The real question is, how does TikTok decide which videos end up on our FYPs?
According to TikTok, the algorithm recommends content based on videos that you’ve interacted with (watched, liked, shared, commented on), who you follow, what content you create, and your account demographics, as well as what’s in the video itself (captions, sounds, hashtags). TikTok then serves a mix of similar content from both accounts you follow and don’t follow.
How to go viral on TikTok: 11 tips
Now, onto the good stuff. We’ve put together a list of tactics that will help your chances of going viral on TikTok, from filming to hashtags to editing.
1. Participate in trends
TikTok is known for its use of music and sound bites, and incorporating popular sounds into your content can help increase your chances of going viral. Using trending audio can be effective because it’s catchy (and increases view time), the viewer knows what to expect in your video, and users may discover your video through the audio’s search page.
Even if you’ve recorded your own audio for a video, we suggest adding a trending song as a background track to optimize your chances of going viral — you can adjust the track’s volume to be much lower than your speaking audio.
Note that brand accounts can access a more limited Commercial Music Library than creators and regular users. So, before jumping on an audio trend, check that your account can use it. Here are some extra tips on how to find business-friendly TikTok sounds.
Props to Delta for using a trending sound and making it relevant to their audience!
Hashtags and challenges are a big part of the TikTok experience, and using them can help increase the visibility of your content. Using relevant hashtags and participating in popular challenges can increase the chances that a wider audience will discover your content.
Some hashtag tips:
- Use a mix of high-use and niche hashtags, not just one, or the other
- Don’t use #FYP, #foryou, or other generic hashtags – they don’t work!
- Use 3-5 hashtags max.
Making share-worthy content is one of the most critical factors in going viral on TikTok. What types of content are people compelled to share with their friends and followers? Here are a few tried-and-tested themes:
- Funny/entertaining. We all love tagging our friends in memes and sending funny videos to our group chats, right?
- Educational. #LearnOnTikTok is a popular hashtag for a reason, so teach people something! If it’s surprising or unique, chances are people will want to pass on the lesson.
- Inspirational. You can inspire people in many ways — by showing them how to fix a problem, how to improve their looks/health/life or something to add to their wishlist. If you can inspire someone enough to want to change their behavior or life in some way, they’re likely to share that with others.
Ah, the listicle: the oldest trick in the content marketing book. But hey, if you’re considering planning a trip to Canada, chances are you’ll share this with your travel companions!
4. Start with a hook and keep it short
As explained above, TikTok looks at average watch time as part of its algorithm. So, you need to catch a viewer’s attention in the first few seconds and give them a reason to watch as much of your video as possible. That’s why starting with a strong hook is essential.
Although TikTok has gradually increased the length of videos, generally, shorter is better. However, if you want to record a longer-form video, tell a story and follow a cohesive format.
Pro tip: To identify which of your hooks are working, check your TikTok analytics to see which videos have the highest average watch time.
5. Engage with your audience
Interacting with your audience is vital to building a following on TikTok. Respond to comments and messages on your videos, and engage with content within your niche (such as videos using the same hashtags as yours). Doing this can help build a community around your content and encourage people to share your videos with their followers.
Not only does Morning Brew make consistently funny content, but they’re also great at replying to comments. Sometimes their replies are even funnier than the videos themselves.