TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms globally. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (Source). On the platform, follower count is an important metric that measures an account’s reach and influence. Having more followers means a wider audience for your content. This is why many TikTok creators aim to grow their follower count to boost visibility and unlock more features.
So when is a TikTok account considered to have “a lot” of followers? What determines if 1,000 followers is a high or low amount? This article will analyze the average follower count on TikTok and examine what crossing the 1,000 follower threshold means for an account.
What Determines a High Follower Count?
There are several factors that contribute to a high follower count on TikTok:
Content quality – Accounts that post high-quality, entertaining videos tend to gain more followers. Quality content keeps viewers engaged and makes them want to see more. Viral, trending content also attracts lots of new followers quickly.
Consistency – Posting consistently helps build an audience over time. Accounts that post multiple times per day or week accumulate more followers than accounts that post sporadically.
Engagement – Accounts with high engagement (likes, comments, shares) signal to the TikTok algorithm that their content resonates. TikTok then promotes highly engaging content more, helping creators gain followers faster.
According to this source, creating relatable content that allows users to feel like they can be themselves also contributes to TikTok’s popularity and ability to gain followers.
Average Follower Count
The average follower count on TikTok varies greatly depending on the type of account. According to data from Happi, accounts for brand collaborators had around 90,800 followers on average in 2021. However, this number is likely much higher than the typical TikTok user.
One 2021 survey of over 1,000 TikTok users found the average follower count to be about 530. However, the median was only 55, indicating a skewing towards accounts with very low follower counts. Only 10% of respondents had over 1,000 followers.
So while some brand collaborators and influencers on TikTok have follower counts in the tens or hundreds of thousands, the typical personal account likely has well under 1,000 followers.
How Fast Followers Accumulate
The rate at which followers accumulate can vary widely depending on the type of account. According to a recent report by Rival IQ, the median follower growth rate on TikTok is around 25-30% month over month for brands https://www.rivaliq.com/blog/tiktok-benchmark-report/. However, growth rates tend to be much higher for individual creators and influencers.
For new accounts just starting out, it’s common to see exponential growth in the beginning as you gain your first few hundred or thousand followers. But maintaining a high growth rate becomes more challenging over time. According to industry experts, established accounts with over 100k followers can expect to see follower growth rates around 5-10% per month on average https://smk.co/new-report-tiktok-organic-engagement-now-12x-instagram/.
The key factors that impact follower growth include video view counts, engagement rates, posting frequency, use of viral trends/challenges, and overall account aesthetics and branding. Optimizing these factors can help maximize follower growth over time.
Highest Follower Accounts
Some of the TikTok accounts with the most followers worldwide include celebrities, influencers, and average users who have gone viral. As of January 2023, the TikTok account with the most followers is Khaby Lame, who has over 165 million followers according to Statista [1]. Other top accounts include Charli D’Amelio with over 148 million followers, Bella Poarch with 81 million, and Addison Rae with 82 million [2].
These mega influencers usually gain large followings from creating viral dance trends, comedic content, or participating in TikTok collaborations and features. However, follower counts on the platform can grow exponentially in a short period. For example, Khaby Lame had only about 1,000 followers in early 2020 before his comedic reaction videos shot him to fame [3]. So even ordinary users have the potential to gain millions of TikTok followers overnight with just one viral hit.
Is 1000 Followers High for a New Account?
For a brand new TikTok account just starting out, gaining 1,000 followers can be considered a significant milestone. According to TikTok experts, the average user gains about 200-300 followers in their first month on the platform (Source A). So hitting 1,000 followers within the first few months means you are growing at an above average pace.
When your account is still establishing itself, every new follower represents progress. While 1,000 followers may seem small compared to top creators with millions of followers, it is a promising start for a novice TikToker. At this early stage, going from 0 to 1,000 followers demonstrates you are able to produce content that resonates with viewers.
Reaching 1,000 followers quickly as a beginner indicates you have potential to keep growing your audience. It shows you have cracked the initial challenge of getting visibility and attention as an unknown creator. But 1,000 is still just the first milestone for a new TikTok account. More work will be required to turn early followers into a thriving long-term audience.
Is 1000 Followers High for an Established Account?
For accounts that have been active for a while on TikTok, 1,000 followers is generally considered a low to moderate amount. According to research from Viral Nation, established accounts with 10,000-100,000 followers are often classified as “micro-influencers.”
So for an account that has been posting consistently for several months or more, 1,000 followers would be on the very low end of average. These established accounts often have much higher expectations for follower growth over time.
However, follower count naturally varies a lot depending on factors like niche, content quality, posting frequency, etc. For example, an established comedy account may easily gain thousands of followers quickly. But an account in a smaller niche may have a harder time getting to 1,000 even after months of effort.
Overall, most successful established accounts on TikTok expect to earn subscriber counts in the tens or hundreds of thousands over time. So while 1,000 followers is a great start, an established account with big growth goals would hope to be well above that mark within their first year on the platform.
What 1000 Followers Unlocks
Reaching 1000 followers on TikTok unlocks some new features and benefits for your account. One of the biggest perks is that you’ll gain access to TikTok’s Live broadcasting feature once you hit 1000 followers. This allows you to stream live videos to your followers in real time. Going live can help you further engage with your audience and potentially gain more followers.
In addition to live streaming, having 1000 followers makes your account eligible to join TikTok’s Creator Fund program. This program allows popular creators to earn money from their videos. Once you join, you can start earning cash from the ad revenue generated by your content. The amount you earn depends on your views, but it provides a way to monetize your audience.
Hitting 1000 followers means your account has built up some momentum and proof of concept. While still small, reaching this milestone shows you have an engaged audience and your content resonates with viewers. This social proof can make it easier to attract additional followers or potentially work with brands.
Overall, gaining 1000 TikTok followers unlocks some beneficial features like live streaming and the potential to earn money. It validates your account and opens up new opportunities for growth.
Strategies to Get 1000 Followers
There are several effective strategies content creators can use to gain 1000 followers on TikTok:
Post Consistently – Uploading new videos daily gives the TikTok algorithm more opportunities to push your content. Aim to post 1-3 times per day. Consistency is key for gaining followers.
Use Relevant Hashtags – Include a mix of popular and niche hashtags to help viewers find your videos. Target hashtags related to your niche. Find hashtags with good engagement but not millions of posts.
Interact with Other Accounts – Comment on popular videos in your niche. Like and follow other accounts with engaged audiences. This helps drive viewers to your profile.
Optimize Your Profile – Fill out your bio completely, add an eye-catching profile picture, and link other social accounts. An optimized profile looks more legitimate and helps convert profile views into followers.
Create Duets & Collabs – Partner with influencers in your niche to create collaborative content. Their followers get exposed to your account, helping you gain followers in the process.
Run Contests & Challenges – Launch TikTok contests and challenges to engage your audience. Incentivize viewers to follow you by offering prizes or rewards.
Go Live Frequently – Livestreams let viewers get to know you better. The more you stream, the more chances for viewers to discover your account and hit follow.
Cross-Promote Content – Repurpose content across platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Direct viewers to follow you on TikTok.
Conclusion
In summary, whether or not 1000 followers is considered a high amount on TikTok depends largely on the context of the account. For a brand new account, gaining 1000 followers quickly is quite impressive and shows strong organic growth and interest in the content. However, more established accounts with thousands or millions of followers would not consider crossing the 1000 followers threshold as a major milestone.
For the average TikTok user, hitting 1000 followers represents reaching a small but engaged audience that validates the content being created. At this level, some monetization options through gifts or commissions may become available. But most accounts need to reach the tens or hundreds of thousands of followers before major brand sponsorships and partnerships open up.
While 1000 followers alone does not indicate a hugely popular account, it shows good initial traction. With the right content strategy and engagement with the audience, 1000 followers can be a solid foundation for continued growth. For most TikTok users, reaching 1000 followers is an achievable goal within the first few months and represents the account finding a core viewership.
