How to Crack the TikTok Algorithm

By: Tiffany Brandon, Social Media Manager

The highly personalized TikTok algorithm that fuels the For You feed is what makes the app so addicting! But how does the For You page algorithm work and how can you crack it to go viral?

First, it’s important to note that TikTok does NOT base For You feed recommendations on follower count or on previous success with high-performing videos. Sure, accounts with more followers will likely get more views because people are actively seeking that content. However, if you create great content that speaks directly to your target audience, you have just as much chance to land on their For You page as even the biggest TikTok stars.

Keep reading for our top 7 hacks to help you crack the TikTok algorithm and get more eyes on your content!

⭐ Hack #1 The 3 Second Rule
The ranking indicators most important to TikTok are watch time and video completion. This means that if users watch a video in its entirety, this video is more likely to gain visibility.

If your audience is only watching a few seconds of your 30 second video and not all the way through, the algorithm will flag your video as unengaging.

The key here is to captivate your audience in the first 3 seconds and keep your videos short! A higher completion rate will create a ‘snowball’ effect and show the video to more and more people.

⭐ Hack #2 Know Your Audience
Before posting videos, it’s important to make sure that there is an audience for the type of content you want to post. Search hashtags and keywords surrounding your video topic to see if there’s an audience who is heavily engaging with those types of posts.

Knowing what’s currently trending in your niche will give you the best chances of appearing on users’ For You page and reaching a wider audience.

⭐ Hack #3 Jump on the Trends
Trends are the glue that hold TikTok together through dances, comedy, music, and challenges! The algorithm can give you a huge boost if you use sounds or features that are trendy and relevant to your audience.

TikTok moves at an extremely fast pace, meaning that new trends are surfacing every single day, and so they can become outdated quickly. Jump on the trends fast and you may just go viral!

⭐ Hack #4 Use the Right Hashtags
Hashtags equal discoverability! The 3 types of suggested hashtags that you should focus on are niche, trending, and For You hashtags. Hashtags should be relevant to the videos you post because the people interested in the topic will be the ones searching for the hashtag.

Trending hashtags show you what’s currently trending across TikTok. For You page hashtags include #fyp #foryou #foryoupage. Many brands are using these to get their campaigns known to their target market.

⭐ Hack #5 Use Attractive Titles & Captions
The video title is the first thing users see when they land on your content. It is essential that you grab their attention in seconds with the few words that you can use.

Just like titles, captions on TikTok thrive if they’re written with fewer words. The more engaging and shorter your captions, the more users are likely to watch the entire video. The goal is to be compelling even with a character count of 150 or less!

⭐ Hack #6 Engage & Connect with Other Users
Carve out time to socialize! Just like other platforms, TikTok is still a social space for people and conversations. Make sure to leave comments and engage on other people’s posts.

Be genuine, and make sure to show that you care about the topics you discuss. When you receive comments and shares, this can help you get picked up more in the For You page and reach new audiences.

⭐ Hack #7 Post When Your Audience is Active
It’s important to post when your audience is most active and engaged. Without an audience, you might be pushed to the side by the algorithm. When you post during active times, there are more opportunities for the video to be shared, commented on, and liked, which results in more viewership and followers.

It is typically recommended to post 3-4x daily between 10:30-11:45am, 3:00-5:00pm, or 7:00-8:45pm. Check your analytics at tiktok.com/analytics to monitor your best post times!

Employing these TikTok hacks can help you grasp how videos should be created to appeal to your audience and increase your chances of going viral. Great content usually wins in the end, so just keep trying and learning until you find what works for you! Let us know which hacks you’re most excited to try and feel free reach out to our agency for additional support!