TikTok is a popular short-form video app where users can create and share 15 to 60 second videos. The goal for most creators is to get more views on their videos to reach new audiences and grow their following. However, it can be disheartening to post a video and see it stuck at 0 views, especially when you’re just starting out on the platform.
Having 0 views means no one has watched your video yet. It can be frustrating when you put effort into creating content but don’t get any engagement. While growth takes patience and consistency, there are strategies you can implement to get those first critical views and set your TikTok account up for success.
Understand the TikTok Algorithm
The TikTok algorithm is designed to show users videos that they will find most interesting and engaging. It works by analyzing each video’s content, metadata, and viewer behavior. Some key factors that impact how widely TikTok spreads a video include:
Captions – Videos with good captions tend to get more views. Captions help inform viewers about the content and make it more searchable.
Hashtags – Relevant hashtags allow your content to be discovered by users interested in those topics. Using a mix of popular and niche hashtags can help increase views.
Sounds – TikTok recommends sounds that are trending or commonly used for certain content formats. Using popular sounds can help put your video in front of more potential viewers. (source)
Posting Consistency – The more consistently you post quality content, the more TikTok will show your videos to your followers and potential new viewers. Posting daily or a few times a week helps the algorithm recommend your profile.
Overall, the key is creating content tailored to what performs well on TikTok. Paying attention to current trends and optimizing your captions, hashtags, sounds, and posting schedule can all help maximize your views.
Optimize Your Profile
Optimizing your TikTok profile is crucial for getting discovered and building an audience on the platform. Your profile serves as the first impression for viewers, so you want it to stand out.
For your profile photo, choose a high-quality, eye-catching image that conveys your brand or content focus. According to The Leap, “Use an image or logo that will immediately tell viewers what your account is about”[1]. Avoid blurry selfies and pick something distinctive.
Craft an engaging, targeted bio highlighting what you do and your value proposition. Later recommends including “keywords and phrases related to your niche in your bio to help the right audience find you”[2]. Use all 160 characters to succinctly describe your account.
Add a link to your website or other social channels in your bio to help drive traffic. This gives viewers a way to learn more about you.
Leverage TikTok highlights to showcase your most appealing content. Pin your best, most engaging videos to show who you are and what you offer right on your profile.
An optimized profile is key for getting your content seen by those most likely to follow and engage with you on TikTok. Putting care into customizing your profile helps the right audience discover you.
Leverage Trends and Sounds
One of the best ways to get more views on TikTok is to leverage popular sounds, songs, hashtags, challenges and trends. TikTok is a platform built on viral content, so latching onto what’s already resonating with users is key.
Check out the “Trends” and “Sounds” tabs within the app to see what’s currently gaining traction. You can tap on trending sounds to see top videos using them for inspiration on how to create your own take.
Try using the most popular 3-5 hashtags that relate to your niche to increase the chances your content will be found. Avoid keyword stuffing, but do strategically include relevant viral hashtags.
Participate in trending TikTok challenges that align with your brand and put your unique spin on them. This allows you to capitalize on the existing momentum while showcasing your style.
Duetting viral videos in your niche is another way to gain more visibility, while adding your own commentary or reaction.
The key is to pay close attention to what content is resonating on TikTok right now and find creative ways to tap into that – whether it’s sounds, songs, hashtags or challenges. This will signal to the algorithm that your videos are relevant and engaging.
Improve Your Content Quality
One of the best ways to get more views on TikTok is by improving the quality of your video content. This includes things like lighting, camera quality, editing, captions, and overall visual appeal. Here are some tips:
Optimize lighting – Proper lighting can make a huge difference in video quality. Use natural lighting whenever possible, such as facing a window, or invest in some affordable ring lights or softboxes. Avoid overhead lighting or shadows on your face.[1]
Invest in good camera equipment – While you can use your smartphone, videos shot on a DSLR or mirrorless camera will look more professional. If buying new gear isn’t feasible, try using camera apps with more controls over focus and exposure.
Edit carefully – Use an editing app like InShot to trim clips, add transitions, insert trending sounds, apply filters, add text captions, and more. Editing can make a big impact![2]
Write engaging captions – Well-written captions grab attention and provide context. Use relevant hashtags, humor, questions, or cliffhangers to spark interest in your videos.
Enhance visual appeal – Apply stylistic editing techniques like jump cuts, visual effects, graphics, split screens, zooms, and more. Good visuals make content more eye-catching and memorable.[3]
Post at Optimal Times
One of the best ways to increase views on TikTok is to post your content at the optimal times when your target audience is most active on the platform. TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that quickly garner a high level of engagement, so posting when more people are likely to see and interact with your content gives your videos a better chance of being picked up by the algorithm and shown to a wider audience.
In general, late evenings tend to be a good time to post on TikTok. According to one analysis, the peak time is around 9-10 PM in your local timezone [1]. However, the best times can vary depending on your specific audience demographics. For example, younger audiences tend to be most active in the evenings while older demographics often favor the morning and midday hours. Pay attention to when your current audience is engaging and also consider when you want to reach new potential followers.
You can test out posting at different times and see which times yield the most views and engagement. Over time, you’ll get a good sense of the optimal schedule for your audience. Don’t be afraid to experiment – the TikTok algorithm rewards fresh, high-quality content no matter when it’s posted.
Cross-Promote Content
One effective way to drive more views to your TikTok videos is by cross-promoting them on other platforms. This allows you to leverage your existing audience on other social networks to promote your TikTok channel. Here are some tips for cross-promoting TikTok content:
Post snippets or teasers of your TikTok videos on Instagram. You can include a link to the full video in your Instagram bio or comments. According to an article on Ghost Retail https://www.ghostretail.com/post/the-art-of-tiktok-cross-promotion, short-form video content tends to perform very well on Instagram Reels.
Share your TikTok links on Twitter using relevant hashtags for your niche. Encourage your Twitter followers to like, comment and share the video to help increase engagement.
Repurpose TikTok content for YouTube Shorts. Record the video horizontally and add some unique commentary or perspective for the YouTube version.
Collaborate with influencers in your niche and do shoutouts to help cross-promote each other’s TikTok channels. This can help tap into new audiences organically.
Run TikTok video ads on Facebook or Instagram, targeting relevant demographics and interests for your niche. This can help get your content in front of new potential followers.
Add TikTok links in your email newsletters, website bios, and anywhere else you have an online presence. The more entry points you provide to your TikTok channel, the better.
Engage With Your Niche
Engaging with your target audience is crucial for building an organic community on TikTok. To grow your niche, it’s important to understand who they are and what content resonates with them. According to The Ultimate Guide to Organic TikTok Marketing, interacting with and responding to your audience shows that you care about them. This helps build a loyal community that will engage with your content.
When someone comments on your videos, be sure to like and reply to their comment. You can also engage with hashtags related to your niche by searching them and interacting with content and comments. Collaborating with creators in your niche is another great way to cross-promote and tap into each other’s audiences organically, as explained in How to Get More Followers on TikTok.
Make content specifically for your target audience based on their interests and what performs well. Asking questions and running polls gets your audience involved. Overall, the goal is to foster a community that feels valued, which leads to more genuine engagement and organic growth over time.
Run TikTok Ads
Running paid ads on TikTok can be an effective way to boost views and reach new audiences. TikTok offers a variety of ad formats including in-feed video ads, brand takeovers, branded lenses and effects, and TopView.
According to https://www.fiverr.com/gigs/tiktok-product-video, in-feed video ads appear in between organic TikTok videos and allow brands to showcase 15 to 60 second video content. These video ads can help increase brand awareness and views. Brand takeovers allow advertisers to exclusively showcase an ad for 24 hours and get 100% share-of-voice.
TikTok also provides robust targeting capabilities, allowing brands to target users based on demographics, interests, behaviors and more. Conversion tracking and analytics are available to measure return on ad spend. Overall, TikTok’s paid ad platform provides a way for brands to expand reach and visibility.
Be Patient and Consistent
Getting views on TikTok takes time and consistency. Don’t expect your views to explode overnight. Building an engaged audience requires regularly posting high-quality content over an extended period.
According to experts, gaining a steady amount of TikTok followers can take anywhere from 8 months to 2 years depending on your posting frequency and content strategy (source). With daily, strategic posting you may start to see significant growth after 6 months or more.
The key is persistence. Don’t get discouraged if your first, second, or even tenth video doesn’t get many views. Keep producing and posting entertaining, high-quality content consistently. Pay close attention to which videos resonate best with your audience. Iterate and improve over time as you learn more about your niche.
With regular effort, strategic optimization, and patience, your TikTok account can gradually gain the views and following you desire. But it takes time and dedication. Stay persistent and keep posting consistently to increase your chances of TikTok success.
