TikTok overtook Google in 2021 and took the position as the most visited domain, after breaking the record as the most downloaded app in 2020 (as reported by Cloudflare). With CPC increasing and search volume fluctuating on Google due to the economic downturn, SEO professionals and other marketers can’t ignore where consumers spend the most time. With over a billion monthly active users, TikTok is fast becoming the most interactive, downloadable, and profitable channel for marketers and brands today. Therefore, TikTok SEO is gradually becoming important and necessary for brand marketing.

What is TikTok SEO?

Customers are increasingly impatient and want a quick solution to their concerns. People increasingly prefer short-form content, so TikTok is quickly replacing Google as the main source of information for young people. The platform consists of short, simple, and often entertaining films.
People no longer limit their searches to “For You” pages, they now perform custom searches. While Google doesn’t provide information quickly and simply, searching on TikTok returns accurate, useful, and understandable results in seconds.
TikTok SEO is the process of optimizing content so that TikTok users can easily find it when they use the platform’s search function. TikTok SEO, like traditional SEO, requires the use of relevant, high-volume keywords that people are likely to search for.
TikTok SEO differs from traditional SEO in that it is a relatively new concept, currently only emerging as a tool for businesses and creators to take advantage of the platform’s distinct audience habits.
The average TikTok user is still trying to figure out how to optimize their content on the platform. When you create content with effective SEO, you can take advantage of all the brand outreach opportunities, such as helping to rank your content, increasing views on TikTok videos you publish, and linking resources. your data with users in your target demographic.
A TikTok SEO strategy will help you build a loyal customer base for your brand while increasing engagement and conversions over time. You may have a better chance of going viral if you use trending content.

TikTok SEO ranking factors

TikTok’s algorithm uses many complex ranking factors to place content on the first page of the platform. The system looks at the accounts you follow or interact with, your location, the language you speak on your device, and a variety of additional ranking signals such as audio and hashtags.
While many factors can affect the algorithm, these three ranking signals are the most important:

Video information

TikTok’s algorithm aims to show you content they believe you’ll be interested in, so video information is important to the app’s potential reach.
Any data on the video can affect the ranking of the video on TikTok. This includes sound effects, music, and sound effects. TikTok looks for videos with related keywords in the title and description and videos on popular topics.

User interaction

User interactions include:
Videos you’ve liked.
The content you have hidden.
Videos you’ve added to your favorites.
The video you have finished watching.
TikTok collects all this data and uses it to determine which videos to show.

Device and account settings

Settings are used to improve the performance of TikTok. Your language selection, country setting, mobile device type, and interest category you’ve selected as a new user are all examples of account settings. Account settings affect your TikTok SEO ranking. However, less important than video content and user interaction.

How to optimize TikTok content

Know your audience

Understanding your audience’s likes and dislikes and what they’re looking for is critical to effective communication. Market research is the most effective way to understand your target customers.
If you’ve used TikTok before, you probably know what your target audience likes. Consider spending time with them if you haven’t already. Check out the videos people are commenting on and their hashtags. Check the comments and messages they send you. This can help you identify their interests so you can create content that’s relevant to them.
You can learn more about your current followers and the type of content they like using TikTok insights. You can also check out the app’s current trends to see popular content types.
Understanding your audience can help you create better video titles and descriptions, making them easier to discover in TikTok searches.

Do keyword research

TikTok’s keywords help users find the most relevant content. When choosing keywords, consider terms your target audience might use to find your content.
Since TikTok SEO is still new, there aren’t any SEO tools for keyword research on TikTok itself. However, you can go to Google and still use solutions like Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner for your research.
Once you have a list of potential terms, you can use TikTok’s search bar to find other terms to target and the “Discover” tab to determine hashtag popularity. . This provides insight into keyword popularity.
Marketers can also use TikTok’s Trend Explorer to see trends by location, hashtags, creators, sounds, and more.

Use keywords in your content

After completing your TikTok keyword research, you can start incorporating keywords into your content, such as video titles, descriptions, and captions. This includes any text on the screen, such as lyrics or explanations.
Your content should be unique, creative, and useful to your target audience. It should also match the overall tone and look of your brand.
In addition, your information should be visually appealing and easy to understand. Keep your video 10 to 60 seconds long and make sure the audio is audible. TikTok’s algorithms prioritize videos with keywords read aloud.
You should also include your keywords in any hashtags you use, as this will make it easier for people to find your post. Use both your main keyword and any possible alternative keywords. Make sure you understand the appropriate number of hashtags for each platform.
Include popular music in your videos
TikTok’s algorithm searches for related content using sounds and sounds as hashtags. In this case, you can use popular audio tracks to increase your discoverability on the TikTok search page.
Some users even put a trending sound below their video and then turn it off to increase the likelihood of their video appearing in search results.

Use Hashtags Correctly

Hashtags are terms that start with the letter “#”. They are used to organize content and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for. Hashtags work with all social media platforms, including Tiktok.
Adding relevant TikTok hashtags to clarify the topics discussed in your videos is another type of keyword placement that can help the algorithm better understand your video content.
The social hashtags tool can suggest hashtags based on popular terms and categorize your hashtags, allowing you to simply add them to your hashtags. your annotations for a smooth workflow.
Make sure your hashtags represent the content of your video. In addition to being ineffective, irrelevant hashtags will repel visitors who stumble across your videos because of them.

Promote your Video

TikTok can be the focus of your TikTok SEO strategy, but other channels shouldn’t be overlooked. You can increase the likelihood of potential customers viewing your videos by promoting them through a variety of channels such as your website, blog, email list, and social media profiles.
When you publish videos on other channels, include links to your TikTok profile so viewers can access all of your videos in one place. TikTok also allows you to place ads with influencers on the platform with a large following.

If you want to promote your brand on search engines, you need a solid TikTok SEO strategy. You can attract new customers and grow your business by doing research, creating interesting content, using hashtags effectively, and effectively promoting your videos and having fun.

Use previous videos to improve your SEO strategy

The final stage doesn’t necessarily refer to a specific video but to reuse older videos to bolster your TikTok SEO strategy.
Reuse hashtags from popular videos, create sequels to topics relevant to your audience or even look at past video reviews to see what they want. The hashtags or sets of hashtags relevant to A/B testing are another way to see which drives traffic to your content. Your audience may be interested in your relevant content recommendations if these videos perform well.
The first three seconds of a video are crucial for capturing the viewer’s attention, and hashtags consistently capture consumers searching for relevant content. People are not the same and so are brands. While it’s helpful to follow a success formula, the best insights and specific insights will always come from your account’s past data.

Track your progress

Every sensible TikTok SEO marketing strategy requires constant monitoring and adjustment. You’ve implemented all the best practices, but how will you measure the success of your efforts?
TikTok analytics is the best way to determine the success of your TikTok SEO strategy. This will reveal which videos are performing well, the type of engagement they’re getting, and other information. Furthermore, it can assist you in identifying areas that need improvement, such as topics or keywords that are not relevant to your audience.
Keep a close eye on its development and those of your competitors. This will give you a better understanding of what works best for TikTok SEO, allowing you to adjust your strategy accordingly.
TikTok is the seventh most popular social media platform in the world and has quickly gained that spot. Moreover, the platform has continued to expand rapidly and is still in the process of colliding with leading players – a dream come true for businesses that seize every opportunity quickly. The growth of TikTok proves that video content is now king. As with any digital strategy, you will achieve tremendous success if you join the platform with a solid TikTok SEO strategy and grasp how to achieve success on the platform.