Are you navigating the challenging world of social media and wondering why your TikTok videos aren’t getting the views you’ve been hoping for? Well, you’re not alone because many creators feel they’re shouting into the void, not understanding why their content isn’t resonating. The culprit often isn’t the content but how it interacts with the TikTok Algorithm.
However, it is not difficult to understand the algorithm. By the end of this post, you’ll understand everything about this algorithm and you’ll be able to use it to your advantage.
So, tune in and discover how these can take your TikTok to the next level!
What is the TikTok Algorithm?
Ever wondered why is TikTok algorithm so good at showing you videos you love? It’s because it decides what pops up on your ‘For You’ page based on your interactions.
It’s smart and looks at what videos you like, share, and watch all the way through. When a lot of people like a video, the TikTok algorithm for views kicks in and shows it to even more people.
But it’s not just about likes and shares. The algorithm also looks at what’s in your videos, the songs you use, and when you post them.
Understanding TikTok algorithm times is crucial, as posting at peak times can significantly boost your video’s visibility. Utilizing a TikTok Scheduler is super helpful in this regard, allowing you to schedule TikTok posts for optimal timing and audience engagement.
It helps you post your videos when most people are watching, so your video has a better chance of being seen.
TikTok Algorithm Signals
- User Activity: Understanding how the TikTok algorithm works is crucial. For instance, the algorithm takes note when someone watches your whole video without skipping, showcasing the intricate workings of this system.
- Subject Matter: The subject or say the context of the video is another factor that signals the algorithm. For instance, if you are into cooking or dancing, create videos for that particular niche. This way the algorithm will understand the theme of your video and show it to those who like that stuff as well. It is just like placing your video into a particular position in the library where relevant people will easily access and see it.
- Location and Language: Your location and the language you speak can influence who sees your videos. The algorithm tries to show people videos that are popular or relevant in their area. If you’re making videos in English from Canada, the algorithm is more likely to show your videos to other English-speaking TikTok users, maybe even those in Canada.
- Audio: Music and sounds are super important on TikTok. If you are using trending audio or trending sounds, the algorithm gives you a thumbs up and helps more people find your video.
- Not Interested Feedback: If people start watching your video but then stop and skip it, the algorithm takes that as a sign that maybe your video wasn’t what they wanted to see. This feedback is a critical part of how the algorithm works, helping it to refine the content presented to users. So, it’s important to make your videos fun and interesting from the very beginning to keep viewers engaged.
- Device Type and Account Settings: Even the kind of phone someone has or the settings that they have on their TikTok account can affect the algorithm. For example, if you create high-quality videos, they might be shown more to people with newer phones.
By understanding these signals, you’re essentially getting the TikTok algorithm exposed, allowing you to create content that aligns perfectly with what the platform favors.
For deeper insights and discussions, many creators turn to platforms like TikTok algorithm Reddit threads, where they share their experiences and strategies for aligning content with the algorithm’s preferences.
Factors that Don’t Influence the Algorithm
- Previous High-Performing Videos: Just because you had a video that was super popular before doesn’t mean the algorithm will automatically push your new videos. Each video stands on its own; it’s like every video gets a fair chance to be a hit.
- Follower Count: You might think having a lot of followers would mean your videos get seen more, but that’s not how it works. The algorithm doesn’t care about the total number of followers. It’s all about how much people like and watch each video you post.
- Paid Promotion: Even if you pay to have your video shown to more people, it doesn’t change how the algorithm picks videos for the “For You” page.
Types of content that aren’t considered by Algorithm.
The algorithm is picky about the videos it shows to people.
These are some types of videos it usually doesn’t pick, no matter what:
- Violent or Scary Stuff: Videos that show fighting, hurting others, or anything that can make viewers feel scared or upset are a no-go. The algorithm steps away from these to keep things safe and friendly.
- Fake or Tricky Videos: If a video is trying to trick people or is about fake stuff, the algorithm is smart enough to usually skip over it. It likes videos that are real and honest.
- Risky Moves: Videos of people doing dangerous things, like super crazy stunts, aren’t what the algorithm wants to share.
- Too Grown-Up Content: Videos that are too much about grown-up topics, especially those that are not okay for younger viewers, don’t get the algorithm’s attention.
- Not Healthy for You: In its commitment to user safety, the algorithm actively avoids promoting potentially harmful content, making it less likely for ‘TikTok algorithm dangerous’ content, such as videos promoting unhealthy body images or unsafe weight loss methods, to gain traction.
- Smoking and Drinking Stuff: The algorithm also steps past videos that show smoking, vaping, or drinking alcohol. It’s about keeping things healthy.
- Copycat or Low-Quality Videos: The algorithm tends to ignore duplicate content, so if your video is just a copy of someone else’s or lacks clarity, it’s less likely to be promoted. It likes fresh and clear videos.
Top 12 Tips to Conquer the TikTok Algorithm
Hook Your Audience
Think of the start of your video as the cover of a book. It should be exciting enough that people find it impossible not to jump into it. First, begin with something that will add a “wow” factor to the content, incorporating unique and engaging TikTok video ideas.
Perhaps present some questions that they are dying to know the answer to. Or display something that forces people to stay till the end. What you should wish for your videos is when you are telling a story, everybody should listen to it with focus and interest!
Keep it clean, keep it exciting, and watch as viewers stay to see your whole story unfold.
Focus on a Niche
Just like everyone has their favorite class in school, your TikTok channel should have a favorite subject too. Choose a topic you love and know a lot about, whether it’s making slime, playing guitar, or showing off soccer tricks.
When you make videos about this one special topic, you become the go-to person for it, like a teacher who knows everything about dinosaurs. This helps the algorithm figure out who will want to watch your videos because they like that topic as much as you do.
It’s like watching your videos with the perfect audience who can’t wait to see what you’ll share next.
Use Trending TikTok Audio
Using audio that’s popular on TikTok can help your videos get noticed. When you choose a sound that lots of people are listening to, the algorithm sees it and shows your video to more users.
This can make your video more popular, just like a hit song on the radio. So, when making a video, pick a trending sound to help it stand out.
Experiment with New Features
TikTok often introduces new features, like Stitches, Duets, Stories, and various TikTok challenges. Using these can help your videos reach more people. Stitches and Duets let you interact with other users’ content, which can introduce you to their followers.
They may also improve how your content is viewed and make it appear on several “For You” channels. Try them out to see which ones work best for your videos.
Effective Hashtag Use on TikTok
Selecting appropriate hashtags is essential for TikTok creators. They help your target audience discover your videos. It’s important to choose hashtags that are relevant and not too general to ensure your content reaches viewers interested in your niche.
However, using too many hashtags can lead to confusion, much like too many directions can lead to getting lost. Hence, aim for a few well-chosen hashtags that represent your video’s topic.
Also, creating a unique hashtag for your brand on TikTok can be beneficial. This acts as a signature for your content, making it stand out and providing a shared space for your audience to connect.
It can also increase your content’s visibility, encourage community engagement, and support brand loyalty.
Build a community
As content creators, the key element for the TikTok marketing strategy should be building a community on social platforms, which can significantly boost your visibility and influence in the social media marketing landscape.
These relationships can open doors to collaborative projects and mutual promotion, which can significantly extend your content’s reach.
By engaging with creators who share your passion, you can tap into their audiences and introduce your brand to potential new followers. This network of creators acts as a support system, helping to amplify each other’s messages and grow your presence on the platform.
Building a community is a powerful strategy for increasing your visibility and influence on TikTok.
Find the Best Time to Post
Using a TikTok Pro Account can provide insights into your audience’s activity, helping you identify the optimal time to publish your videos. This is where scheduling TikTok posts, based on the best time to post on TikTok, becomes an invaluable strategy. The process involves analyzing when your audience is most active on the platform.
Posting during peak engagement times increases the likelihood that your content will be seen by a larger audience, as the algorithm tends to favor videos that receive immediate interaction.
By strategically timing your posts, and considering the best time to post on TikTok, you can enhance the visibility and reach of your content, which is a key tactic for successful engagement on TikTok.
Experiment With Video Length
Finding the perfect length for your videos can make a big difference. Some viewers might like quick, snappy videos, while others prefer longer ones where they can get into the story.
So, create shorter videos, as well as longer videos to see which ones your audience likes best. Just notice how long people watch before they stop, and which videos get the most likes and shares.
This will give you an idea about what video lengths work best for your TikTok content. Remember, the goal is to keep your viewers interested from start to finish.
Optimize TikTok for SEO
Optimizing your content for TikTok SEO is similar to website SEO; using the right keywords helps people discover your videos when they search for specific topics. Think of keywords as the important words that tell what your video is about.
When you put these words in your video’s title, description, and even in the video itself, it’s easier for TikTok to show your video to people looking for those topics.
So, choose keywords that match what your video is about and use them wisely. This way, your videos are more likely to pop up for the right viewers.
Be Consistent
It’s important to post your videos regularly. When you share videos often and on a schedule, people know when to expect new content from you, which keeps them interested.
Being consistent with your posts can help you build a group of viewers who really like your work and follow you closely. Plus, when you post often, TikTok’s system notices that you’re active and might show your videos to more people.
So, try to post as regularly as you can to keep your audience around and engaged.
Keeping up with the Updates
As you dive into mastering the algorithm, remember that it’s a moving target. The platform frequently rolls out a “TikTok algorithm update” to refine user experience and content relevancy.
Staying updated with these changes is crucial for creators who want to maintain and grow their presence on TikTok.
By adapting to these updates, you ensure that your strategy remains effective and your content continues to reach your audience effectively.
Have Fun
Displaying genuine enthusiasm in your videos can significantly enhance their appeal. When viewers see that you’re passionate and having a great time, they’re more likely to engage with your content.
This engagement is a key indicator of TikTok’s algorithm, suggesting that your videos are enjoyable and should be recommended to others.
As a result, including fun in creating the content will make your clips much more engaging and reachable to many viewers. Recall, it is the very same positive energy that can work for you in bringing about new audiences, as well as, keeping them engaged.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving realm of social media, understanding the algorithm is key to growing your presence on the platform. By focusing on creating engaging content that resonates with your audience, and using the right strategies like timing your posts and optimizing for search, you can work with the algorithm to get your videos in front of more viewers.
Remember that the algorithm aims to connect users with content they’ll enjoy. So, concentrate on making your videos appealing and valuable to your audience, and you’ll likely see your TikTok community thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
TikTok uses a recommendation algorithm that suggests videos based on user interactions, video information, and the device/setting of the account.
The “For You” feed is a personalized stream of videos curated by TikTok’s algorithm based on what it thinks you’ll like to watch.
TikTok shows you videos based on your likes, comments, follows, watch time, and the types of content you create or interact with.
You can “beat” the algorithm by consistently creating engaging content that resonates with your audience, using relevant hashtags, and posting at times when your audience is most active.
The best time to post on TikTok varies, but it’s generally when your audience is most likely to be online and engaging with content.
There’s no official way to reset the algorithm, but you can influence it by changing your interaction patterns, like engaging with different types of content.
Debbie Moran is a Digital marketing strategist with 5+ years of experience producing advertising for brands and helping leaders showcase their brand to the correct audience. She has been a part of RecurPost since 2019 and handles all the activities required to grow our brand’s online presence.