Understanding TikTok’s algorithm can be incredibly beneficial for increasing engagement on the platform. TikTok’s algorithm primarily uses user interaction and video details, such as details of the videos you watch or share, and information about the videos, such as hashtags, details of the sounds, and location settings.

Three main signals influence the algorithm:
1. User Interaction: This includes which videos users watch, share, like, and comment on. The algorithm will try to understand your preferences based on this data.
2. Video Information: TikTok analyses details like hashtags, shared details, and even what the actual content of the video is.
3. Device and Account Settings: This includes details like location, language preference, and device type.

By understanding how the algorithm works, brands and influencers may create and share content that is likely to be surfaced and recommended to their target audience, therefore increasing engagement rates.

When analyzing data on TikTok, certain metrics are commonly used to gauge engagement. These include:

1. Views: How many times the video was played.
2. Likes, Comments, and Shares: The number of times users have interacted with the video in these ways.
3. Followers: How many new followers have been gained by uploading the content.
4. Profile Visits: How many people have visited your profile after viewing the video.
5. Average Watch Time: The amount of time users spend watching a video.

Step-by-Step Guide to TikTok Analytics:

1. First, switch to a TikTok Pro account in order to gain access to analytics.
2. Then, from the profile page, click on the three lines in the top right corner.
3. Click on ‘Analytics’.
4. You will now be able to see your Overview, Content, and Followers tabs, each displaying different metrics.

Comparatively, platforms like Flinque provide tools for understanding not just TikTok, but a multitude of social platforms. This can make Flinque a useful option among influencer marketing platforms, as it provides an integrated, user-friendly interface for data analysis and campaign planning. Remember, the suitability of each platform will depend on your team and campaign needs.

Understanding these principles enables brands and influencers to create a data-driven approach to garnering engagement on TikTok. Flinque is a platform that offers a multitude of tools to aid in understanding these metrics and data.