By: Marley Evans

As of now, TikTok is a hub for hundreds of millions of creative and fun-loving users worldwide. With billions of downloads of the app, as well as an impressive amount of average daily screen time per user, some content creators are making hundreds or even thousands of dollars per branded video. Now, everyone wants to know how to crack the TikTok code. After much speculation and rumor regarding the trending app’s algorithm, Tiktok has shared some of its secrets.

TikTok #ForYou Feed 

TikTok ‘For You Page’ is the place in the app to go to see current and exciting content. More often than not, this content has thousands of views, likes, and comments. This content is also tailored specifically to the viewer watching. Everything down to where the user lives, their likes and dislikes, hobbies, niche interests, sense of humor, and more, is saved and constantly analyzed in Tiktok’s algorithm. This leaves creators and businesses wondering how they can optimize their TikTok account in order to reach their target audience as well as get as much exposure on the app as possible. Others wonder how the TikTok app is able to be so specific and accurate in the content that it shows its users on the #ForYou feed. There are basic factors to understand before becoming a TikTok algorithm expert.

Basic Factors in Algorithm

TikTok has expressed that the main function of the algorithm is to narrow down the type of content the user wants to see. It does this first by making guesses based on information offered up by the user at the beginning of their app experience. For example, when prompted, a user may express interest in sports, cooking, and animals. From there, TikTok begins to narrow down the content to show the user based on data and factors about the user. These factors include user interactions, video information, and the user’s settings for their account. 

Interactions From the User 

The user interactions that impact content shown on the #ForYou feed includes the videos that the user likes and shares, the comments the user posts, the content that the user personally creates, as well as the accounts that the user follows. 

Account Settings and Device 

The algorithm is specific enough to recognize the device type of the user and will recommend content with the most optimal viewing experience for the particular device that the user is on. This could be a smartphone, tablet, or sometimes a desktop computer. The account settings a user has may also impact the content available to them. For example, if an account is private or has specific safety features employed, the content available through the algorithm would be different from a user without these requested settings.

Video Information

Information about the video will also play a part in the content suggestions to the user based upon details like captions, hashtags, and ‘sounds’ or music used along with the content. 

Weighted Factors

TikTok is constantly updating and fine-tuning its algorithms. It should be noted that not all of these factors are weighted equally in TikTok’s algorithm. The programmers of TikTok suggested that the highest weighted factors according to whether they show content frequently or not are indicators of user interest. Indicators of user interest can include everything from rewatching a video multiple times to liking and sharing the content. 

Unlike many other social media platforms with content creators, if you are a business with a small following or a creator who usually doesn’t get many likes, you will not be penalized in the algorithm. This means that, in theory, every video posted on Tiktok has an equal chance of going viral. Of course, if your account has a large number of followers, your video will be shown automatically to your subscribers, which will increase the likelihood of a viral video. 

Parting Tips & Tricks

If you are a small business looking to get in on the ground floor with this new and exciting platform, now is the time to start. Because TikTok is relatively new, it is somewhat unsaturated with marketing content and ads. This means you have an opportunity to really stand out as a business or creator. 

BRMC Content Creation

Want to take your social media feeds to the next level? Give us a call at Blue Ridge Media Company at (216) 233-3009. Also, be sure to check out our website to see what other digital marketing services we offer!