TikTok SEO Strategies to Enhance Your Visibility
Last update: 17 September 2024 at 11:17 am
5.00/5Are you spending your marketing budget where your customers are? When it comes to marketing, there are many different ways to advertise and connect with your audience. Tiktok is one of them. One that you should take a close look at. But how do you get the most out of it? How do you increase your chances of being seen by the most people? That’s where Tiktok SEO comes in.
With more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide and an average of 58 minutes per day spent browsing and consuming content, this social network is now becoming the next generation of search engines. It’s up to you to strategically use keywords, hashtags and content to reach your target audience. Time, resources and budget in this social network is something you should definitely consider, especially if you are targeting younger generations.
In this article we will give you an introduction to Tiktok SEO. We will explain how it works, its ranking factors and how to do it. We will also introduce you to a number of tools that will help you find the best Tiktok keywords and track your progress.
Can You Do SEO on Tiktok?
You’re probably wondering if there’s a way to do search engine optimization in Tiktok. It turns out that there is. In fact, if you are in Tiktok – or considering it as part of your marketing efforts – you should spend time optimizing your content.
This will help improve the ranking of your content and make it easier for your target audience to find it. As you begin your optimization process (which we will discuss in more detail later in this post), you will see that your videos will begin to appear in search results for both Tiktok and Google. This will help you reach a wider audience, increase engagement and conversions.
What Is Tiktok SEO Optimization?
By Tiktok SEO we mean the process of optimizing the videos you share on Tiktok with the overall goal of ranking better in search results. Tiktok SEO is similar and simpler than regular SEO. So if you have some understanding of search engine optimization, this process will be easier for you. As it involves researching, identifying and adding keywords in strategic places to match your users’ search intent.
Is Tiktok a Good Search Engine?
Although Tiktok is not considered a search engine per se, it is used by people (especially younger generations) to search for specific information. With that in mind, Google released a report showing that their Search and Maps features are being negatively impacted by the growing preference of younger users who are turning to Instagram and Tiktok to discover new products, places, and even a place to eat lunch.
“In our studies, about 40% of young people, when they’re looking for a place to eat lunch, they don’t go to Google Maps or Search. They go to TikTok or Instagram.”
Prabhakar Raghavan – Senior VP Google
With this in mind, you can’t waste another second without having a Tiktok SEO strategy in place. Remember, you can design and implement it through your marketing team or by partnering with a specialized agency. Either option works!
Why Is TikTok SEO Important?
The way people consume content and search for information is changing. Today, short form content is becoming more and more popular. The fact that Tiktok is “fighting” Google for users’ attention proves this. People are hungry for short pieces of content that quickly answer their questions and concerns.
If you pay close attention to how Tiktok works, you’ll see that this is exactly how it works. It is all about short videos that present information in a quick and clear way. In other words, having your content ranked on this social network expands your reach to a wider audience. This allows you to increase brand awareness, views, engagement and conversions.
Tiktok SEO 2024 Ranking Factors
One important thing to keep in mind is that Tiktok’s ranking factors are different from those used by Google and other search engines. The latter tend to focus on keywords, relevance, expertise and freshness. Tiktok is a bit secretive about how their algorithm works, but there are three key factors that are highly valued. Understanding what they are will help you pay close attention to what really matters and take the necessary actions that will help you improve.
User Interactions
The first thing Tiktok looks at to determine what content to show a user is their interactions. They take into account the content they have liked, shared, commented on, added to favorites, etc. They also look at the creators they like and follow to recommend similar options.
Value to User
Probably the most important ranking factor for Tiktok is the fact that a user watches a video to the end. This is interpreted as a clear sign that they enjoyed the information shared and found it useful.
Video Information
This social network also takes into account all the information used in the video: hashtags, content, audio, sound effects, captions, etc. Based on the information they find there, they will sort and rank your content.
Devices and Account Settings
Finally, they pay close attention to the user’s location, language preferences, and device to recommend content and creators they are most likely to enjoy.
How To Do SEO on Tiktok? – Tiktok SEO Strategy
Now that you know how they rank content and choose what to show to each user, it’s time to sit down and create your Tiktok SEO strategy. Remember, you can always get help from a specialized agency.
Audience: Decide Who You Want to Target
As with any marketing strategy, the first step is to determine who your target audience is. Spend time getting to know your buyer persona.
Understand what type of content they enjoy and engage with the most. Pay close attention to the hashtags they use. The more information you gather, the better idea you will have about the type of content and information you need to create.
Keywords: Choose the Tiktok Keywords You Want to Work With
Once you know who to target and what content to create, it’s important to spend time and resources understanding which keywords to use. Just like traditional SEO, these queries will make it easier for your videos to appear to those who are more likely to engage with them.
We don’t recommend using traditional keyword research tools. They are based on Google, and this is something completely different. The best way to figure out what keywords to use is to use the Tiktok search bar.
Go to the social network, click on the search bar and start typing in keywords. You will see it automatically populate with relevant and popular keywords. Go through the list and choose the one that best fits your content.
Content: Optimize the Content you Share
By now, you have your audience, your content, and your keywords. Now it’s time to publish it on Tiktok. This process includes optimizing your content to reach a wider audience. To optimize it, you need to include your keyword in five main places:
- Video title
- Video description
- Content (ideally the keywords should be spoken aloud)
- Captions (including any on-screen text)
- Hashtags
As you begin to add your keywords, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
- Do it in a natural way.
- Include your main keyword and variations.
- Limit yourself to 3-5 hashtags per video.
Blog: Join Your Blogging and Tiktok Efforts
Creating videos is not an easy task. It takes a lot of time and creativity to plan, shoot, and edit. You want to maximize their reach and get the most out of them. To do this, we highly recommend that you add them to your website as blog posts.
Simply write a short article on the topic and embed the Tiktok video in it. Once it’s done, you’ll want to optimize it following on-page SEO best practices and working around the same keyword you chose for Tiktok.
Progress: Track and Measure your Success
Tiktok SEO, like any other marketing initiative, relies on metrics to be successful. Tracking and monitoring performance will help you understand if your efforts are paying off or if you need to change your approach.
To be consistent, you must first determine the KPIs you will track. These KPIs need to be aligned with your business goals, but a good starting point is: conversion rate, engagement, site traffic, and revenue growth.
Tiktok Analytics gives you enough information to understand if you are reaching the right audience (use the Audience tab in Analytics), generating engagement (use the Performance tab in Analytics), and choosing the right keywords (use the Performance tab). Information to help you make informed decisions, discover content opportunities, and understand what types of content perform best.
Tiktok SEO Tips
In addition to optimizing your video and using hashtags, there are other tips you can use to increase your video’s visibility, reach a wider audience, and maximize your video’s reach.
- Use popular sounds, filters, and ideas. Tiktok tends to prioritize trending content, so getting in on the action is a good idea to increase your chances of getting noticed.
- Add effective calls to action to encourage users to comment or share your video.
- Invite your followers to comment and engage in enriching conversations with you. Take the time to respond.
- Optimize your video length based on the attention span of your ideal audience. The younger they are, the shorter your video should be.
- Add compelling thumbnail images to all your Tiktok content. This is the first thing people see and should entice them to watch more.
- Add strong text overlays to your Tiktok thumbnails.
- Experiment with different types of videos to understand what works best for your audience.
- Create Tiktok content that is engaging and shareable.
SEO Tools for TikTok
While Tiktok SEO is a relatively new concept, there are some tools available to make your job easier. Let’s take a look at what they are and how to use them.
Keyword Research – How to Find Keywords for Tiktok?
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. The Tiktok search bar is the perfect place for you to understand what keywords to use in your content. It’s packed with a predictive feature that allows you to see popular long-tail keywords associated with the query you’re typing.
Just type in one or more words and let the magic happen. In a matter of microseconds, you will see a list of suggested long-tail keywords to use. They are displayed in order of relevance. So be strategic about the one you choose and make sure it’s clearly related to your content.
TikTok Creative Center
Tiktok also launched its Creative Center. A place where you can find ad ideas, trend information, tips, reports and more. Once on their site, you can choose whether you want to find inspiration or trends.
- The Inspiration tab is filled with options including keyword insights, creative insights, top products.
- The Trends tab helps you find trending hashtags, songs, creators and videos.
- As if that were not enough, there is an AI tool that can quickly help you write scripts, create videos and more.
TikTok Analytics
Finally, you need to spend time getting familiar with Tiktok Analytics. This is only available as part of the Business Suite. So make sure your profile is set up accordingly.
To change your account type:
- From the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
- Click the Menu button at the top.
- Select Settings and Privacy.
- Tap Account.
- Click Switch to Business Account, and then follow the instructions to change your account type.
Once you have set your account to Business, you will have access to features such as Workspace, Activity and Support, and Analytics. The latter provides insights and data about your profile and content performance. You will see details on
- Who is watching your videos (age and location)
- Total play time
- Average watch time
- Full video viewed
- New followers
- Top words used in comments
- Engagement
- Likes
Key Takeaways
- While not a traditional search engine, Tiktok is increasingly used by younger generations to discover products, places and information.
- Tiktok SEO can increase brand awareness, views, engagement and conversions.
- Ranking factors: Tiktok’s algorithm prioritizes user interactions, user value, video information, and device/account settings.
- Tiktok SEO Strategy:
- Target Audience: Understand your ideal viewer.
- Keywords: Use Tiktok’s search bar to find relevant keywords.
- Content Optimization: Include keywords in titles, descriptions, content, captions, and hashtags.
- Blogging: Promote Tiktok videos on your website for wider reach.
- Tracking: Monitor KPIs such as conversion rate, engagement, site traffic, and revenue.
- Tiktok SEO requires an understanding of Tiktok’s culture and best practices. By optimizing your videos and engaging with your audience, you can increase your visibility and reach on the platform.
Conclusion
Tiktok itself is not very specific about how its ranking algorithm works. However, this social network is filled with content creators who have found success. They all agree that you need to follow certain best practices to get your brand and content in search results. Post consistently, use specific hashtags, engage with your audience, participate in trends, and, of course, optimize your videos.
Tiktok SEO seems a lot easier than Google SEO. However, to be successful, you need to embrace the Tiktok culture. The one that helps you understand who is trending and why. The songs and sounds to use and when to use them.
That’s why, if you’re just starting out on this social network, it might be a good idea to work with the guidance and help of a specialized agency. One that has experience in creating and optimizing content for Tiktok and knows what kind of videos have a chance of going viral.
