How to go Viral on TikTok
Introduction
Going viral on TikTok is a dream for many, but achieving it multiple times? That’s a whole nother level! In this post, We will share our journey, the strategies that worked for us, and some tips to help you go viral on TikTok too.
Our Journey to Virality
Our TikTok journey started like many others – with curiosity and a bit of skepticism. Keenan posted several videos without any expectations, but to his surprise, they started to gain traction. The first video that got more than a 100 views was a stitch that he made about hitting a deer with his truck. Crazy right!? Over time, he refined his approach, learned from his experiences, and managed to go viral multiple times. Here’s how we did it:
1. Understanding the TikTok Algorithm
The TikTok algorithm is a mysterious beast, but understanding its basics can significantly boost your chances of going viral. The algorithm favors content that keeps users engaged. This means your videos need to be interesting, engaging, and shareable.
2. Riding the Trend Waves
One of the easiest ways to go viral is by participating in trending challenges and using trending sounds. However, we found that it is best to be true to yourself and post what YOU want to post. If you like it, chances are others will too!
3. Creating Relatable and Engaging Content
Content is king on TikTok. Our most successful videos were those that had a strong hook in the first few seconds, kept viewers engaged throughout, and ended with a call to action. You have to earn your views by keeping the user engaged. This means, give them a reason to stay and watch the whole video. An example of a good hook is, “My grandpa is never going to let me drive his truck again.” And then explain the story about why your grandpa won’t let you borrow his truck. This is a simple step, but it can be the most challenging.
4. Customize Content to Meet Audience Demands
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5. Consistency is Key
Posting consistently is crucial. The more content you put out, the higher your chances of one of them going viral. Starting out, Keenan posted EVERY day. This is how you grow your audience. STAY in peoples faces and STAY on their mind. Keenan posted daily until he had around 450,000 followers on Tiktok. Now, we post once a week and our videos perform very well.
6. Engaging with Your Audience
Engagement goes both ways. RESPOND to comments. People take the time to comment on your video so you should take the time to respond. Our typical strategy is to post the video and spend the next 10-15mins replying to comments. Your followers will feel special and will be more likely to like your next post. We even have some followers that have been with us on TikTok since Keenan’s first viral video.
7. Using Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags are essential for discoverability. Most people will tell you to use trending hashtags and ones that have millions of views, but not us. Use relatable hashtags. If you are a small/new account and you use a hashtag that has 1 billion uses, what are the chances of your video being seen? Very slim. However, if you use relatable hashtags and ones that have 10, 20, maybe even 50,000 views, you have a much better chance of being seen. This is what we did. Now that Keenan has close to 1 million followers, we tend to use hashtags that are anywhere from 50k, to 1 million.
8. Quality Over Quantity
This is a pretty simple step. While consistency is important, so is the quality of your content. We invested time in learning basic video editing and used tools to enhance my videos. High-quality videos are more likely to be shared and go viral. Videos that are grainy or don’t have good sound quality will be skipped over quickly. Your videos don’t have to be a hollywood production, but just make sure the picture and sound are clear.
8. Learning from Analytics
Analytics are humbling. TikTok provides valuable insights into how your videos are performing. We regularly checked analytics to understand what worked and what didn’t. This data-driven approach helped us refine my content strategy. There are times where we know a video is going to go viral, but it flops. Learn from your analytics and get it right the next time.
Conclusion
Going viral on TikTok multiple times wasn’t just luck; it was a combination of understanding of the platform, creating engaging content, and consistently interacting with my audience. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of going viral too. Remember, the key is to stay authentic and have fun with your content. Y’all be good!
