TikTok’s rapid ascent has been well-documented. It has become one of the world’s most popular social networks and is now the fifth largest, boasting 1.58 billion active users. For e-commerce brands, TikTok is a powerful tool for boosting brand awareness and driving sales. However, creating viral content on TikTok can be challenging for both creators and businesses, as strategies that succeed on other platforms may not translate effectively here.
The good news is thatTikTok’ss unique algorithm levels the playing field, allowing even brand-new accounts to go viral. In this guide,you’lll learn how to craft content that resonates with TikTok users and aligns with theplatform’ss algorithm, increasing your chances of going viral.
Mastering the Art of Going Viral on TikTok
Achieving virality on TikTok can often seem like a matter of luck. While the TikTok algorithm may be complex, staying attuned to the platform can significantly improve your chances of creating standout content. This means keeping track of popular videos, understanding what users are liking and sharing, using relevant hashtags for your brand, and staying up-to-date with trends on your For You page.
Even if your primary goal is to reach your target audience and drive product sales on TikTok, your video content should remain true to yourbrand’ss identity. Authenticity is crucial on this platform, so staying genuine is essential. Additionally, factors such as video length and trending sounds can further enhance your concontent’ssibility and impact on TikTok.
Decoding the TikTok Algorithm
The algorithms behind your favorite social media apps can be elusive, especially as these platforms continually evolve. However, understanding how the TikTok algorithm works is crucial if you want to achieve viral success quickly.
The TikTok algorithm is both responsive and highly personalized. It factors in user interactions like comments, likes, follows, and watch time, alongside video details such as keywords, hashtags, sounds, and other embedded elements. These combined signals allow TikTok to deliver customized recommendations to users through its For You page, helping content reach the right audience.
Top Content Trends on TikTok
Analyzing TikTikTok’sst popular content provides valuable insight into the types of videos that resonate with a broad audience. In 2024, top creators like Khabane Lame, Charli D’D’AmelioBella Poarch, and MrBeast continue to dominate the platform.
While these influencers offer a general understanding of trending content, itit’sore effective to focus on creators within your industry or those with a follower base similar to your target audience. This approach offers a clearer perspective on what type of content engages the users yoyou’reiming to reach.
16 Strategies for Achieving Virality on TikTok
- Stay Updated on the Latest Trends
- Utilize Trending and Relevant Hashtags
- Spark Curiosity in Your Content
- Leverage Sound Effectively
- Post Consistently at Optimal Times
- Craft a Compelling Story
- Engage with Your Followers
- Interact with Other Users and Their Posts
- Collaborate with Other Content Creators
- Vary the Length of Your Videos
- Focus on Entertainment and Relatability
- Provide Value and Educate Your Audience
- Start with a Strong Hook
- Jump on Memes and Challenges
- Cross-Promote Your TikTok Content on Other Platforms
- Enhance Your Editing Skills
Stay Updated on the Latest Trends
With TikTok being one of the most trend-driven social media platforms, one crucial way to go viral requires you to keep up with whatwhat’s on the app. This can inspire you to create similar content, whether it’sit’specific dance challenge, audio clip, video format, or topic.
Fortunately, finding out whatwhat’snding on TikTok isn’isn’tcky. TikTok’TikTok’sve Center is packed with insights on up-to-the-minute trends. Within its keyword insights, filter by region, industry, and timeframe to see what users are talking about.
You can also browse TikTok itself to spot patterns on your own For You page. As you browse through and identify a trend, consider whether it’s reit’snt to your niche, and if so, jump on it and create your video.
Note that TikTok trends tend to lastdon’t a few days, so if you have an idea that has the potential to go viral, it’s best to act on it it’st away.
Utilize Trending and Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags play a crucial role in ranking content on TikTok, enabling the platform’s algorithm to cplatform’svideos effectively. To go viral on TikTok using hashtags, it’s essential to identifit’se right ones for your content. While trending hashtags can provide visibility, niche hashtags relevant to your brand may offer even more significant potential for virality.
Some hashtags remain popular over time and possess universal appeal. A prime example is #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, which users use to share products they discover on the platform.
To find trending hashtags within your niche, utilize the TikTok app’s search function. Enter a kapp’sd (without the hashtag) in the search bar, and once the results load, tap on the Hashtag column. This will display a list of trending hashtags along with the view counts for videos associated with them.
Community hashtags also tend to have staying power and attract specific audiences. Engaging with hashtags that are relevant to your brand can be an invaluable strategy for connecting with potential fans, discovering influencers to collaborate with, and generating ideas for creating viral content.
Here are a few of the top TikTok communities:
Tips:
- While hashtags can be beneficial, it’s important not to overwhelm your poit’swith them. A general guideline is to use three to five hashtags per post, which is typically sufficient to inform the algorithm without appearing spammy.
- Additionally, steer clear of generic hashtags, as competition for these can be incredibly intense. Hashtags such as #FYP and #foryou are particularly saturated and may not effectively enhance your content’s visibility.
Spark Curiosity icontent’sntent
TikTok reports that content designed to spark curiosity can increase viewer retention by 1.4 times. The longer users engage with your videos, the more likely the algorithm is to deem your content worthy of being shown to a broader audience.
With 40% of millennial TikTok users and 44% of Gen X users stating that the platform helps them discover new things, it’s essential to give them something tit’splore. To inspire curiosity, focus on creating content centered around innovative ideas, groundbreaking technologies, creative hacks, or other unique topics that users might not typically encounter on the platform.
Leverage Sound Effectively
Audio is a fundamental element of the TikTok experience, with 88% of users stating that sound is essential to their enjoyment of the platform. The extensive library of music and sound clips available to creators underscores the importance of audio in TikTok videos. Videos that achieve viral success often feature trending sounds or popular music tracks.
As you browse your For You page, pay close attention to the music and sound clips used in popular videos. Incorporating these trending audio elements into your content can significantly enhance your chances of going viral. The TikTok algorithm actively promotes videos that utilize trending audio, helping you expand your reach to a broader audience.
Additionally, TikTok’s Creative Center provides insightTikTok’surrent trending sounds and songs that can inspire your video creation. The platform makes it incredibly easy for creators to access and use these audio clips. Select any TikTok video that features audio, tap on the name of the clip (usually found below the post’s caption next to a musical note icon), andpost’sl have the option to “Use this sound.”
Postyou’llstently at Optimal T”mes
One crucial”factor that TikTok’s algorithm evaluates is the level of engTikTok’sa video receives, including comments, likes, and shares. Notably, the algorithm does not take into account a user’s past performance with high-performing videos.
This indicates that going viral on TikTok is essentially a numbers game. Each video has an equal opportunity to gain traction, so the more frequently you post, the greater your chances of achieving virality. Additionally, every video serves as a valuable opportunity to refine your TikTok content creation skills.
When developing your TikTok strategy, it’s essential to establish a consistent postingit’sedule that your audience can anticipate. The goal isn’t necessarily to meet a specific posting quoisn’tt to maintain regularity. For example, posting two videos daily for a week and then going silent for an entire month is not a practical approach. Consistency is vital to keeping your audience engaged and building momentum on the platform.
When to post on TikTok
Posting frequently is essential, but timing your posts is equally crucial for maximizing visibility and engagement on TikTok. To increase your chances of going viral, it’s essential to share your videos when the mait’sty of your target audience is active on the platform. Research indicates that specific time slots can significantly enhance engagement rates.
Specifically, the optimal times to post on TikTok are Tuesdays at 9 a.m., Thursdays at noon, and Fridays at 5 a.m. Content shared during these periods tends to attract higher viewer interaction.
However, it’s important to note that these are general guiit’snes; the best posting times for your specific content will depend on factors such as your niche, the geographical location of your audience, and their browsing habits. Ultimately, your ideal posting schedule should be informed by the insights and data available through TikTok Analytics.
Craft a Compelling Story
Storytelling remains one of the most effective strategies for attracting followers and customers to your brand. It fosters authenticity and builds a genuine connection with your audience. This is particularly true on TikTok, where compelling content often takes precedence over highly polished productions.
A strong story can captivate viewers, even without professional equipment or advanced editing skills. In fact, TikTok has highlighted “Storytelling Unhinged” as a significant trend fo” 2024—characterized b” unexpected narratives and distinctive characters. A prime example is creator Reesa Teesa’s popular 50-video series, “Who TF DiTeesa’sry?” which showcases this “npredictable storyt”lling style.
Engage with Your Followers
In addition to engaging with your followers, it’s essential to interact with other videoit’sd creators—especially those that align with your target audience. This strategy is particularly effective for new accounts or those looking to grow their TikTok following.
Engage with the TikTok community by interacting with trending videos that have viral potential. While essential engagement such as liking and commenting is proper, you can take it a step further by creating Stitch or Duet videos in response to popular content. This approach can help you gain visibility and build connections with a broader audience.
Interact with Other Users and Their Posts
In addition to engaging with your followers, it’s essential to interact with otherit’seos and creators—especially those that align with your target audience. This strategy is particularly effective for new accounts or those looking to grow their TikTok following.
Engage with the TikTok community by interacting with trending videos that have viral potential. While essential engagement such as liking and commenting is proper, you can take it a step further by creating Stitch or Duet videos in response to popular content. This approach can help you gain visibility and build connections with a broader audience.
Collaborate with Other Content Creators
Partnering with popular creators through influencer marketing can significantly extend your reach, boost the chances of your content going viral, and enhance audience trust. Notably, 82% of TikTok users view creators as authentic, and 76% find them relatable.
A successful collaboration creates a win-win scenario, allowing both parties to broaden their audience and increase visibility. When selecting TikTok influencers to work with, focus on those relevant to your niche to attract the right audience.
For newcomers to TikTok, securing a collaboration may be challenging due to a lower follower count. However, don’t be discouraged—start by fdon’ting potential influencers, learning their style, and engaging with their posts. Once you’ve built a solid following,you’veach them with a proposal for collaboration.
Vary the Length of Your Videos
Varying the lengths of your videos can help optimize viewer engagement. While TikTok is known for short-form content, research indicates that longer videos often attract more views. Diversifying your video formats can also make your brand more distinctive.
Short videos, under 15 seconds, are ideal for delivering quick, impactful messages that are easy to watch and share. This format caters to fast-scrolling users who enjoy brief, memorable content.
Medium-length videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute, offer the opportunity for more detailed storytelling or tutorials. Longer videos, up to three minutes, are suited for deeper dives. These allow you to demonstrate expertise and provide valuable insights, fostering a more dedicated and engaged audience.
Focus on Entertainment and Relatability
There isn’t a surefire formula for going viral when it comes to conisn’t However, incorporating humor and entertainment into your posts can be highly effective if you want to improve your chances.
Humor resonates well on TikTok, with many viral videos featuring irony, self-deprecation, and even intentionally awkward moments. This approach works—30% of TikTok users cite humor as a critical motivator for purchasing from a brand or creator.
Provide Value and Educate Your Audience
If humor doesn’t align with your style ordoesn’tvoice, you can still captivate your audience by providing value through educational or behind-the-scenes content. Focus on being relatable and authentic to resonate with the TikTok community and increase your chances of going viral.
This means delivering valuable content, such as informative tips, recipes, life hacks, or product insights while maintaining your brand’s unique identity. Authenticbrand’scritical to building a genuine connection with your audience.
Start with a Strong Hook
With shortening attention spans and most TikTok videos lasting mere seconds, you’ll need to grab viewers’ you’llion instantly.
The “hook” needs to be establishe” in “he very first few seconds—if not the first frames. Over 63% of videos with the highest click-through rate (CTR) have their crucial message in the first few seconds of the video, according to TikTok.
To encourage users to stay, teawhat’sage users to stay, tease what’s to come, use humo” or s”ock value, or flash the “after” or outcome at the beginning of your video.
Jump on Memes and Challenges
Challenges play a significant role on TikTok, often sparking waves of content around a single hashtag. While some, like the Tide Pod challenge, have been controversial or dangerous, most challenges are a fun way for users to connect over a shared theme or cause.
If you have a dedicated following, consider launching a challenge around your brand or creating an original audio clip to inspire a meme. If you’you’reused on expanding your reach, participating in trending memes or challenges by using popular hashtags and sounds can help you connect with a broader audience.
Cross-Promote Your TikTok Content on Other Platforms
Cross-promoting your TikTok content on other social media platforms can significantly enhance your chances of going viral.
Short, engaging videos have become the standard across various social media platforms, with sites like Instagram and YouTube adopting similar formats inspired by TikTok. By sharing your TikTok videos on these networks, you expand your reach, attract more viewers to your content, and drive traffic back to your TikTok channel.
Enhance Your Editing Skills
Clever editing can create punchy TikTok content tusers’ptures users’ attention and keeps them engaged. You don’t need to be a professionadon’teographer to achieve dynamic cuts. Free tools, such as TikTok’s native editor and appTikTok’sapCut, enable you to add text, combine and edit clips, incorporate effects and transitions, and synchronize your visuals with sound.
Additional TikTok Strategies for Businesses
With a TikTok Business account and the TikTok app for Shopify, you can monetize your videos by selling products directly through TikTok ads and content. Whether you’re creating merchandise specifically for TikTok or adding TikTok shopping to your sales channels, leveraging TikTok for business can be a valuable strategy for your brand.
While having a Business account doesn’t directly influence how the TikTok algorithm promotes your content, it does offer valuable insights into your content’s performance and audience behavior. This enables you to better understand your followers, gauge their reactions to your content, and refine your TikTok marketing strategy for greater success.
Achieve Viral Success with Your Brand’s TikTok Videos
Learning how to go viral on TikTok is just the beginning. Implementing these video content strategies takes time and patience. Once you discover the ideal combination of content, audience, and timing, you’ll be well on your way to achieving viral success and even earning money on TikTok.
However, keep in mind that TikTok’s algorithm and trends are always evolving. Relying on the same ideas will reduce your chances of going viral over time. Regularly analyze each video’s performance, keep up with trending sounds, and focus on creating content that delivers real value to your target audience. Let’s make it go viral!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a TikTok Business account and a personal account?
A TikTok Business account offers access to advanced analytics, ad tools, and features like a link in bio. It’s designed to help brands understand their audience and optimize their content for better engagement.
How can I use TikTok ads to grow my business?
TikTok ads, such as In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and TopView ads, can help increase visibility and reach new audiences. These ads can drive traffic to your website, promote specific products, or boost engagement with your TikTok content.
What type of content works best for TikTok?
TikTok is all about authentic and engaging content. Trends, challenges, behind-the-scenes clips, tutorials, and user-generated content (UGC) tend to perform well. Experimenting with different formats and observing audience reactions is key.
How often should I post on TikTok to see results?
Consistency is crucial on TikTok. Posting 3-5 times a week can help maintain visibility and engagement. However, quality is more important than quantity, so focus on creating content that resonates with your audience.
What are the best times to post on TikTok for maximum engagement?
While the ideal times vary based on your audience’s location, general recommendations suggest posting on Tuesdays at 9 a.m., Thursdays at 12 p.m., and Fridays at 5 a.m. Analyze your TikTok Insights to find the best times for your specific audience.
How can I find the right influencers to collaborate with on TikTok?
Look for influencers whose content aligns with your brand values and appeals to your target audience. Consider using TikTok’s Creator Marketplace or reach out directly to influencers who share similar interests with your brand.
How do I get my TikTok videos to appear on the ‘For You’ page?
To increase the chances of appearing on the ‘For You’ page, focus on high-quality, engaging content that follows trends and uses popular sounds. Engaging captions, relevant hashtags, and a consistent posting schedule can also help.
Can I sell products directly through TikTok?
Yes, TikTok offers shopping features through TikTok Shopping and integrations like the TikTok app for Shopify. This allows you to create shoppable videos, run product ads, and make direct sales through the platform.
How do I measure the success of my TikTok marketing efforts?
Use TikTok’s analytics to track key metrics like video views, follower growth, engagement rate, and audience demographics. This data can help you understand what content resonates best and adjust your strategy accordingly.
What should I do if my TikTok videos aren’t getting views?
If your videos aren’t getting the desired views, consider experimenting with different content formats, using trending sounds, and updating hashtags. Engaging with other creators, participating in challenges, and promoting your videos on other social media platforms can also help boost visibility.
Conclusion
Effectively leveraging TikTok for business requires a combination of creativity, strategic planning, and a willingness to adapt to the platform’s constantly evolving trends. By focusing on authentic content, engaging with your audience, using analytics to refine your strategy, and exploring features like ads and influencer collaborations, you can boost your brand’s visibility and engagement.
Patience and consistency are key, as building a strong presence on TikTok takes time. With the right approach, TikTok can become a powerful tool for reaching new audiences, driving traffic, and ultimately achieving your marketing goals.