How to Go Viral on TikTok
While no one can predict the exact formula for how to make your video go viral on TikTok, there are proven methods to get served up more often and grow your audience on the burgeoning platforms For You page (FYP). The FYP is your opportunity to reach new users and users who have previously watched your content but haven’t followed your account yet.
How Does Content Go Viral on TikTok?
On TikTok, it’s seemingly completely random what goes viral. While the app originated with viral content being mostly dance videos or lip-syncing to a popular song, now it seems there is no limit to what could go viral. The most common thing viral content has in common, though? A catchy trending sound that intrigues users to both watch content featuring it, and maybe even use it themselves. This is how to go viral. Remember, viral trends have a short life cycle. So, if you’re a brand looking to have your first viral hit on TikTok, be sure to be constantly keeping up with what’s trending on the FYP and utilizing Dash Hudson’s TikTok insights and TikTok Entertainment Score feature that gives insight into how entertaining your content is to viewers.
1. Pick a Niche and Determine Your Purpose
The first step in your approach should be to set goals and determine your brand voice upfront as a guiding light. Spoiler alert: “going viral” is not a goal! Ask yourself what purpose your TikTok channel serves for your community. Setting objectives for your videos may help develop your content strategy and reach your ideal users. Keeping a consistent tone will also let your audience know what they can expect when they follow your account. These objectives don’t need to be rigid. As you post and learn more about which of your videos are resonating using TikTok analytics, you can adjust accordingly.
2. Hook the Viewer and Keep It Short
The second step in how to go viral on TikTok is figuring out how to hook your viewer. The topic of your video should be clear to the audience within the first few seconds, especially as your video may be shown to users that are unfamiliar with your brand. keep your videos short, getting the point across early will capture attention and encourage the viewer to watch the video until the end. The more your videos are being viewed to completion, the higher chance they have to be served up across the FYP, reaching more new viewers. The most successful videos across TikTok tell a story and benefit the user. Make your videos educational, informative (share tips and advice) aspirational, or entertaining (make it funny! Use humor to connect with your audience) to provide value and give people a reason to watch, share, and comment.
3. Post Often and Be Consistent
With TikTok, it’s a best practice to keep a regular publishing schedule—not only so that your followers can look forward to your content—but to provide a bit of runway for when you want to experiment with a new style of video. The Following feed is not shown in chronological order, so there is less chance of bombarding your followers with “too much” content. When posting consistently, you should also pay attention to the best time to post on TikTok for your audience. Luckily, we've taken the guesswork out of that.
Being consistent also applies to cohesion and authenticity. The videos you post on TikTok should match in terms of tone and quality so your style is consistent across the board. Your presence on TikTok should also be authentic to your brand’s presence off of TikTok. If your videos come across as inauthentic and disingenuous, your viewers will be able to tell. This practice also applies to the creators you partner with. It’s best to work with creators who genuinely care about your product and message.
4. Understand and Use Trends to Promote Your Brands Creativity
The most successful viral videos incorporate trending sounds or music in creative way. Creativity and originality are rewarded on TikTok. The platform is designed to make it easy for anyone to be creative in their own way. Trending hashtags and sounds can change quickly, and the platform is filled with users adding their take to these trends. Pay attention to popular and up-and-coming TikTok trends to share your unique take on them and surface your videos on the FYP to those who are engaging with those trends. Another tactic to try is to use seamless transitions to keep the pace of your content moving, captivate your audience, and keep them guessing as to what’s coming next.
5. Be Active and Present, Don’t Treat TikTok as an Afterthought
Take an active role in managing your presence on the platform and leaning into what makes it unique. Community is big on TikTok. Like and reply to comments and questions that users leave on your videos to build community and encourage engagement. Leverage viewer sentiment to guide your content strategy where applicable and ask your viewers questions where you can. Another tactic for visibility and community building is spending time interacting with other users’ videos within your vertical, and exploring what else is being done in your niche.
6. Hear What the Pros Have to Say
As the digital habits of customers evolve, the approach brands take to social media must evolve with them. A seamless e-commerce experience and investing in building an online community are aspects of digital strategy that have become expected of brands and retailers. To learn how brands leverage TikTok marketing for success, read our past TikTok-centric case studies.
How to Go Viral FAQs
How many views is viral on TikTok?
While the amount of views is exactly what makes a TikTok viral, it’s actually more about how quickly those views are accumulating than how many views you actually have. Over the period of a week or two, a video could have 500,000 views, but that doesn’t necessarily make it as viral as a video that gets 250,000 views in a day or two. It’s all about the speed in which the views and engagement occur.
How do you get viral on TikTok in one day?
Trends, trends, trends. The best, and fastest way if you’re wondering how to go viral on TikTok is hopping on trends. We can’t guarantee this will make you go viral in one day, but partaking in trending songs, sounds and dances will definitely improve your odds.
Is 700 views on TikTok good?
It depends. If you’re a brand new account just starting out with little to no content, and very few followers, 700 views is pretty decent. While it is by no means viral, it means that TikTok sees your content as valuable enough to share with hundreds of users. The more content you post, and the more of an identity you build for your account, your views will naturally increase over time.
How often should I post on TikTok?
The main tip for success on TikTok is consistency. While we never know what exactly is going to go viral, we do know it doesn’t hurt to try everything. We recommend posting at least once a day, if not more if the right trending sound pops up. Unlike Instagram, there is no need to keep a cohesive branded feed. While it’s important to stay true to your brand values, TikTok is an opportunity to try everything out at least once.
