This is the only SEO guide you’ll ever need for TikTok.
Every tip we’ve added in this guide is provided by an anonymous influencer with +15.8M followers on TikTok alone.
What is SEO on TikTok?
Answer: TikTok SEO means upgrading your content to increase its visibility and ranking on the platform.
It is achieved through strategic use of keywords, hashtags, engaging content, adherence to trends, and consistent posting.
TikTok as a Search Engine:
- While TikTok isn’t a search engine the literal way, it is a “modern search engine”
- Gen Z uses TikTok more than Google and other search engines, which pretty much turns the app into a useful channel for service providers
TikTok never used to rank in SERPs, but check this out:
And this is just on Google. Competition is super in the TikTok app’s search system for the very same query.
TikTok Official Guide: Read more about TikTok’s search system.
How to do SEO on TikTok
Answer: To do SEO on TikTok, you need use relevant keywords and hashtags in your captions and engage actively with your audience.
You’ll want to regularly post high-quality, trending content to boost visibility and interactions.
As usual, let’s dig deeper and see what all of this really means.
1. Tune your Profile
Your TikTok profile is the first impression you make, so ensure it effectively represents your brand or persona.
- Username: Choose a unique and memorable username relevant to your niche. It should be easy to spell and search for.
- Bio: Write a clear and engaging bio that includes relevant keywords. This helps in search visibility and conveys what your account is about.
- Link: Add a link to your website, blog, or other social media platforms to drive traffic outside of TikTok.
2. Make use of Keywords
This improves your chances of appearing in search results and getting discovered by a relevant audience.
- Captions: Use relevant keywords in your captions. Make sure they are natural and engaging, and reflect the content of the video.
- Hashtags: Mix trending hashtags with niche-specific and general hashtags. This helps categorize your content and increases discoverability.
- Trending Hashtags: Participate in popular trends to tap into broader audiences.
- Niche Hashtags: Use tags specific to your content to reach targeted viewers.
- General Hashtags: Include some broad hashtags to ensure wider reach.
3. Always be Engaging
High-quality content is more likely to capture viewers’ attention and encourage them to interact. The more engaging your videos, the higher the chances they will be promoted by TikTok’s algorithm.
Example of an engaging TikTok → it makes you wonder what’s next:
- Video Quality: Ensure your videos are high-resolution, well-lit, and have clear audio. High-quality visuals and sound enhance viewer experience and retention.
- Hook: Capture attention in the first 2-3 seconds. Start with a compelling visual or question to hook viewers.
- Length: Keep videos concise and focused. Short, engaging content is more likely to be watched in full and shared.
4. Keep up with Trends
Participating in trends can significantly increase your content’s visibility and attract new followers. Trends and challenges are a way to connect with a larger audience and showcase your creativity.
Example: TikTok following a random challenge.
- Challenges: Participate in trending challenges to increase your content’s visibility. Use the same hashtags and sounds associated with the challenge.
- Sounds: Use popular and trending sounds or music in your videos. This can increase your chances of appearing in the “For You” feed.
5. Ask Viewers to Engage
Encouraging viewers to interact with your content can boost its visibility and engagement rate. Engaging directly with your audience helps build a community and fosters loyalty.
Example: Common practice of splitting videos in multiple parts.
- Calls to Action: Include prompts in your videos or captions asking viewers to like, comment, share, or follow. Engage your audience actively.
- Respond: Interact with viewers who comment on your videos. Responding to comments and direct messages fosters community and encourages more interaction.
6. Stay Consistent
Regular posting keeps your content fresh and maintains audience interest. Consistency is key to staying relevant and ensuring your content is seen by your followers.
Example: Not just me saying this!
- Schedule: Develop a posting schedule and stick to it. Consistency helps maintain audience interest and engagement.
- Timing: Post when your target audience is most active. Use TikTok analytics to find out peak times for your viewers.
7. Check Analytics
Regularly reviewing your performance metrics helps you understand what works and what doesn’t. Analyzing data allows you to adjust your strategy for better results.
- Metrics: Regularly review TikTok’s analytics to track performance metrics such as views, likes, shares, comments, and watch time.
- Adjust: Use insights from analytics to refine your content strategy. Experiment with different types of content, posting times, and hashtags to see what works best.
8. Aim for Discoverability
Optimizing your videos for discoverability ensures that they reach the right audience. Well-crafted descriptions and thumbnails can enhance visibility and attract more viewers.
- Video Descriptions: Write clear and descriptive video descriptions that include keywords related to the content.
- Thumbnail: Choose an eye-catching thumbnail that accurately represents your video and attracts viewers.
SEO Ranking Factors
Short Answer: TikTok prioritizes engagement and content trends, while Google focuses on content quality, backlinks, and technical aspects of your website.
But let’s dig deeper using this table:
| Factor | TikTok | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Engagement | Likes, comments, shares, video completion | Click-through rate, dwell time, interactions |
| 2. Content Relevance | Trending sounds, hashtags, challenges | Keywords in titles, meta descriptions, content |
| 3. Video/Content Quality | High-resolution, well-edited videos | Originality, depth, and usefulness of content |
| 4. Consistency | Regular posting | Frequent content updates, fresh content |
| 5. User Interaction | Direct engagement with users | User experience on the site, page layout |
| 6. Technical Factors | Not as critical | Site speed, mobile-friendliness, indexing |
| 7. Backlinks | Not applicable | Quality and quantity of external links |
Now, let’s take them one by one.
Let’s first look at TikTok’s factors, and then we’ll compare them against Google’s.
1. TikTok
- Engagement: Likes, comments, shares, and video completion rates boost visibility.
- Content Relevance: Use of trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges helps content appear in relevant feeds.
- Video Quality: High-resolution, well-edited videos are favored by the algorithm.
- Consistency: Regular posting keeps your account active and content fresh.
- User Interaction: Direct engagement with users through comments and direct messages can influence ranking.
That’s right about on for TikTok’s side.
2. Google
- Keywords: Use of relevant keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and content.
- Backlinks: Quality and quantity of external links pointing to your site.
- Content Quality: Well-researched, original, and useful content is prioritized.
- Technical SEO: Site speed, mobile-friendliness, and proper indexing.
- User Experience: Factors like page layout, ease of navigation, and dwell time impact rankings.
In summary, TikTok prioritizes engagement and content trends, while Google focuses on content quality, backlinks, and technical aspects of your website.
Improve TikTok SEO with AI Captions
With SendShort, you can enhance your TikTok SEO by adding optimized captions that increase visibility and engagement.
Here’s how SendShort improves TikTok SEO with AI captions:
- Keyword Integration: Use SendShort to include relevant keywords in your captions, helping your videos rank higher in TikTok’s search results.
- Engaging Text Overlays: Highlight important points with eye-catching captions, making your content more accessible and appealing to viewers.
- Automatic Captioning: SendShort’s AI generates accurate captions quickly, saving time while ensuring high-quality text that aligns with your video.
By leveraging SendShort’s AI-powered captions, you can boost your TikTok SEO, reaching a larger audience and driving more views to your content.
FAQs
1. Can you do SEO on TikTok?
Answer: Yes.
You can do SEO on TikTok by using relevant keywords and hashtags to improve content discoverability. Engaging with trends and optimizing video quality also boosts your visibility on the platform.
2. What does SEO stand for on TikTok?
Answer: Search Engine Optimization.
- On TikTok, SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization,” which involves optimizing content to improve its visibility and ranking within the app.
- This includes using relevant keywords, hashtags, and engaging with trending content.
3. What is TikTok optimization?
Answer: TikTok optimization is a set of strategies to enhance your content’s visibility and engagement on the platform.
This includes using relevant keywords and hashtags, participating in trends, creating high-quality videos, and posting consistently to attract and retain viewers.
Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort
