What you will learn:
- How TikTok algorithm works in 2025
- Main ranking signals
- First 3 seconds and CTR
- Retention and its impact
- Engagement Rate and comments
- View velocity
- How to trick algorithm (spoiler: you can't)
How TikTok algorithm works in 2025
TikTok algorithm is not magic or randomness. It's a mathematical model that predicts whether user will like the video.
How it works:
- Test audience — video shown to 200-500 random users
- Behavior analysis — algorithm watches how they react
- Decision — if metrics good, video goes further into recommendations
- Scaling — process repeats with each new audience
Algorithm doesn't know if your video is good. It only knows how people react to it.
Main ranking signals
1. Retention
What % watched to the end. If less than 50% — algorithm considers video uninteresting.
2. Early ER
Likes, comments, saves in first 1-2 hours. More is better.
3. Rewatches
If user rewatches video — strong quality signal.
4. CTR
What % users clicked on video after showing in feed.
5. Completion velocity
How fast first 1-3K views are gained with high retention.
First 3 seconds and CTR
Why first 3 seconds are critical:
User decides in 1-3 seconds whether to watch further. If hook weak — scroll away, retention drops.
What affects CTR:
- Thumbnail — bright, contrasting, with text
- First frame — movement, emotion, intrigue
- Title — short, with question or shock
Test: If CTR less than 10% — problem in thumbnail or first frame.
Retention and its impact
Retention is main algorithm metric.
Algorithm looks not only at average retention, but retention by sections:
- 0-25% — hook works or not
- 25-50% — pacing holds or loses
- 50-75% — content interesting or boring
- 75-100% — finale strong or weak
How to improve retention:
- Cut all pauses
- Change angle every 3-5 sec
- Add captions with keywords
- Speed up speech to 1.1-1.2x
Engagement Rate and comments
ER = (likes + comments + saves) / views × 100%
Normal ER for TikTok is 5-10%. If less than 3% — problem in content or CTA.
Why comments matter more than likes:
Comment requires more effort than like. Algorithm values this higher.
How to increase comments:
- Ask specific question at end
- Create discussion (agree/disagree)
- Reply to comments in first hour
View velocity
Completion velocity — how fast video gains first 1-3K views with high retention.
If in first hour video got 1000 views with 60% retention — algorithm gives another 10K. If retention 30% — stops promotion.
What affects velocity:
- Posting time (when your audience online)
- First comments and likes (from subscribers)
- Hook quality and retention
How to trick algorithm (spoiler: you can't)
Myths that don't work:
- View botting — algorithm sees bots and bans
- Hashtags — almost no impact on reach
- Posting time — important but not critical
- Video length — doesn't matter, retention matters
What actually works:
- Strong hook in first 3 seconds
- High retention (50%+)
- Early ER (comments in first hour)
- Quality content
Check your video metrics and discover retention, ER in our free tool.
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