TikTok SEO: What Is It and How to Do It

TikTok SEO: What Is It and How to Do It

Stefan Nedeljković

2

 min read

TikTok SEO is the practice of optimizing your video content on the TikTok platform to achieve better search results and appear more often on users’ For You Pages. 

But how does it exist when TikTok is not a search engine? How does it work? And most importantly, how can you improve the performance of your content and gain a bigger following on TikTok? Let’s have a look. 

What Is TikTok SEO? 

As stated, the meaning of TikTok SEO is to optimize your videos on TikTok in a way that makes them appear more on people’s For You Pages (FYP), which is effectively the primary goal of every TikTok creator. 

It’s not traditional SEO, which focuses on getting sites to appear higher in search engines like Google. However, there are similarities, as you’re still trying to tailor your content for TikTok’s algorithm in an effort to appear more on people’s FYPs. 

Similar to traditional SEO, there are numerous things that you can do to optimize your content, which effectively target the criteria TikTok algorithms use to push your content to more users and increase your chances of being discovered and potentially going viral. 

A standard TikTok SEO strategy involves working on factors that many SEO specialists are familiar with, such as keywords, hashtags, user interactions, profile optimization, and video elements like sounds, music, and on-screen text. 

How to Do SEO on TikTok

To help you learn how to do TikTok SEO, I’ve prepared a list of tips, i.e., the main things you should focus on in an effort to succeed on TikTok. Let’s take a look. 

1. Understanding Target Audience – Learn What Your Viewers Want to See

Of all the TikTok SEO best practices in 2025, the main thing you need to do is not really SEO-related. It’s about your audience and understanding it. You need to learn what the people who’d like to see the type of content you’re offering actually want to see. 

To do this, look at the videos they are engaging with and the hashtags these videos are using. Analyze the comments people leave there, as well as the messages they leave for you. 

It might be a long and tedious process, but the insights you gain will be instrumental in how you’ll approach content creation on TikTok for months and maybe years to come. 

2. TikTok SEO Keywords – Research Keywords Your Audience Is Searching

You might be making videos, but keyword research is still essential, just like in written content. It works a little differently on TikTok, though. 

You need to look at the phrases and words your target audience uses when they are actively searching for the type of content you’re making. 

You can use the free TikTok SEO tools that are connected to the app, namely the Keyword Insights tool from the TikTok Creative Center. It provides data on keyword popularity, trends, and more. You can also search for creator search insights in the app to get a list of trending topics and keywords. 

3. TikTok Keyword Implementation – Properly Use Keywords in Your Content

Once you have your keywords, you need to implement them in the right way. The important thing is to add them to your title, description, and caption of the video. 

If you’re using on-screen text, lyrics, or written explanations, add them to those as well. 

And if you’re wondering, you also need to actually say the keyword or several of them in the video itself. Some TikTokers also suggest you use keywords in your video’s comments, so try that as well to see how it goes. 

However, above all else, ensure you’re incorporating these keywords naturally. Don’t force their use just for the sake of it. 

4. TikTok SEO Hashtags – Research and Implement the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are an essential part of videos on TikTok, and they are effectively tied to keyword research. More often than not, you’ll get to use the same words and phrases for both; it’s just that the hashtags have the # symbol and are written without spaces. 

Naturally, this means you’ll need to focus on only a few shorter hashtags. Keywords are implemented in the hashtags, but also in text overlays, captions, and spoken word. However, hashtags have only one spot, and you need to focus on both specific and trending ones. 

You can find them by typing your keyword in the search bar and looking at the hashtag category of the results. 

5. TikTok SEO Tools – Use the Right Native and Third-Party Tools

SEO tools for TikTok video optimization are key, and the most important ones to use are found on TikTok itself. The primary tool and the top TikTok SEO keywords generator is the app’s search bar, as it offers autocomplete choices based on what the users are looking for. 

There’s also the TikTok Creative Center I mentioned, and TikTok Analytics, which is crucial for a data-driven approach. 

You should also consider third-party tools like Ahrefs and others if you’re willing to pay for them. They can also help with competitor analysis. 

6. Consistent Posting – Post as Often as Possible and Stick With It

There’s no exact number you need to follow, because posting three to five times a week can be as good as posting one to four times a day. 

The real goal is to be consistent, because TikTok’s algorithms value that greatly, even more so than on other social media. 

TikTok states that there’s no limit to how often you should post, so find a number you’re comfortable with and stick to it, with minor deviations whenever necessary. 

7. TikTok Analytics – Follow the Metrics for Insights and Make Changes

TikTok Analytics is an essential feature of the app, one that you should use all the time to track your videos’ performance and gain insights that will help you improve your approach and eliminate tactics that aren’t working. 

Use the Content tab to find the best-performing videos so you can identify patterns of what works. Examine the metrics to see where the views are coming from, the average watch time for your videos, their completion rate, and more. All this will give you further ideas on what to do and what to avoid. 

Bottom Line

If you truly want to succeed on TikTok, it’s important to tick the right SEO boxes. This might not be as vital as making engaging and viral content, but it’s certainly a much-needed boost that will get you more viewers. 

The TikTok SEO tips I’ve provided here are the most important ones you’ll find, and completing these steps is crucial in a more planned-out approach to TikTok marketing and content creation. 

FAQ

Can you do SEO on TikTok?

Yes, of course. TikTok SEO optimization involves researching and implementing relevant keywords and hashtags, conducting in-depth research on your target audience, and analyzing your analytics to inform future strategies. 

How to find SEO keywords on TikTok?

You can use the in-app Creator Search Insights feature or use the Keyword Insights tool within the TikTok Creative Center. A simple search in TikTok’s search function can also be helpful, as long as you have the primary keyword, as the search function will autocomplete it by pulling from the latest trends on what people are searching. 

Is TikTok SEO a thing?

Yes, TikTok SEO is very much a thing. It helps you improve the visibility of your video content both in and out of the app. When you properly optimize your content on TikTok, you have a better chance for the app’s algorithms to promote it on more FYPs. 

Is TikTok SEO more important than Google SEO?

You can’t say that either is more important, as they target different things. They have different goals and, most of all, different audiences. Value them equally based on what you’re doing, making TikToks or improving your website and online content. 

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