You're putting in the hours creating content, but your videos are stuck in the 200-view abyss. It's one of the most frustrating experiences for a creator. Often, the problem isn't the quality of your content but fundamental mistakes in your TikTok Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Good TikTok SEO is less about secret hacks and more about avoiding common errors. This guide will break down the six most common mistakes that are hurting your reach and show you exactly how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Ignoring On-Screen Text & Spoken Keywords

The Mistake: Believing that the caption and hashtags are the only places for keywords.

Why It's Harmful: The TikTok algorithm is incredibly sophisticated. It doesn't just read your caption; it transcribes the words you speak in your video and uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to read the text you place on the screen. These are the most powerful indicators of your video's topic. If your primary keyword isn't physically in the video, you're missing the biggest SEO opportunity.

The Fix: Your main keyword should be spoken and appear as a text overlay within the first 3 seconds of your video. This immediately tells both the viewer and the algorithm what your video is about. A solid strategy for TikTok keyword research is the foundation for this.

Mistake #2: Using a Flawed Hashtag Strategy

The Mistake: Using a long list of irrelevant hashtags or only using massive ones like #fyp, #viral, and #foryou.

Why It's Harmful: Using #fyp on a video about baking sourdough bread is like whispering in a hurricane. It's too broad to reach your target audience. Using too many hashtags (e.g., 10+) can confuse the algorithm, diluting the power of each one.

The Fix: Adopt a layered approach with 3-5 highly relevant hashtags. Use 1-2 broad tags to define the general category (e.g., #baking), and 2-3 niche tags to target your specific community (e.g., #sourdoughforbeginners). For a full breakdown, read our guide on the power of hashtags on TikTok.

Mistake #3: Creating Content in a Vacuum

The Mistake: Making videos about topics you find interesting without checking if anyone is actually searching for them.

Why It's Harmful: TikTok is a search engine. If you create content that doesn't align with user search intent, you are relying entirely on luck for discovery. SEO is about strategically meeting an existing demand.

The Fix: Use the TikTok search bar as a research tool. Type in a topic and see what autocomplete suggests. These suggestions are based on real user searches. Create content that directly answers these questions or solves these problems. Our AI Content Gap Finder can automate this process for you.

Mistake #4: Having an Unoptimized or "Thin" Profile

The Mistake: A generic bio, no profile picture, and a random mix of video topics on your page.

Why It's Harmful: Your profile as a whole sends signals to the algorithm about your authority and niche. If a human can't figure out what your page is about in 5 seconds, the algorithm can't either. This makes it difficult for TikTok to know who your target audience is.

The Fix: Optimize your bio with 1-2 of your main keywords. Have a clear, high-quality profile picture. Most importantly, ensure your most recent 9-12 videos are all clearly related to your core niche. This creates a strong "scent" that helps the algorithm categorize you as an expert on that topic. Use our AI Profile Bio Generator to craft a keyword-rich, effective bio.

Mistake #5: Posting and Ghosting

The Mistake: Publishing your video and immediately closing the app.

Why It's Harmful: The first hour after you post is a critical window. Early engagement, especially comments and shares, signals to the algorithm that you have a piece of quality content. By not being present to engage with early commenters, you miss a huge opportunity to amplify this signal.

The Fix: Stick around for at least 30-60 minutes after you post. Respond to every comment you can. Your replies create more comments, which boosts your video's engagement score and encourages more conversation.

Mistake #6: Deleting "Flopped" Videos

The Mistake: Deleting a video because it only got 200 views in the first few hours.

Why It's Harmful: Firstly, it removes a data point from your account that you could learn from. Why did it flop? Was it the hook? The topic? Secondly, some videos have a "slow burn." A video can be picked up by the algorithm days, weeks, or even months after it was posted. Deleting it removes that possibility entirely.

The Fix: Leave the video up. Analyze its analytics—particularly the watch time graph—to understand where viewers dropped off. If you truly dislike it, set it to "Private" instead of deleting it. Learn the lesson and apply it to your next video.

Conclusion: Work With the Algorithm, Not Against It

TikTok SEO is not about cheating the system. It's about providing clear signals so the system can do its job effectively. By avoiding these common mistakes, you make it easier for the algorithm to understand your content and connect you with the audience that is waiting to find you. This is a fundamental part of mastering the TikTok algorithm for long-term growth.