TikTok’s recommendation algorithm is a complex system that determines which videos to show each user based on a variety of factors. The goal is to provide each user with an endless stream of engaging, relevant content tailored specifically to their interests and preferences. Understanding how TikTok’s recommendation algorithm works can help users better leverage it to get their videos seen.
What is TikTok’s recommended search?
The “Recommended” search results you see when you open the TikTok app is one of the main ways TikTok surfaces content it thinks you’ll like. These recommendations are personalized for each user based on TikTok’s algorithm.
The algorithm analyzes your in-app behavior – the videos you like, share, comment on, search for, or even just pause on. It uses this to understand your interests and preferences, and serve you videos it thinks you’ll engage with.
The Recommended feed is constantly updated to show you new, relevant content. The more you use TikTok, the better it gets to know your tastes, and the better it gets at recommending videos for you.
Factors that influence recommended search results
There are several key factors TikTok uses to determine which videos to show you in your Recommended feed:
Your interactions
How you engage with content directly informs what you see next. Liking, sharing, commenting on, or even just pausing to watch a video signals to TikTok that you find that video appealing. It will then serve you more videos like that one. Likewise, skipping past a video tells TikTok you aren’t interested in that type of content.
Video information
Beyond how you interact, TikTok also looks at information about the videos themselves. This includes details like captions, sounds, hashtags, the creator, and more. Videos with similar attributes to those you’ve engaged with before are likely to appear in your recommendations.
User information
Basic information about you also helps TikTok serve relevant content. Your language settings, country location, and device details can all play a part in fine tuning recommendations for you.
Creators you follow
Videos from creators you follow are prioritized in your Recommended feed. Even if you don’t watch all of their content, TikTok assumes a general interest based on your following them, and will surface more of their newly posted videos.
How the TikTok recommendation algorithm works
TikTok’s recommendation algorithm uses machine learning to analyze all the available data (your interactions, video information, etc) and identify patterns. Based on what it learns about your interests, it selects videos to show you that it believes will appeal to your tastes.
The algorithm is continuously optimized to get better at understanding what you like and surfacing relevant content. The more data it has on your preferences, the more accurate it becomes.
Key aspects of how TikTok’s recommendation algorithm works:
- Analyzes your in-app behavior and interactions to determine your interests.
- Examines information about videos to find similarities between content.
- Identifies videos that share attributes with those you’ve positively engaged with.
- Uses machine learning to continuously improve its recommendation accuracy.
- Personalizes results for each user based on their unique interests and preferences.
How to leverage TikTok’s recommendation algorithm
Understanding how TikTok determines which videos to recommend can help you optimize your content to work well with the algorithm. Some best practices include:
Engage thoroughly with niche content
Really dive into and engage with videos from a specific niche or hashtag. This signals TikTok to serve you more of that type of content.
Follow creators in your niche
Follow creators who make content similar to what you want to see. Their new videos will be prioritized in your recommendations.
Use relevant sounds and hashtags
Use trending sounds, hashtags, effects, etc related to your niche when posting videos. This helps the algorithm identify your content’s topic.
Post consistently
The more videos you post, the more data the algorithm has to understand your niche and serve your content to interested viewers.
Analyze your analytics
See which videos get the most engagement and shares. Make more content like your most successful videos for better recommendations.
Tips for creators to get on recommended search
If your goal is to get your TikTok videos shown in more Recommended feeds, here are some proven strategies:
Optimize hashtags
Include a good mix of popular and niche hashtags so your content surfaces for a wide range of searches.
Post at optimal times
Pay attention to when your followers are most active, and aim to post at those peak times when your videos can quickly gain traction.
Go viral
Videos that gain high engagement fast improve a creator’s authority score. This results in their future videos being prioritized for recommendations.
Collaborate
Duetting or collaborating with other creators helps reach each other’s audiences and cross-pollinate recommendations.
Engage with your community
Commenting back, doing live streams etc. helps build a loyal, engaged audience. This signals to TikTok that your content resonates.
Gaming the system through artificial engagement methods like bots can actually hurt your standing. Authentic community building is key.
Why recommended videos change over time
The videos shown in your Recommended feed evolve as TikTok continues learning about your preferences. Here are some reasons you may notice your recommendations changing:
Change in interests
If you engage with content around a new interest, TikTok will start serving you more videos related to that topic.
Algorithm updates
TikTok regularly tweaks its algorithm to improve recommendations. Major updates can noticeably impact the videos you see.
Change in followers
Following new creators exposes you to different content that influences your recommendations.
Evolving trends
Trending topics and viral sounds/hashtags change over time. TikTok identifies and recommends engaging new trends.
Seeing your Recommended videos change doesn’t mean the algorithm is flawed. The algorithm is designed to continuously adapt recommendations to your evolving interests and an ever-changing platform.
Conclusion
TikTok’s recommendation algorithm works hard to determine each user’s interests and serves them a personalized stream of engaging video content. Understanding how it works can help you optimize both your viewing and content creation experience on TikTok. Pay attention to how you interact with videos to influence the recommendations you see, and analyze your data to create content designed to succeed in Recommended feeds.
