Nailing the elusive secret as to how to go viral on TikTok is every content creator’s dream. Get just one video on TikTok to go viral, and you could be looking at several million views. Not to mention overnight fame and fortune – if your video hits the big time. What’s great about TikTok is how it creates a level playing field for every creator.
Irrespective of whether you have 20 followers or 200k, you can still blow up on TikTok. Which goes some way to explain the popularity of this comparatively new social media platform. People love TikTok for its influence and enormous global appeal. Not to mention how comparatively simple it is to shoot and edit videos for TikTok audiences.
It’s all about keeping things raw and authentic on TikTok, simplifying things hugely for creators. Still, figuring out how to go viral on TikTok is far from easy. Primarily due to the fact that there’s nothing you can do to force your content to go viral. You can give your videos a fighting chance of going global, but it’s ultimately TikTok that has the final say.
What is Considered Viral on TikTok?
Content goes viral when it is viewed and shared in quick succession by a vast audience of TikTok users. TikTok’s algorithm determines which videos should be showcased and recommended on users’ For You Pages. The more prominently your content is showcased, the higher the likelihood it will go viral.
Hence, in order to go viral through the For You Page, you first need to get your videos featured on the FYP. TikTok is engineered to recommend content to its users based on their unique preferences and habits. If you want to get your content featured on the FYP, it needs to tick all the right boxes with your target audience.
But what’s interesting is how TikTok’s algorithm isn’t overly interested in follower counts, where the FYP is concerned. Accounts with just a few followers have the same chance of getting featured on the FYP as those with millions.
It’s the quality, value, and relevance of the content that matters here – not the popularity of the publisher. All of which should come as great news to creators yet to get their follower count in order. If your videos are good enough, they’ll hit the FYP – irrespective of how many followers you have.
How to Make Your TikTok Go Viral?
This is, of course, the million-dollar question. Once that’s tricky to answer, given the unpredictability of the TikTok algorithm. Still, there are several tried, tested, and trusted activities to boost the viral potential of your content. By bringing each of the following into your publishing strategy, you stand every chance of hitting the FYP and going viral on TikTok:
1. Create Great Content
First up, nothing matters more than consistently putting out quality content. If you’ve ever created videos you weren’t 100% proud of but published them anyway, you made a big mistake. Each and every video you share should be of the same high-quality standard.
A few tips for putting together better videos in general on TikTok:
Make Humour Videos
Comedy really is the bread and butter of what takes place on TikTok. The overwhelming majority of ultra-successful videos on the platform are humorous in nature. Always remember that this is a social network that people tend to head to for pure entertainment and enjoyment.
Leverage Trending Topics
Don’t attempt to get on board with every trend on TikTok, as some (or many) may not be relevant to your niche. That said, jumping on the bandwagon with a trend your audience will respond positively to can work wonders. Leveraging the value of trending sounds also comes highly recommended.
Use Popular Songs
Speaking of which, using popular songs and trending audio can be great for getting your video completion rates up. More eyes on your videos, more quality in the eyes of the TikTok algorithm, and a better chance you’ll appear on the FYP.
Keep it Short
TikTok imposes a maximum video length of 180 seconds. However, short-form content on TikTok almost always performs better. Keeping your videos as short and punchy as possible is, therefore, the way to go. Shorter videos have been shown to have much higher viral potential than their longer counterparts.
Tell a Story
TikTok videos (or combinations thereof) that tell a story can also be hugely engaging. The story you tell can be anything – as simple as something random that happened during your day. If it’s something your viewers will be interested in, tell it and tell it well.
Share Tips, Advice, and Favorite Things
Lastly, TikTok users always respond positively to content that in some way improves their lives. Tips, recommendations, tutorials, advice, reviews, and so on – anything they can take away and do something practical with. Though again, shorter is better.
2. Use Hashtags
Next up, the hashtags you use tell TikTok what your content is about and who to recommend it to. Hence, you need to use hashtags with every video you publish while ensuring they are of genuine relevance and value. Never use random or generic hashtags (like #FYP), simply for the sake of it.
3. Engage with Your Audience
Something the TikTok algorithm is always on the lookout for is evidence of engagement. TikTok users who interact and engage with their audiences are always more appealing than those who adopt a passive approach. This is where the difference lies between a ‘social’ network and a standard video platform – making an effort to socialize often makes all the difference.
4. Don’t Choose One Niche Right Away
Sooner or later, you’re going to need to dedicate yourself to one specific niche you’re a genuine authority in. In the meantime, you can try your hand with as many niches as you like until you find something that fits. While doing so, you may find something you’re good at and/or appreciated for that you had not previously thought about.
5. Add CTAs
Sometimes, simply telling people what to do makes the biggest difference of all. If you want those who view your content to follow you, ask them to do so outright.
If you want them to share your video to boost its viral potential, say it with a CTA. Include clear requests like these in every video while being sure to communicate your sincere appreciation for those who comply.
6. Don’t Be Discouraged
It’s easy to find yourself feeling discouraged and disheartened from time to time. You put your heart and soul into a video, it’s the proudest thing you’ve ever put out, and yet it flops pathetically. Taking setbacks like this in your stride is hard but is also essential. Remember that for every video that goes viral, several million don’t even come close.
7. Be Honest and Kind
Authenticity is something most TikTok users look for in a publisher. Creators who are honest, kind, and real are always more engaging than those who are fake or downright unpleasant. Talk openly about your struggles, your insecurities, your fears, and your imperfections. Show them that you’re a real human being with the same flaws as everyone else.
8. Be Controversial (Carefully)
Controversy can be great for stirring debate on platforms like TikTok. Best of all, you don’t always have to position yourself on one side of the fence or the other.
You can simply ask a question or bring up a divisive topic – even something as inconsequential as pineapple on pizza. If it’s even remotely contentious, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be keen to voice their opinions.
9. Walk Away
Interestingly, research has shown how leaving a video to its own devices for a while after posting it can boost its viral potential. If you take a short break from the platform after posting, TikTok will do everything it can to get your attention and bring you back online. This includes showcasing your content to more people in order to generate more notifications.
10. Use TikTok’s Tools
TikTok offers a wide variety of video editing tools that can and should be taken advantage of. New features are being rolled out all the time, like the recent introduction of Stitch.
Basically, there’s everything you need to create outstanding videos in minutes already baked into the platform. All of which are an absolute breeze to use, with no prior knowledge or experience necessary.
11. Include Text in the Opening Video Frame
Including Text in the opening, the frame is all about getting your videos off to the best possible start. It’s worth remembering that if you don’t grab their attention in an instant, they won’t stick around to see what happens next.
It’s far too easy to simply swipe to the next video in search of something more engaging. Hook their attention in an instant, then focus on holding on to it till the end.
12. Post Frequently
According to TikTok, posting between one and four times daily is the way to go. In practice, it’s been shown that three daily videos are more or less the sweet spot. Though again, quality should always be prioritized over quantity. Never post a video you’re unhappy with simply for the sake of it – hold out until you have something worth publishing.
13. Use Your Own Voice
Using your own voice and adding an original sound to your videos is always the way to go. Your job is to do everything you can to showcase your personality and give your audience a taste of who you really are.
While it can be tempting to use other people’s voices and generic backing tracks, they do little for your authenticity or appeal. If possible, always use your own voice in your content.
14. Use the Comment Section Wisely
What does it mean to make wise use of the comments section on TikTok? A few things, as follows:
Include a Variety of Details for Others to Comment On
Firstly, bear in mind that people cannot resist commenting on the more random details in your clips. You could be documenting your crossing of the border from the US to Mexico, only to get an endless list of comments about your choice of sandwich fillings. The more random details you include for people to comment on, the better.
Reply to All Comments
There’s never a good excuse for not replying to comments. Irrespective of whether it is positive, negative, neutral, or nonsense, every comment deserves a reply. Just be sure that the replies you offer are sincere, relevant, and of some kind of value – nothing too generic or copied and pasted.
Leave Some Questions Unanswered
This can be great for boosting the viral potential of your videos while stacking up more comments. Ask questions in your videos without answering them, or showcase yourself doing something but leave out the climax. They’ll want to know what happened next, and you can be sure they’ll tell you as such.
15. Spend Some Time Watching Videos on the FYP
Each time you watch a video on the For You Page, you gain invaluable insights into what’s trending at the time. Or at least, what kind of content within your niche is being promoted and recommended by TikTok.
All of which can help lay the groundwork for future videos with enhanced FYP potential. Again, get yourself on the FYP, and you have a real shot at going viral.
16. Buy TikTok Views
Last up, and another key metric TikTok examines when picking up posts to promote is the number of views. The more views your videos stack up, the higher the likelihood they’ll appear on the FYP.
In which case, why not simply buy TikTok views to steer things in the right direction? At Media Mister, we specialize in 100% authentic views from legit TikTok users. Ideal for boosting the viral potential of your videos at an affordable price.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it’s the platform’s algorithm that determines which videos go viral on TikTok. Your job is to show the TikTok algorithm you’re worth featuring on the FYP by any means necessary. Even then, your videos need to have the quality, relevance, and appeal needed to go viral.
It’s only when vast numbers of TikTok users share videos with their friends and followers that big things happen. Each of the tips and tactics outlined above could prove useful in boosting the viral potential of your content. Just remember that when up against hundreds of millions of competing creators, it’s quality and relevance that make all the difference.
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