Who doesn’t want to be TikTok famous? TikTok is massively popular amongst users of all ages, and it’s no surprise why. It’s an incredibly fun platform that allows you to be creative and connect with others. But as a TikTok user, it can also be very difficult to stand out from the crowd.
To go viral on TikTok, create content that is both entertaining and relatable. Try to grab your audience’s attention from the first second. Adopting humor and a bit of controversy doesn’t hurt. Also, remember to be consistent and post when your audience is most active.
Going viral on the TikTok platform can result in tons of followers, likes, and potential opportunities. It’s a lofty goal, but you can achieve it with the right strategy and effort. To help you get started, here are 10 steps to going viral on TikTok.
What Does It Mean to Go Viral?
The term “going viral” on TikTok generally means that a video has been shared widely, gaining an exponential amount of views and engagements quickly. It implies that you’re getting a lot of attention from the community.
Like on other social media platforms, trending or going viral on TikTok can boost your online presence and help you gain more followers.
It also shows that you can create content that resonates with users and stands out from the rest.
How Many Views Is Considered Going Viral on TikTok?
There’s no precise number of views that defines viral content. Generally, though, if your content receives over 250,000 views within a few days of posting, consider yourself a mild success on the platform.
Medium viral is when you hit the 1 million viewer mark. This is a nice spot to be in — you’ve started to make a name for yourself, and viewers are starting to pay attention. It also becomes easier to gain tons of new followers.
Then there are the viral TikTok sensations — those with 5 million or more viewers. This is an incredible achievement, and if you make it here, you’ve made it big.
How Long Does It Take for a TikTok Video to Go Viral?
It depends on the level of virality. It takes anywhere from a few hours to a few days or even weeks for a video to gain traction and go viral on TikTok. For most videos, though, it takes around 3 to 7 days for it to peak.
Again, the time for your content to go viral may vary depending on the quality of your video, the hashtags you use, and other factors.
Tips to Help Your Video Go Viral
For many, going viral on social media, and TikTok in this case, is normally a matter of luck more than anything else. For us, however, it’s a science. With a well-defined and properly executed plan, you should be able to increase your chances of success.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but here are some tips to get you started:
1. Understand the 3-second rule
The 3-second rule is simple. People decide whether or not they will watch your video within the first three seconds of it playing. That’s the human attention span, and the goal is to use it to your advantage.
TikTok doesn’t share its ranking algorithms, but the basic principle is this: If people spend more time on your video, they like it. If they only watch a few seconds of the video before scrolling on, they don’t. It’s as simple as that.
TikTok will reward more watched videos by pushing them out to more viewers. That’s why it becomes so important to grab your audience’s attention from the first second. How do you do that? Tip number 2.
2. Content Is King
Your video’s content is the most important factor if you want to go viral. Focus on creating quality content and stories that are creative and original. Start by understanding the trends on TikTok.
What kind of content is popular? What challenges are people doing? What type of videos is gaining traction? There are plenty of trends to choose from. Identify a few that you think are suitable for your brand.
Specialize in one kind of content. Stick to it, play around with it, and make sure your video is entertaining and captivating. There are lots of niches within TikTok that reward those who dare to take the plunge.
Be funny and relatable. Humor — especially dark humor — tends to work very well with GenZ. People love watching videos that make them laugh and feel connected with the creator. That’s why the most popular videos are usually playful, creative, and humorous.
Also, you can adopt a little controversy. Controversy is a double-edged sword that can make your video go viral, but it could also lead to massive backlash if you’re not careful. Just be sure to follow TikTok’s community guidelines to prevent your account from gettimg banned.
3. Timing Is Key
It’s important to understand the timing of your uploads. Aim for peak hours when more people are online. Influencer Marketing Hub analyzed over 100,000 TikTok posts to understand the best time to post.
From the research, it’s important to know where your audience is located and what time they’re awake and active.
Uploading in the afternoon, from 12 pm to 6 pm, is usually a good idea. This way, more people will see your video.
But timing will be of little importance if you’re a new user. Just start creating! With time, and as you grow your number of followers, you’ll be able to monitor the best times for you.
4. Keep Up With the Latest Trends
TikTok is one of the most dynamic platforms, and trends are always shifting. To stay relevant, you must consistently follow the most popular trends and challenges.
Luckily, keeping up with the latest trends isn’t too difficult. Study what’s trending on the explore page, the ‘for you’ page, and the hashtag pages. TikTok also has a category called ‘trending now,’ which showcases all the popular trends for any given time.
TikTok trends only last for a few days. Therefore, you must stay on top of them and create videos quickly to capitalize on the latest trends. Being aware of the latest trends and challenges helps you create content that people are looking for.
5. Analyze Your Performance
An analysis of your performance is an imperative step if you want to go viral. Analyzing your data helps determine what works and what doesn’t. The insights tab on the TikTok analytics page will give you a detailed understanding of how your videos are performing.
You can use this data to make better decisions on the type of content you create in the future. Also, studying the comments on your videos gives you a good idea of what people like and don’t like. You can then use this data to refine your content and make it better.
Paid Ads on digital platforms like Google or Facebook and upgrading to a TikTok business account are other ways to get more visibility.
Introduced in 2020, TikTok Business Center allows you access to powerful analytics and insights about your videos, audience, and followers. It also provides you with the ability to create sophisticated ads on TikTok.
One cool feature is the addition of a shopping tab on your profile where users can access your products with one tap. For business owners or those trying to monetize their content, TikTok Business Center is a gold mine. Take time to understand the insights and use it to your advantage.
6. Promote Your Video on Other Platforms
Not even TikTok can survive without help from other platforms. Every social media platform has its unique reach and audience.
If you want to maximize your chances of going viral, an excellent way is to promote your content on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Doing so expands your reach and gets more eyes on your TikTok videos. Don’t forget about collaborations. TikTok is a great platform for collaborating with other influencers and creating content together. You can tap into their audience and get more exposure than you would alone.
7. Use Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags are key in TikTok’s ranking algorithm. You may have noticed some videos on the explore page with a huge number of views, even though the content is not very unique. That’s because the users have used the right hashtags.
Using relevant, popular, and trending hashtags will help your videos to get more views, likes, and comments. The best way is to follow the hashtags that dominate the trends page. Key in a keyword in your niche without the hashtag in the search bar, and it will show the relevant hashtags.
Hashtags are a great way to reach new people and expand your reach. However, don’t go overboard with them. There’s no official limit to the number of hashtags you can use, but overusing them can harm your content.
8. Find Trending Audio
Music is an important element of any TikTok video. It helps to set the mood and enhance your content. When you go through the trending videos, pay attention to the audio they’re using. It’s often a huge factor in why people engage with them and make them go viral.
Using popular music or sound clips in your videos can be a great way to make them stand out. TikTok makes it super easy to use trending audio in your video. Here’s how to do it:
- Select a video with the audio you wish to use.
- There’s a musical note icon under the post’s caption. Tap on the name of the clip.
- Choose the option “Use this sound.”
You may also decide to get a little creative and use your audio instead. This doesn’t imply creating a song from scratch (although you’re welcome to do so).
Use voiceover and sound effects, or add some music to your background. Apps like KlipMix will also help you add more audio effects to your videos and make them stand out.
9. Remember to Be Consistent
Even after finding your niche, don’t get too comfortable. TikTok loves “fresh content.” Try to post at least once or twice a week and engage with other creators as much as possible. Consistency is important on any platform, and even more so on TikTok.
If you have the resources or are a bit busy, consider hiring a professional editor to create videos for you. There are tons of editors available online that can help you create amazing videos with editing, effects, and audio.
Alternatively, use TikTok management apps to help you schedule and manage your posts effortlessly. Apps like Loomly and SocialPilot can be a great way to manage your TikTok content.
10. Interact With Your Followers
Unless you’re already a celebrity, ensure that you interact with your followers whenever possible. Respond to comments and DMs, follow back, and like your followers’ posts. This will give your followers a sense of importance and encourage them to remain loyal.
Anyway, isn’t that the point of a social media platform? It’s not all about posting content and making money. It’s also about connecting with people worldwide and building meaningful relationships.
Some people go further and organize giveaways for their followers. This can be a powerful method to catch the attention of new followers. If there’s one thing about humans, it’s that they love free stuff.
It’s okay if you can’t afford to do giveaways; try shoutouts or collaborations with other creators. This will also give you access to a new audience who may never have seen your content otherwise.
You can also ask your followers to comment, share or tag friends in your posts to increase engagement.
It’s Your Time to Shine
These strategies will help take your TikTok to new heights and potentially join the elite group of TikTok influencers. With hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck, you can become the next big star on TikTok!
Keep creating content that you enjoy, and remember to be yourself. People will appreciate your authenticity and are more likely to watch your videos if they can relate to you.
Good luck, have fun, and make sure you stay safe online. Happy creating!