When you think of TikTok, your mind probably wanders to the land of viral dance moves, earworm-worthy tracks, and more scroll-happy minutes than you’d like to admit. But plot twist—TikTok is no longer just a social media playground; it’s now a full-blown search engine in disguise. Yep, you heard that right. TikTok has stepped out of its dance-party shadow and is now challenging the almighty Google for search supremacy. According to The New York Times (fancy, right?), a jaw-dropping 40% of Gen Z prefers TikTok over Google when they need to search for something. That’s a massive shift in how the younger crowd is hunting down content and info. TikTok’s even flexing its search-engine muscles in its ads with the snappy tagline: “search it with TikTok.” You’ve probably already noticed the sneaky little related searches under videos or that shiny search bar up top.
So, if TikTok is acting like a search engine, it's time to wake up and smell the SEO. It's essential to whip up a TikTok SEO strategy faster than you can say "algorithm." And guess what? I'm about to break down how you can use TikTok keywords to skyrocket your video views. Buckle up.
Why TikTok SEO Is the New Black
Just like you wouldn’t strut into a boardroom without some killer keywords, you shouldn’t upload a TikTok video without a little SEO magic. We’re talking about incorporating strong keywords into your content to boost your chances of appearing in search results—not just on Google, but on TikTok too. The twist? Unlike the trusty old tools like SEMRush that have your back with keyword traffic and competition data, there’s nothing quite like that for TikTok. So, where do you find these golden nuggets of keywords? Spoiler alert: the answer is TikTok itself.
Step 1: Playing Detective with TikTok Keyword Research
Before you fire up TikTok, let’s get one thing straight—you need to figure out what your video is all about. Get Zen and ask yourself, "What’s the essence of my video?" Boil it down to a word or a snappy phrase. Let’s say you’re the mastermind behind social media for a cozy bookstore, and you’re crafting content to dish out book recommendations. Your go-to keyword could be something like “book rec” or “book recommendations.”
Now, whip out your phone, head over to TikTok, and type that keyword into the search bar. TikTok, being the mind reader it is, will toss some related search terms your way. Jot down any keywords that make you think, “Yeah, that’s the one.” These suggestions are pure gold—TikTok is giving you a sneak peek at what people are already searching for, which means these terms are hotter than a summer day in Phoenix.
Want more keywords? Of course, you do. Click on one of those suggested terms—say “book recommendations 2023”—and scroll like you mean it. Look for the “others searched for” section, and boom, you’ve got yourself a treasure trove of niche keywords like “best fiction books for men” or “fantasy book recommendations.” Write down any that make sense for your content. Congrats, you’ve just hacked into TikTok’s trendiest searches.
Step 2: Sprinkling Keywords Like Confetti into Your Video
Now that your keyword game is strong, it’s time to lace those bad boys into your video. Here’s how:
Title Time: When you’re scripting your video, slide those keywords in naturally. TikTok tends to scrape transcripts, especially if you’re using auto captions. So, if you’re recommending books, drop a line like, “These are my top book recommendations for 2023 for men who are into fiction.” Boom—keywords and compelling content all in one.
Text Overlay: After your video is polished and pretty, add some text overlay with those keywords. Maybe something like “10 fantasy book recommendations for men 2023.” This move not only helps TikTok pick up your keywords but also makes your video pop in search results. Plus, a keyword-rich title is the digital equivalent of a neon sign saying, “Click me!”
Stealth Mode: Here’s a ninja trick—hide additional keywords by making the text super small and dragging it to the edge of the screen. Think “horror thriller recs” in tiny font. Just make sure it’s still visible enough for TikTok to catch it, but not so obvious that it messes with your video’s vibe.
Step 3: Nailing Your Video Description and Comments
Once your masterpiece is uploaded, it’s time to flex your SEO muscles in the video description and comments. Drop in more keywords here, like sprinkling parmesan on pasta—liberally and with love. If your title had “fantasy,” try using “fiction” in the description. You could say something like, “10 fiction book recommendations for the new year, perfect for Tolkien fans.” Now you’re hitting keywords like “fiction,” “new year,” and “Tolkien,” casting a wider net for those search results.
And don’t forget your hashtags—those little guys are SEO dynamite. Mix in a few popular ones with some niche tags to zero in on your target audience. #BookRec, #Fantasy, and #FantasyBookTok should do the trick.
Finally, engage with your own content by dropping a comment packed with more keywords. Something like, “These books are like Lord of the Rings, but easier to read.” You’re tossing out “Lord of the Rings” and “easy reads,” which could snag the attention of users hunting for exactly that.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! By following these TikTok SEO strategies, you’re setting yourself up for more visibility, more views, and a lot more fun. TikTok isn’t just for mindless scrolling anymore—it’s a bona fide search engine. And as more users turn to TikTok to find what they’re looking for, having a rock-solid SEO strategy in place is more crucial than ever.