GuideIntermediate

TikTok SEO & Retention Guide

Estimated reading time: 9 min • Updated Sep 30, 2025

Overview

Own intent on TikTok by pairing keyword-aware captions/onscreen text with retention-friendly pacing.

Who It’s For & Outcomes

  • Keyword list for 5 pillars
  • Hook & beats for first 5 seconds
  • CTA system for bio clicks

Prerequisites

  • Audience topics & FAQs
  • Basic editing toolkit (captions/subtitles)

Step-by-Step

  1. Collect 25 keywords from autocompletes/comments; group by pillar.
  2. Write on-screen titles with the exact keyword variant.
  3. Open with a strong promise or counter-intuitive claim in 3 seconds.
  4. Use jump cuts every 1–2 seconds; add subtitles for silent viewing.
  5. Caption: 1 keyword phrase + 1 CTA. Keep it short.
  6. End with clear visual CTA (arrow/overlay) to the bio link.

Platform Notes

TikTok

  • Links in captions are often not clickable; use visual CTA to bio.

Checklist

  • 25 keywords grouped
  • On-screen title templates
  • Subtitle workflow ready

Common Pitfalls

  • Keyword stuffing
  • Slow openings
  • No CTA

FAQs

How long should videos be?
Test 12–35 seconds; optimize for completion.
Do comments help ranking?
Meaningful comments correlate with distribution.