Users spend an average of 46 minutes on TikTok each day. However, the query is: how can you get your videos to catch your viewers’ attention throughout that time? Whereas there’s no magic recipe, coming to grips with the TikTok algorithm in 2020 may help you work with it and enhance your odds of success.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s discover the varied ranking factors at play and how one can leverage them to get your content material to rank on the sixth-largest global social network.
Let’s get to it.
How the TikTok algorithm works in 2020
For a long time, TikTok remained mum about the way it ranked content. Influencers and others who succeeded in getting their content material onto the For You page provided some guesswork that gave a rough framework to comply with. Ultimately, these were all darts thrown in the dark.
Fortuitously, TikTok has recently lifted the veil, highlighting the main ranking factors that run the present.
Each of these are explained beneath in order of their significance:
1. User interaction
Much like Instagram’s algorithm, the TikTok algorithm serves users’ posts they engage with. If there’s a particular account they interact with lots, they’re more likely to see content material from it. It’s the same with the videos they have a tendency to like and share most frequently.
The strongest ranking indicator in this category, nonetheless, is the video completion rate. This implies if users watch a video in full, it’s more likely to be pushed for additional distribution to other feeds than the one which viewers scrolled previous or watched for a second or two.
For creators and businesses, this implies making videos that maintain viewers’ attention until the end is the important thing to creating it to the For You page, TikTok’s version of Instagram’s Explore page.
2. Video information
Once more, the algorithm is more likely to push content material that a consumer explores. So, for example, if customers typically seek for a specific hashtag or enjoy content material with a particular sound bite, they’re more more likely to see videos with the same hashtag and sound.
This explains why you see more of #ohnanachallenge videos in your For You page for those who’ve watched some videos with the hashtag recently and are obsessive about it like I’m (anyone?).
3. Account or gadget setting
Lastly, customers’ location, language preference, and gadget type additionally play a role as these optimize the watching expertise. Nonetheless, they don’t have as much weight as other ranking signals. In other words, TikTok means that you can reach global viewers—however it’s additionally going to indicate users’ videos created by individuals in their area.
However, the question remains: how do new TikTok accounts go viral?
You see, TikTok reveals all videos, regardless of who posts them, to its users. So when a video is posted:
- The algorithm shows it to an account’s followers and folks likely to be excited about it. Or, if it’s a new profile, it reveals the video to a small subset of customers who could be within the content.
- From there on, users’ interaction with the content material decides its fate and additional distribution: do individuals watch it to completion? Do they leave a comment, give it a thumbs up, or share it?
- A positive user response to a video tells the algorithm to indicate the video to more consumers, helping it get the exposure it deserves. As for poor consumer response – properly, you do the math.
All this explains why the For You pages feature a mixture of highly engaging videos and videos that hardly have any views.
The TikTok algorithm doesn’t explicitly give preference to follower count as a ranking signal. Certain, individuals with high follower counts get more video views and engagement because of their large followings, however, this doesn’t imply new accounts don’t stand an opportunity.
11 tips for working with the TikTok algorithm in 2020
1. Create short, 15-second long videos
TikTok allows you to create 15- and 60-second lengthy videos. Nonetheless, you’re more likely to get your viewers to watch bite-sized, engaging videos for longer (or, fingers crossed, in full) than minute lengthy ones. Naturally, this boosts your video completion rate, the strongest TikTok algorithm ranking factor…
2. Create video content material that engages viewers from the beginning
Work on your video’s opening. Unnecessarily lengthy intros are a buzzkill. So, introduce a hook into your video within three seconds so viewers don’t yawn and scroll previous it.
One good approach to trim the fluff in your opening is to cut out the start section of every intro you shoot till you get the hook right.
3. Add an engaging caption
TikTok beats tweets to writing short captions. One factor is for sure though – it’s essential to be compelling regardless of having a 150-character limit (including any hashtags you add). An engaging caption can go a long way in encouraging your viewers to watch your video, even until the end.
How? Stir curiosity by saying something along the lines of ‘you’ve got to watch this until the end’ or ‘it took me X makes an attempt to get the end proper.’
Question-based captions assist as effectively. These encourage viewers to leave comments on your content material – one other “engagement” ranking factor to play along with.
4. Pay attention to each video you create
TikTok reveals all videos, regardless of the creator’s follower count, to a set of potential users. So, you don’t need to construct viewers first (as is the norm nowadays) and get video views second.
Put one other method, so long as your content material is nice, it’ll pick up steam within the algorithm. So, don’t lose heart if a few of your initial videos haven’t done effectively on TikTok. Chances are, you’ll find yourself making a video that the viewers love.