Since the pandemic, TikTok has rapidly become the most-downloaded app in the world, with over 1 billion users across 150 countries. The social media platform is based upon short attention-span, fun videos that users can digest in huge numbers, with content tailored to each user’s interest via its extremely fast learning algorithm. 

From pop stars and dancers to pet owners and small businesses, TikTok’s platform offers users the opportunity to go viral in a short amount of time through the use of unique and creative content. To make your brand stand out on the short-form video app, here are some tips you can incorporate into your content strategy. 

1. Begin with a strong hook 

The fast-paced nature of a social media platform like TikTok means that you will need to grab the attention of your audience within the first 3 seconds of your content. To do this, you will need to begin the video with a strong hook to engage your audience to watch until the end. 

There are various ways to catch your audience’s attention immediately and it is important to test different types of creatives to define what works best for your brand. For example, a strong hook would be “3 reasons why you should buy this product” at the beginning of the video as it encourages viewers to find out more. Setting the tone and topic of your content within the first 3 seconds creates an increased likelihood of TikTok featuring your video to more viewers and listing the video onto the “For You” page when it reaches a larger audience. Without a strong hook at the beginning of the video, it is likely that your audience will lose interest and swipe past your content, resulting in your video losing reach within the first few hours. 

2. Add strong CTAs 

Once you have your content nailed, you need to think about what you want your audience to do after watching your TikTok. Going viral is not the only way to gain brand recognition. Ideally, you want your viewers to follow your profile, interact with your content (to push your video to more users) and check out more of your content. Call to actions (otherwise known as CTAs) play an important role in increasing your video interactions and ultimately drive traffic to your website. For example, you could end your video with a phrase such as “Hit the + button for more content tips!”. 

3. Post at the right time

It is essential that you figure out what is the best time to post your content on TikTok. This can depend on when your audience is most active on the platform and what type of content you typically post. It is also crucial to get as much engagement as possible within the first few hours of posting your video to ensure your post is going to be liked by your viewers. 

You can gain these insights by testing your post times. Once you have tested posting your content on different days and times within the week, you will be able to draw a conclusion of what time is typically best to post your content. Alternatively, you can also upgrade to a TikTok Pro account which will automatically provide you with a “Follower Activity” report for this metric.

4. Use trending sounds 

The sounds that you hear on TikTok play a large role in your content’s discoverability. Have you ever noticed that you’re singing or replaying a TikTok sound in your head over and over again because of a TikTok trend? This is an example of how the use of trending sounds and music can make your content more memorable. Using trending sounds is also important to boost your chances of going viral and enable the algorithm to work in your favour. 

TikTok is a platform where viewers feed off trends to create their own content. To find trending sounds you can start by scrolling through your “For You Page”. You can even save these audios for later so that you don’t forget about it at the time. Another option is to go to “Discover” and find the “Sounds” section at the top of the page. This is where you can find trending sounds in real time. It is also worth noting that you can use trending sounds even if your content includes a voiceover.

5. Storytelling

Storytelling is a vital component to add a human element to your content, as viewers are more likely to share content that captures their emotions. Whether you use humour, fear, excitement or inspiration in your videos, this will increase the shareability of your content, capture the attention of your audience and make your content more relatable to viewers. 

You can include text overlays, voiceovers and text-to-speech within your videos to tell a story. Users usually call it “Story time”, for example, you could tell a story that provides a problem-solution to a typical problem that your target audience may encounter. You can also increase engagement and interactions by adding in cliffhangers which will motivate users to check out your profile grid. From your daily routines to your perspective about life, providing something that people really want to know will increase the likelihood of your content going viral.

6. Use trending and relevant hashtags

Hashtags are another tool that you can use to trigger TikTok’s algorithm. Content creators usually utilise hashtags in their video descriptions to put their content at the forefront of their audience’s “For You Page”. 

We recommend that you use a 50/50 mixture of hashtags that relate to your content and trending hashtags. For example, if you are posting a video about cooking, you should ensure that 50% of your hashtags relate to cooking e.g. #ChefsOfTikTok and 50% of your hashtags are trending. You can find trending hashtags in the “Discover” tab of the platform. We also recommend that you use hashtag challenges with trending effects or filters and avoid using generic hashtags such as #FYP or #Viral. The uniqueness and relevance of your hashtags are key to avoid competing with millions of videos at the same time. 

7. Interactions are key

TikTok isn’t just a place to post your content, it is a community platform for those that share similar interests. You can utilise your content to engage with relevant communities and open up conversations about your brand. Encouraging interactions such as likes, comments and shares will not only trigger TikTok’s algorithm, but it will also increase your brand reputation. TikTok also provides features such as Stitching and Duets so other users can collaborate and connect with your content, thus pushing your content across a further reach of viewers. Perhaps in your next video, directly ask your viewers to comment or duet your video as a way of increasing engagement, interactions and reach. 

8. Hop onto trends sooner rather than later

Unfortunately, there is no particular strategy to this one. You simply need to keep your eye out on your “For You Page” and the “Discover” page to pick up on trends before they become overused. The sooner you pick up on a TikTok trend, the less people you need to compete with to push your content across the “For You Page”. It is also important to put your own unique twist on the content rather than simply copying the trend to encourage viewers to share your video with others. For example, the trend “I want it, I got it”, you could apply it directly to your product or service to make the content relevant to your brand and increase brand awareness.

It is also worth noting that there are some trends that are spontaneous, while others are seasonal. It’s best to spot those trends which could be effective in your expertise or niche and be quick to leverage them before they fade.

9. Keep posting!

TikTok is not a platform for occasionally posting your content. You need to be posting on a daily basis to boost your likelihood of triggering the TikTok algorithm to push your content to a wider audience. We recommend creating a content calendar to not only keep up with trends, but also ensure you are posting regularly enough to maintain engagement amongst your followers, especially when you first launch your account. 

So, how do you go viral on TikTok?

In conclusion, you need to be a true user of TikTok to keep up with the ever changing trends, hashtags and content that circulates the short-form video platform. No trend should go unnoticed and your content should be tailored to suit the interests of your target audience. Triggering the TikTok algorithm to work in your favour and push your content to more users also boils down to timings. It has never been more important to be on the ball with regards to planning, creating and scheduling your videos. 

If you are looking for some advice on how to get started, why not book a FREE call with us at Hello Earth Agency to discuss your knowledge of the platform. Whether you are wanting to launch your brand successfully onto TikTok for the first time or are looking to improve your reach and engagement, we are confident that we can get you onto the right track!