practical, expert step-by-step TikTok guide for marketing real estate and getting your TikToks a fighting chance to appear in Google search results. I’ll give actionable creation, posting, on-page SEO (embed + structured data), amplification, and tracking steps you can use right away.

I’m citing official and recent guidance so you know which parts are proven and which are opportunistic. Google for Developers+1TikTok for DevelopersSocialinsiderVidjet

1) Quick reality check (what Google actually sees)

• Google can surface social and short-form video content, but indexing is not identical to hosting a video on your own site. To get the best search presence you should make the content crawlable (or embed it on a crawlable page) and provide metadata/transcripts that search engines can read. Google for DevelopersThe Unicorn Marketer

• Adding video structured data (VideoObject) and hosting/embedding the clip on your website gives Google the clearest signals and increases the chance your video appears in video-rich results. Google for Developers

2) Setup & account hygiene (day 0)

1. Make the account Public. Private = not crawlable.

2. Optimize your profile: location in bio, service keywords (“Lake Norman real estate photographer”), and website link (your property or listing landing pages).

3. Brand consistency: use the same business name, logo, and URL across TikTok, website, Google Business Profile and Instagram — this helps Google associate the content.

4. Keep a content folder for each listing: short caption, transcript, high-res thumbnail, property URL — you’ll need these for embedding and schema.

3) Content creation: make TikToks that both humans and Google like

(Goal: short, clear, keyworded clips that are easy to transcribe and embed.)

1. Format & length: 9:16 vertical, 15–60 seconds (short form is prioritized in SERPs and mobile experiences). VidjetWIRED

2. Start with a tight hook (0–3s): mention the location or neighborhood verbally and on-screen text. Example: “Mooresville • Lake Norman waterfront — 4 bed, private dock.” Saying the location aloud helps ASR (automatic speech recognition) pick it up. Socialinsider

3. Include on-screen captions/subtitles (not only auto captions). TikTok’s captions + burned-in text increase discoverability and accessibility. Scale Weekly

4. Narration = searchable text. Speak keywords: “Lake Norman real estate,” “Mooresville waterfront home,” “3-bed open concept.” Google can index spoken words when they’re transcribed on a crawlable page. Socialinsider

5. Add an SEO-rich caption: lead with location + service, then 1–2 selling points and CTA. Example: “Mooresville waterfront — private dock, walkout lower level. DM for 3D tour / link in bio.” Use natural language, not stuffing. Socialinsider

6. Hashtag mix: 6–15 total — 3 geo (e.g., #MooresvilleNC #LakeNorman), 2 property type (#WaterfrontHome), 1 branded. Rotate sets. Socialinsider

4) Post metadata & TikTok features to use (every TikTok)

• Custom caption with keywords and short descriptive sentence. Socialinsider

• Add the “captions” option and review the automatic caption; correct it if needed. Accurate text = better indexing. Scale Weekly

• Add a cover image with readable text (property + location) — thumbnail can affect SERP previews. Vidjet

• Comment pinned: pin a comment with a short URL to the listing page (so first comment includes the canonical link).

• Use TikTok’s Location tag or write location in caption if tag absent.

5) Make Google-friendly pages: embed + host the TikTok

To maximize Google visibility, don’t rely only on TikTok — put the video onto your own crawlable page (property listing or blog) and give Google structured metadata.

1. Create a property landing page (one per listing) or a blog post for content pieces (e.g., “Mooresville Lake Norman Waterfront — Video Tour”).

2. Embed the TikTok on that page using TikTok’s official embed / oEmbed code (so the video is viewable from your site and Google can see the page context). TikTok provides an oEmbed/embed API you can use. TikTok for DevelopersEmbedSocial

3. Add a transcript (visible text on the page) — paste the spoken audio as plain text under the embed. This is one of the single most useful things for search engines to know what the video is about. Google for Developers

4. Add a high-quality thumbnail + alt text for the image.

5. Canonical & robots: ensure the page is indexable (no noindex) and included in your sitemap.

6) Add Video structured data (VideoObject) to the page

Use VideoObject JSON-LD so Google understands the video metadata (title, description, thumbnail, uploadDate, contentUrl or embedUrl). This improves eligibility for video rich results. Example skeleton:

Add the VideoObject JSON-LD on the page that contains the embed and the transcript so Google can show the clip as a video search result. (See Google’s Video structured-data guidance.) Google for Developers+1

7) Amplify & create backlinks (critical signals)

• Embed the same TikTok in your blog, listing page, and email newsletter. Pages that link to the page increase its authority. EmbedSocialjuicer.io

• Post the video URL to Google Business Profile posts (if it’s a local listing) and pin it to relevant social profiles. GBP updates can get indexed quickly and help local searches.

• Cross-post to YouTube Shorts (upload a version to Shorts with the same title/description and timestamps) — YouTube is heavily indexed and can feed search results. Google Business

• Syndicate to Facebook, LinkedIn — more entry points = higher chance of crawling & indexing.

8) Measurement, tests & iteration

1. Search Console: add the listing page and check indexing status. Request indexing if you update the page.

2. Google Search: query site:yourdomain.com + keywords (e.g., site:markjacobsproductions.com "Lake Norman").

3. Watch impressions/clicks in Search Console for the page.

4. TikTok analytics: monitor views, shares, and profile follows — high engagement often correlates with external visibility.

9) Practical 10-step checklist (copy & paste)

1. Make TikTok account public.

2. Create vertical 15–60s tour with location spoken & on-screen.

3. Add captions/subtitles and SEO-rich caption. Socialinsider

4. Save a high-res thumbnail and alt text.

5. Embed the TikTok on a crawlable property page using TikTok’s oEmbed. TikTok for Developers

6. Paste full transcript under the embed. Google for Developers

7. Add VideoObject JSON-LD with embedUrl and transcript. Google for Developers

8. Share/Pin the page on Google Business Profile and social channels.

9. Cross-upload to YouTube Shorts and embed that video as an alternate source. Google Business

10. Track Search Console and tweak wording if impressions are low.

10) Short templates (copy-ready)

TikTok caption (short):
“Mooresville • Lake Norman waterfront — 4 bed, private dock. Full 3D tour & floor plan: link in bio. #LakeNormanHomes #MooresvilleNC”

Pinned comment (link):
“Full property page + transcript → example.com/lake-norman-dock (or tap profile link)”

Transcript header on page:
“Transcript — Lake Norman Waterfront Tour (Video): [paste full spoken text]”

Final notes & realistic expectations

• This strategy stacks TikTok content with website SEO (embedding + transcript + VideoObject) because Google is much more likely to index and show a video when it has a crawlable page & structured metadata. You’ll get better, faster results by pairing social posts with on-site pages. Google for Developers+1

• There’s no guaranteed “instant” placement — short-form indexing is evolving and Google’s treatment of TikTok metadata has improved but remains partially dependent on how crawlable and well-described your pages are. Keep testing and iterating. The Unicorn MarketerSearch Engine Land