How To Go Viral On TikTok
TikTok is the latest social media app to take the world by storm. It’s number 1 on the app store and it’s growing more and more each day.
Those of you on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter might feel like it’s hard to get attention.
lucky for you, as of this moment right now, TikTok is like the goldrush when it comes to getting attention.
You probably don’t need me to explain why this is important but there’s an extreme amount of value for anyone who’s a creative, starting a business, or just trying to grow their personal brand to use the internet to get the attention of people.
What’s All The Hype?
I first seriously heard of TikTok when they were a sponsor of ComplexCon one of the biggest conventions for fashion, art, and music. I actually downloaded the app, but at the time it was so early and it didn’t make sense to me. It just filled with 12 years making dance videos. However, now, TikTok is starting to see a lot of high-quality content creators move to its platform. TikTok is certainly still an app that’s used by a younger audience however people are now using the app for things like teaching real skills and providing real value through 15-second or 60-second videos.
I got back on TikTok when I heard from Garyvee (Gary Vaynerchuck) that TikTok is THE APP to be on right now and thought I might as well try it out. Since then I’ve had 3 videos go “viral” and gain almost 2k followers. Which is honestly nothing compared to what others have done on the app.
I actually had the opportunity to thank Gary in person for telling me about TikTok and he made a TikTok with me.
TikTok is not like the other social media platforms at all. If you make good content on TikTok — you are almost guaranteed to get attention, views, followers, and shares.
Personally I have almost reached the number of followers that I have on Instagram which took me years to build in just a matter of about 1–2 months on the app.
Understanding The Algorithm
Just like any app, everyone trying to leverage the app to build their brand is trying to understand the TikTok algorithm.
On TikTok it really isn’t that hard to understand the algorithm, and it’s REALLY not worth your time to try to figure out the nitty-gritty details of it right now.
To figure out the algorithm is actually really simple and you just have to ask yourself — “what does TikTok want?”
As a company/app TikTok wants more people to consume more content.
Meaning if your content is something that keeps people on the app longer — well then TikTok is going to push your content into the eyes of more people.
So TikTok is going to factor in the following things:
- Are people watching your entire video?
- Are people replaying your video?
- Are they liking your video?
- Are they commenting on your video?
- Are they sharing your video?
This is pretty obvious and generally, once you get on the app you’ll quickly realize that TikTok favours videos that people replay and videos that people share.
The algorithm is basically common sense once you start consuming content on the app.
Consuming Content
The best thing you can actually do to go viral on TikTok is to actually consume content on the app before posting.
The number 1 way to fail on the app is to bring the same strategy/content/mindset you bring to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to TikTok.
TikTok has its own unique culture and it’s more unique than any of the platforms I’ve seen before it.
I wish I could explain this in words but really you need to scroll the “For You Page” on TikTok and look for the following:
What kinda content are others making that is popular?
What kinda videos am I watching all the way through?
What kinda videos am I replaying?
What kinda videos am I sharing?
What kinda videos am I liking?
What kinda videos am I commenting on?
If you ask yourself these questions while consuming content on TikTok you’ll have a great idea of what kinda content goes viral on the app and prepare yourself to make yourself go viral.
But you also need to watch for these very important pillars of TikTok that will also help you reach viral status.
Popular songs/audios.
Popular trends.
Popular hashtags.
Following trends on TikTok is one of the best ways to go Viral. You’ll notice how many trends on TikTok can be applicable to many different types of creators and that’s what makes them so interesting to watch.
Decide Your Audience
Deciding your audience on TikTok is especially important if you’re seriously trying to use this app the get attention and leverage that attention in the long-term.
If you, for example, a photographer trying to gain traction on the app, but you’re making comedy videos that have nothing to do with your photography. Well, your videos might get attention, but it’s the wrong attention because, in the end, they all aren’t going to like your photography as much as your comedy.
Remember that building the right audience is more valuable than building a big audience! You want people to convert into what you want to sell them in end. You may not want them to buy anything but if you’re growing your personal brand you want an audience that is also going to find the other content you make on apps other than TikTok interesting.
Personally, I’ve seen an increase in my Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers, etc. From posting on TikTok because my TikTok content is similar to the content on those other platforms.
It’s very important to decide an audience and create content that is valuable/entertaining for that niche audience.
Creating Content
Creating content on TikTok after you have all of the knowledge above should be pretty easy.
The content that does the best on TikTok are things that people find relatable.
Unlike Instagram — TikTok really favours people who are as real and authentic as possible.
I think the reason for this is that most of the content on the app is shot within the app and with a smartphone.
While there are creators who do edit and create outside of the TikTok app (like myself) — clearly, the majority of the app’s content is just simple and quickly made videos.
The best way to really approach creating content on TikTok just keep posting.
When you keep posting you’ll be able to tell which videos are doing good and which videos are doing bad.
(Also, just to note that TikTok doesn’t always push your content out when you post, it can be hours, days, weeks, and even months, since you posted your content till it could blow up — so don’t delete videos)
If you really understand the points I gave above about understanding your audience, trends, and the algorithm you’ll already know which content you post is going to have viral potential.
Find a niche, find your voice, be authentic, these key concepts are pretty intrinsic to any platform but especially to TikTok.
Don’t sell people on whatever you’re doing.
Provide value to them as much as you can or entertain them — these are the two things that will make you a popular creator on the app.
The key to going viral is making sure your content is as original as possible. Post things that no one has seen before the platform and you’re more likely to go viral because it’s something the audience has not seen before.
The Future of TikTok
Right now, this very moment, it almost feels to me that this opportunity is going to slip very soon.
I’ve been making content for years on Instagram and none of the content has reached the number of views that it’s been able to reach on TikTok.
I’m extremely thankful for that. TikTok currently is THE app to focus on if you’re trying to build an audience because eventually this moment will be gone.
The organic reach on TikTok is so crazy but once more people join the app, and more content is being made, it will be much more difficult to be discovered on the app and have your content go viral.
Take advantage of this opportunity and create content, build your audience, build your brand.
Thank you for reading this article and I hope that you follow me on TikTok @tejxpatel
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