1. Learn how videos go viral on TikTok
So, first thing’s first, what does going viral mean? For your video to be considered viral on TikTok, it needs to have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. The trick is to get on the right side of TikTok’s algorithm, which is designed to show people videos they’ll want to watch.
If your content makes TikTok’s algorithm happy, it’ll be pushed to a worldwide audience through the For You Page. Sure, you’re up against millions of creators all trying to get the attention of TikTok’s billion-plus global audience. But if you really want your content to go viral and be shared far and wide, getting your video on TikTok’s For You Page is your best shot!
Videos that feature here usually tap into popular culture, meme-worthy moments, or popular songs. Just look at how the Wednesday Dance or the wiggle walk trend inspired by Aristocats appear on your feed time and time again. As you’ll see, there’s more than one way to pop up on people’s feeds. Let’s dive into some of the most effective ways to go viral on TikTok.
2. Use trending songs and sounds on TikTok
Music plays a big role on TikTok. After all, it started out as a lip-syncing app called musical.ly before growing into a global beast with the power to catapult hits to worldwide stardom. Just think, trending songs on TikTok made up 13 of the 14 Billboard Hot 100 number ones in 2022.
But how does using a popular song boost your content? Featuring a trending song or sound in your video helps TikTok group it with similar content. If people are enjoying other videos that are soundtracked with the same song, TikTok is more likely to share your clip with them too.
Take Little Girl Gone by CHINCHILLA as an example. The song has inspired trends relating to both fantasy fiction and empowering women. If you create content in a similar niche and soundtrack it with that song, you’re more likely to appear in the For You feed of people enjoying those trends. It’s an effective way of finding a new audience!
3. Discover how to find trending sounds on TikTok
Finding the freshest trending sounds on TikTok is a breeze. When you tap the “+” icon to create a new video, head to Add Sounds. Under Playlist you’ll find a selection called TikTok Viral. From here you’ll see all the top trending songs, which you can put straight into your video.
Another way to find trending sounds is keeping an ear out for songs you hear on other TikTok videos. Like what you hear? Simply tap on the title in the bottom left of the screen to add it to your favorite sounds and explore other videos using it.
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If you’re sharing your content on multiple platforms, remember you might run into copyright issues if you use popular songs. Play it safe and soundtrack your content with awesome copyright-free music from Uppbeat’s catalog.
4. Choose your hashtags wisely
Hashtags can help you unlock whole new audiences if you use them wisely. All it takes is a few well-picked hashtags to help your videos appear in people’s searches, attracting more viewers to your content.
Choosing the right hashtags is crucial. Go too broad with a well-used hashtag like #FYP and you’ll be competing with literally millions of other videos. On the other hand, if your hashtags are too niche, it’s likely no-one will be searching for them. The best strategy is to find a few particularly relevant hashtags for your video and pick the most popular ones.
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Want to see how popular a hashtag is? Simply click on it. TikTok will show you all the videos using that hashtag, as well as the total number of views the hashtag has.
Don’t shy away from mixing up niche hashtags with more general ones. As long as they’re relevant to your video, there’s every chance you’ll capture new viewers interested in your content.
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Sprinkling more hashtags in your video comments gives TikTok additional info about your content. The more TikTok understands your content, the more search results it’s likely to appear in.
5. Craft content to satisfy the TikTok algorithm
TikTok’s powerful algorithm has the potential to be your best friend as it matches billions of viewers with the videos it thinks they’ll want to watch. What makes this smart recommendation system unique is it tests each video with a sample audience. So each piece of content you upload will be shared further by TikTok and has the chance to go viral.
TikTok has shared how it recommends videos, which makes life easier as it means we know exactly what a video needs to go viral. We’ve distilled this down to the following five rules. Apply them to every video you upload to give yourself the best shot at success.
6. Start with a hook
Nobody’s going to continue watching your content if it doesn’t grab them. Capture people’s attention right from the get-go and give them a reason to keep watching. TikToker COLTY does this brilliantly with a quick intro to his challenge videos that intrigue people right from the start.
7. Keep videos punchy
You want TikTok to know people are finding your videos addictive to watch. Which means there’s no time for long drawn-out cuts and rambling monologues. Get to the point and cut out any part of your video that gives viewers a reason to scroll past it.
8. Master the edit
As well as keeping your content super punchy, you want to keep people hooked by making the most of TikTok’s editing tools. Add eye-catching effects, choose a standout soundtrack, and get creative with the edit. Use TikTok’s features to bring your video to life and keep people watching.
Take a look at yoeslan’s creepy clown clips for inspiration. He uses snappy shots and effects to keep people gripped right the way through his videos.
9. Encourage interaction
TikTok has told us user interactions play a part in deciding which videos it’ll share to a wider audience. Encourage viewers to hit the like button if they’re enjoying your video, or consider asking people to drop a comment.
By asking your audience what they’d like to see next from you, you can even get fresh ideas for your next video. For example, Australian chef Andy Cooks often asks his followers to suggest the next recipe for him to try out.
10. Aim for regular posts
The more content you post, the higher your odds of producing a viral hit. TikTok doesn’t explicitly suggest this will enhance your chances of a video’s success, but by posting regularly you’ll have more chances to hit it big.
It’s worth noting some TikTok videos don’t skyrocket immediately. On average, 55% of views come in the first week, so a decent chunk of views will come later. Which means there’s always the possibility one of your earlier videos could become a sleeper hit.
11. Take part in TikTok trends!
Jumping on a TikTok trend is one of the most effective ways to get your content shared far and wide. As a trend gains popularity, more TikTok users begin to search for it, prompting the algorithm to deliver related videos into viewers’ For You feeds.
Keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s trending can give you inspiration for new videos and introduce you to a bigger audience. But how do you find out what’s trending?
12. Find out what’s trending on TikTok
The easiest way to see what’s trending on TikTok is to visit the Discover page where you’ll find some of the top trending hashtags in the region you’re in.
But if you’re looking for something more specific to your niche, head to TikTok search and you’ll find suggestions in the You may like section. The topics with a flame emoji next to them are trending right now.
Of course, you’re also likely to start noticing trends on your For You Page. Keep your eyes open to opportunities to hop onto any trends you see!