As a TikTok agency, we know that whether you’re a business or creator looking to tap into TikTok’s massive audience, understanding TikTok’s SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is crucial for success. 

This blog will provide you with four valuable tips to ensure your TikTok videos appear in search results and increase your visibility on the platform. 

What is TikTok SEO?

Optimising your TikTok videos to rank higher in search is known as TikTok SEO. 

Similar to how you would improve the content on your website using keywords and analytics, these techniques can also be used to increase the number of search results that your TikTok videos appear in, both on TikTok as well as on Google.

TikTok is not a search engine, right? 

Although this isn’t technically true, it still has a search bar of its own, which makes SEO a crucial component of the platform. 

Particularly with the recent announcement from TikTok with the exploration of potential partnership with TikTok and Google, which integrates Google search prompts, and potential results into TikTok’s own search stream!

What’s more, according to Google’s own data, 40% of young people use TikTok primarily for search. How about that!

TikTok SEO Ranking Factors

Establishing what TikTok looks for when ranking content is the first step towards understanding TikTok SEO. 

The TikTok algorithm uses multiple primary ranking variables, which include: 

• User Interaction – this can be anything from videos you’ve liked, shared, reposted, added to your favourites and even videos you watch you watch all the way to the end. TikTok records all of this information and utilises it to choose which videos to show to you.
• Video Information – a video’s ranking on TikTok can be affected by all of the information contained in the video. Sound effects, music, captions, and hashtags are all included in this. TikTok searches for videos that cover trending topics and include appropriate keywords in their descriptions and titles. 

Need help with creative copy? Try TikTok’s new AI Creative Assistant feature!

What is not involved in TikTok SEO Ranking Factors

For any business starting out on TikTok (or if you have been doing it for a while), you will be pleased to know that follower count is not included in TikTok ranking algorithm. 

This means that you have the same opportunity as the top performing TikTok brands for your creative concepts to appear on your audiences For You page. 

Here are our best TikTok SEO tips, now that we’ve established what TikTok’s search algorithm looks for. 

TikTok SEO in 4 Steps

Begin With Your Audience 

Knowing your audience is one of the key components of TikTok SEO.

Understanding who your audience is and what they enjoy on TikTok, will enable you to create the right content that resonates with them. 

Monitor hashtags they are using as well as videos they are engaging with and even more so, the comments they are leaving on your videos. Respond to these comments, messages and engage with your followers. 

The more interaction your videos receive, the higher TikTok will rank in the search results. 

This will allow you to generate ideas of interest and tailor your content specifically to them through crafting titles and descriptions that are more likely to appear in their searches. 

Undertake Keyword Research 

It makes perfect sense to perform keyword research on TikTok, as it is an essential aspect of traditional SEO. 

As your target audience searches for content similar to yours, find out what terms or phrases they are using. 

It is important to think about various ways of phrasing topics as well as keywords. 

Tools like SEMrush and Google Ads Keyword Planner can help you with this. 

Keep in mind these tools are gathering 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. 

Although, with the exploration of potential partnership with TikTok and Google, it will be interesting to see what the future of TikTok SEO will look like for brands and creators!

For keyword research on TikTok specifically, use the TikTok search bar and enter keywords you have already gathered from your TikTok keyword search. TikTok then automatically populates keywords and hashtags that are the most relevant to your topic.  

Once you have carried this out, it will then allow you to start adding these keywords to your titles, video captions, descriptions and hashtags. 

Consistency Matters

Regularly posting content can improve your chances of appearing in search results. 

TikTok algorithm favours accounts that consistently produce content.

Develop a content schedule that works for you and stick to it. 

The importance of consistency also applies to the content topic you are posting about. 

The more you post about ‘TikTok Tips’ (for example) the more the algorithm will understand where to place your content.

Track Your Performance

Any SEO marketing strategy requires monitoring your progress. 

So how will you know if your efforts are successful? 

Tracking your TikTok analytics is the most efficient way to know if your SEO is working. 

You’ll gain insight on which videos are trending, how much interaction and engagement they’re receiving and more. 

Additionally, it may assist you in identifying areas for improvement, such as keywords or topics that may not appear to be connecting with your audience.

Key Takeaways

• By creating high-quality and relevant content, engaging with your audience, utilising keywords and hashtags, maintaining consistency and tracking your progress, you will increase your chances of your videos appearing in search results. 
• Keep in mind that TikTok’s algorithm is dynamic, so it is essential to stay-up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices to continue improving your TikTok SEO and growing your presence on the platform. 

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