TikTok SEO: How to Rank High on TikTok

Yo, you’ve heard of TikTok, right? Duh, of course you have!

As the latest craze is taking over the internet and dominating short video platforms, TikTok’s got everyone, from 10-year-olds to grandmas and grandpas, dancing on escalators and pulling pranks in pizza places. And, chances are, you’ve got an account of your own with a bunch of made-out-of-boredom-or-curiosity videos too!

But you wanna know something really cool? TikTok’s more than just lip-syncing and dancing now. People use it to grow their businesses, marketing and get their brands out to a bigger crowd. Crazy, right?

And that’s where TikTok SEO comes in. Like with Google SEO, you want your TikTok videos & content to be easily found by your target audience. So, if you’re not on TikTok yet, make an account A.S.A.P.

Because TikTok is revolutionary, and you can boost your reach, grow your brand and increase your engagement (and, of course, you’re $$$) by becoming a TikTok SEO master. Do you want to know how? Lessssssgo! 

What is TikTok SEO?

Scratching your head, thinking, “how TikTok and SEO are even remotely connected?” and “does TikTok even use SEO?” Yeah, I know how you feel. And for what it’s worth, once you hear what I have to say, it will feel easier to understand than 8th-grade algebra.

SEO for TikTok is all about ensuring your content pops up when people scroll through TikTok. It’s like when you’re looking for the best burger joint in town. Ensure you’re heading to the burger joint with the juiciest burgers, not just any random place you find on the map. TikTok SEO does the same for your content – it helps you get it in front of the right people at the best time.

Still hazy on what it is? Think of TikTok as a massive dance party, and you’re trying to get as many people as possible to dance to your music. But the problem is that millions of other DJs are out there, all trying to get people to dance to their tunes too. 

So, how do you get a bunch of people you don’t know to prefer your content over the others’? *drum roll* with TikTok SEO! 

TikTok SEO helps you cut through the noise and get your content in front of the people who’ll jam to it. ????

Why is TikTok SEO important?

You might wonder, “Yeah, I know what TikTok SEO is now, but why is it so important?”? Let me break it down for you.

The answer’s simple – it helps you reach your target audience. With over 1 billion active users, TikTok is one of the most popular social media applications. That’s a whole lot of people! And all those people could be hardcore fans of your content.

But such a vast user base makes the competition for attention fierce. And with proper SEO for TikTok, your content could get lost in the sea of videos and reach the right peeps (not that likes or comments matter – if you create content for yourself, you do you!). That’s why TikTok SEO is so important. Doing so lets you reach the people most likely interested in your content.

Still not convinced TikTok SEO is something you need to focus on urgently? Well, the next couple of reasons might change your mind.

TikTok is constantly changing

The TikTok algorithm constantly evolves, and the platform’s creators always add new features and functionalities. TikTok SEO can help you stay ahead of the curve and keep your content relevant and engaging.

Reach the younger demographic

TikTok is all the rage among young peeps; I have the statistics to show it. According to a recent survey, more than 60% of TikTok’s user base comprises Gen Z and millennials (between the ages of 16 and 24). And get this, TikTok is not slowing down – it’s been reported that TikTok has seen an impressive year-over-year growth of over 30% in terms of active users.

So, if you’ve got (or are working for) a business and a brand looking to reach a younger audience, TikTok SEO will help make sure your target audience sees your videos and your message is getting across.

Cost-effective reach to a large audience

TikTok offers businesses and people a cost-effective way to reach a vast, diverse audience without breaking the bank on traditional advertising methods. 

Read-Up: TikTok Advertising

A study conducted by Hootsuite showed that TikTok users are seriously active on the app, spending an average of 52 minutes a day on it. This level of engagement makes TikTok the perfect platform for companies looking to connect with a younger crowd and expand their brand reach.

Plus, TikTok has many ad options making it easy to reach the right people without spending much money. Here are some:

• in-feed video ads
• brand takeovers
• hashtag challenges

A TikTok SEO strategy is a relatively inexpensive way to reach a massive audience. With the right one, you can grow your following, increase your reach, and get your content in front of more people than ever before.

Build brand awareness

TikTok SEO is a superb way for businesses to boost their brand awareness and show off their expertise in their field. And guess what? It’s already worked wonders for some companies.

Remember Chipotle’s viral dance challenge on TikTok? That was their way of promoting their food to a younger crowd. And it was a huge success, racking up over 5 billion views! In addition, it helped establish Chipotle as a significant player in the food industry.

@brentrivera When guacamole is free @chipotle when you order online/in-app on July 31st???? #GuacDance #ad ♬ The Guacamole Song – Dr. Jean

And then there’s The Rock. He’s been crushing it on TikTok, building his brand voice, and connecting with a younger audience. By creating awesome content and using trending hashtags, he’s become a household name on the app and a go-to source for inspiration and advice.

@therock You ask, I tell. ????????The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan????????What other questions do you have for me? #RockReacts ♬ Sunday Best – Surfaces

With the Tiktok marketing strategy benefitting so many companies already, there’s no reason why it can’t do the same for you!

And not just that, TikTok is also super fun! 

You get your creativity and personality to shine through with every video you make. It’s a platform all about self-expression and having a good time.

Studies have shown that users find TikTok a highly entertaining and enjoyable platform. For example, a survey conducted by Hootsuite found that 59% of TikTok users use the app for entertainment purposes, and 72% of users say that they enjoy the creative content on the platform.

And we’ve seen some fantastic examples of fun content on TikTok! Remember the “Renegade” dance challenge? It took the app by storm, with millions of users trying out the moves and sharing their videos. Or how about the “Hit or Miss” trend? It was all over TikTok and made for some hilarious and entertaining videos.

Related Read: Top 20 TikTok Video Ideas to Boost Your Engagement

The Principles Behind the TikTok Algorithm

Have you ever wondered how TikTok determines what videos appear on your “For You” page? It’s all thanks to the TikTok algorithm, aka the miraculous answer to all your videos being seen by more people and possibly going viral on TikTok. 

“OMG! I like it; I want it. But umm, what exactly goes into the algorithm and affects it?” Well, I’m gonna break that part down for you smoother than your chem teacher explaining the litmus test. Let the games be. Oh, wait, sorry. I meant, let’s begin!

• Engagement

The more people engage with your content, the more the algorithm will push it out to others. Think of it like a popularity contest – the more likes, comments, and shares your content gets, the higher up on the TikTok feed it goes.

• Content freshness

TikTok loves fresh content, so the more often you post, the better. It’s like stocking a store with fresh produce – if you’re always adding new items, people will keep coming back to see what’s new.

• Sound

TikTok is all about sound, so using popular or trending Tiktok sounds boosts your content. Think of it as adding a sick beat to your song – making it more catchy and memorable.

• Hashtags

Hashtags help you to categorize content and make it easier for people to find. Picture them as labels on a package – they tell people what’s inside and make finding what they’re looking for easier.

• User behavior

TikTok keeps track of what users like and don’t like, so if someone consistently engages with a particular type of content, the algorithm will push more of that content to them. Think of it like a librarian who knows you well and can recommend the perfect book based on your reading habits. The more they know about you, the better they can curate content for you.

These are just a few factors TikTok considers when deciding what content to show users if you want your content to get seen by more people; f-o-c-u-s on these critical points!

Also explore:

TikTok SEO ranking factors

TikTok SEO is all about getting your content in front of the right people and making sure as many people view it as possible. To make that happen, there are a few key factors that the TikTok algorithm takes into account (kind of like Tinder, except the one swiping is TikTok, and the ones being swiped are videos – watch out for yours!):

• Hashtags, hashtags, hashtags: Using the right hashtags is vital to getting your content in front of the right audience. Think of hashtags as keywords that help the TikTok algorithm categorize your content.
• Engagement: The more people engage with your content (like, comment, and share), the higher it will rank in the TikTok feed. It’s like getting a shout-out from your squad – the more support you have, the more people will pay attention to you.
• Video length: TikTok is all about quick, snackable content, so the shorter your video, the more likely it is to be seen. Think of it like a sprint, not a marathon – you want to grab people’s attention immediately.
• Sound is K-E-Y: TikTok is famous for its audio tracks, so ensuring your video has the right sound is vital. Find a popular song or sound that’s relevant to your content and use it to make your video stand out.

In short, if you want to be seen and heard on TikTok, use the right hashtags, get as much engagement as possible, keep your videos short, and use a catchy sound. Oh, and use a ring light. It’s cool.

How to do TikTok SEO in simple steps

I know. TikTok SEO can sound super overwhelming. I bet you’ve already started to procrastinate, but don’t worry; I got you. Follow these easy peasy steps to improve your TikTok SEO strategy and get your content exactly where it needs to be (no, not at the top of the cloud, but close):

Keyword research:

Find out what keywords and hashtags your target audience is searching for and include them in your content. But you’re probably thinking, “how do I find TikTok keywords?” Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. Here’s how you can do it.

• Hashtag research: Use the search bar on TikTok to find popular hashtags related to your niche or industry. You can also use third-party hashtag research tools like Keyhole or Brand24 to see which hashtags perform well and get insights into their usage.
• Trend analysis: Keep an eye on what’s trending on TikTok and incorporate those topics into your content. You can use the “For You” page to see what’s popular and find content related to your niche.
• Competitor analysis: Look at what your competitors are doing on TikTok and see which keywords and hashtags they use. You can also look at the hashtags and keywords that their followers are using to find related topics.

• Keyword research tools: You can also use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find keywords related to your niche or industry. These tools will give you insights into search volume, competition, and keyword trends.
• Customer feedback: Ask your customers and followers what kind of content they’d like to see from you on TikTok. Use their feedback to identify keywords and topics to focus on.

@lucky.days.media My 4 go-to FREE tools for social media keyword research! #socialmediaseo #keywordresearch #keywordresearchtool #keywordresearchtools ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K

• Create entertaining content

The TikTok algorithm loves visually appealing, funny, and entertaining content. So, be creative, have fun, and make your content worth watching!

@syl_foisy these are elite! ???? #tutorial #foryou #fyp #foryoupage #trending #viral #satisfying #oddlysatisfying ♬ Miss You – Oliver Tree & Robin Schulz

• Use #PopularHashtags

Hashtags are a huge part of TikTok web SEO. Use popular, relevant hashtags in your posts to get your content in front of a larger audience.

@fashionnova, for example, includes keywords and hashtags in their TikTok captions to make it easier for users to find their content when searching for fashion-related keywords. They also use popular fashion hashtags to increase their reach.

https://www.tiktok.com/@fashionnova/video/7155927227882949934?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7175786424275502593

@fashionnova If The Shoe Fits, Buy It! ????️⁠ #FashionNova #fashionshoes ♬ Strawberry – Prod. By Rose

• Sound’s your best friend: Use it

TikTok is all about sound. So make sure to choose a popular or super catchy soundtrack that your lips can’t forget to accompany your video to increase the chances of it going viral.

The audience is your friend: Interact!

Engage with your audience by responding to comments and creating videos responding to their suggestions. The more you interact, the more engaged your audience will be and the better your TikTok SEO will be.

https://www.tiktok.com/@commentsbybrands/video/7168944204637277446

@commentsbybrands #duet with @Diary of a tech girl corporate life @microsoft365 @linkedin #product #greenscreen ♬ Doing My Best – Trissen Ray

• Collaborate with other TikTok creators

Collaborating with other popular TikTokers is a great way to get your content in front of a larger audience. Find someone with a similar niche and create epic content together. 

Aaaand that’s it! Follow these steps, improve your TikTok web SEO and make your content *POP*. One last thing, remember to:

1. Have fun,
2. Let all that creativity out, and
3. Eat some pizza (because why not?)

Also Read: Using TikTok Analytics as a Marketer in 2023

SEO tips to keep in mind

Wanna know six tips that’ll take your TikTok SEO strategy to the next level? Here they are:

• Optimize your TikTok profile

Make sure your profile is optimized for TikTok web SEO. This means using keywords that describe your brand or industry in your profile name and bio and ensuring your profile picture and cover photo are aesthetic and relevant to your brand.

@MeganGersch’s TikTok account is a pretty good example of this. They optimized their profile for TikTok SEO by using keywords in their profile name and bio and a profile picture and cover photo showing their makeup products. This helps TikTok users discover their content when searching for makeup-related keywords.

• Jump in on trends and challenges

Stay up-to-date with TikTok trends and challenges can help you reach a much larger audience. Find out what’s trending and create content that includes the trend or challenge.

Take @Nike’s #MagicBoots challenge, for example, which created relevant and engaging content. The challenge was a hit, and it helped Nike connect with its target audience: young peeps.

@ben Show us your skills like Phil Foden using the #MagicBoots !???? @nike ♬ “WOAH!” – Cashino

• Content + engagement = magic

TikTok users are all about having fun, so make sure your content is creative and engaging. Use humor, emotion, and a relatable voice to connect with your audience and keep them returning for more.

@ellendegeneres creates great content that is both funny and relatable to its target audience. They also incorporate popular trends and challenges into their content, which helps to increase TikTok engagement and reach.

https://www.tiktok.com/@ellendegeneres/video/7193782613847362859

@ellendegeneresI tried ASMR! At least I think I did. I still have no idea what it is.♬ original sound – Ellen

• Know your audience better than their mom

TikTok users are typically young and tech-savvy, so make sure your content appeals to this demographic. Keep up-to-date on the latest trends and pop culture references, and make sure your content is visually appealing and easy to understand.

• Post regularly

Consistency is vital on TikTok. Lemme repeat that. Be C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-T. Make sure you post content regularly to keep your followers engaged and interested. That means no ghosting-the-app-and-never-looking-back here.

Fun fact: @Tasty posts multiple times a day, which helps them reach a large audience and keep their followers engaged. They also use eye-catching visuals and mouth-watering food to tempt viewers to watch their content.

https://www.tiktok.com/@tasty/video/7190855828683935019?lang=en

@tasty Number 3 will SHOCK you! ????????@muradmakes #macandcheese #macandcheeserecipe #3reasonswhy #threereasonswhy #macaroniandcheese ♬ original sound – smelliot’s priv ????????

• Again, engage with your audience

Engaging with your audience is super essential for TikTok SEO. Respond to comments, like and share other users’ content, and participate in challenges to build a relationship with your audience. And no, this doesn’t mean they’ll think of you as a lonely person drinking soup and living with no cats.

Ever noticed how @TheShawnMendesFoundation engages with its audience by responding to comments, participating in challenges, and sharing other users’ content? This helps them build a connection with their audience and increase engagement.

• Rank high on TikTok

We’ve covered much about TikTok SEO and how to rank high on the platform. You can apply for a Ph.D. now (if you haven’t fallen asleep mid-way). To recap, here’s what we learned:

1. Know your audience: Figure out who your target audience is, what they like, and what they don’t like. This will help you create content that resonates with them and increase your chances of going viral.
2. Use keywords and hashtags wisely: Keywords and hashtags are like the roadmap to your content and help boost your TikTok web SEO. Use them strategically to ensure your content gets seen by the right people.
3. Post consistently: TikTok is a fast-paced platform, so make sure you’re posting regularly to keep up. Consistency is key!
4. Collaborate with others: Collaborating with other TikTokers is a great way to reach new audiences and expand your reach. Think of it like a tag team in wrestling – you can help each different reach new heights!
5. Make it visually appealing: TikTok is all about short-form videos, so make sure your content looks good. Whether dancing, singing, or just talking to the camera, ensure your content is visually appealing and easy to watch.
6. Keep it real: TikTok is a place for real, authentic content. So, be yourself and let your personality shine through in your content. People can tell when you’re not genuine, which shows in your content.

In conclusion, ranking high on TikTok takes effort, but it’s worth it. Remember to keep it real, be consistent, and have fun with it. Think of it like a video game – the more you play, the better you’ll get and the higher your rank. Good luck and happy TikToking! (sounds cheesy, I know, but I just really wanted to use it, LOL)

FAQs

Can I buy followers or likes for my TikTok account?

No, buying followers or likes for your TikTok account is against the platform’s terms of service and can result in your account being penalized or banned. Instead, the best way to grow your following on TikTok is to create high-quality content and engage with your audience.

How can I get more views on my TikTok videos?

For more views on your TikTok videos, use engaging captions and hashtags, participate in trending challenges, and collaborate with other users. You should also promote your TikTok content on other social media platforms and ask your existing followers to share your content.

What are the best hashtags to use on TikTok?

The best hashtags to use on TikTok depend on your niche and target audience. You should research trending hashtags in your industry and include them in your TikTok posts. Creating hashtags also motivates your followers to use them when sharing your content.

How do I create a TikTok video that will go viral?

To create a TikTok video that will go viral, you should focus on creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience. You should also participate in trending challenges, use popular hashtags, and collaborate with other users to reach a wider audience.