Have you heard of the new app called TikTok? I wouldn’t be surprised if you did! It’s the new platform that everyone seems to be talking about. Although it started off by targeting a younger audience, TikTok is now taking the internet by storm as it begins to appeal to all age groups. In its simplicity, the platform allows you to share videos.
There seems to be a trend for anything you might be interested in! From dog videos to delicious iced coffee recipes, all the way to shirtless boys dancing, TikTok seems to have it all in 60 seconds or less.
Users are able to scroll down the main page, also called the For You Page (FYP). From there, users are able to like, comment, and share videos that they enjoy. TikTok will then take that user’s information to show them more videos that they might like.
If your video does well, TikTok will continue to push your video out to more and more people. Soon enough, you’ll know whether or not you have a viral video.
If you’re someone who’s interested in social media analytics and growth trends, then keep on reading for the ultimate guide on how to go viral on TikTok!
1. Make A Lasting Impression
TikTok is a fast-paced platform. As mentioned previously, videos are typically under 60 seconds in length. People will often scroll past out of boredom if your video doesn’t offer anything interesting within the first few seconds. Make a good first impression and give the people a reason to stay and watch until the end.
2. Keep It Short
Long and drawn out clips aren’t suited for this environment. If you want to post longer videos, stick to Youtube. On TikTok, you’re more likely to keep someone watching your video if it’s 10 seconds rather than a full minute long. Crunch it down as best you can, and give the most important information right at the beginning.
3. Use Your Own Audio
TikTok wants to take as much information as you can give it so that it can show your content to the right people. Sure, we all have the power of technology on our side so we can use hashtags and captions. But adding your own voiceover can only help you, not hinder you. Use as much of your own audio as you can, because the more information you can give TikTok the better.
4. Use Trending Audio
Using your own audio is important, but so is using trending audio. Think about it. If there is a trending song for example, people will be searching for it. And they will find videos that have used it. If you’re one of those people, you might just catch the attention of a few more people!
5. Storytelling
Sure you can go viral for something like dancing, but unless you’ve got something really special and different to offer, chances are you probably won’t get noticed. Stories go viral way more often, and they’re also super easy to do. You don’t even necessarily need to tell the truth, not that I’m condoning you to lie. But people are always up for listening to a good story, especially a story of something that doesn’t happen everyday!
6. Share Important Information
If you have any tips, tricks, or important information that you think people need to know, don’t shy away from sharing it! People love learning new things, especially things that can be taught in under a minute. So grab your phone and start sharing!
7. Tell People What They Should Do
Your videos should always give a suggestion for what viewers should do with the video once they’re done watching it. For example, some people caption their videos “Don’t let this flop” or “Like for part 2”. People are more than likely to do something with your video if you write it out for them vs. if you don’t.
8. Give Them Something To Talk About
People love to talk. We should’ve learned this from the comment section on Youtube over the years. People will discuss, debate, and argue over things that may not even be the focus of your video, such as what you were wearing that day or why you’re doing what you’re doing. Keep that in mind when creating your video, to give you audience something to talk about even if it’s not your main focus.
9. Don’t Explain
If your audience is questioning certain things in your video and it’s creating a bit of a controversy in the comment section, leave the question unanswered! It drives people crazy with curiosity and it will continue to add more comments as people try to figure it out.
10. Controversy Is Key
Now I’m not saying that you should do anything illegal, or absurdly controversial. But from the last two points I’ve mentioned, you know by now that people love to talk and give their opinions on certain things. By purposely doing something controversial that will grab viewers attention, like putting pineapples on pizza for example, people will be sure to fight over it in the comments thus giving your video more interaction, and eventually making your video go viral.
11. Connection
You can either be relatable, inspirational, or hateable online in order to make a lasting impression. Choosing which one to go for can either make or break your online career, so choose wisely! Bhad Bhabie is a good example of a celebrity who made it to the top just for being the worst guest to ever appear on Dr. Phil. Find a way to connect with your audience.
12. Repetition
If you purposely make a part of your video too fast or put text up that disappears too quickly, it could make someone re-watch your video in order to catch what they missed. When doing so, it tells the TikTok algorithm that your video is worth being watched a second time and in turn, could get you more views from other people. Just don’t do it too much.
13. Have Text
Having text somewhere in your video but better yet, on the opening video frame, will keep viewers watching your video for a few seconds longer and again this is great for the TikTok algorithm.
14. Careful With The Hashtags
Many people try to use hashtags in efforts to get their videos out there. However, using generic hashtags won’t serve you any real purpose because everyone uses them. Remember, the riches are in the niches. Use a niche hashtag instead because not everyone is searching for it.
15. Reply
As you’ve probably figured out by now, the more interaction with your videos the better. This means that if people are liking and commenting on your video, answer your comments and try to engage and ask follow up questions with your viewers. This tells the TikTik algorithm that your video is worth commenting on and in turn, will show it to more people.
16. Keep It Up
After posting a viral TikTok video, don’t just stop there. The more you post, the better. Also, the more you post the better you’ll get at making videos. Don’t miss out on quality over quantity, but push out as many as you can schedule every week to give you a higher chance of making more viral videos. One thing is for sure, if you don’t post then you won’t go viral.
17. Don’t Choose A Niche Just Yet
When starting out on TikTok, it’s important to appeal to a huge audience. So make as many different types of videos as you can to see what does the best on the app, before narrowing yourself down to only a small group of people. You can niche once you already have a strong following and like count.
18. Don’t Link Products
Especially when doing a product review and you’re starting out, as tempting as it is, don’t like your products. If you do, people will have no questions to ask you. Instead, talk about a product that you love but don’t entirely show it on camera or give its full name. In turn, people will comment asking what it is and give your video more interaction.
19. Trends
Posting on TikTok is important, but did you know watching TikToks is important too? I’m not saying to spend all your free time on the app, but spending at least 20 minutes worth will help you stay on top of trends and give you more ideas for potential video content. Obviously, you don’t want to completely copy other people’s ideas, but doing your own spin-off version will more than likely get you views!
20. Don’t Give Up
Going viral can take time, hard work, and dedication. But just because you’re not seeing results right away, doesn’t mean you should just give up. It takes time to figure out your personal style and what interests you and your audience. Most importantly, have fun with it!
Some additional tips and tricks to grow your audience would be to follow top creators! For example, if you happen to be a dancer, then following someone like Charli D’Amelio who is famous for her dances, can give you ideas on dances and songs to use for your videos!
TikTok also gives you tools like filters, the green screen, and audio effects. Use these tools to your advantage, because they can often elevate your footage.
Also, don’t just share your video to TikTok. TikTok makes it really easy for you to post your videos to other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter where an even larger group of people are waiting to watch!
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, going viral on TikTok might be easier said than done, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible! With these tips and tricks, anyone can go viral! It just takes some dedication.
- By Jessika Molnar
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