TikTok SEO: SEO on TikTok is Becoming Increasingly Important

Wandana Raghoenath
26 / 09 / 2024

TikTok is increasingly being used as a search engine. In 2023, the platform boasts a staggering 1.5 billion users worldwide, a 16% increase from the previous year. More than half of young people (ages 18-24) now use TikTok as a search engine, and we’re also seeing a growing number of users aged 40+ becoming active on the platform. This makes TikTok SEO more important than ever.

How can you ensure that your business is easy to find through SEO on TikTok? We’ll tell you all about it in this blog.

The TikTok algorithm

Just like the algorithms of many other platforms, the TikTok algorithm shows relevant content to users. This can influence the reach of your content in various ways:

In which search query your content appears,
Whether you show up on someone’s For You Page (FYP), and
How high you rank in both the search results and the FYP.

TikTok uses keywords and other criteria to determine which users want to see your content, similar to how Google operates.

A TikTok SEO Strategy

Would you like to increase your reach and engagement on TikTok? Make sure to implement a strong TikTok SEO strategy, as this will ensure that your content gets in front of the right audience more effectively. Below are some useful tips for your TikTok SEO strategy:

1. Use Relevant Keywords 🖊

Utilize relevant keywords and popular hashtags in the descriptions of your TikTok videos. This will enhance discoverability and inform the algorithm about the video’s content, ensuring that your content is shown to the right users.

2. Follow the trends📈

Every week, new trends emerge on TikTok, so make sure to capitalize on these by creating content that aligns with these trends. The trends must fit your brand and target audience. This approach increases the likelihood that users will discover and share your content.

Curious about which trends to follow? Search for hashtags in your industry on TikTok, engage with videos by commenting or liking them, and TikTok will start showing more similar videos on your For You Page (FYP).

3. Ensure that your media is consistent📲

Be consistent and avoid jumping between different topics. If TikTok doesn’t have a clear understanding of what your content is about, it’s likely that your posts won’t reach the right audience.

4. Understand your audience 🤔

Research your audience’s search queries: what questions do they have, and what are they looking for online? Create content that meets their needs and answers their questions.

5. Interaction and Engagement 🤝

Engage with other users in the comments. Conversations, especially on TikTok, often continue in the comments, making it essential to be actively involved on the platform.

Look for brands and/or creators in the same industry and respond to their videos. Increase the engagement of your content by reacting to others’ posts, as this may encourage them to do the same for you.

Expectations for TikTok in 2024

Don’t have a (good) SEO strategy for TikTok yet? Then our advice is to start working on it. The expectation is that TikTok will reach as many as 2 billion users in 2024. Over the past year, TikTok has already added several features to improve search behavior on the platform, and it is anticipated that TikTok will introduce further optimizations this year as well.

Curious about the possibilities of social media marketing, including TikTok, for your specific goals? Click here for more information or contact us!