How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work + How to Leverage It

Consider you’ve just finished creating a TikTok video you’re proud of. You’ve nailed the trend, and it even makes you laugh. But when you post it, your excitement quickly evaporates as you watch it sink to the bottom of the ocean with barely any views. This dreadful cycle of putting effort into TikTok videos, only for them to flop, has probably happened to you before. Luckily, there’s a way to stop it. 

Learning how the TikTok algorithm works can help you create TikTok content that has the potential to go viral. This article will help you with those pesky TikTok Content Ideas by explaining how the TikTok algorithm works. The more you know about how the algorithm works, the better your chances of posting videos that will get picked up and promoted by TikTok.

One tool that can help you along the way is Virlo's virality analysis tool. This handy tool enables you to make sense of TikTok trends, allowing you to gather the necessary information to create content that goes viral.

Table of Content

• What is the TikTok Algorithm

• How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work

• How to Leverage TikTok Algorithm in 9 Ways

• 9 Tips to Go Viral on TikTok

• Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

What is the TikTok Algorithm

The TikTok algorithm is a recommendation system that decides which videos appear on a user’s For You Page. The For You Page is the default homepage of TikTok that surfaces content tailored to each person’s interests. The TikTok algorithm is designed to keep users engaged by showing them videos they’re most likely to enjoy based on a wide range of signals.  

Unlike a chronological or follower-based feed, TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes content relevance over creator popularity. That means even new users with zero followers can have their content pushed to large audiences if it aligns with what the algorithm thinks people want to see.   

At its core, the algorithm is designed to achieve one primary goal: 

• To maximize the watch time and engagement by displaying the right content to the right person at the right time.

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How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work

How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work?  

TikTok has become a global platform for creating and sharing short-form videos. To say that the platform is popular is an understatement, as TikTok has been downloaded over 3 billion times worldwide. The app has experienced explosive growth in popularity among the younger generation, particularly among TikTok users aged 16 to 24, who account for 60 percent of the platform's users. 

But how does TikTok decide which videos to show to which users? Like Instagram and YouTube, TikTok uses a recommendation algorithm to determine how to rank content on the platform. The TikTok algorithm prioritizes engagement, video content, and account and device settings. While we don’t know the full extent of how the TikTok algorithm works, like most social media companies, the bulk of its programming is proprietary, and only some details are shared publicly. 

Engagement  

Engagement encompasses the ways viewers respond to and interact with content. User interactions include positive feedback, such as following a creator or liking, sharing, rewatching, or commenting on a video. They also include negative feedback, such as marking videos as “not interested” or hiding a user. 

Video information  

This includes captions, hashtags, effects, sounds, and trending topics. In your recommendations, you may see familiar keywords and audiovisual elements similar to content you’ve viewed.  

Device and account settings  

The type of device you use to watch videos, your language preferences, location, categories of interest you chose when you made your account, and other settings also factor into the TikTok algorithm.   

The algorithm processes these ranking signals (and likely many others!) and assigns them a weight. For example, the length of time a user watches a video has a greater impact on the algorithm than the video's geographical origin. The content is then assessed on the chance that a specific user will be interested in it. If the computations check out, it will queue up on that user’s TikTok For You Page. Although a video is likely to receive more views if posted by an account with a large number of followers, follower count is not used as a basis for recommendation on TikTok.  

Discover How Virlo Can Help You Go Viral on TikTok

Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio and video combinations that help your content stand out in today's fast-paced social environment. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. 

We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand not just when to post, but what combinations of elements are currently driving engagement. Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo helps you navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool. 

How to Leverage TikTok Algorithm in 9 Ways

1. Capture Attention Immediately 

You have mere seconds to seize a viewer’s attention and persuade them to watch your video. Halt their thumbs from scrolling by adding an attention-grabbing hook that’s relevant to your audience. A solid hook provides just enough information to pique the viewer's interest and make them want more. Try these tactics for your video hooks: 

• Make a bold claim.

• Ask a question. 

• Share a surprising fact. 

• Hint at a secret. 

Ensure each hook is relevant to your audience, and use emotional words to catch their attention.

2. Make Content for Specific Audiences

It’s challenging to gain traction with popular topics on TikTok, as many creators are already competing for limited FYP placement. However, you can use the algorithm to your benefit by finding niche topics to post about. For example, cooking is a super popular topic on TikTok. There are plenty of accounts dedicated to whipping up the best dishes. But Bobby Hicks of @theretrorecipekitchen uses his account to trial dishes from days of old. 

Many of the recipes he tests look tasty, while others look like…a veggie gelatin stack? It may seem a little odd, but by focusing on one corner of a popular topic, Hicks has grown his account to over 150k followers. Review the topics you’d like to use, and if they seem a little crowded, find a subtopic your audience would appreciate. That’ll leave you with fewer competitors in the race for the FYP. It’ll also make your content more relevant to a specific audience, which the algorithm loves.

3. Optimize for TikTok SEO

Search engine optimization isn’t just for Google. Pretty much any time there’s a search function, you can optimize your content for it, and TikTok is no exception. In addition to the other tips in this guide, you’ll want to use keyword research to boost your TikTok SEO. Like on search engines, people use specific words and phrases in the search bar to find content on the app. Your job is to figure out what those words are. Keyword research is easy on TikTok. 

Make a list of things your audience might search for that are relevant to your business. If you’re an esthetician, “skin care” might be one of them. Then, enter those words into the TikTok search bar and see what it auto-fills. You’ll see options like “skin care for men” and “skin care routine.” Once you’ve gathered a list of keywords, plan out your content calendar to cover each term. Don’t forget to add keywords to your TikTok bio, too.

4. Create TikTok-Specific Content

It’s smart to repurpose content for multiple platforms. But when it’s time to post it on TikTok, make sure it fits the app’s best practices. First, produce and edit full-screen, vertical videos with a 9:16 ratio. That will fill the entire mobile screen while matching how most people view TikTok content. Second, keep most of your videos short. While there is no ideal duration for every video, in 2021, TikTok suggested that the optimal length should be between 24 and 31 seconds. 

The platform has pushed for longer content, but many viewers find videos longer than one minute to be stressful, so it’s safer to keep them under 60 seconds. Finally, for the best chance of your TikTok videos going viral, keep them positive in tone. Semrush evaluated an extensive collection of viral TikTok videos and found that those with a positive, funny, or happy vibe did best. Follow these best practices to get more early engagement, which the algorithm will use as a signal that your video belongs on more FYPs.

5. Post at the Best Times and Frequencies

The TikTok algorithm doesn’t care what time or how often you post, at least not directly. However, it does examine the level of engagement an individual video receives. Knowing when and how frequently to post can give your videos a little engagement boost. The right time: The best time to post on TikTok depends on when your target audience is most likely to be on the app. The goal is to publish content a little before the peak potential viewing time to get them indexed and ready for your followers. You can find that information in your TikTok analytics. 

The Right Frequency

Consistency is essential for success on any social media platform. You don’t want followers to forget about you, and you want more chances to reach new viewers. But how do you quantify “consistency?” Just like timing, learning how often you should post on TikTok will take some trial and error. TikTok recommends posting up to four times per day (of course, they do). More realistically, most brands post content to TikTok around two to four times per week (depending on which study you follow). 

Here are a few tips to find your perfect TikTok schedule: 

• Consider your creative capacity: Posting more often is great, but not at the expense of quality. Review other creators: Spy on your competition to see how frequently successful accounts in your niche post content. 

• Watch Your Analytics: Vary your posting frequency over several weeks and see how it affects your views and engagement.

6. Don’t Skip the Hashtags

Using hashtags on TikTok can help you succeed in two ways. First, hashtags help the TikTok algorithm understand your content, enabling it to match your content more effectively with user preferences. Second, TikTok users use hashtags to search for content, so when your video is tagged, it may show up in their search. As we know, when more people see your content, the algorithm will show it to more people with similar interests. You can find which hashtags are trending in TikTok’s Creative Center. Here are a few tips for using hashtags on TikTok: 

Don’t Use Too Many

One to four hashtags will do the trick without making your post look spammy. 

Use a variety of Types

Combine branded, topical, popular, and niche hashtags to achieve the best mix of reach and relevance. Include seasonal and holiday hashtags: 

• Adding seasonal hashtags like #HelloSpring and #HalloweenScares allows you to capitalize on the surge of attention during peak times of the year.

7. Use Trending Sounds

Audio clips work similarly to hashtags on TikTok. If an audio clip gets popular, and you like videos that use that clip, there’s a greater chance you’ll get more videos with that audio in your FYP. Head back to the Creative Center to find trending songs. Look in the Popular tab to see which tunes are already getting a lot of play. Then, check out the Breakout tab to catch the next audio wave early.

8. Add Captions

Many people don’t watch videos with the sound on. Adding captions to your posts allows those who follow along to do so. But captions don’t just help you appeal to a broader audience. TikTok’s algorithm can learn more about your videos from the text of their captions. TikTok makes it easy to add captions. Tap the Captions icon, and the app will automatically generate them. Make sure you use the keywords you dug up in your video script. The algorithm will read the captions and determine who should see your videos.

9. Jump on Trends

One of the most effective ways to leverage the algorithm and increase views is by following TikTok trends. A trend is a theme, idea, or trait of a video that already has mass appeal. That might be a familiar song or a dance. Trends can also be challenges, like this one, where one person holds another so they appear to be in the iconic scene from the movie Titanic. When viewers get hooked on a trend, TikTok sends them more videos to view. If you’ve jumped on the trend, the algorithm will put your video in that mix.

Related Reading

• TikTok Trend Discovery
• How Long Does It Take for a TikTok to Go Viral
• How to Get More Views on TikTok
• TikTok Keyword Research

9 Tips to Go Viral on TikTok

1. Use Virlo to Find Viral Trends

Virlo is an excellent resource for TikTok creators aiming to produce viral content. Using AI, Virlo analyzes trending videos to uncover the patterns and trends that help them go viral. The platform identifies the optimal posting times, popular sounds and audio combinations, and the types of creator content that currently engage TikTok users. It also provides information on why certain videos go viral and how you can replicate their success. For independent TikTok creators looking to build a sustainable business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy and helps you get on the right side of TikTok’s ever-changing algorithm.

2. Learn How Videos Go Viral on TikTok

Going viral on TikTok means getting hundreds of thousands or even millions of views on your video. The trick to going viral is getting on the good side of TikTok’s algorithm, which aims to show users videos that they will enjoy. If your content can please TikTok’s algorithm, it will be pushed to a large audience on the app through the For You Page. While many creators are competing for the attention of TikTok's more than 1 billion users, getting your video on TikTok’s For You Page is the best way to achieve viral status. Videos that feature here typically tap into popular culture, meme-worthy moments, or trending songs. Let’s explore some of the most effective ways to go viral on TikTok.

3. Use Trending Songs and Sounds on TikTok

Songs and sounds are a cornerstone of TikTok culture. The app originally began as a lip-syncing app called Musical.ly before becoming a global phenomenon that has the power to shoot hits to stardom. In 2022, trending songs on TikTok made up 13 of the 14 Billboard Hot 100 number ones. So, how does using a popular song boost your content? Featuring a trending song or sound in your video helps TikTok group it with similar content. If people are enjoying other videos that are soundtracked with the same song, TikTok is more likely to share your clip with them, too. 

4. Discover How to Find Trending Sounds on TikTok

Finding the freshest trending sounds on TikTok is a breeze. When you tap the "+" icon to create a new video, head to Add Sounds. Under Playlist, you’ll find a selection called TikTok Viral. From here, you’ll see all the top trending songs, which you can put straight into your video. Another way to find trending sounds is to keep an ear out for songs you hear on other TikTok videos. Like what you hear? Simply tap on the title in the bottom left of the screen to add it to your favorite sounds and explore other videos using it.

5. Keep Videos Punchy

You want TikTok to know people are finding your videos addictive to watch. Which means there’s no time for long, drawn-out cuts and rambling monologues. Get to the point and cut out any part of your video that gives viewers a reason to scroll past it.

6. Master the Edit

As well as keeping your content super punchy, you want to keep people hooked by making the most of TikTok’s editing tools. Add eye-catching effects, choose a standout soundtrack, and get creative with the edit. Use TikTok’s features to bring your video to life and keep people watching. Take a look at Yoeslan’s creepy clown clips for inspiration. He uses snappy shots and effects to keep people engaged right through his videos.

7. Encourage Interaction 

TikTok has informed us that user interactions play a role in determining which videos it’ll share with a broader audience. Encourage viewers to hit the like button if they’re enjoying your video, or consider asking people to drop a comment. By asking your audience what they’d like to see next from you, you can even get fresh ideas for your next video. For example, Australian chef Andy Cook often asks his followers to suggest recipes for him to try out.

8. Aim for Regular Posts

The more content you post, the higher your odds of producing a viral hit. TikTok doesn't explicitly suggest this will enhance your chances of a video's success, but by posting regularly, you’ll have more chances to hit it big. It’s worth noting that some TikTok videos don't skyrocket immediately. On average, 55% of views come in the first week, so a decent chunk of views will come later. Which means there's always the possibility one of your earlier videos could become a sleeper hit.

9. Take Part in TikTok Trends 

Jumping on a TikTok trend is one of the most effective ways to get your content shared far and wide. As a trend gains popularity, more TikTok users begin to search for it, prompting the algorithm to deliver related videos into viewers' For You feeds. Keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s trending can give you inspiration for new videos and introduce you to a bigger audience. But how do you find out what’s trending?

Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

Many short-form video creators want to go viral on TikTok. To achieve this, it's crucial to understand TikTok's algorithm, specifically how it operates. The algorithm determines how content is distributed on the platform, so knowing how it works will help you get your content in front of more users. TikTok’s algorithm uses a variety of factors to decide which videos to show to which users. While we don’t know all the details, the main factors include: 

User Interactions

The more a user interacts with your content, the better. This means likes, comments, shares, and saves. It also implies interaction from accounts that follow you. 

Video Information

This includes captions, hashtags, sounds, and the actual content of your video. The more you can optimize your videos for specific niches, the better. 

Account Settings 

TikTok also considers your account settings as well as the settings of the users interacting with your content. This includes language preference, country setting, and whether your account is private or public. 

How to Get on the TikTok ‘For You’ Page 

Getting on the TikTok ‘For You’ page is the key to going viral on TikTok. This is where users discover new content and creators, so you want to get your videos featured here. TikTok’s algorithm determines which videos get shown on each user’s ‘For You’ page and goes off similar criteria as the main algorithm. The more a user interacts with your content, the better. From there, the algorithm examines your video information, and then it considers your account settings.

Whether you're just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo helps you explore the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo's virality analysis tool. 

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