TikTok SEO Tips: How to Use TikTok as a Search Engine
This might shock you. Just when we thought discoverability on TikTok couldn’t get any better thanks to their world-class algorithm, BOOM 💥 users start using the social platform like a search engine, putting SEO at the forefront of content strategies.
Hear us out: have you ever found yourself on TikTok searching something along the lines of…
Amazon must-haves
Birthday party inspiration
Things to do in Phoenix
Halloween costume ideas
Healthy dinner recipes
Photo dump caption ideas
Just us? Yeah, we doubt it!
Like Pinterest, TikTok is slowly becoming both a social platform AND a search engine that actually gives you the results you’re looking for. In fact, when discussing the evolution of search at a recent conference, Senior Vice President of Google Knowledge and Information, Prabhakar Raghavan, shared that about 40% of young people, when searching for information, no longer turn to Google Maps or Search – they go to TikTok or Instagram.
If SEO optimization wasn’t previously a part of your TikTok strategy, trust us when we say now is the time to get started. This will not only help you show up in search results on TikTok but also on Google now that TikToks are officially popping up on the SERP. Keep reading for our top tips to SEO-optimize your content!
CONDUCT KEYWORD RESEARCH
The first step to SEO optimizing anything is finding keywords that your audience is actually searching for. On TikTok, we love using their search bar’s predictive text to our advantage. Start by typing in your base keyword and then see what other keywords TikTok suggests in the drop-down list. This list is based on data that users are most commonly searching for at the time of your research.
For example, if you were a makeup brand, you might start by searching the keyword “makeup.” From there, the drop-down list may suggest search queries like “makeup must haves” or “makeup products you need.” To show up as one of the top results for these search queries, you’ll want to start incorporating these keywords into your content.
INCORPORATE THE KEYWORDS IN 3 KEY PLACES
Once your keyword(s) are identified, there are three key places to incorporate them into your content on TikTok:
On-screen text
Captions and hashtags
Automated closed captions (These are generated by TikTok based on what words are said in your video!)
For example, if you’re a makeup brand, you might want to highlight your products and leverage the keyword “makeup must haves.” To SEO optimize your content, you’d want to:
Verbally say the keyword in your video and turn on closed captioning
Add on-screen text containing the keyword
Include the keyword in your caption and hashtags
Yep, that’s it! By incorporating your keyword(s) in these three areas, you increase the likelihood of your TikTok showing up in the search results for that query.
We hope you found this blog post helpful in learning how to use TikTok SEO to your advantage. For more TikTok tips, be sure to check out our TikTok + IG Reels Bundle and follow us on Instagram. Chat soon!
xx,
The Homies
