I get increased germination by chitting tomato seeds before putting them in a pot with compost.
Fold a paper towel in the bottom of a plastic food storage container. If you are growing more than one type of tomato, write the variety name on the towel with a waterproof pen. Get the towel thoroughly wet, drain off standing water. Put the seeds on top of the wet towel and put the lid on the container. Stick the container somewhere that is a little bit warm (top of the refrigerator will do). Open every three days or so, when the roots make little white points coming through the seed coat, they are ready to go into pots. I get better than 90% germination this way.