When you search for something on TikTok, the results you see are videos that are relevant to your search term. TikTok’s search algorithm looks at video titles, captions, hashtags, sounds, and more to find videos that match what you searched for.
Searching on TikTok
To search on TikTok, simply tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the app. This will open up the search bar where you can type in any keyword or phrase. As soon as you start typing, TikTok will offer autocomplete suggestions based on popular searches.
Once you finish typing your search term, hit enter or tap the search icon. This will load the results page with videos that match your search.
How TikTok Displays Search Results
The search results page on TikTok has a few different sections:
Top Videos
At the very top of the results page, TikTok highlights 4-6 top videos that closely match your search. These are usually popular videos from verified accounts or videos with high engagement. Tapping on any of these top videos will open it up directly on your feed.
Hashtag Results
Next, TikTok shows hashtag results related to your search term. This section displays the top hashtags that are commonly used with the keyword or phrase you searched for. Tapping any hashtag will search for that exact hashtag and show you videos using it.
Accounts
Below the hashtags, TikTok displays a carousel of user accounts that often make content around your search term. Following any of these accounts is an easy way to see more videos related to what you’re looking for.
Sounds
If your search term matches any popular sounds or music tracks on TikTok, the results page will also showcase a sounds section. This displays sounds associated with your search that you can tap on to view videos using that exact sound.
Video Results
The main section of the search results page shows a feed of video results. These are TikTok videos that match your search term based on factors like the title, captions, hashtags, sounds, etc.
TikTok tries to show you the most relevant videos to your search first. As you scroll down, the videos may become less closely matched to your original keyword.
You can tap any video in this feed to watch it fully and interact with it. The video will play directly on your main TikTok feed.
Factors that Determine Search Results
So how exactly does TikTok decide which videos to show for a given search? There are a few main factors that go into ranking search results:
Video Title
The text title given to a TikTok video is one of the strongest signals for search relevance. Videos with a title containing your search term are likely to rank higher.
Captions
Along with the title, TikTok looks at the video’s caption text. Videos with captions relevant to the search query may appear higher in results.
Hashtags
Hashtags are a great way for creators to make their videos discoverable in search. Videos with hashtags closely related to your search term often get a boost in search rankings.
Sounds
If you search for a specific sound or song, videos using that exact sound will take priority in the results.
User Interests
TikTok personalizes results based on what it knows about your interests and activity in the app. Users who watch similar content may see different video results for the same search.
Video Engagement
Highly engaging videos with a large number of views, shares, comments, and likes tend to rank higher in search. Popular and trending videos often appear at the top.
Account Authority
Verified accounts and creators with a strong following generally have an advantage in search rankings. But smaller accounts can still rank highly with strong optimization.
Optimizing Your Videos for Search
If you’re a TikTok creator who wants your videos to be discoverable, there are some best practices you can follow:
Use Targeted Titles and Captions
Include your core keyword in the video’s title and caption. This is one of the strongest optimization signals.
Leverage Relevant Hashtags
Fill the video caption with a good mix of popular hashtags and niche hashtags directly related to the content.
Use Trending Sounds
Pair viral sounds and music tracks with your niche content to maximize discoverability.
Engage Viewers
Like, comment on, and follow other user videos related to your niche. This activity can help boost your own video’s visibility.
Collaborate with Niche Influencers
Partner with creators in your niche to tap into their audience and get your content in front of new potential followers.
Finding the Most Relevant Search Results
TikTok’s algorithm does its best to display the most relevant videos to your search. But you can also take steps to refine the search experience:
Use Specific Keywords
Generic and broad search terms will return a wide range of videos. Using niche, targeted phrases relevant to exactly what you’re looking for can help surface more precise results.
Filter By Hashtag
Discover hashtags related to your search in the results, then filter by tapping that hashtag to only see videos using it.
Follow Related Accounts
Follow creator accounts suggested in the search results making content around your interests to see more tailored videos.
Like Videos to See Similar
Interact with videos by liking, commenting, and sharing. TikTok will start recommending you more videos like the ones you engage with.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok’s search feature allows you to easily discover new videos by searching keywords, hashtags, sounds, and more. Results are ranked based on relevance, engagement, creator authority, and your own interests. Optimizing your content and refining searches leads to finding the most suitable videos for your needs.
