Week 1: Learn TikTok Basics and Create Valuable Content

User behavior: Like with any social network, the content you see on TikTok is adjusted to your behavior meaning, the videos you like, share, and accounts you follow determine what the platform shows to you.

User interaction: The TikTok algorithm prioritizes user engagement and shows content with which they’ve interacted. If you engage a lot with a particular account, its videos are likely to appear more on your “For You” page. Similarly, if you like videos about a certain topic frequently, you’re likely to get more in your feed as well.

Video information: This includes details like video captions, subtitles, text on screen, sounds, and hashtags.

Haven’t you ever watched a trend and noticed that after viewing or searching for it, it keeps appearing in your recommendations?

Account or Device Settings: Other influential factors include the user’s location, language, and device type, though this last one has less weight in ranking. These factors create a unique “For You” page tailored to each user’s preferences and tastes. No feed is the same.

Prepare your TikTok strategy: A core part of your SEO strategy on TikTok is defining your content plan. You should be aiming to position yourself in the searches that your target audience conducts. To do this, use TikTok’s search with phrases like “how to” and your keyword, or use tools like Answer The Public to understand search volume.

Optimize your video – title, description, and on-screen text: To optimize your content, avoid bland titles; without good SEO, Google and TikTok won’t find your videos. Include your keyword in the title and in the on-screen text in atleast the first five seconds, as TikTok analyzes these to understand the content. This improves search positioning on TikTok and increases the chances of your video appearing among the top results.

Add hashtags for ranking: The descriptive text of your TikTok is crucial for SEO, but hashtags are essential for ranking. Use your keywords as hashtags, as they help Google index your video and enhance SEO on TikTok. Be sure to include at least one keyword in a hashtag and add secondary, related hashtags.

Use one hashtag related to the video’s topic, one that reflects your ideal client, and one that addresses a problem you solve. For example, if your video is about making a pokebowl, you could use:

• • #pokebowl
  • #athomerecipes
  • #healthyfood

To find the best hashtags, use Metricool to see what’s popular in your niche and Keyword Tool to identify keywords. Metricool also lets you analyze where your impressions come from. If hashtag traffic is low, it’s a sign you may need to adjust them.

TikTok profile picture 

Your profile picture is essential on TikTok. For a brand, use its logo or a representative image. For personal accounts, choose a clear and recognizable photo. Remember: using the same image across your social media makes recognition easier.

Changing your username on TikTok

Your username, which includes the “@” symbol, is essential for finding you on TikTok and Google. You can change it every 30 days, and it must contain only letters, numbers, and underscores. Similar to the profile picture, it can help to have the same username across platforms if you wish to cross-promote.

Adding a link to your TikTok profile

To turn followers into customers, add a link to your website or landing page in the bio of your profile. TikTok allows only one link, which limits traffic. With Metricool’s SmartLinks (available in Premium plans), you can create a page with multiple links and measure its performance.

Keep in mind that in order to add a link into your bio, you need to have a business account and you need to have atleast 1000 followers.

Add links to other social networks

TikTok is newer than Instagram or Facebook, so if you already have communities on other platforms, add links to those social media profiles. This way, those interested in your brand can access more content and information.

TikTok profile bio 

While it may seem simple, your bio is crucial for describing your activity and how you can help your clients.

• Include useful information about your services
• Use keywords to improve searchability
• Add emojis to make it stand out
• Keep consistency with your other social networks
• Add hashtags to increase reach

Create a playlist

Just like on YouTube or Spotify, TikTok lets you create playlists to group your videos by topic or theme. This makes it easier for users to access your content and find what they are looking for, increasing views since they won’t have to scroll.

*If you don’t see an option to create playlists in the Video tab on your profile, that means creator playlists aren’t available to you yet.

How to upload a video: 

Open TikTok and tap the “+” icon to access the camera. You can record by holding down the central button or upload videos from your gallery. Set the duration and add effects, filters, or sounds from the available options.

When finished, tap the red checkmark and use the editing tools to fine-tune your video. Then, select “Next” to add text, hashtags, a cover, and other details. Be sure to set visibility and choose “Post” or save it as a draft to edit later. Once published, your video will appear in the feed according to your chosen privacy settings.

How to upload photos: 

To post images on TikTok, you have the option to display them as a video, but here we’re interested in making this post appear as a carousel.

How to create a carousel on TikTok?

1. Open the TikTok app.
2. Click the ‘+’ button to upload content and select ‘Upload’ on the right side.
3. Choose the photo or photos you want to share in the TikTok carousel. To add more than one, activate the ‘Select’ tab at the top right.
4. Tap ‘Next’ and add captions, hashtags, mentions, and a cover image.
5. Remember to add a trending TikTok sound.
6. Publish your TikTok carousel.