re searching.
Establishing what TikTok looks for when ranking content is the first step towards understanding TikTok SEO.
TikTok ranks videos based on an AI-powered algorithm that crawls through content and identifies keywords you have included in video, audio and context.
TikTok will also use the engagement and the video views to push the videos further within its search.
It makes perfect sense to perform keyword research on TikTok, as it is an essential aspect of traditional SEO.
Similar to how you would improve the content on your website using keywords and analytics, these techniques can also increase the number of search results that your TikTok videos appear in, both on TikTok and Google.
Our recommendation here is to integrate popular Google keywords relevant to your niche into content.
Tools like SEMrush and Google Ads Keyword Planner can help you with this.
Keep in mind that these tools gather data from Google itself. As TikTok SEO is new, there are currently no SEO tools for TikTok specifically, but these tools can be used directionally to help frame your content around actual data.
This depends on the subject matter and copy that will help the videos rank for these high-volume search terms.
Our approach would be to take your most popular search terms and integrate them into ideas, copy, scripts, titles, and hashtags to boost discoverability.
Like other social media platforms, hashtags are a valuable tool for brand discovery and awareness.
You should focus on hashtags related to the ‘Tok’ you want to be in and the audience in that ‘Tok’, e.g., if you’re a beauty brand, #beautytok.
They help TikTok understand how to categorise your content and what ‘Tok’ to put you in.
Unlike other social media platforms, it is recommended to avoid using too many hashtags.
Hashtags are are shown on the screen with your video, so it’s important to limit the number so that it doesn’t cut into the view of your video.
So be selective in the hashtags and use the below as a general guide:
Ensure to integrate these popular keywords into your captions to optimise search-ability and discoverability.
Use popular keywords in your titles to optimise searchability and discoverability.
They are typically the first thing the user will see on your video, so it’s important to also ensure not to cover too much of your content with these.
If TikTok is recommending a search term in the search bar section, it’s a good indication it’s related to the Tok you’re sitting in.
TikTok is also encouraging users to install a new dedicated shortcut on device Home Screens for enhanced search functionality.
This proves TikTok’s intentions to continue to prioritise promoting the use of the platform as a search engine.
Stay tuned for our upcoming free TikTok webinar in April on all How To Optimise TikTok SEO for Search.
If you’re considering TikTok for your business, get your free TikTok audit.
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