TikTok is a popular short-form video app with over 1 billion monthly active users that allows users to create, edit, and share 15 to 60 second videos (https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-go-viral-on-tiktok/). It has become one of the main platforms for viral videos.
A viral video on TikTok is one that spreads rapidly and gets an extraordinarily high number of views, shares, and engagement. According to https://www.learningrevolution.net/how-many-views-is-viral/, a viral TikTok video gets at least 2-3 million views per week. The goal is to create an engaging video that captures attention and gets widely shared by the TikTok community.
Understand the TikTok Algorithm
The TikTok algorithm determines which videos are promoted in the “For You” page (FYP), which is the main feed that users see when they open the app. The FYP is tailored to each user based on the videos they like, share, comment on and other engagement behaviors.
According to TikTok, the main factors that help a video get promoted include:
- User interactions – Videos that get more likes, comments, shares and overall engagement are more likely to go viral.
- Video information – Details like captions, sounds and hashtags. Using trending sounds and hashtags can help a video get viewed more.
- Device and account settings – The algorithm personalizes the FYP based on language, device, and account privacy settings.
- Video performance – Videos that maintain high view duration, completion rates and overall engagement metrics will get recommended more by the algorithm.
In summary, creating content that resonates with your audience and keeps viewers interested is key. Engaging with trending content also signals the algorithm to promote your videos more on the FYP page. According to the TikTok algorithm guide, “relevance is at the heart of the recommendation system.”
Sources:
The TikTok Algorithm Explained + Tips to Go Viral
How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work?
Find trending sounds and hashtags
Using trending sounds on TikTok can help increase the potential reach of your video. Popular sounds get used in millions of videos, so latching onto viral sounds gives you access to that built-in audience. As noted by Clarke Hot Rods, “Instagram and TikTok trending sounds offer plenty of scope for creativity.”
It’s also important to leverage popular hashtags to help with discovery. Including relevant trending hashtags makes it more likely people will find your video when browsing those tags. As Clarke Hot Rods points out, “Popular hashtags are a great place to start on TikTok.” Do your research to find the top trending hashtags and work them into your video’s caption.
By using viral sounds and hashtags, you can significantly increase the chances of your TikTok video getting seen by more viewers.
Film an engaging video
Filming an interesting and engaging video is key to going viral on TikTok. Here are some tips for lighting, framing, camera work and ideas for compelling video concepts:
For lighting, aim for soft, natural lighting if filming indoors. Position yourself facing a window or use a ring light. Avoid harsh overhead lighting. If filming outside during the day, avoid direct overhead sunlight which can cause harsh shadows.
When framing shots, follow the rule of thirds – position yourself or the main subject slightly off center. Get creative with camera angles – low angle shots from the ground or high angle shots can make your video stand out. Play with perspective by getting close up to objects or using zoom.
Keep the camera work smooth – use a tripod or steadycam rig if needed. If filming handheld, hold the camera close to your body for stability. Avoid shaky footage. Add interest by switching between landscape and portrait framing.
Choose a compelling video concept like participating in a trending TikTok challenge, trying a viral recipe or hack, showing behind-the-scenes footage of your job or hobby, reacting to a pop culture moment, or telling a funny personal story.
According to industry experts, the most engaging TikTok videos have high energy, quick transitions, interesting visuals, and some kind of twist or surprise that hooks viewers in.
Optimize video editing
Effective video editing is key to creating a high-quality and engaging TikTok video. When editing your TikTok videos, focus on using smooth transitions, stylish text effects, trimming clips for pacing, and subtle video effects that enhance the overall look and feel. Here are some best practices for optimizing your video editing:
Use quick but stylish transitions like wipe or glitch transitions between clips to keep the pace fast and energetic. Go easy on transitions though – usually 1-2 quick transitions for a 15-60 second video is sufficient. Too many transitions can be distracting. Check out TikTok’s built-in editing effects for transition options.
Highlight key words or phrases with fun text effects and animations. You can use TikTok’s built-in text tools to add bold, stylized text overlays. Animating the text to pop up in beat with the music helps reinforce important messaging. Just don’t overdo text – usually 1-2 text effects in a short video is plenty.
Trim longer clips into shorter segments to align with trends, music beats, punchlines etc. TikTok videos tend to use very short 1-5 second clips between quick edits. Trimming down longer clips helps maintain a quick pace. Use TikTok’s editing tools to split and trim clips as needed.
Subtly enhance the look of your video with effects like color saturation, sharpening, or adding light lens flares. Just don’t overdo it – the effects should enhance the visuals, not draw distracting attention. Check out TikTok’s video effect options to elevate your visual style.
For more video editing tips tailored for TikTok, check out these helpful guides: SocialBu’s TikTok Video Editing Tips, Skillshare’s Guide to Editing TikTok Videos, and AInfluencer’s TikTok Video Editing Guide.
Write effective captions
Using relevant keywords and hashtags in your captions can help get your video seen by more people. Research trending hashtags like #fyp and include them in your caption. You can also include keywords that are relevant to the content of your video. For example, if your video shows a dance routine, consider using hashtags like #dance or #dancing. According to TikTok’s tips, captions with hashtags get more views.
Including interesting or funny captions can help your video stand out and engage viewers. Clever wordplay, witty jokes, or captivating questions pique interest. One tip is asking viewers a question about the video to spark discussion in the comments. Quirky and personalized captions with your own flair or humor help showcase your style. Just make sure captions complement the tone of your video.
As this article suggests, “The caption on your TikTok videos can easily make or break the success you see.” Carefully crafted captions optimized with relevant keywords and an engaging style can help boost your views and shares.
Post at optimal times
Posting at the right time is crucial for reaching TikTok’s core demographics when they are most active on the platform and avoiding oversaturated periods. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, Mondays at 12 PM and 4 PM are optimal times to post for maximum viewership in the USA. Other top times include Tuesdays at 4 AM, 8 AM, and 10 AM. Social Pilot’s 2024 data also shows high engagement on Tuesdays at 7 AM, 8 AM, and 11 PM. It’s best to avoid early mornings on weekends when fewer users are awake and scrolling. Late nights like 9 PM on Tuesdays tend to perform well because teens and young adults are winding down and checking TikTok before bed.
In addition to times, pay attention to trends and when viral sounds or hashtags are peaking as opportunities for higher visibility. While analytics and timing are important, compelling content that genuinely resonates with TikTok’s young audience is still the biggest key to earning views.
Promote your video
Once your video is live on TikTok, it’s time to start promoting it to drive more views, likes, comments, and shares. This increases your chances of going viral. Here are a couple effective promotion tactics:
Share your video on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Cross-promoting your content expands your reach to new audiences that may not be on TikTok. Just make sure to adhere to each platform’s resharing policies. According to TikTok’s guide, this strategy can help videos gain more views.
Ask friends and family to like, comment, duet, or stitch your video. Encourage them to @mention others who may be interested. The more authentic engagement you get early on, the more TikTok’s algorithm will be likely to push your content out to a wider audience. As TikTok explains, “Greater engagement on your video during the first hour means more people will see it.”
Analyze performance
Once you post your video, it’s crucial to track its performance in the TikTok analytics section. This allows you to see key metrics like views, shares, comments and new followers gained. As the TikTok Creator Portal explains, you can access analytics by tapping the three dots on your profile and selecting “Creator Tools”, then “Analytics”.
Analytics provide insight into what content resonates with your audience. As stated in an article by Hootsuite, “TikTok analytics tools allow you to track your performance and see which videos are getting the most engagement.”
Pay attention to metrics like your most watched videos, top followers and their locations, peak posting times, etc. Use these insights to refine your content strategy and create more viral-worthy videos.
Experiment and optimize
Once you’ve posted your video, it’s important to continue experimenting and optimizing your content to improve performance. Here are some tips:
Try posting videos using new trends, sounds, captions, etc. TikTok’s algorithm rewards fresh content, so don’t get stuck posting the same type of video repeatedly. Look at which types of videos are currently popular and try to put your own spin on them.
Pay attention to what works best for your audience. Look at your views, comments, shares, etc. and see which videos perform the best. Then try to understand why and replicate it. For example, if a certain sound led to more engagement, try using it again or finding similar trending sounds.
Iterate and improve over time as you learn more about your audience. Don’t get discouraged if a video flops. Take it as a learning opportunity to tweak your strategy. Over time, you’ll get better at understanding the TikTok algorithm and what resonates most with your followers.
Consider running A/B tests, like trying different captions or hashtags and seeing which one performs better. This can provide valuable insight into what works.
Analyze your best performing videos and identify what about them caused them to succeed. Then incorporate those winning elements into your future content.
Stay on top of TikTok’s frequent algorithm changes and adapt accordingly. What worked last month may not work now, so be nimble and keep educating yourself.
