TikTok is undoubtedly one of the most popular and downloaded social media platforms today, with over 2 billion active monthly users. It is the go-to app for trending videos, sounds and, the hottest topics. However, knowing how to deliver viral TikTok videos can sometimes be a mystery for creators and brands. One of the reasons for that is because, what may work for other social apps will not necessarily make an impact on TikTok.
The good news is that TikTok has a unique algorithm that makes it possible for anyone to go viral on the app without any costly spending on ads. This article will guide you on how to go viral on TikTok by leveraging its algorithm and crafting engaging content that gets your audience hooked.
The Essentials of Going Viral on TikTok
Understanding the TikTok algorithm is essential if you want to go viral on the app. Although the algorithm can be a hard nut to crack, staying updated on the app’s best practices can help you to deliver captivating, trending TikTok videos. That includes keeping an eye on;
· The most popular TikTok videos
· The TikTok videos that get the most likes and shares
· Relevant hashtags for your brand
· TikTok trends on your For You Page
Authenticity is also a key ingredient of going viral on TikTok. The videos that you share should always feel true to your brand and resonate with the target audience naturally. Other aspects such as the length of your videos and trending sounds can also help to make your content go viral on TikTok.
The platform’s algorithm is highly personal and responsive, considering user signals such as TikTok comments, TikTok likes, TikTok follows and watch duration. Video details like hashtags and keywords used in the captions, sounds and embedded info also count. All those signals enable the TikTok algorithm to serve tailor-made recommendations to every user via the For You page.
How the TikTok Algorithm Determines Viral Content
TikTok’s algorithm works to put your content in front of the right audience. It is designed to reward videos that drive engagement, measured through TikTok likes, comments, shares and watch duration. It tracks how quickly people engage with your video after your post goes up.
If your audience interacts with the content within the first few hours, the app can flag it as promising and put it in front of a larger audience. The algorithm also takes into account the replays on your videos. It means you have created something truly engaging and impactful if people watch your video more than once.
You should also note that the TikTok algorithm favors diversity. The videos that you post are not only showed to your followers but, also those who do not follow you on the For You page. It shows your videos to small test groups before expanding the reach based on the responses from that group.
Thanks to the TikTok algorithm’s personalized and unique ranking system, your video can go viral whether you have 100 followers or 100,000 followers.
Practical Tips to Go Viral on TikTok
The following practical tips on how to go viral on tiktok can help you to significantly boost engagement on the app;
Choose a Specific Niche
This is an essential step in every social media marketing strategy. You do not want to just create videos randomly in the hope that your target audience will like them. You should define an objective for your social media efforts.
You want to clearly outline why you are creating videos, what you intend to achieve and the ideal people that you want to view your videos. Once you have decided on the target audience, you should embark on figuring out the types of videos that will interest them. You need to understand the types of videos that your target audience like to watch.
Although you cannot make all your videos on the same subject, you need a specific theme or niche for your content. Choose a niche that makes the audience to want to see more of your creations.
Spark Curiosity
A TikTok study found out that content intended to spark curiosity keep users watching for up to 1.4 times longer. The longer users watch your videos, the more likely the TikTok algorithm will see the videos as worth showing to other users.
60% of Gen Z TikTok users say the app helps them to discover new things. So, give the audience something to discover. Try to create content around new ideas, innovative technologies, life-changing hacks or other things that users may not typically see on the app.
Keep Up with the Latest Trends
TikTok is a trend-driven social media platform and, one of the trick to going viral on the app is by keeping up with what’s trending. That can inspire you to create similar types of content including dance challenges, audio clips, videos or topics.
Discovering what’s trending on TikTok is not difficult. The TikTok Creative Center offers a library of insights on the latest trends. You can filter the trends by region, industry and timeframe to see what users are talking about.
You can also go through tiktok to discover patterns on your For You page. Be keen to identify trends relevant to your niche and find a way to create unique content that resonates with them and your audience.
Remember TikTok trends do not usually last long, so, if you are looking to leverage them to go viral on the app, jump onto them right away.
Leverage Relevant Hashtags
Hashtags are among the key signals that the TikTok algorithm uses to rank content. Thus, using the right hashtags is critical if you want to go viral on tiktok. Although trending hashtags are useful in boosting visibility and engagement, niche hashtags relevant to your brand may get you more traction with the right audiences.
Some hashtags have the power to stay on the app much longer and, with a universal appeal. A classic example is the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt hashtag, commonly used to share products that people discover on the app.
Search for trending hashtags on the platform by simply entering a keyword in the search box. Once the list of results is loaded, tap the hashtag column to see the list of trending hashtags on the number of views received by those corresponding videos.
You can also leverage community hashtags, focused on specific topics and audiences instead of quick trends. Examples include #BookTok, #FoodTok and #SmallBusinessTikTok. Tap into the hashtags relevant to your rand to find potential fans for your business, influencers to partner with and ideas for creating viral videos.
Despite the significance of hashtags, you should use them sparingly in your posts. Try to stick to about three to five hashtags per post to guide the algorithm. Avoid generic hashtags like #FYP since they are usually very competitive.
Create High Quality Videos
Sharing high-quality videos is a must if you want to trend on TikTok. Despite the need to upload content daily, you should not sacrifice quality over quantity. That does not mean you should only use a professional camera and high-end equipment and editing software to deliver the best quality videos.
You can still make viral TikTok videos on your smartphone, provided you master the basics. Keep the camera steady and use an external microphone to record good quality sound. Tiktok offers quality editing functions but, you can also use external software.
You should also be keen on the subject of your videos to make sure that they interest and engage your audience. Besides, your videos should tell a story and provide value to your audience to boost their visibility and engagements on the app.
Use Sounds
TikTok has a very liberal policy on the music that people can use ion their videos. 88% of TikTok users say sound is an essential part of the app’s overall experience. Besides, TikTok videos that tend to go viral often include trending TikTok sounds or popular music.
There is an elaborate library of music and sound clips available to creators on TikTok. You can add popular music tracks to your videos from within the platform, during the filming or editing stages.
Engage Other Users
TikTok is a social platform that thrives on interactions, so, engage and be engaged if you want to go viral on the app. There are various ways to interact with other users on TikTok including viewing, liking and commenting on their content.
Engagement is a key signal that helps the TikTok algorithm to rank content. That means the more you interact with people, the higher chances that your videos will show up in their For You pages.
Try to always reply to comments from your followers and non-followers to show that you appreciate their input and keep the conversation going. That can be a smart move towards attracting more TikTok followers and expanding your reach.
Partner with Other Creators and Influencers
Influencer marketing is one of the most effective strategies for going viral on TikTok. Working with influencers can also help you to easily reach a wider audience with your content. Besides, influencers can enable you boost the trust and credibility of your brand.
A recent study found out up to 33% of millennial TikTok users say the app inspired them to buy products or services recommended by creators or influencers.
A good collaboration leads to a win-win situation for both parties by expanding the visibility and reach of content. However, you should find creators and influencers relevant to your brand and niche to ensure that you attract the right audience and attention.
Post Consistently
Consistency is key if you want to go viral on TikTok. The app’s algorithm considers the amount of activity (likes, comments and shares) that every video generates. That means the more often you post content, the higher your chances of going viral.
Related Read: The complete guide on the best times to post on social media
One of the secrets to success when creating a TikTok strategy is to follow a posting schedule that is predictable to your audience. The goal is to stay consistent so your brand and content can remain in the minds of your audience for longer.
Besides the posting frequency, you should also strive to publish content at the right times, when your audience is most active. Publishing videos during peak hours enables you to generate maximum engagement in terms of views, likes, comments and even shares.
Drive TikTok Engagement with Superior Social Boost
The practical tips discussed above can help you to go viral on TikTok. However, driving visibility and engagement on TikTok requires more efforts and, that is where Superior Social Boost comes in. We offer tailor-made packages to enable creators and brands increase social media presence organically. Our packages are customized to boost visibility and engagement on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube and Google Business.