stuck on how to go viral on tiktok?
making it happen may be easier than you think.
because recent data highlights that there is a lot of potential for brands to explode on tiktok.
think about it. 1 billion weekly active users watching 20+ hours of tiktok on average. there is a lot of attention for everyone.
TikTok’s die-hard audience presents an excellent opportunity for your videos to stand out.
in this post, we’ll break down the basics of how to get views on tiktok, how to explode on tiktok, and reach “viral” status.
7 practical tips to make your tiktok go viral
Let’s face it: you can’t use brute force to get millions of views.
remember that viral marketing only works when it is organic, authentic and totally unexpected.
so if you search for “hacks” or “hacks” you might be disappointed.
A lot of how to make your video go viral on tiktok is about being in the right place at the right time. you are still at the mercy of the tiktok algorithm.
context is also important when it comes to how “viral” looks to you.
Maybe going viral means getting 10 or 20 times your normal commitment. maybe it means passing a certain audience threshold based on the size of your audience (think: 100,000+ or 500,000+).
Now we’re talking! With realistic expectations in mind, below are seven tips for going viral on tiktok.
1. create videos with viral formats
consider that some video formats on tiktok are more likely to take off than others. For starters, the following should be critical to your content strategy.
“did you know that?” videos
food for thought: 49% of content discovery on tiktok is driven by the desire to “learn something new”.
This speaks to the popularity of edutainment-style content on the platform. Below is a fantastic example of Rei featuring commonly mispronounced products sold by the brand. Light-hearted humor that teaches viewers something is the perfect match for the views.
instructional videos
speaking of teaching, how-tos and tutorials dominate tiktok for a reason. this is especially true among #beautytok.
here is a minimalist example of lashify. this video got over 8 million views, as long as going viral on tiktok doesn’t require a lot of production value.
“look what happens” videos
given the scroll-heavy nature of tiktok, anything you can do to keep viewers glued to your content is a plus.
That’s why content that shows progress or a “before and after” is so popular. people can’t help but want to know what the final product looks like, and they’ll stick around until the end of your video to find out.
For example, consider how time-lapses in recipes are all the rage. here is an example from nespresso that got over 5 million views.
This home decor showing the transformation of thrift store finds is another great example, garnering over 3.4 million likes. no editing tricks required!
what do these videos have in common? they include built-in hooks to keep people watching all the way.
2. when in doubt, keep your videos on the shorter side (<15 seconds)
hey, speaking of watching to the end!
conventional wisdom says that short videos are ideal for going viral on tiktok. anecdotally, the most popular videos on the platform rarely come close to the minute or even the 30 second mark.
In addition, we know that the tiktok algorithm rewards videos with higher completion rates. shorter videos tend to look complete, especially if they have a hook like we mentioned above.
However, shorter videos are not the only and latest in viral content. you should experiment for yourself to find out what video length tends to work best for your target audience. luckily, your tiktok analytics can give you a clue.
3. include real people in your content
according to tiktok, creators are increasing engagement on organic and paid content. this speaks to the popularity of creator and influencer partnerships with brands on tiktok.
It’s no coincidence that most of the brand’s viral videos are linked to the creators’ accounts, not the brands themselves. check out @makeupbytammi’s viral video for rimmel london which garnered over 18 million views.
authentic and familiar content from the creator instantly defuses any sense of sales pitch for brands.
He also considers that creators have a strong pulse on what tiktokers want to see. Their insights can help brands tap into trends and types of content targeting their communities.
4. take advantage of popular videos and tiktok trends
food for thought: 97% of video views on tiktok come from the “for you” page. there’s no better place to spot trends and find out what people are talking about.
trending sound. skits and challenges. viral products.
keeping track of all of the above is crucial. the problem? content moves so fast that most tiktok trends have a short lifespan.
but if you can tap into a relevant trend, it may well go viral.
Here’s an example of the latest clueless trending audio coach. this clip, which earned over 2.5 million, was the perfect match for his promotional memento from the ’90s.
brands should also take into account current content trends and popular content formats. for example, the #asmr hashtag on tiktok has over 340 billion (yes, 1 billion) views.
watch how cheez-its managed to gain millions of views with its ridiculous video jumping on the “tingling” audio bandwagon.
tiktok and comedy go hand in hand. Fact: Humor represents the most effective form of messaging for modern customers. see how brands like duolingo have become so humorous that almost all of their videos have viral potential.
comedy is not a guaranteed way to get more views on tiktok. That being said, humorous videos are more likely to showcase the personality viewers want to see in brands.
5. don’t ignore your captions, hashtags and descriptions
content comes first when it comes to going viral.
still, there are a few tweaks you can make to your videos to increase their chance of gaining reach. this includes:
- titles. It’s no secret that many people watch social videos without sound. including subtitles in your videos means you can reach the widest possible audience.
- tags. choose your tiktok hashtags wisely. trending and community hashtags (#beautytok or #booktok) can help you gain visibility and, as a result, boost yourself.
- descriptions. This is yet another opportunity to drive engagement. questions and calls to action can do the trick. so can descriptions that encourage full reading to keep viewers engaged with your video.
For example, check out the following positive piece puzzle video that went viral within the hashtag #selfcare. the description gives the video context and the title serves as a natural hook.
6. focus on going viral within your community
niche down to expand your reach.
Seems a bit backwards, right? hear us out!
TikTok’s audience is so big right now that “generalist” videos are likely to get lost in the shuffle. on the other hand, nicheing and creating interesting content for specific communities is a smart move.
Below is an example of barnes and noble going viral with #booktok getting over a million views. Bonus points for the humorous angle and the introduction of real people!
tiktok notes that hashtag categorization resulted in 151% growth in video views in 2021. going viral within a community is a much lower (and more realistic!) goal than fyp overnight.
7. post consistently to keep your momentum going
Keep in mind that social media algorithms reward consistency. tiktok is no exception.
That’s why brands that post regularly tend to gain reach on a regular basis. look at crumbl cookies tiktok presence for evidence.
constant posting goes hand in hand with constant interactions and engagement. this helps keep your account in good standing with the algorithm.
The more content you post and drive engagement, the more likely you are to figure out how to go viral. you might choose a content topic that takes off and can keep trending to maximize your audience.
for example, off-limits cereal gained millions of views through its “reverse steal” series. these videos involved sneaking their product into stores and then buying it themselves. this series is among the most popular content the brand has published.
how long does it take to go viral on tiktok?
short answer? it depends!
no brand, agency or creator can guarantee viral content. Getting to that level requires experimentation and consistency. not to mention a bit of luck.
The first step is to take the time to build and engage a community with current and trending content. whether it takes weeks or months for that to happen is really up to you and your resources.
This highlights how important it is to not only post regularly, but also to track your progress along the way. for example, tools like sprout social’s tiktok analytics can tell you if your presence is escalating.
From your top content to watch time trends, this information can uncover ways to adjust your tiktok videos.
do you have what it takes to go viral on tiktok?
again, making your video trend on tiktok doesn’t have to be a pipe dream.
Trying the tips above can set your videos up for greater reach. there’s a reason so many brands on tiktok adhere to these best practices.
still trying to navigate tiktok? Want to learn more about what “success” looks like with a short form video? we’ve got you covered!
Check out our guide to tiktok for businesses for more information and inspiration to scale your tiktok presence.
