TikTok Ranks Videos on Search for the Long Term

When people talk about TikTok growth, one word comes up more than any other: viral.

The common playbook is simple: jump on the latest trend, publish frequently and constantly, hope one video explodes, and ride the wave for a few days until the next trend takes over.

But what if there was another way?

Our latest analysis of 8,000 product-related keyword searches revealed something that completely changes how brands should think about TikTok.

TikTok isn’t just a platform for fleeting attention anymore. It’s quickly becoming a powerful search engine where videos rank for keywords and get discovered by users with real purchasing intent.

Many of the videos ranking at the very top of TikTok search results have been there for months, sometimes even years. They’re quietly driving consistent, high-intent traffic to their creators long after they were posted.

The bottomline for brands is that for the right keywords, a single video can deliver results over the long haul.

This article breaks down what we found in our analysis, why it matters, and how you can take advantage of this underused growth channel.

The Common Misconception About TikTok Search

TikTok’s reputation is built on speed. Content trends emerge and disappear in a matter of days. Creators post daily, sometimes multiple times a day, just to stay relevant and increase their chances of hitting that viral video.

For many brands, this approach leads to:

• Quantity over quality output
• Unpredictable reach
• Large view spikes that rarely translate into sales

That last point is key: viral moments reach huge audiences, but they’re often untargeted. Most of those viewers aren’t ready to buy. So while one could argue that hitting a viral video builds strong awareness, the reality is that awareness doesn’t mean sales, especially for products or services at a higher price point.

The assumption is that search on TikTok works the same way - fresh videos replace old ones quickly, forcing you to constantly chase new uploads.

Our data shows this assumption is wrong.

What the Data Reveals about Ranking on TikTok Search

We analysed 8,000 product-related keyword searches across a range of industries, looking at the top search results for each.

Here’s what we found:

• only 2.66% of top-ranking videos were less than 7 days old
• 48% were more than 1 year old

In some cases, we found ranking videos dating back over two years, especially for long-tail keywords.

And the best part is that this “stickiness” is consistent across niches.

For example, for the keyword “best cat food brand for kittens” none of the top search results were published in 2025, and a couple of videos even dated back to 2022. Can you even begin to quantify how many highly targeted, organic views those videos have generated over that time?

TikTok’s search surface is far more stable than most marketers realise. Once a video secures a top position, it can continue driving targeted traffic for months without additional promotion.

Why TikTok Search Rankings Stick

When we looked deeper into the data, one thing became clear: the videos holding top spots aren’t just there by chance.

Certain qualities make them “stick” - but these aren’t widely understood, and they don’t always align with the strategies most brands are using on TikTok today.

In our full report, we break down the exact factors we observed across thousands of search results, including the core characteristics and ranking signals that keep videos at the top long after they’re posted.

If you want to read our analysis you can access the full report here.

Why Brands Should Capitalise on TikTok Search

This finding flips the traditional TikTok playbook on its head.

Securing a top spot for a high-purchase-intent keyword means building a steady pipeline of ready-to-buy viewers finding your brand month after month.

Compare that to virality:

• Viral spikes reach massive audiences, but most are unqualified.
• Unqualified audiences can be good for reach and awareness, but they are not ready to buy.
• Search-driven views bring smaller but highly targeted audiences actively looking for your product.

That difference matters. A thousand intentional views from high-intent users nearly always convert better than a hundred thousand viral views, especially for higher-priced products and services people don’t buy impulsively.

Owning a sticky ranking for the right keyword is one of the most efficient ways to drive predictable, repeatable results on TikTok, without the endless grind of daily posting or the cost of paid ads.

We walk through exactly how to identify and target these keywords in our step-by-step guide so if you’re ready to trade fleeting attention for consistent, purchase-ready traffic, that’s the place to start.

Conclusion

TikTok has a reputation for fast-moving trends and fleeting moments in the spotlight. But the data tells a different story: for the right keywords, rankings can stick for months - or even years -quietly delivering steady, high-intent traffic.

Brands that recognise this shift early will have a significant advantage. Once you own a top search position you’re discoverable by people actively looking for what you sell, every single day.

The opportunity is clear:

• Stop chasing trends that burn out in days.
• Start investing in content that holds its place and works for you long after it’s posted.

If you want to start finding and tracking your own high-value keywords, you can get started with ShortFormData here.