Semrush VS ShortFormData - What is the difference?

In the digital world, having access to the right data and insights can determine whether you make it or break it.

Data-driven content creation is the key to success - understanding what content works, why it works, and how to consistently replicate it is essential for a sustainable content strategy. This principle holds true across different platforms, being it Google, Pinterest or TikTok. And while each of these platforms relies on different search algorithms, the common denominator that sets successful content apart is how easily this content can be discovered by the people who want to consume it. This is where SEO comes in.

In this article we focus specifically on SEO for TikTok and compare two tools to help you decide which one is the best fit for you: Semrush and ShortFormData.

How to Rank on TikTok Search in 2025

There’s a lot to consider when you’re growing your presence on TikTok, but video SEO can’t be an afterthought.

There are four key factors that significantly impact how your videos rank in search results both on TikTok and beyond:

• High engagement rate
• High watch time
• Rich and focused content metadata
• High quality content

When a video has these qualities, TikTok is more likely to rank it at the top of the search results page. This matters because TikTok’s search capabilities are improving rapidly, and many users now rely on TikTok as a search engine. By creating SEO-optimised videos, you can make your content discoverable by a highly-engaged audience and achieve higher engagement rates.

So, as a content creator or business, how do you start optimising your TikTok content? Posting high-quality videos is important, but it’s only the first step. You need to think about strategy, searchability, and the role each video plays in reaching your goals.

What to Consider When Creating SEO-Optimised TikTok Videos

When optimising TikTok videos with SEO in mind, it’s essential to focus on the data that guides your content decisions. Think of it like choosing the right analytics tools for an ad campaign - using the right data-driven insights can make all the difference in how your ad performs.

It’s often best to use tools that are both easy to navigate and rich in actionable insights. These tools should simplify the process of identifying low-competition and high-search-volume keywords, hashtags, and topics without overwhelming you with irrelevant data. Look for platforms that pull real-time information directly from TikTok to ensure your content aligns with current search patterns.

The same goes for planning and execution. You need to move quickly to stay ahead of the competition, but without sacrificing the quality of your videos.

Take some time to compare your options. Don’t just focus on the popularity of a particular tool. Instead, find one that matches your specific needs as a creator or business. Does it help you identify SEO-rich keywords for captions? Can it suggest hashtags that improve your reach? Can it show you data from the top-ranking TikTok videos in your niche for you to learn from?

For example, look at Semrush and ShortFormData. Both offer SEO insights, but each has a different focus and area of expertise.

By understanding the strengths of each, you can make more informed decisions and ensure your TikTok content consistently reaches your ideal audience.

Comparing Semrush and ShortFormData

Semrush is primarily known as one of the best SEO tools for Google and specialises in keyword research, competitor analysis, and Google Ad campaign optimisation.

ShortFormData, on the other hand, offers more than general SEO data and specialises in TikTok specifically, offering real-time search data and insights. It allows you to conduct TikTok keyword research and provides platform specific metrics.

Does Semrush Work for TikTok SEO?

Semrush is a powerful tool for digital marketers, offering advanced keyword research, competitor analysis, and content optimisation features. However, if you want to do keyword research for TikTok, Semrush is not the most appropriate tool due to:

1. Data Source Misalignment

   Semrush relies on Google-based data, which means it’s excellent for identifying keywords and trends on search engines. While these insights can indirectly guide TikTok content strategies, they lack precision because they’re not sourced from TikTok itself. TikTok keywords, trends, audience and user behaviour are vastly different from what’s popular on Google.

2. No Integration with TikTok Metrics

   Because Semrush doesn’t pull data directly from TikTok, it cannot provide data on the metrics specific to the platform. Also, it cannot give you insights on the videos that rank in search results - all critical for TikTok SEO.

3. Guesswork Required

   Using Semrush for TikTok means to adapt Google-derived data to the platform, which often involves guesswork and may not yield accurate results.

Why ShortFormData Excels in TikTok SEO

ShortFormData stands out as a must-have platform for creators and businesses looking to optimise their TikTok presence. Here's why:

1. Real TikTok Data

   ShortFormData pulls data directly from TikTok’s ecosystem, offering insights that are uniquely relevant to the platform. Unlike general SEO tools which rely on external search engine data, ShortFormData is built to provide TikTok’s specific insights to help users effectively build their content strategy.

2. Keywords Analytics

   Because ShortFormData pulls data directly from TikTok, it provides reliable SEO metrics such as keyword difficulty, meta-data relevancy and keyword hot score.

3. Real Engagement Metrics

   Beyond SEO, ShortFormData offers a deep dive into engagement analytics. Track TikTok relevant metrics such as video length, engagement rate, total views and more.

FAQs

1. Can Semrush provide insights for TikTok SEO?

   No, Semrush doesn’t rely on TikTok data so any insights derived from keyword research are not relevant for the platform, but are relevant for Google. As a consequence, it does not provide any TikTok-specific metrics.

2. Does ShortformData support platforms other than TikTok?

   At the moment, ShortFormData specialises in TikTok. However, new features will be added in the future to cater to more social media platforms.

3. How does ShortFormData track TikTok metrics?

   ShortFormData gathers data directly from TikTok, in real time. It provides both basic datapoints (such as video views, total likes, total followers etc) as well as more complex metrics (such as engagement rate and keyword difficulty).

4. Can Semrush analyse TikTok-specific metrics?

   No, Semrush does not have access to TikTok data.

Conclusion

The choice between Semrush and ShortFormData hinges on specific needs. While Semrush offers versatility and top-notch Google insights, ShortFormData shines with its TikTok focus. The choice solely depends on your goals and use cases.