Tiktok SEO: A Comprehensive Guide to Win the Platform 2024

Recently, TikTok has become a popular social media platform globally, including in Singapore. In 2024, there were 3.38 million TikTok users aged 18 and above, and in 2023, Gen Z aged 19-25 became the majority users with 33.32%. 

At the beginning of the year, TikTok's ad reach in Singapore was equal to 58.3% of the country's internet user population, regardless of age.

This indicates that TikTok can be a prominent place to market your business. Yet, with the massive number of users existing, it is probably hard for you to be recognized in a crowded market. 

To overcome this, you can utilise TikTok SEO. Learn more about SEO for TikTok and how you can win the market in the platform below. 

What Is TikTok SEO?

TikTok SEO is optimising your TikTok videos to rank greater in search. You may use keywords and analytics in the same way that you would optimise the content on your website to increase the number of times your TikTok videos appear in search results, both on TikTok and on Google.

The thing is, if TikTok is not a search engine, then how can TikTok SEO work? Even though it is a social media, it has a search bar and that is where you should pay attention to. 

In fact, TikTok now has changed the user behaviour where they search things on TikTok rather than search engines like Google. People look for reviews, best products, recommended restaurants in certain areas, and many more on TikTok. 

Moreover, since the app itself is entertaining, users are searching for the same content they would on Google but are spending far more time there. On TikTok, companies are more easily discovered since they blend in perfectly with the entertaining videos users watch. 

Impressively, SEO now can be employed on social media like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok because they show up on search engine result pages despite not being indexed by Google. Therefore, implementing it in your TikTok can optimise your brand recognition in the app. 

What Determines the TikTok SEO Ranking?

Before employing the TikTok SEO to your account, you should know how TikTok determine the rankings. The aspects below are factors you should pay attention to:

1. Information about the Video

The first ranking factor is the video information, including hashtags, music, captions, and sound effects. Additionally, TikTok searches for videos that cover popular subjects and include pertinent keywords in their descriptions and titles.

In addition, other information like voice-over and on-screen text also help TikTok serve the right content to users. The platform can understand your voice-over and on-screen text and those elements help TikTok grasp the idea of your content. 

2. User Interactions

Users can engage with videos in a variety of ways, including liking, hiding, adding to favourites, and watching through to the finish. TikTok records all of this information and utilises it to choose which videos to present to you.

3. Account and Device Settings

Account and device settings include country setting, type of mobile device, language preference, and interests. Tiktok uses those settings to maximise the performance. 

On the other hand, TikTok does not see your number of followers as a ranking factor, and it differs from other sites like Instagram because of this. This is good news for small accounts that plan to rank higher by optimising their content.

How to Do TikTok SEO?

While there are certain parallels between TikTok and Google SEO tactics, there are also significant variations. 

Both emphasised how important it is to provide useful and educational information that is suited to the search intent of the target audience, incorporate pertinent keywords into the content, and regularly produce high-quality content that adheres to platform best practices.

Nevertheless, as those are different platforms, the SEO approaches might be distinct too. Here are some tips for doing TikTok SEO:

1. Keyword Incorporation

Similar to SEO for search engines, you can incorporate keywords into your TikTok content. This is important to deliver the aim of your content to the algorithm. 

Keywords can be included in voiceovers, subtitles, video descriptions, and spoken references in your material. Keeping video descriptions clear and succinct is crucial because they are typically much shorter than blog pieces. 

Regarding keyword incorporation, do not use keyword stuffing on the video information. Instead, you must make it concise and straightforward. 

2. Influencing Engagement

The next tip is influencing engagement by using calls to action and interaction. You can invite your viewers to leave comments, like the video, and share it. 

Still, since TikTok rewards comments that enhance videos, it's critical to strike a balance between encouraging real engagement and focusing only on getting comments. To maximise the success of engagement, genuine connections and the creation of opportunities for meaningful conversations are essential.

Given that users of TikTok have short attention spans, optimising video length is a further vital element for increasing engagement. Users on TikTok generally have attention spans that correspond to their age.

3. Hashtag Optimisation

Hashtag optimisation is important because it provides a way to include terms that are important and suggestive of a purchase.

It's an excellent concept to try out various hashtag lengths and types to see which ones work best for each distinct brand.

4. Content Optimisation

Most importantly, you must optimise your content by using trending sounds, filters, and ideas. TikTok lets you see what's popular so you can follow along and increase the likelihood that you'll be recognised. 

However, keep in mind that TikTok videos can rank for years and remain relevant for a very long time, so it's a good idea to counterbalance trends with timeless content that will remain relevant long after the trend has passed.

5. Thumbnail Optimisation

Since the thumbnail is the first thing consumers view while scrolling through search results, TikTok thumbnail optimisation is necessary. Visibility and engagement can be raised by using an attention-grabbing thumbnail to draw clicks and generate interest. 

6. Use Trending Sounds

Finding popular sounds on TikTok is a huge opportunity for marketers looking to expand on the platform, as 88 percent of users claim that music is critical to their entire TikTok experience. To find the trending sounds, you can visit TikTok Creative Center and click sounds. 

After that, many popular music and sounds will appear together with the trend and analytics. 

7. Closed Captions Optimisation

Enhancing SEO with TikTok closed captions for videos can increase engagement. This is because viewers can find content by using closed captions to look up words that are stated in the videos.  

Thus, making sure that videos include captions will keep viewers interested and increase the chance that they will visit websites outside of the platform, follow social media accounts, and think about buying things.

Conclusion 

If you are operating a business on TikTok or using this platform as one of your marketing efforts, it is necessary to employ TikTok SEO. Yet, other than TikTok, you should also optimise your website for gaining search engine ranking.

For this, you can partner with SEO Services by cmlabs which can help you unlock your website’s full potential!

We'll support you in building a stronger online presence, more organic traffic, and higher search engine results. Reach out to our marketing teams right now, and together, let's begin attaining tangible outcomes and growing your company!