Getting views is critical when you’re first starting out on TikTok. Views indicate that people are seeing your videos, and more views will help increase your overall exposure and reach. For a new TikTok account, the main goal is to get those important initial views to build momentum and start growing a following. With some smart strategies, you can get more eyes on your content even if you’re just starting out.
Optimize Your Profile
The first step to getting views on a new TikTok account is optimizing your profile. According to an article on The Leap, you’ll want to “Choose the right profile picture, Ensure your username reflects what you do, Optimize the text in your TikTok bio, [and] Optimize the link in your bio” (https://www.theleap.co/blog/tiktok-bio/). Your profile is the first thing people see when they come across your account, so making a good impression here is crucial.
Set an appealing profile photo that shows your face clearly and represents your brand or content. Pick a unique username that’s short, memorable, and gives viewers an idea of what to expect from your videos. Craft an engaging bio that briefly explains what you do and encourages people to follow along. And link to your other social media or website so fans can connect with you further.
According to a Microsoft article, you’ll also want to “Set up your business TikTok account based on your brand goals” and “Write your bio to be about your ideal follower, not you” (https://create.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/articles/how-to-optimize-business-tiktok/). Tailor your profile to your target audience and brand mission so the right people will be drawn to hit that follow button.
Use Relevant Hashtags
Finding and using relevant hashtags is crucial for getting more views on TikTok. Research which hashtags are popular and trending in your niche by checking out the “Discover” page and exploring hashtags used by top creators in your field. Some of the most popular hashtags on TikTok include #fyp, #foryoupage, and #viral (Socialpilot, 2023).
Make sure to use a mix of popular tags like #fyp and #viral along with more specific hashtags related to your content. For example, if you make cooking videos, relevant tags could include #Recipes, #WhatsCooking, #Foodie, etc. Using a combination of generic and niche tags makes it more likely your videos will be discovered by both the general TikTok audience and users specifically looking for your type of content.
According to TikTok experts, using between 5-10 total hashtags per video is optimal (HootSuite, 2023). Just make sure tags are relevant to each specific video. Researching the right hashtags takes some work, but it’s one of the most effective ways to get your videos in front of viewers who are likely to be interested in your account.
Post Consistently
Posting consistently is crucial when trying to gain views and build an audience on TikTok. Experts recommend posting 1-2 videos per day when starting out. This allows you to remain active in the eyes of the TikTok algorithm and consistently put content in front of new viewers.
TikTok’s algorithm favors accounts that post regularly. You’ll want to establish a consistent posting schedule so followers know when to expect new content. Get in the habit of creating and posting 1-2 quality videos daily. This increased output exposes your content to more users organically.
When just starting out, focus less on posting at peak times and more on developing a consistent presence. As your account and following grow over time, you can optimize your posting schedule. But in the beginning, sheer output and consistency is key. Post daily, engage your followers, and provide value through your videos.
According to creators on Reddit, those who post high-quality content every 3-5 days tend to see their accounts grow exponentially faster than those posting sporadically or inconsistently. Develop creative ideas and take the time to produce engaging videos, but aim to post 1-2 of them daily.
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiktokhelp/comments/11xoe6e/how_often_should_you_be_posting_in_2023/
Engage With Your Audience
One of the best ways to get more views and grow your audience on TikTok is to actively engage with other users. According to a study by TikTok, engagement creates a more enjoyable experience and enables users to be more receptive to content (source). When you take the time to like, comment on, and respond to others’ videos, it shows you care about the TikTok community.
Aim to engage genuinely – watch full videos, leave thoughtful compliments or ask questions, and respond when others comment on your content. This type of two-way engagement helps build relationships and loyalty with both creators and viewers. Users will be more inclined to check out your profile and content if you’ve previously engaged with their posts. Over time, by consistently engaging with your target audience, you can organically grow your following and views.
It’s important to strike the right balance – you want your engagement to feel natural and not spammy. Focus on connecting with users who create content related to your niche. The goal is to build real relationships and foster community, which will pay off with increased visibility and engagement over the long-term.
Collaborate With Others
Collaborating with other popular creators is a great way to reach new audiences and get more views on TikTok. Doing shoutouts, challenges, and duets with creators who have an engaged following can introduce your content to their existing fanbase. According to TikTok, brand collaborations with creators drive strong results in views and engagement (source).
When reaching out to collaborate, make sure to find creators whose content and audience aligns closely with yours. Look at their previous collaborations to get a sense of formats that work well for them. Propose creative ideas that will showcase both of your brands. Compensate them fairly for their time and effort. Some popular formats are dance or comedy challenges, reacting to each other’s content, and co-creating a new video.
Dueting especially can expand your reach, as it shares the content with both creators’ followers. Lululemon saw great success collabing with micro-influencer Issa Okamoto on a branded dance challenge duet (source). Think outside the box and tailor your collabs to creators’ talents to gain more TikTok views.
Analyze Your Performance
One of the best ways to get more views on TikTok is to analyze your performance using TikTok’s built-in analytics. You can access your TikTok analytics by tapping on the profile icon in the bottom right corner, then tapping on the three lines in the top right corner, and selecting “Analytics.”
The analytics provide detailed insight into your followers, likes, comments, shares, top videos, traffic sources, and more. According to TikTok’s Creator Portal, checking your analytics regularly is key to understanding what content resonates with your audience and optimizing your efforts accordingly (Source: https://www.tiktok.com/creators/creator-portal/en-us/tiktok-content-strategy/understanding-your-analytics/).
You can use the metrics to determine your best performing videos and types of content. Pay attention to peak viewing times, top traffic sources, and audience demographics. Use this data to refine your content strategy and target audience. Optimizing based on analytics is crucial for getting more high-quality views over time.
Create Captivating Content
One of the most important things you can do to get more views on TikTok is to create high-quality, creative videos that captures people’s attention and keeps them watching. Here are some tips for making captivating content on TikTok:
Focus on short, entertaining videos. Stick to videos under 60 seconds that instantly grab attention. Use eye-catching visuals, humor, challenges, or other tactics to keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
Leverage trending sounds and effects. Browse what’s currently popular on TikTok and make videos using trending sounds, effects, hashtags, and concepts. This increases the chances of your video getting discovered.
Show off a talent or skill. Whether it’s dancing, comedy, art, or anything unique, showcase your talents through entertaining videos. This gives viewers a reason to follow you for more.
Tell a captivating story. You can make intriguing POV, storytime, or educational videos that keep viewers hooked as the story unfolds. Change up scenes, settings, and shots to maintain interest.
Participate in viral challenges. Challenges like the “Wipe It Down” and “Flip the Switch” give you a premade concept that’s already gaining traction. Put your own spin on trending challenges.
Stand out with editing. While TikTok has built-in editing tools, using a third-party editing app helps take your videos to the next level with transitions, text, filters and more captivating effects.
Post consistently and cater to your niche. Figure out your niche, whether it’s cooking, dancing, comedy, etc, and post content regularly that appeals to that audience. Consistency and high quality content focused on a niche is key for gaining loyal followers.
Promote Your Account
One effective way to get views on your new TikTok account is to promote your videos on other social media platforms where you already have an established audience. You can easily share TikTok videos on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. This strategy leverages your existing followers on those platforms to drive traffic back to your new TikTok account.
When sharing your TikTok videos on other platforms, make sure to include a strong call-to-action encouraging people to check out your TikTok profile and follow you. You can customize the caption to say something like “Check out my new TikTok account for more videos like this!” and include a direct link to your TikTok profile.
Cross-promoting your content generates visibility and momentum for your new account. According to TikTok’s own guidance, “Sharing your TikTok videos across other social media platforms is a great way to reach new audiences.” (https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/how-to-promote-your-tiktok-videos)
Leveraging your existing social media followers provides an initial boost to get your TikTok profile started. Make sure to consistently promote new videos to continue driving traffic to your account from other platforms as you build up your TikTok following.
Conclusion
Summary and final tips: In summary, gaining views on a fresh TikTok account requires consistency, creativity, engagement, collaborations, analysis, promotion, captivating content, and optimizing your profile. Start by ensuring your profile is complete and using relevant hashtags. Then focus on posting quality content frequently, interacting with your audience through likes, comments and duets, and collaborating with other creators. Continuously analyze your performance to see what’s working. Utilize other platforms to promote your account while aiming to create fun, useful, unique content that grabs attention. It takes time and effort to build a following, so stay committed to posting daily if possible. Persist through low view counts in the beginning as your audience grows. With the right strategy tailored to your niche, your TikTok views could steadily increase over time.