How to Get More Traffic on TikTok

Getting your videos seen on TikTok is one thing, but turning those views into actual website traffic or sales is the real goal for many creators and brands. The good news is that with the right strategy, you can convert your TikTok audience from passive viewers into active community members and customers. This guide breaks down the actionable steps you need to take to not only grow your views but also drive meaningful traffic off the platform.

Understand the TikTok “For You” Page Algorithm

Before you create a single video, you need a basic understanding of how TikTok decides what to show people. The "For You" page (FYP) is a highly personalized feed powered by an algorithm that's trying to predict what you, the user, want to see. It’s not about how many followers an account has, it's about the quality and relevance of the individual video.

The algorithm looks at several signals to rank videos, including:

• User Interactions: The videos you like, share, comment on, and save heavily influence what you see next.
• Video Information: Details like captions, hashtags, and sound choices help TikTok categorize your content and show it to relevant audiences.
• Device and Account Settings: Your language preference, country setting, and device type also play a small role.

However, the single most important factor is video performance and watch time. When you post a video, TikTok first shows it to a small group of users. If that group responds well - meaning they watch it to the end (or multiple times), like it, comment, or share it - TikTok pushes it out to a larger audience. This cycle continues, which is how videos go viral. Your job is to create content that captures attention and keeps people watching as long as possible.

Optimize Your Content to Capture and Keep Attention

Your content is the foundation of your traffic strategy. If your videos don’t get seen, you can’t drive traffic from them. Here’s how to create content designed for the TikTok algorithm and audience.

Hook Your Viewer in the First Three Seconds

TikTok is a fast-paced environment. You have, at most, three seconds to convince someone to stop scrolling and watch your video. A strong opening, or "hook," is non-negotiable.

Here are a few types of effective hooks:

• Ask a Question: "Are you making these common cooking mistakes?" This piques curiosity and makes viewers want to know the answer.
• Make a Bold or Controversial Statement: "You don't need fancy equipment to start a successful podcast." This grabs attention from people who agree and disagree.
• Start with the "After": If you’re showing a transformation (like a room makeover or a new recipe), show the stunning final result first, then reveal how you got there.
• Use Intriguing On-Screen Text: Simple text like, "3 marketing secrets I wish I knew sooner" or "This TikTok hack actually works" can be incredibly effective.

Think about what would make you stop scrolling. More often than not, it's a "story that hasn't been finished" or a promise of valuable information delivered quickly.

Blend Trending Content with Evergreen Topics

A successful TikTok strategy often includes a mix of two content types: trends and evergreen videos.

Trending Content: This involves using popular sounds, memes, or formats. Participating in trends is a great way to increase discoverability because the algorithm is already promoting that specific sound or format. Keep an eye on your FYP and use the TikTok Creative Center to spot what's currently popular. The key is to adapt the trend to fit your niche, not just copy it without context.

Evergreen Content: These are videos that will be valuable and relevant for weeks, months, or even years. This could be how-to tutorials, tips and tricks, Q&,As, or foundational information related to your industry or niche. For example, a financial advisor could create a video on "The difference between a Roth IRA and a 401(k)." This content won't get a huge spike from a trend, but it will consistently find new viewers over time through search and algorithmic recommendations, building your authority.

A good starting point is a 70/30 split: 70% trending content for reach and 30% evergreen content to build authority and provide lasting value.

Use Sound Strategically

Sound is the backbone of TikTok. The platform separates videos from audio, allowing any sound to be used (or reused) by other creators. A trending sound acts like a viral hashtag, giving your video an extra push within the algorithm.

To find trending sounds, simply scroll your FYP. If you hear the same audio two or three times in a short span, it's likely trending. You can tap on the sound at the bottom of the screen to see how many videos have been made with it and save it to your favorites. However, if you have a Business Account, your access to commercial music is limited due to licensing restrictions. Don't worry - you still have access to the Commercial Music Library, which is full of royalty-free tunes you can safely use.

Choose the Right Hashtags

Hashtags on TikTok primarily categorize your video so the algorithm understands what it’s about and who to show it to. Forget the old Instagram advice of using 30 hashtags. On TikTok, less is more.

Aim for 3 to 5 relevant hashtags per video. A good mix includes:

• Broad Hashtags: One or two that describe the general topic (e.g., #mealprep, #digitalmarketing).
• Niche Hashtags: One or two that are more specific to the content of your video (e.g., #weeklymealprepideas, #socialmediamarketingtips).
• Possibly a Branded Hashtag: One that is unique to your business or a specific campaign (e.g., #PostbaseTips).

Avoid using massive, generic hashtags like #fyp, #foryou, or #viral. At one point, people thought these could "trick" the algorithm into showing your video on the FYP, but that’s not really how it works. Stick to hashtags that actually describe what your video is about.

Foster a Community Through Engagement

TikTok isn’t a broadcast channel, it’s a social platform. When people comment on your videos, it sends a powerful signal to the algorithm that your content is valuable and engaging. Your job is to encourage and participate in that conversation.

• Reply to Comments: Respond to as many comments as you can, especially in the first few hours after posting. A simple "thanks!" or answering a question goes a long way. The "reply with video" feature is also a fantastic way to create new content based directly on your audience's feedback.
• Ask Questions in Your Captions: Prompt engagement by ending your caption with a question. For example, if you share a recipe, you could ask, "What ingredient would you add to this recipe?"
• Use Interactive Features: Use features like Duet and Stitch to collaborate with and respond to other creators' content. It's a great way to put your own spin on a viral video and reach a new audience.

Post Consistently and at the Right Times

To build an audience, people need to know they can expect content from you regularly. While you don’t need to post multiple times a day, aiming for 3-5 times per week is a solid goal when you're trying to grow.

More important than frequency is when you post. You want your video to go live when your target audience is most active on the app. TikTok gives you this information for free.

How to Find Your Best Time to Post:

1. Go to your TikTok profile and tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
2. Select Creator Tools, then Analytics.
3. Navigate to the Followers tab.
4. Scroll down to the "Follower Activity" section. Here, you'll find data on both the hours and days when your followers are most active.

Post during those peak hours to give your content the best possible chance of getting seen right away.

Convert Views into Traffic

Now for the most important part: turning those hard-earned views into website clicks.

Optimize Your Bio and Link

Your bio is your only chance to place a clickable link on your profile. You need a Business Account or a Creator Account with over 1,000 followers to add a website link. Make it count.

Your bio should quickly explain who you are, what you offer, and why someone should click your link. Be specific. Instead of "Marketing Expert," try "I help small businesses grow with simple marketing tips."

Since you only get one link, use a "link-in-bio" tool to create a simple landing page that houses multiple links to your website, blog, products, or other social channels.

Add Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

You can't just expect people to find your link. You have to tell them what to do. A call-to-action (CTA) is a clear instruction that directs your audience.

You can place CTAs in three places:

1. Verbally in Your Video: Say it out loud! For example, at the end of a cooking tutorial, you could say, "You can get the full, printable recipe on my blog. Just hit the link in my bio to check it out."
2. As On-Screen Text: Add text overlay to your video that says "Link in Bio for the full guide" or "Get yours at the link in our bio."
3. In Your Caption: Reinforce the CTA in your caption by writing something like, "Ready to get started? Tap the link in our bio to book a call."

Don’t be shy about it. A clear, compelling reason to click will massively increase your traffic.

Final Thoughts

Growing on TikTok and driving traffic from it comes down to a consistent system: create value-packed content with a strong hook, post at times when your audience is active, engage with your community, and use clear calls-to-action that tell people exactly where to go next. Follow these fundamentals, stay consistent, and you'll build an engine that turns viewers into a dedicated audience.

Building a killer TikTok strategy that feels both creative and sustainable requires a plan. As people who live and breathe social media, we built Postbase to make that process easier. Our visual calendar lets you plan out your video ideas for the week, our scheduling tool ensures your content goes live reliably during those peak follower hours, and our unified analytics show you what's actually working without needing to jump between five different screens. It gives you the structure you need so you can focus on the fun part: making great TikToks.

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