TikTok is a popular social media platform that allows users to create and share 15-60 second videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing apps in the world. Many content creators aim to grow a large following on TikTok to increase their visibility and reach. While it’s possible to purchase followers, most prefer to grow their audience organically. The goal of this article is to provide tips on how to get more TikTok followers for free through organic growth.
Optimizing Your Profile
Optimizing your TikTok profile is an important first step to gaining followers organically. According to this source, your username, bio, and profile photo are key elements that can engage viewers and encourage them to follow you.
Choose a unique but memorable username that represents your brand or content focus. Short, catchy usernames with relevant keywords work best.
Your bio is valuable real estate – use it to briefly explain what you do and make it intriguing. Include relevant hashtags and emojis to make it stand out.
Your profile photo is the first visual impression for viewers. Use a high-quality, well-lit headshot or an image related to your niche. Smiling photos tend to perform better. A customized profile photo frame can also help your brand stand out.
Filling out your TikTok profile completely shows viewers you are serious about creating content. Include links to other social platforms in your bio to enable cross-promotion. Pin engaging videos to your profile that capture your brand.
Consistent Posting
Posting consistently on TikTok is key to gaining more followers organically. The more frequently you post engaging videos, the more chances you have of being discovered on users’ For You pages. According to WordStream, brands that post at least once per day on TikTok get an average of 17,523 views per video. Some recommendations on posting frequency include:
- Post 1-3 times per day for optimal results. This allows you to stay top of mind without overwhelming viewers.
- Aim to post at consistent times so fans know when to expect new content.
- Schedule some backup videos in advance in case you can’t create content on a given day.
- Analyze your top-performing posting times and days and focus your efforts during those windows.
The key is developing a sustainable posting cadence that works for your brand. As you grow your following, you can test posting more frequently. Staying consistent keeps your profile active and gives fans a reason to keep checking back.
Use Trending Sounds
One of the most effective ways to get free TikTok followers is to leverage trending sounds in your videos. TikTok’s algorithm favors content that utilizes popular audios and songs, boosting their discoverability across the platform (TikTok, 2022). By using trending sounds that are going viral at the moment, you increase the chances of your videos getting viewed by a large audience.
Make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest sounds blowing up on TikTok each week or month. Check out TikTok’s regularly updated playlists like “Top Trending Sounds” to find audios that are being used in millions of videos. You can also look at which music is charting on TikTok’s “Top Tracks” playlist to identify current hits. According to TikTok (2022), popular sounds in December 2022 included hits like “Unholy” by Sam Smith and “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift.
Not only should you use trending sounds, but also try to get ahead of the curve and start making videos with newly viral sounds just as they gain traction. By adopting audios early before they become oversaturated, you can maximize the initial boost they provide.
Engage With Your Niche
Interacting with other accounts in your niche is a great way to get more views and followers on TikTok. When you actively like, comment, and duet with videos from accounts similar to yours, the algorithm will start suggesting your content to users who follow those accounts. This helps you reach new viewers who are likely to be interested in your videos since they already engage with similar content.
Aim to regularly engage with at least 5-10 other accounts daily in your niche. Leave genuine, thoughtful comments and feedback on their videos to start building relationships. When you take the time to thoughtfully interact, other creators are more likely to check out your profile and content as well. You can also ask to collaborate or propose a duet with accounts that have an audience similar to the one you are trying to reach. Working together creatively is a great way to cross-promote each other’s accounts.
According to WhatzappLover.com, “This is still an excellent place to attract an audience, especially if you’re new to influencers. If you can collaborate with influencers or accounts with an existing audience, you can quickly expand your reach.”
hashtag Targeting
Hashtags are one of the most important ways to get more views and followers on TikTok. By using relevant niche hashtags, especially those with low competition, you can target users interested in your content and help your videos be discovered. Some tips for hashtag targeting include:
Research hashtags used by top creators in your niche like cooking, travel or beauty. You can get hashtag ideas by looking at their posts and descriptions. Focus on choosing niche-specific hashtags rather than only the most popular general tags.
Use TikTok’s search bar to find hashtags getting decent views and engagement, but not in the millions. These hashtags will be less competitive. You can also try hashtag generators to find relevant niche hashtags.
Include a mix of niche and more general hashtags in your captions. The specific tags will target your ideal audience, while the broader hashtags help expand your reach.
Check which hashtags are trending each week and use relevant trending hashtags moderately. But don’t use them solely, as competition will be very high.
Be consistent with certain hashtags so users who like your content can find you again easily.
By targeting niche hashtags carefully, you can increase relevant views and follows from users genuinely interested in your content.
Cross-Promote Content
One of the most effective ways to get more views and followers on TikTok for free is to cross-promote your content on other social media platforms. Sharing your TikTok videos on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can help expose your content to new audiences that may not be on TikTok yet. According to one source, “Cross promoting TikTok content on Instagram, YouTube etc., is a great way to target your customers on other platforms and expand your reach.”
When cross-promoting, be sure to customize your posts for each platform. Link back to your TikTok profile or the specific video in your post captions. Use relevant hashtags and try creating content that aligns with each platform’s style and audience. For example, short-form vertical video works very well on Instagram Stories. YouTube viewers may appreciate compilations and longer edits of your top TikTok content. Tailoring your posts for each platform will make your cross-promotion efforts more effective.
Consistently cross-promoting your TikTok videos and account this way can attract viewers from beyond TikTok. According to one video, “Cross promoting TikTok content on other social media platforms” is a great way to “expand your influence beyond Tik Tok.” Driving external traffic to your TikTok profile and videos can ultimately help you gain more free followers.
Run Contests/Challenges
One of the most effective ways to gain more TikTok followers for free is by running contests and challenges. Contests spark excitement and engagement within your target audience. You can come up with creative contest ideas like dance challenges, duet contests, giveaways, Q&As, and more. According to Wishpond, some examples of successful TikTok contests include:
Dance Contest: Challenge your audience to create dance videos using a specific sound or dance move. The best dance clip wins a prize. This is a great way to drive user-generated content.
Duet Contest: Ask people to duet with your video for a chance to win. This increases engagement on your content.
Giveaways: Offer prizes like your products, gift cards, merch, etc. for liking, following, or sharing your content. This can rapidly grow your follower count.
To run a compliant contest on TikTok, be sure to follow the platform guidelines. Promote the challenge heavily using relevant hashtags and by collaborating with influencers. Contests allow you to leverage TikTok’s interactive features for free follower growth.
Collaborate With Others
Collaborating with other creators can be an effective way to cross-promote content and gain more exposure on TikTok. Look for accounts in a similar or complementary niche that have an audience you’d like to reach. Plan collaborations that will benefit both accounts.
One collaboration strategy is to work with accounts that have an audience interested in your niche but a different content style. For example, a comedy account could collaborate with an educational account in the same field. This allows both accounts to tap into new audiences.
When reaching out, be clear on the goal of the collaboration and how it will provide value to both parties. Offer to promote their account in exchange for them promoting you. Come up with creative ideas, like swap guest appearances in each other’s videos or a split screen duet.
To maximize cross-promotion, coordinate posting schedules and make sure both accounts share the collaborative content. Tag each other in captions and encourage audiences to follow the other account. Well-planned collaborations with the right partners can significantly boost TikTok followers.
Be Patient
Growing an organic following on TikTok takes time and consistency. There are no shortcuts to going viral overnight. You need to trust the process and be patient. As you consistently create and engage with content in your niche, your followers and views will gradually increase over time. Have realistic expectations that it takes most users weeks or months to gain substantial followings. Stay motivated by tracking your growth and setting goals, but don’t get discouraged if growth is slow even when putting in effort. Persistence and regularly posting content that resonates with your target audience is key. If you stick with it, your account will gain traction. But overnight successes are rare, so focus on creating quality content and connecting with your niche rather than chasing quick fame. Trust that your account will grow at the right pace if you keep optimizing your content and engaging your followers.
