This shift is fascinating and definitely a wake-up call for SEO pros! Optimizing for TikTok’s algorithm seems to hinge on leveraging trending hashtags, keywords in captions, and incorporating popular audio to boost visibility. The challenge is adapting traditional SEO strategies to focus on visual storytelling and audience engagement rather than just keywords and backlinks. Creating short, engaging, and shareable content that aligns with trends can really help brands stay relevant in this new search landscape. It’s a huge opportunity to reach Gen Z where they’re actively searching—it’s like SEO, but with a whole lot more creativity!

I don't want to divert this discussion, so please continue. However, if someone could point out how I can incorporate hash-tags into my elementary SEO efforts, I would certainly appreciate it. (Am just an old guy who generally avoids social media. And up to the present my website has not presented any audio or video content, although I suppose I could do that easily enough.)

Here's an answer to your post from ChatGPT:

"Hash-tags (#) are primarily a social media tool, not directly part of traditional SEO. However, they can indirectly boost your SEO by increasing visibility and engagement on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Here's how you can incorporate them effectively, even if you're new to social media:

Research Relevant Hash-tags: Use tools like Hashtagify to find trending and relevant hash-tags for your niche.

Start Simple: Post links to your website content on social media platforms, using a few targeted hash-tags to attract the right audience. For example, if your site is about gardening, try #GardeningTips or #PlantCare.

Encourage User Engagement: Add social sharing buttons to your website so visitors can share your content with hash-tags you specify.

Experiment with Audio/Video Content: Platforms like YouTube or Instagram support hash-tags in descriptions and titles, which can increase your content's discoverability.

Remember, hash-tags are like keywords but for social media. They can complement your SEO efforts by driving traffic from social channels to your website!"

Ask ChatGPT: Can you be more specific to TikTok

"Hash-tags (#) on TikTok are a powerful way to increase visibility and engagement with your content. Even if you're new to social media, here’s how you can incorporate them into your TikTok strategy to complement your SEO efforts:

Use Trending Hash-tags: TikTok’s search bar shows trending hash-tags relevant to your niche. Include a mix of these to attract more views. For example, if your website is about fitness, you might use #FitnessTips or #HealthyHabits.

Combine Broad and Niche Hash-tags: Use both popular hash-tags (e.g., #DIY or #LifeHacks) and specific ones tied to your website content (e.g., #BeginnerSEO).

Create Branded Hash-tags: If possible, create a unique hash-tag tied to your website or niche, such as #YourWebsiteNameTips. Encourage followers to use it when they create related content.

Engage with TikTok Trends: Post short videos related to current trends or challenges, using relevant hash-tags. Even simple tips or website previews can perform well with engaging captions.

Experiment with Video Content: TikTok thrives on engaging, short-form video. You don’t need fancy production—try screen recordings showing your website, a quick "how-to" from your niche, or even a personal message inviting users to visit your site.

Monitor Analytics: TikTok’s Creator Tools provide insights into which hash-tags drive traffic to your videos. Use this to refine your strategy.

Even if you’re not experienced with social media, TikTok is beginner-friendly and can drive new audiences to your website with minimal effort!"

I hope that helps.

Very sorry for my delay in replying. Our home renovation project, and all of its little unexpected surprises, takes just too much time.

Thank you, Whitey, for that reply. It gives me a good idea of the kind of environment I would have to work in. But some of the mechanics evade me. For example, where should I put the hashtags on my website? My first thought was to include an appropriate hashtag in the <meta> keywords list, but I suspect that won't work. So, how to incorporate a hashtag in the html of a web page? Can you point me in the right direction?

in the <meta> keywords list

Does TikTok look at meta keywords? If so, they must be the only search engine in the world that still does.

@Martin_Potter

ChatGPT: TikTok does not rely on your website's HTML or meta keywords for its search and discovery algorithms. Instead, it focuses on content uploaded directly to the platform. Hashtags, captions, and keywords are essential for discoverability within TikTok itself, not on your website.

If you're trying to connect your website to TikTok trends, focus on creating content for TikTok that links back to your site (e.g., using a call-to-action in your videos or profile). For your site, ensure your pages are optimized for social sharing (Open Graph tags, etc.) so they look great when shared on TikTok or elsewhere.

Meta keywords are not used by TikTok—or any major platform today—as a ranking factor, so there's no need to include hashtags there. Instead, align your TikTok content strategy with engaging visuals, captions, and hashtags on the platform itself.

@lucy24 - Doesn't seem so.

ChatGPT: TikTok's approach to search and discovery is well-documented through insights from TikTok's own resources, SEO industry experts, and articles such as those from Search Engine Journal, SEMRush, and TikTok's Creator Portal. These sources highlight that TikTok relies on internal data like user interactions, content metadata (captions, hashtags), and platform-specific signals rather than external HTML or meta tags from websites.

For the specific point about meta keywords, this is broadly corroborated by SEO industry consensus that major platforms, including TikTok, no longer use them as a ranking signal—this is a widely accepted fact within SEO communities like Moz and Search Engine Land.

I don't TikTok, so I might be all wet, but isn't it a "closed garden" as any other social medium? Meaning you have to play and post on their systems to "trend" on their platform. Secondly, as with other social media, folks tend to stay there and not "stray to" off site ("your website") without compelling reason.

Meanwhile, SEO is tough enough (which keywords) but compare that to WHICH VIDEO/AUDIO captures attention to trend? Not saying it can't be done, but I would be very interested in suggestions on how webmasters can peel any traffic from TikTok!

If you want to trend on TikTok you have to BE ON TikTok...with video/audio that finds an audience with known short attention spans. All about NOW and TRENDING so the trick is to be NOW and TRENDING all the time ... As noted above, I might be wrong since I am not a TikTokian, just going by what others have said to me about their experiences.

Before putting any effort in, I would need to be pretty that sure my target audience was on TikTok.
At the moment I doubt it.

@Whitey thanks very much for your help. And thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I have learned a lot from this conversation, as always here. And to @Mark_A whose comment has sealed the fate of my decision-making. I will not get involved with TikTok.

Another very useful learning experience, this.

That was "maybe" short lived:

[reuters.com...]

Let's see what the next few days brings.