TikTok’s algorithm is complex and uses a variety of factors to determine which videos to push out to users. The main goal of the algorithm is to provide each user with a personalized feed of content they will enjoy and engage with. Some key things the algorithm considers include:
Watch time – Videos that hold a user’s attention and are watched for longer get boosted. Shorter watch times signal the algorithm the video wasn’t engaging.
Interests and interactions – The algorithm studies each user’s interests based on past videos they’ve liked, shared, or commented on. More interactions with certain types of content trains the algorithm.
Video quality and captions – Higher quality videos with good captions tend to rank better. Low resolution, blurry videos may be suppressed.
Sounds and music – Popular sounds and music also help a video’s reach as they tap into trends.
Overall, the algorithm aims to surface the most relevant, engaging content to each user. But many factors are considered, making it complex to determine exactly why a specific video may not be pushed out.
Video Quality
High-quality video production is crucial for getting your videos pushed by TikTok’s algorithm. The algorithm favors videos that are well-lit, in focus, and have high resolution. Poor quality videos with grainy or shaky footage often get buried in feeds.
According to The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral, one of the main factors TikTok’s algorithm considers is the video information, including the resolution and aspect ratio. Videos filmed in HD tend to perform better.
The algorithm also looks at editing choices like text overlays, effects, transitions, and captions. Clean and engaging editing that complements the content helps the video appeal to viewers.
Overall, investing time into properly lighting, framing, stabilizing, and editing your TikTok videos pays off by increasing watch time and improving your standing with the algorithm.
Interests and Interactions
When TikTok first shows your video to users, it analyzes how people interact with it to determine if it’s a good match for their interests. TikTok has a powerful recommendation engine that learns about each user’s interests based on how they engage with videos. If people don’t seem genuinely interested in your video, they may skip past it quickly. This signals to TikTok that your content may not be the right fit for those viewers.
To get more views, tailor your content to your target audience’s interests. Study the types of videos that do well in your niche and aim to create content that provides value for that community. Use relevant sounds, hashtags, and captions that fit the interests of the people you want to reach. The more you can make content specifically appealing to certain groups, the better chance TikTok’s algorithm will show your videos to those most likely to enjoy it.
Watch Time
Watch time is one of the most important factors in the TikTok algorithm. Videos that are watched for longer tend to get more promotion from TikTok. As stated by Backstage Magazine, “the length of time a user watches a video has more impact on the algorithm than where a video originated geographically.” https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/tik-tok-algorithm-explained-75091/
TikTok wants to keep users engaged on the platform, so the algorithm will promote videos that lead to longer viewing sessions. According to Later’s guide, “The TikTok algorithm rewards content that is watched all the way through.” They recommend starting with snappy 15-30 second videos as a baseline, but encourage experimenting with longer videos too. https://later.com/blog/tiktok-algorithm/
In general, if your videos are getting high completion rates and watch time, TikTok will be more likely to show them to more users. Focus on creating engaging videos that keep viewers watching until the very end.
Sounds and Music
Using popular sounds and music can be an effective way to get more views on your TikTok videos. TikTok’s algorithm tends to push videos that use viral or trending sounds to more people’s For You Pages (FYP). When you hop on trending sounds, you increase the chances of your videos getting seen by users who are watching other videos with that same sound. This is because TikTok recommends content based on the audio in videos.
Try using trending songs, popular beats, or viral sound effects to make it more likely for your video to be discovered by TikTok’s algorithm. You can browse TikTok’s sound library to find top trending sounds that lots of creators are using. It’s a good strategy to keep an eye on new sounds and hop on them quickly before they become oversaturated. Just make sure the sounds you select are relevant to your niche and enhance the theme or purpose of your videos.
Finding the right music or sounds that resonate with your target audience is key. While trending sounds can give your videos a boost, you’ll want to ensure the audio aligns with your brand and content style. With strategic use of engaging sounds and music, you can increase your odds of going viral and having TikTok push your videos out to more people.
Captions
Adding captions to your TikTok videos can significantly improve watchability and viewer retention. According to research by Buffer, videos with captions receive 12% more views on average. Captions make it easier for people to watch and understand your content, especially in loud environments or if they have hearing difficulties. Well-written captions also aid comprehension for non-native speakers.
Enabling auto-generated captions is a quick way to add captions to your videos on TikTok. However, auto-captions aren’t always accurate, so manually adding your own captions will provide a better user experience. Take the time to accurately transcribe what is said in your video. Correct punctuation, capitalization and timing are important. Position the captions neatly so they don’t obstruct the visuals. With good captions, viewers are more likely to watch your entire video instead of clicking away.
Posting Consistency
Posting consistently is important for gaining more followers and views on TikTok. The TikTok algorithm rewards accounts that post regularly by showing their content to more users. As noted in this article, TikTok’s goal is to keep users engaged by recommending content from accounts that post frequently.
Accounts that post multiple times per day tend to gain more followers than those who only post sporadically. According to this source, frequent and consistent posting is generally rewarded by TikTok’s algorithm. Posting 1-3 times per day is a good goal. Having a consistent posting schedule trains the algorithm to show your content to more For You pages.
So if you want more people to see your videos on TikTok, aim to post quality content on a very regular basis. Sticking to a steady posting schedule can help your account perform better in terms of views and followers over time.
Engagement
Engagement refers to how much users interact with your content. This includes liking, commenting, sharing, and viewing your videos. The more engagement your videos get, the more the TikTok algorithm will promote them to a wider audience. According to The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral, the algorithm looks at metrics like comments and shares to determine a video’s engagement.
To boost engagement, it’s important to encourage viewers to interact through your captions and visuals. Ask questions, request feedback, prompt viewers to comment, or suggest sharing the video. You can also engage directly with commenters by liking, replying to, or pinning their comments. The more you interact, the more the algorithm sees that as positive engagement. Focus on starting conversations in the comments and building a community around your content. As How to Work With the TikTok Algorithm in 2024 notes, user interactions significantly influence how TikTok determines reach.
Hashtags
Hashtags play an important role in determining whether TikTok pushes your videos or not. The TikTok algorithm uses hashtags to understand the content of a video and categorize it appropriately so it can be shown to the right users. Using relevant hashtags that relate to your niche and target audience is key for getting your videos seen by people who will actually be interested in your content. According to an article on Sprout Social, “The TikTok algorithm uses hashtags to understand the content of a video and how to categorize it. That means if you want TikTok to show your videos to more people, you need to use hashtags — and use them strategically.”
Some best practices for using hashtags on TikTok include:
- Using a mix of popular and niche hashtags – Combine broader hashtags like #fyp and #viral with more niche ones relevant to your content.
- Researching hashtags used by top creators in your niche – Look at what hashtags are working for other successful accounts similar to yours.
- Including 5-10 relevant hashtags per video – Too many hashtags can seem spammy so aim for a reasonable amount per post.
- Placing hashtags at the start of the caption – Hashtags at the beginning are more likely to be read by the algorithm.
Strategically using the right hashtags makes it much more likely your content will be discovered by TikTok and recommended to users who are actually interested in your niche. Focus on quality hashtags over quantity. As the Sprout Social article states, “The key is finding a targeted mix that helps the right audience discover your content.”
Source: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/tiktok-algorithm/
Promoting Your Content
Cross-promoting your TikTok videos on other platforms can be an effective way to reach new audiences and drive more views. You can share your videos on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more. When cross-promoting, be sure to customize the caption for each platform and encourage viewers to check out your TikTok for more videos. Use relevant hashtags and mention your TikTok handle. You can also post short snippets or stills from your TikTok videos to tease the content and then direct people to your TikTok profile to see the full video.
According to https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-promotion/, cross-promoting your TikTok videos can help expose your content to new audiences who may not be on TikTok yet. It allows you to leverage the followers you’ve built on other platforms. Just make sure your posts add value for the users on each platform.
