Going viral on TikTok means having a video or other piece of content gain sudden, widespread popularity on the platform. Virality typically refers to content that spreads rapidly and reaches an exceptionally large audience through shares and engagement. The main goal is usually to gain a massive amount of views, likes, comments, and new followers in a short time. This allows creators to quickly grow their audience and make an impact.
There are several tips and strategies that can help increase the chances of going viral on TikTok. Key factors include understanding how TikTok’s algorithm works, optimizing hashtags and captions, leveraging trends and challenges, collaborating with influencers, promoting content outside of TikTok, and more. With the right combination of preparation, optimization, timing, and luck, creators can create viral sensations that take off across TikTok and beyond.
This article will provide an in-depth look at the most effective ways to increase virality potential and achieve widespread reach on TikTok in 2022.
Understand the TikTok Algorithm
The key to going viral on TikTok is understanding how the platform’s algorithm works. According to research from Buffer, the TikTok algorithm takes various factors into account, especially user engagement. The more likes, shares, comments and overall watchtime a video gets, the more the algorithm will promote it to a wider audience.
As explained in a blog post by Neil Patel, the algorithm observes every user interaction to determine which content to surface. So videos that get engagement quickly are assumed to be interesting and shown to more users right away. The algorithm is always learning based on the latest interactions.
Other aspects that may help a video’s virality include trends, sounds, hashtags, captions, and user interests. According to Hootsuite, videos that utilize elements aligned with what is currently popular tend to get a boost. The algorithm detects trends and recommends content accordingly.
It’s also important to note that watchtime factors heavily into the ranking algorithm per Hootsuite’s research. If viewers watch a video all the way through, it signals high quality, engaging content.
Optimize Hashtags
Using the right mix of popular and niche hashtags is crucial for going viral on TikTok. Some of the most popular hashtags like #fyp, #foryoupage, and #viral get billions of views but are very competitive. Combining broader hashtags with niche ones related to your content makes it more discoverable. According to Fanbytes, hashtags like #comedy, #funnyvideos, and #duet can help funny videos spread. Include hashtags for the specific content type, like #baking or #dance. You can research topic-specific hashtags and find less competitive long-tail versions. Stay on top of trends and leverage timely hashtags. But don’t just cram in hashtags – carefully choose the most relevant ones to optimize discovery.
Leverage Trends
One of the best ways to go viral on TikTok is to leverage current trends and hop on trending sounds, dances, memes, and challenges early. TikTok’s algorithm favors content that utilizes popular trends, so creating videos using trending audios, effects, hashtags, etc. gives your content a higher chance of being featured and recommended by TikTok. Some of the most viral TikTok sounds and dances started off as niche trends before exploding in popularity. According to Later, joining a new trend when it’s just starting to take off can help propel your content. Regularly checking trending and discover pages on TikTok can help you identify rising trends and give your videos a better shot at going viral.
Create Shareable Content
One of the most effective ways to go viral on TikTok is by creating highly shareable content that captures viewers’ attention and inspires them to engage with your videos. According to Top eight most popular contents on Tik Tok, some elements that make content more shareable on TikTok include humor, surprises, drama, usefulness, and creativity. Funny videos consistently perform well, so try incorporating humor if it fits with your brand. You can also surprise viewers in some way, like with an unexpected plot twist, special effects, or unusual combinations. Useful how-to tutorials and life hacks frequently get shared as they provide value to viewers. Finally, showcase your creativity with unique concepts, editing techniques, transitions or effects.
Aim to elicit strong reactions from your audience, whether that’s making them laugh out loud, gasp in shock, or be amazed at a clever trick. The more you can get people to connect emotionally with your content, the more compelled they’ll be to like, comment and share your videos with others. Tailor the format and style to align with current trends and your target audience’s interests. With creative, engaging, share-worthy content, you’ll be on your way to going viral.
Post at Optimal Times
Research shows that the best times to post on TikTok are when the key demographics are most active on the app. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the peak times for US TikTok users are early mornings, afternoons, and evenings on most days:
- Mondays: 12 PM, 4 PM
- Tuesdays: 4 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, 3 PM
- Wednesdays: 1 PM, 2 PM
- Thursdays: 5 AM, 3 PM, 6 PM
- Fridays: 9 AM, 10 AM
- Saturdays: 11 AM, 7 PM
- Sundays: 4 PM, 7 PM
So if your target demographic is American teens and young adults, aim to post your content during these high-traffic times for the best chance of going viral.
You can also use TikTok’s analytics to determine when your own followers are most active and tailor your posting schedule accordingly. Pay attention to when you receive the most views, comments, and engagement. Then concentrate your posting efforts around those peak hours.
Collaborate with Influencers
Getting reposted by influencers with large followings is one of the most effective ways to go viral on TikTok. Brand collaborations allow creators to tap into an existing audience and expose your content to millions of new viewers.
Some of the most successful TikTok influencer campaigns have come from partnerships with mega-influencers like Charli D’Amelio and Khaby Lame. For example, brands like Takis and Hugo Boss saw huge engagement bumps when partnering with these top creators.
But you don’t need the biggest influencers to find success. Micro and mid-tier influencers can deliver great results too. For instance, Bella Poarch’s lip-sync video for eos cosmetics has over 54 million views. The key is finding creators that genuinely connect with your brand.
Before reaching out to influencers, make sure you have a clear goal in mind, like views, traffic, or sales. And give them creative freedom to showcase your product or service authentically. The most effective collaborations happen organically when both sides bring real value to the partnership.
Run Contests and Challenges
One of the most effective ways to go viral on TikTok is by running contests and hashtag challenges that encourage user-generated content. Contests drive engagement by incentivizing users to participate for a chance to win prizes. Hashtag challenges unite the community around a common theme and help spread your content.
According to Wishpond, dance challenges are hugely popular on TikTok. You can hold a contest asking users to create dance videos set to your music or inspired by your brand. The prize could be a cash reward, free products, or a shoutout from your account. Wishpond suggests using a tool like their contest app to easily collect and judge entries.
Creatorkit recommends challenges that encourage TikTokers to showcase their talents, like celebrity lookalike videos, flip the camera transitions, or remixing your audio into a song. The key is picking a challenge relatable to your audience that also displays creativity.
According to Engagebay, some of the most viral hashtag challenges on TikTok include #Don’tRushChallenge and #ChaChaSlideChallenge, where users danced to popular music. Launch your own dance challenge with a catchy hashtag and incentivize entries by reposting the best videos.
Advertise Outside TikTok
Cross-promoting your TikTok videos on other social media platforms can be an effective way to reach new audiences and drive more views. According to The Art of TikTok Cross-Promotion: How Brands and Creators Can Work Together, repurposing TikTok content by editing and exporting it in different formats makes it easy to share across platforms.
Some ways to advertise TikTok videos outside of the app include:
- Posting short clips or screenshots on Instagram Reels and Stories
- Embedding videos in tweets on Twitter
- Sharing directly to Facebook feeds
- Including edited versions in YouTube videos
The key is to adapt the content for each platform while retaining the core message. Tailor the caption and editing style to match the platform’s aesthetic. This expands the potential reach while retaining your brand voice. According to How to Promote TikTok Videos for Free 10 Tips, cross-promoting to multiple networks is an underutilized but highly effective TikTok promotion strategy.
Conclusion
Going viral on TikTok takes a combination of strategy, creativity, and a bit of luck. By understanding the algorithm, optimizing hashtags, leveraging trends, creating highly shareable content, collaborating with influencers, running contests, and advertising outside of TikTok, you can increase your chances of having a video go viral. However, virality often comes down to timing and hitting the right nerve at the right moment. The most important thing is to consistently create high-quality, engaging content tailored for the TikTok audience. Stay focused on your niche, actively engage with your community, and don’t get discouraged if a video doesn’t immediately go viral. Persistence and constantly fine-tuning your approach is the key to TikTok success.
In summary, optimize your content for the TikTok platform, make use of features like duets and stitches, promote your videos outside of TikTok, and keep creating new content. With time and consistency, you can build an audience and increase your chances of having that one special video that breaks out and goes viral.
