What is the meaning of TikTok Keywords in Captions in social media?

Why it matters

• Captures search intent and can drive consistent “evergreen” discovery.
• Clarifies topic relevance for TikTok’s ranking and recommendations.
• Helps teams standardize content production around keyword clusters.

Example

A social media manager targets “how to schedule Instagram posts” and uses that phrase in the first caption line, on-screen text, and spoken hook, then tracks search-driven views and retention.

Checklist

1. Pick one long-tail keyword phrase per video (high intent, lower competition).
2. Front-load the keyword in the caption and repeat it in on-screen text.
3. Say the keyword clearly in the first seconds of the video.
4. Use 2–3 niche hashtags that match the keyword intent.

Recommended metrics

• Search impressions/traffic (when available).
• Watch time and retention (ranking signal).
• Saves/shares and comment quality (intent match).

Common mistakes

• Keyword stuffing that reduces readability.
• Using generic hashtags that dilute relevance.
• Targeting broad keywords with extremely high competition.