How to Check TikTok Algorithm

The truth is, no one outside of TikTok's core development team has a complete picture of the algorithm. However, over time, data analysis and pattern recognition have helped uncover some crucial aspects of how TikTok's recommendation system works. The algorithm evaluates a number of signals to determine which videos to show users, and if you can understand these signals, you can leverage them to improve your content's reach.

Key Factors to Check:

1. Video Interactions (Likes, Shares, Comments, Re-watches)
   Engagement plays a pivotal role in determining the success of a video on TikTok. The more users engage with a video (likes, comments, shares, and how many times they re-watch it), the more likely TikTok is to push the video to other users’ For You Pages (FYP). When analyzing your content, pay close attention to the engagement rates—TikTok favors videos that get users to interact.

2. Video Completion Rate
   One of the strongest indicators that the algorithm pays attention to is how many users watch your video from beginning to end. Videos with higher completion rates have a better chance of being featured on the FYP. Therefore, creating videos that are concise, engaging, and captivating from the start is critical.

3. User Activity and Interest
   TikTok personalizes the feed based on a user’s previous behavior—what content they’ve liked, shared, or spent time watching. As a content creator, studying your followers' activity and the kind of content they engage with can help you create content that aligns with their interests. This includes trending challenges, music, and hashtags.

4. Post Timing
   While the algorithm itself is key, the timing of your posts also matters. TikTok's algorithm surfaces content more aggressively right after it’s uploaded, meaning there’s a short window to attract engagement before the post potentially gets buried. Using analytics tools can help you identify the times when your audience is most active, which is the best time to post.

5. Hashtags
   Utilizing the right hashtags can help TikTok's algorithm categorize your video and show it to the right audience. Niche hashtags can be particularly useful as they reach users who are interested in that specific content. Trending hashtags, on the other hand, have a wider reach but are more competitive.

6. Sounds and Music
   TikTok is a platform that thrives on viral trends, many of which are centered around popular music and sound clips. Using trending sounds or creating content that aligns with viral challenges can increase the visibility of your videos. Paying attention to what sounds are trending can be a game-changer.

7. Content Consistency
   TikTok’s algorithm values content that maintains a certain niche or theme. While trying new content is good for creativity, consistently posting within a specific genre (e.g., beauty, travel, comedy) helps the algorithm recognize your account and push your content to users who are interested in that theme.

The Algorithm and Virality:

What’s fascinating about TikTok is that it gives every video, no matter how small the account, a chance to go viral. When a video is uploaded, TikTok shows it to a small test audience, gauges how they react, and then either pushes it to a broader audience or stops its distribution. This means that virality on TikTok can happen almost instantaneously for any user, making it unlike any other social media platform. It’s why someone with zero followers can have a video with millions of views overnight.

Tools to Help Monitor the Algorithm:

1. TikTok Pro Account Analytics
   TikTok offers an in-house analytics feature that gives you insights into how your content is performing. Switching to a Pro Account is free and provides access to detailed statistics like video views, follower growth, and engagement metrics, which are invaluable in checking how the algorithm is interacting with your content.

2. Third-Party Tools
   Tools like Exolyt and TokUpgrade can provide more granular data and help you identify trends, optimize your posting schedule, and track engagement.

3. Trend Reports and TikTok Insights
   TikTok periodically releases trend reports and platform insights which provide useful data on what kind of content is gaining traction. Keeping an eye on these can help you align your content strategy with current algorithm preferences.

Decoding Success:

Ultimately, understanding the TikTok algorithm is a mix of analyzing data, staying on top of trends, and constantly experimenting. No one formula guarantees success on the platform, but learning how TikTok prioritizes content can significantly improve your chances of reaching a wider audience.

The beauty of TikTok is that the algorithm is ever-evolving, so creators must continually adapt. Start by checking your analytics, look at which videos have performed well, and reverse-engineer your success.

TikTok’s algorithm is smart, but with the right strategy, you can make it work for you.