The For You stream, which is powered by the highly tailored TikTok algorithm, is what makes the app so compelling.
Here is all the information marketers need to know about the TikTok algorithm and how to use it in 2023.
What Is the TikTok Algorithm?
According on each user’s personal tastes, the TikTok algorithm determines which films to show them on their For You page.
In other words, the machine decides which videos you might find interesting.
As a result, each user’s experience with the For You page is highly customized, and no two users will ever view precisely the same pages.
By focusing the recommendations on specialized interests, it becomes more targeted, ensuring that NFL fans watch videos about football rather than more general sports content.
This implies that as your choices and attitude change over time, so too may the kinds of videos you see.
The TikTok algorithm will instantly notice any changes in your behavior and provide the most relevant material at the time.
For instance, as you take up cooking as a new pastime and begin to watch more food-related videos, you might notice a lot of cooking-related TikToks on your For You page.
But if you start to interact less and less with the cooking videos suggested on your For You page after a few months, you might see a reduction in these kinds of videos.
How does the TikTok algorithm work?
Initially, social media platforms kept their algorithms a secret.
This makes sense given that the recommendation engine is a patented technology that contributes to the distinctiveness of each social network.
Social networks use algorithms to get us in and keep us interested.
TikTok doesn’t want spammers and other sketchy individuals to be able to manipulate the algorithm to gain more popularity than they should.
However, as people’s trust in social networks’ inner workings has waned, the majority of platforms have made the fundamental principles of their algorithms public.
Fortunately, this implies that we now have direct knowledge of several of the important ranking factors used by the TikTok algorithm.
As follows:
1. User interactions
The TikTok algorithm is based on a user’s interactions with the app’s content, much to the Instagram algorithm.
What sort of exchanges? Anything that provides information about the type of content the user prefers or dislikes.
The For You page suggests content depending on a number of criteria, such as:
• Which accounts you follow
• Creators you’ve hidden
• Comments you’ve posted
• Videos you’ve liked or shared on the app
• Videos you’ve added to your favorites
• Videos you’ve marked as “Not Interested”
• Videos you’ve reported as inappropriate
• Longer videos you watch all the way to the end (aka video completion rate)
• Content you create on your own account
• Interests you’ve expressed by interacting with organic content and ads
2. Video information
Video information signals are based on the content you frequently look for on the Discover tab, as opposed to user interaction signals, which are based on how you connect with other users on the app.
This can involve information like:
• Captions
• Sounds
• Hashtags
• Effects
• Trending topics
3. Device and account settings
TikTok uses these variables to enhance performance.
They do not, however, have as much of an impact on what you see on the platform as user interaction and video information signals do because they are based on one-time configuration decisions rather than ongoing interactions.
The TikTok algorithm takes into account a number of device and account parameters, including:
• Language preference
• Country setting (you may be more likely to see content from people in your own country)
• Type of mobile device
• Categories of interest you selected as a new user
What’s not included in the TikTok algorithm?
The algorithm will NOT suggest the following kinds of content:
• Duplicated content
• Content you’ve already seen
• Content the algorithm flags as spam
• Potentially upsetting content (TikTok gives the examples of “graphic medical procedures” or “legal consumption of regulated goods”)
And now for the good news for all new users of TikTok or those who haven’t yet amassed a sizable fan base.
TikTok DOES NOT base recommendations on the number of followers an account has or on a history of popular videos.
Of course, since more people are actively looking for that content, accounts with more followers will probably receive more views.
However, if you produce excellent material that appeals to your intended audience, you have the same chance of appearing on their For You page as an account with previously successful viral videos
(this includes even the biggest TikTok stars).
Not persuaded? Here’s the latest information directly from TikTok:
You might see a video in your stream that doesn’t seem to have received a lot of likes.
You have more opportunity to stumble onto new content categories, meet new artists, and gain new perspectives when you include a variety of videos in your For You stream.
Your objective is to become one of those fresh innovators for your intended market.
To assist you in doing that, here are 5 tips.
5 tips for working with the TikTok algorithm in 2022
1. Switch to a TikTok Pro account
Depending on whether you’re a creative or a business, TikTok provides two different sorts of pro accounts.
Even though having a pro account won’t help your films appear on the For You page, upgrading to one is still a crucial step in understanding the TikTok algorithm.
This is due to the fact that a Creator or Business account offers you access to analytics and insights that can direct your TikTok strategy.
If you want to provide content that your audience enjoys and engages with, it is essential to understand who they are, when they use the app, and the kind of content they prefer.
Here’s how to convert to a TikTok Business account:
1. From your profile page, tap the three dots icon at the top right of the screen.
2. Tap Manage account.
3. Select Switch to Business Account and choose the best category for your business.
2. Find your subculture
Finding existing communities to interact with on all social media is crucial.
This is a crucial step on the app, but the TikTok algorithm’s nature makes it even more so.
That’s because TikTokers spend the majority of their time on the For You tab, as opposed to other social networks where users spend a lot of time interacting with profiles they already follow.
You’re more likely to reach the right audience if you can draw on an existing community—or subculture.
Thankfully, TikTok subcultures gravitate toward hashtags (more on those later).
You may increase trust, brand loyalty, and exposure by providing content that authentically resonates with TikTokers by understanding your most valued subculture.
Following are a few of the top subcultures TikTok has identified:
#CottageCore
For fans of vintage design, gardens, and country cottages.
“Flower prints, knitting, plants, and mushrooms,” according to TikTok.
#FitTok
Fitness challenges, tutorials, and inspiration.
3. Maximize the first moments
TikTok is quick.
Before getting into the heart of your video, this is not the venue for an introduction.
Your video’s hook must motivate viewers to stop scrolling.
Within the opening few seconds of your TikTok, draw viewers in and demonstrate the worth of watching.
This statistic is from TikTok advertising, but it may be relevant to your original content as well: A 1.7x lift was produced when a TikTok video began with a strong emotion, such surprise, as opposed to content that did so with a neutral expression.
4. Write an engaging caption
For your TikTok caption, you are limited to 150 characters, including hashtags.
But that’s no justification for ignoring this valuable property.
A compelling caption explains to readers why they should watch your video, which raises algorithmic signals for video completion and engagement.
Use your caption to pique readers’ interest or pose a query that sparks discussion in the comments.
After reading the caption, is it even possible to resist watching this Guinness World Record TikTok?
5. Create high-quality videos specifically for TikTok
One would think that this would be evident. There won’t be any low-quality information on the For You page.
You don’t need any expensive equipment; in fact, the ideal instrument for making authentic video is your phone.
In order to keep the content going, you will need adequate lighting, a strong microphone, and some quick cuts.
TikToks can last anywhere from 5 to 3 minutes, but for the most engagement, stick to 12 to 15 seconds.
You must use a vertical 9:16 format when shooting.
Vertically oriented videos often have a 25% greater six-second watch-through rate.
This makes logical because they occupy a lot more screen space.
Create your videos with sound enabled in mind.
Sound is “important,” according to 88% of TikTok users, on the app.
The tracks with the highest view-through rates are those that play at 120 beats per minute or above.
Use TikTok’s built-in tools like effects and text formatting as well.
These native capabilities help maintain your content feeling natural to the platform, which can help it appear on more For You pages, claims TikTok.
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Source: fifty7tech.com
