How to Make a TikTok Go Viral: The Ultimate Guide

Posted:
October 31, 2024
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Updated:
November 6, 2024
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Andrew Kozik
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Andrew Kozik
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Want to reach millions of views and gain instant fame? Then you should definitely check out our tips and tricks on how to make TikTok videos go viral! 

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Let’s Take a Quick Look at TikTok's Algorithm

Before we get into how to make a TikTok go viral, we need to understand the platform's algorithm. Basically, the idea is that the platform's algorithm shows users content they're most likely to engage with based on their past interactions, viewing habits, and preferences.

The algorithm takes a number of things into account when deciding which videos to promote, including:

  • User interactions (likes, comments, shares)
  • Video information (captions, sounds, hashtags)
  • Device and account settings (device type, location, and language preferences)
  • Video completion rate (the number of completed video views divided by the total number of views)

Once you understand what makes the algorithm tick, you can tweak your content to fit the bill and create a viral video on TikTok.

How to Get Viral on TikTok: Key Strategies 

1. Keep Up with Trends

One of the best ways to get your content seen by lots of people on TikTok is to make sure you're up to date with all the latest trends. TikTok moves pretty quickly, with new trends, challenges, and popular sounds coming up all the time. Getting involved in these can help you reach new audiences and get more eyes on your content.

To stay on top of trends:

  • Regularly check the "Explore" page
  • Pay attention to popular hashtags
  • Follow influencers in your niche
  • Use trending sounds and music in your videos

2. Create Engaging and Original Content

While it's good to follow trends, creating unique and engaging content is also really important. To get your TikTok to go viral, you need to stand out from the crowd, which means coming up with creative ideas, putting your own spin on existing trends, or introducing new concepts.

  • Tell a story or share an interesting fact
  • Use humor or emotional appeal
  • Showcase your talents or skills
  • Provide value through tutorials or informative content

3. Optimize Your Video's First Few Seconds

What type of videos go viral on TikTok? The ones that are able to capture the viewers’ attention within the first few seconds. The platform moves pretty fast, so most people make up their minds about whether or not they want to keep watching within about 3 to 5 seconds. So if you want your video to go viral, make sure you hook them in at the beginning.

To create a compelling hook:

  • Ask an intriguing question
  • Make a bold statement
  • Start with a surprising fact or statistic
  • Use visually appealing or unexpected imagery

4. Use Relevant Hashtags

One of the simplest tips to go viral on TikTok is to use relevant and trending hashtags. This can help your video get seen by more people. Just remember to mix in some popular hashtags with a few niche ones.

  • Research popular hashtags in your niche
  • Use a mix of broad and specific hashtags
  • Limit your hashtags to 3-5 per video
  • Create your own branded hashtag for consistent branding

5. Engage with Your Audience

Building a strong bond with your followers is crucial for gaining viral traction on TikTok. It's a two-way street. You have to create content that gets folks interacting, and you also have to engage with them actively when they interact with your content back.

  • Respond to comments on your videos
  • Participate in duets and collaborations
  • Use interactive features like polls and questions
  • Encourage viewers to share their thoughts or experiences

How to Go Viral on TikTok Without Followers

One of the things that makes TikTok special is that having lots of followers isn't the key to going viral. The platform's algorithm is set up to promote content that's high-quality and gets lots of engagement, regardless of who the creator is or how many followers they have. This means that even new users or those who aren't that well-known can still become viral sensations.

So, you might want to…

  • Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content
  • Participate in popular challenges and trends
  • Use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability
  • Collaborate with other creators through duets or stitches
  • Post consistently to increase your chances of being seen

TikTok Ideas to Go Viral

There's no surefire way to make a viral video on TikTok, but there are some content types that tend to do well on the platform. Knowing these popular formats can help you tweak your content strategy and boost your chances of going viral.

1. Tutorials and How-To Videos

People love learning new skills and discovering handy tips and tricks. Videos that provide quick, easy-to-follow instructions have a way of going viral on TikTok.

2. Challenges and Trends

Getting involved in popular challenges or trends can help get your content in front of a broader audience of people who are actively searching for content like yours.

3. Comedy Skits

We all speak the same language when it comes to laughter. That's why funny videos have such huge potential for going viral. Short and sharp comedy skits are often a big hit on TikTok.

4. Behind-the-Scenes Content

People are interested in what other people do and what their experiences are like. If you share a bit of behind-the-scenes information about your work, hobbies, or daily life with them, they'll probably find that really interesting.

5. Transformation Videos

Before-and-after videos are great for getting people's attention. They can be about physical transformations, room makeovers, or skill improvements – whatever the content, they tend to captivate audiences.

How to Go Viral on TikTok: Ways to Measure Your Success

How we define "viral" can vary depending on context. Typically, though, on TikTok, it means a video that gains a lot of views and interaction in a relatively short period. 

While there's no official threshold for what is considered viral on TikTok, these are some useful benchmarks to bear in mind:

  • Views: If a video gets 100,000+ views in a few days, it's going viral.
  • Likes: The goal is to get thousands of likes, which should typically be 1% or more of the view count.
  • Comments and Shares: High engagement rates, with hundreds or thousands of comments and shares.
  • Trend Setting: Your video gives others ideas for creating content or taking up a challenge you've initiated.

It's worth mentioning that the numbers can differ depending on your niche and the general context of your content. What's considered 'viral' for a smaller, more niche account might differ from what's considered 'viral' for a major influencer or brand.

Why Aren’t Your TikToks Going Viral?

If you've been trying all the tips to go viral on TikTok but haven't been successful so far, there might be a few reasons why. Understanding these common mistakes can help you tweak your strategy and give you a better chance of going viral.

1. Inconsistent Posting

If you want to get ahead on TikTok, you've got to post regularly. The algorithm rewards accounts that are active, so if you're not posting all the time, you're less likely to build momentum and gain visibility.

2. Poor Video Quality

The algorithm is less likely to promote low-quality videos with bad lighting, shaky footage, or unclear audio.

3. Lack of Audience Understanding

If you're trying to get your content out there and it's just not connecting with your target audience, it's going to be tough to gain any traction. It's important to understand your audience's preferences and tailor your content to match them.

4. Ignoring Trends

Asking yourself, why am I not going viral on TikTok? Well, it's great to have original ideas, but if you ignore current trends, it'll be tougher for your content to get noticed.

5. Insufficient Engagement

If you're not interacting with your audience through comments, likes and shares, you're missing out on a great way to increase your profile.

TikTok Account Ideas to Go Viral

If you're thinking of setting up a TikTok account with the goal of becoming an internet sensation, it's a good idea to focus on a specific niche or theme. Here are a few ideas that have worked really well for a lot of creators:

  • Comedy and Skits: Make content that's funny and relatable, so it has broad appeal.
  • Life Hacks and DIY: Share some fresh ideas on how to tackle those everyday challenges.
  • Cooking and Recipe Tutorials: Highlight some quick and easy recipes or some unique dishes.
  • Fashion and Beauty Tips: Offer advice on style, makeup tutorials, or outfit ideas.
  • Fitness and Workout Routines: Share your fitness tips, workout challenges, or transformation journeys.
  • Educational Content: Use bite-sized videos to share interesting facts, language lessons, and academic concepts.
  • Pet Accounts: Showcase some of the adorable or funny moments you've captured with your pets.
  • Travel and Adventure: Share some of your best travel experiences and local hidden gems.

How to know if your TikTok will go viral? If you want to be a success on TikTok, you need to find a niche you're passionate about and that allows you to create content that people will engage with on a regular basis.

How to Use TikTok Features for Increased Virality

Now that you know what is viral on TikTok, you can start taking advantage of some of the features that the platform offers (these can help increase your chances of going viral). If you use the tools in a clever way, you can create more engaging content and make yourself more visible on the platform.

1. Duets and Stitches

These features let you interact with other creators' content, which could put your videos in front of their audience. You can use duets and stitches to make your own versions of popular videos or join in on trending challenges.

2. TikTok Live

Going live on TikTok is a great way to connect with your audience in real-time, boost engagement, and create some viral moments.

3. Sounds and Music

Adding some popular tunes or current chart music to your videos can make them more visible. The TikTok algorithm is designed to promote videos with up-to-date audio that people are talking about.

4. Filters and Effects

TikTok's got loads of filters and effects that can make your videos stand out and look more entertaining. Have a play around with different ones to figure out what works best for your content.

5. TikTok Analytics

Get the most out of TikTok's built-in analytics to gain deeper insights into your audience and track your content's performance. Use these insights to make smarter decisions about your content strategy.

A Few Extra Tips to Go Viral on TikTok

While it might seem like going viral on TikTok is just down to luck, in reality, putting in the hours and being persistent are what get people to the top of the platform. 

Here are some tips for maintaining a successful TikTok profile:

  • Post regularly: It'd be great if you could aim to post at least once a day, if you have the time.
  • Experiment with different types of content: Have a go at different formats and styles to see what your audience likes best.
  • Learn from your analytics: Keep an eye on which videos are doing well, and see if you can work out why.
  • Stay up-to-date with platform changes: TikTok is always updating its features and algorithm, so make sure you're up to speed with all the latest changes.
  • Be patient: Building an audience and getting your content shared widely often takes time and effort.

Just remember that not every video is going to go viral, and that's totally fine. Focus on consistently creating quality content, and you'll gradually increase your chances of achieving that kind of success.

To Sum Up

Learning how to make a TikTok go viral is not as difficult as it might seem. It’s an exciting goal to set yourself, and it could lead to more visibility, more followers, and maybe even monetization opportunities.

By the way, it might seem like making those super viral TikToks requires a lot of creative thinking and planning, but the truth is that putting your content together doesn't need to be time-consuming or difficult. 

BigMotion is all about helping you create awesome videos that have what it takes to go viral on TikTok. With features like AI-generated scripts, voice-overs from ElevenLabs, auto-generated captions, and custom-designed AI-created visuals, BigMotion makes it easy to produce high-quality content on demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many views are considered viral on TikTok?

There's no set number of views that your content has to reach before it goes viral. In some areas, it could be as low as 50,000 or 100,000 views. However, in more competitive categories, it might need to reach a million or more. 

Can I go viral on TikTok without followers?

You can go viral on the platform even with 0 followers! The key to boosting your visibility is to create great content, use the right hashtags, and jump on trends.

How often should I post on TikTok to increase my chances of going viral?

It's important to keep things consistent. Try to post at least once a day if you can, to stay visible and engage with your followers regularly. Some creators recommend posting twice a day - one video in the morning and one in the evening.