Let’s be honest for a moment, going viral and gaining millions of followers overnight is super rare.
But it is possible to steadily grow an engaged audience and become TikTok famous through consistency, quality content, and understanding the app’s algorithm.
Build an Engaging Profile
Your TikTok profile is the first thing potential followers will see, so you need to make a good first impression. Take time to build an engaging profile that will make people want to follow you.
Profile Photo
Choose a clear, high-quality profile photo of you that shows your personality. Good lighting and a friendly expression will help you stand out. Avoid blurry selfies or group shots where you aren’t the focus.
Profile Name
Pick a memorable but simple TikTok handle that’s easy to remember and spell. Incorporating your brand name or something related to your niche can help. Using your real name also builds authenticity with followers.
Bio
Your bio only allows 150 characters, so use them wisely. Include 1-2 sentences briefly explaining who you are and what you’ll post. Using descriptive keywords related to your niche helps people find you when searching TikTok bios.
Link Other Socials
Linking your other social media profiles like Instagram, YouTube or Twitter in your bio helps cross-promote your other accounts. It also shows followers you’re established on multiple platforms.
Post Quality Content Consistently
Posting engaging, high-quality content frequently is key to TikTok fame. Consistency shows followers you’re committed to creating great videos.
Post at Least Once Daily
Ideally, aim to post at least 1 new TikTok per day, or around 5-7 per week. The more you post, the quicker you can grow a loyal, engaged following. Just ensure your ideas and production quality don’t suffer.
Hook Viewers Right Away
You only have 1-3 seconds to grab a viewer’s attention before they scroll past your video. Use eye-catching text, effects, visuals or sounds at the very start of your video to hook viewers in so they watch the whole TikTok.
Provide Value
Ensure your videos provide value to viewers through entertainment, helpful information, or inspiration. Provide some sort of takeaway so viewers feel it was worth their time watching your content.
Find Your Niche
Position yourself as an authority in a specific niche like comedy, dance, life hacks, beauty, cooking etc. Posting content focused on one niche makes you stand out.
Use Trends and Challenges
Blending trending audios, effects, hashtags and challenges related to your niche into your content can help expose your TikToks to new audiences already searching those trends. But don’t force trends that don’t fit your brand.
Post Short Videos
Optimal TikTok lengths are between 15 seconds to 1 minute. Shorter videos have higher completion rates. Longer videos can work but include multiple hooks to retain viewer attention.
Post Consistently
Posting new content consistently shows followers you’ll always have new videos for them to enjoy rather than posting randomly. Consistency is key to building loyal followers.
Enhance Quality
Invest in equipment like ring lights, microphones and higher quality cameras as you grow to enhance production quality. Higher quality videos will retain viewers longer.
Monitor Performance
Pay attention to which videos get more engagement and shares. Make more content similar to your top performing TikToks that resonate most with your audience.
Leverage Hashtags
Using hashtags allows TikTok’s recommendation algorithm to surface your content to new viewers searching those hashtags. Using the right hashtags is key to growth.
Include Relevant Niche Hashtags
Research and include 3-5 top niche hashtags in your video’s caption so people interested in your niche can find your content. Mix major niche hashtags with some smaller ones.
Use Trending and Generic Hashtags
Blend in a few established, trending hashtags like #fyp, #viral, #tiktok etc along with some generic hashtags like #funny, #dance, #food etc. This expands your reach. But don’t overuse generic hashtags.
Create Own Hashtag
Creating your own branded hashtag allows you to collate posts from your followers. Encourage them to use your hashtag in their content for re-shares.
Research Hashtag Popularity
Type hashtags into TikTok search bar to view volume of content posted. Higher volumes indicate popular hashtags but lesser used hashtags are easier to rank for. Find a balance.
Avoid Irrelevant or Banned Hashtags
Only use hashtags closely related to your content’s topic. Avoid banned hashtags or those with inappropriate associations. Use Eigencut’s TikTok hashtag generator for inspiration.
Place Hashtags in Caption
Always put your hashtags in your caption rather than in a comment to increase hashtag visibility.
Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborating with others creators already popular in your niche can expose your content to their engaged follower base.
Guest Post on Big Accounts
Reach out politely to larger creators to inquire about creating a guest post on their account. Offer content ideas tailored to their audience. It’s mutually beneficial as you also gain new followers.
Follow Then Like and Comment
Follow other creators in your niche, actively like and post positive comments on their content. Doing so can organically lead to them checking out your profile and potentially collaborating.
Do Shoutout Challenges
Participate in shoutout challenges where creators repost others content. Use relevant shoutout hashtags like #dancechallenge, #comedychallenge, #foodchallenge etc and tag larger accounts to expand reach.
Host a Live Discussion or Q&A
Go live together with an established creator in your niche to co-host a discussion, tutorial or Q&A with their follower base tuning in.
Cross-Promote on Other Platforms
Offer to cross-promote collaborator’s TikToks from your YouTube, Instagram, Twitter etc. This incentive can entice bigger creators to collaborate and cross-promote you to their followers too.
Interact With Your Audience
Building connections with your followers fosters loyalty and engagement. Regularly interact with comments and messages.
Reply to Comments
Reply to any comments on your videos, especially in the first hour after posting. This boosts engagement which signals to the TikTok algorithm your content is engaging.
Ask Questions
Pose questions in your captions to spark discussion like “what other songs should I use in my next dance video?” This gets followers invested in your content.
Host Contests/Giveaways
Run TikTok contests and giveaways that encourage followers to like, share or comment for a chance to win prizes. Incentives for engagement can help grow your audience.
Go Live
Hosting livestreams allows real-time interaction with followers. Allow them to influence content like requesting songs for you to dance to.
Share User Generated Content
Reposting and crediting quality user generated content like followers using your branded hashtag or doing a duet with your video introduces them to your wider audience.
Respond to DMs
Check your TikTok inbox regularly and respond to direct messages from followers. Building personal connections makes followers more loyal.
Use SEO Tactics
Optimizing your TikToks for discoverability both in and outside the app can draw in new viewers.
Compelling Captions
Write SEO-optimized captions using keywords and phrases people search related to your niche. This helps surface your content in TikTok search.
Link Website/YouTube
Linking your website, online store or YouTube in your TikTok bio makes it easy for viewers to discover your other platforms and content.
Tag Related Accounts
Tagging other popular accounts and creators in your niche when relevant in captions helps expose your TikToks to their audiences.
Post Natively
Post videos directly through TikTok rather than cross-posting from other apps. This enhances visibility in TikTok’s recommendation feeds.
Share to Other Platforms
Additionally sharing your TikTok videos on other platforms like Twitter, Instagram or YouTube helps reach new audiences and drive traffic back to your TikTok profile.
Use Multi-Platform Hashtags
Occasionally incorporating widely used cross-platform hashtags like #youtube, #instagram, #viral etc in your captions can help surface your content outside of TikTok.
Promote Your Account
Promoting your TikTok profile outside of the app can bring in new followers.
Pin Top Video on Other Social Media
Pinning your best performing TikTok or most compelling video as a pinned post on social media like Twitter exposes it to your wider social following.
Link TikTok on Websites/Emails
Include your TikTok handle on your website, landing pages, email signatures, or any other external communication channels.
Run TikTok Ad Campaigns
After establishing yourself, consider running small paid TikTok advertising campaigns targeting potential new followers by interests like cooking, cars, fashion etc.
Leverage Other Channels
Promote your TikTok from your YouTube, Instagram etc through tactics like linking in bios, posting TikTok video clips natively, collaborations etc.
Guest Post on Niche Sites
Reaching out to blogs, magazines or websites popular in your niche to contribute guest articles presents the opportunity to promote your TikTok profile.
Distribute Stickers at Events
Having stickers or promotional cards with your TikTok handle on them to give out at in-person events like conferences or trade shows spreads brand awareness.
Network Locally
Attending local meetups related to your niche and networking with other creators, influencers and brands provides opportunities to cross-promote TikTok profiles.
Analyze Your Performance
Monitoring analytics helps identify what content resonates to inform future content strategy.
Review with TikTok Analytics
Use TikTok’s Creator Tools analytics to track key metrics like follower growth, engagement, traffic sources, top videos etc. Review weekly.
See Which Videos Gain Traction
Pay attention to which specific videos gain more views, likes, comments, shares or follows. Replicate the elements driving that strong performance in future videos.
Check Audience Retention
Check how much of your video viewers are watching before dropping off by tapping the graph icon on a TikTok video. Aim for at least a 60% retention rate.
When Followers Are Online
TikTok analytics shows when your followers are most active. Post videos when the majority of your audience is online to maximize views.
Compare Against Goals
Set clear goals for growth metrics like followers, views or engagement. Compare weekly performance to those goals to track progress over time.
Develop Original Content
While trends can help growth, developing original content showcases your creativity and personality.
Film Skits
Script and film short, funny skits or sketch comedy tailored to your brand of humor. This content provides more value than simply recreating dances or lip-syncing to trending songs.
Share Day in the Life Vlogs
Post “day in the life” style vlogs documenting interesting aspects of your daily routine followers can relate to like your morning or workout routine.
Teach Tutorials
Create and post tutorials teaching a skill related to your niche like cooking techniques, auto maintenance, makeup application etc. Informative how-to content builds authority.
Share Your Storytelling
Tell a captivating story from your life in 60 seconds using creative visuals. Short illustrations of your backstory make you more relatable.
Host Your Own Challenge
Launch a branded hashtag challenge inviting followers to create their own videos doing something you started like a dance or comedy act. Feature submissions.
Show Behind-the-Scenes
Give followers insider access to your life away from polished content by bringing them behind the scenes like prep for a trip or project.
Maintain Consistency
Viral fame doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency posting quality content aimed at a specific niche over months and years is key.
Commit to a Content Schedule
Maintaining consistent posting means creating a schedule detailing what days and times you’ll post then sticking to it.Schedules preserve momentum.
Plan Content in Advance
Give yourself a bank of video ideas mapped out weeks in advance to ensure you’re never scrambling for last-minute ideas. Plan formats, themes, outlines.
Invest Time Daily
Make a little time daily, even if just 15-30 minutes, to work specifically on creating content, networking with other creators and engaging your audience.
Stick to Your Niche
While testing different content styles, stay focused on your main niche and target audience. Sporadically changing niche focus will scatter your audience.
Take Breaks Strategically
Occasional breaks from daily posting are understandable but avoid disappearing for long periods which causes followers to disengage.
Set Reminders
Use TikTok creator tools that let you schedule video drafts and set reminders for when to post them live based on your content calendar.
Promote Positivity
While not required, projecting positivity and good values in your content fosters an uplifting environment for your community.
Spread Joy
Focus on bringing positivity to others’ lives through your content instead of putting others down. Share your purpose.
Highlight Good People/Causes
Call attention to inspirational people or noble causes making a positive difference that your audience can support.
Disable Negative Comments
Use TikTok’s settings to filter out hurtful comments from trolls. Don’t feed or draw added attention to negativity.
Address Controversy Calmly
If your content unintentionally causes controversy or offense, politely address concerns in a follow up video with a learning mindset. Rebuild goodwill.
Collaborate with Uplifting Creators
Seek out collaborations with other creators promoting positivity so your communities can unite and reinforce good values.
Persist Through Challenges
Patience and relentlessly through any obstacles separates those who achieve TikTok fame from those who give up too soon.
Commit Fully
Give your TikTok dreams your all for at least one year before assessing if you can realistically attain your goals. Avoid half efforts.
Learn from Early Videos
Expect first videos to underperform as you learn. Let early mistakes inform how to improve instead of getting discouraged.
Acquire Skills
If lacking skills in areas like on-camera presence, editing, lighting etc, invest time into learning through online tutorials and courses.
Refine Over Time
Let your on-screen persona, content style, editing abilities and overall quality gradually refine through daily consistency and experimentation.
Receive Feedback
Consider critiques from objective trusted sources to identify areas for improvement. Filter useful feedback from needless criticism.
Persist Through Plateaus
Periods of stagnant growth are normal. Push through plateaus by trying new strategies, collaborating and refining techniques.
Conclusion
Gaining TikTok fame takes immense creativity, persistence and understanding the app’s unique algorithm. But creators who strategically build their profile, post quality content daily, engage their audience, promote their brand, and analyze their performance can gradually cultivate a highly engaged following and become TikTok famous. Stick to your niche, project positivity, collaborate with others and never give up.
