You can probably read a million articles on how to go viral on TikTok– many of them with the same, generic advice: “Be consistent,” “Know your audience,” or “Focus on making quality videos.”
Why should you read this one? Because we have actual answers.
Things like:
- How the TikTok algorithm works and what you need to focus on to get results.
- Our top strategies for how to go viral on TikTok. Don’t worry– generic answers like “Focus on making quality videos” aren’t on the list.
- Our best tips for brands hoping to make great TikTok content.
- Our honest opinion about going viral as a brand.
As you can see, we’re committed to only discussing what works.
You ready? Let’s go.
How does TikTok work?
Before you can dream of knowing how to blow up on TikTok, you have to understand how the TikTok algorithm works.
TikTok uses an algorithm called a “recommendation system” to serve up content for its users. This algorithm determines which videos appear on a specific person’s For You page.
Every user sees a customized feed of videos on their For You page, based on how they interact with different types of content on YouTube. There are a few elements TikTok’s algorithm considers when deciding the best UGC videos to share. They are:
Engagement
“Engagement” refers to likes, shares, saves, comments, and most importantly: video watch time.
Want to see something fun? Check out this Washington Post analysis of the TikTok algorithm.
Here’s what they found:
The time you spend watching a specific TikTok video directly impacts what you see next on the app.
What does this mean for your brand? The more engagement (particularly watch time) a video gets, the more chances you have of showing up on someone’s For You page.
Video information
The algorithm also takes note of the videos users search on the app. They check the following:
- Captions
- Hashtags
- Trending topics
- Sounds
So figure out what’s popular and relates to your brand in these categories. By using what people are searching for, you increase your chances of going viral on TikTok.
Device and account settings
It’s worth noting that TikTok’s recommendation system also considers language settings, location, and the type of mobile device someone is using when determining the best videos to show someone. This isn’t the biggest factor, but it does play a role.
What your brand needs to know
When the TikTok algorithm decides which videos to show, it considers three things:
- How they engage with a specific video
- The types of videos they search for
- Their device/account settings
If you only focus on one element, pick how much they interact or engage with the video. Create content that encourages people to comment, share, save, watch to the end, and/or rewatch.
This sounds simple, but it can be difficult to put into practice. So let’s talk about how to make it happen.
Our top 3 strategies to go viral on TikTok in 2024
You can find lots of ideas online (and later in this article), but in this section, we are going to keep it simple and cover just our top three.
Find one that fits your brand, and give it a try!
Be as controversial as possible
Have you ever wondered why Andrew Tate is viral? (Us too)
It’s because he’s not afraid to dispute societal trends. He shares controversial opinions, and they generate a LOT of interest– from supporters and opposition alike.
We’re not endorsing Andrew Tate or recommending you copy his exact strategy. Most brands aren’t going to want the kind of attention that constant controversy brings. But the idea is something you can use to go viral in your brand’s niche, even if you use it sparingly.
For example, in the digital marketing niche saying “Facebook Ads are the best way to grow a brand fast in 2024” will get you a lot of eye rolls.
Most marketers disagree– and they’d start expounding on the importance of growth hacks, being on brand, or other marketing nonsense that people like to talk about.
It’s a hot take, for sure. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. We have proof– we’ve used Facebook ads to grow three brands to millions in annual recurring revenue.
So, if we were to make a TikTok video, that’s something we could talk about to create controversy within our niche. Ultimately, you know your business and your niche better than most. Use that knowledge to disrupt the status quo, and you’ll attract attention.
Jump on ongoing trends
If you notice something that’s already viral on TikTok– like a video format or a sound– can you do a spin-off that relates it to your brand?
Let’s do a little exercise.
Remember this guy? He went viral. Can you reproduce it and incorporate your brand somehow?
Usually, you’ll want to find newer trends to jump on, and this particular video may not fit your brand. But you get the idea– what’s popular right now that you can make your own?
Who knows? Maybe you’ll create something so good, that it’ll become even more viral than the original!
Experiment as much as possible
If you’re asking: “Wait, is this a strategy?”
Yep, it is. It might be the most important one.
Going viral doesn’t usually happen overnight. Most of the time, it happens because you experimented and iterated based on what you learned.
If you expect your first post to go viral, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
Every once in a while, someone gets that mega-viral hit in the first shot– but the chances of that are one in a million.
Do you think your brand is that lucky?
You might be– and if you are, you probably don’t need the rest of this article.
But if you’re like the rest of us, you’ll have to try different video styles to see what people interact with more. Then, use that information to come up with new videos.
Strategies vs. tips
Going viral on TikTok is an attention game. You want to capture their attention– either by saying something controversial or hopping on a trend. And you want to keep finding new ways to do that. If you do, you’ll be in great shape. That’s why they’re our top 3 strategies for how to go viral on TikTok– they work.
When you search “How to go viral on TikTok,” you’ll find a lot of similar-sounding titles with generic advice like, “focus on quality,” or “learn the algorithm.”
We’re not going to argue that those things aren’t important– of course they are! They’re just… not strategies for going viral. They’re tips for creating great videos or, in some cases, are just a given.
For example: of course you have to create high-quality videos to go viral. Everyone knows that. But if you create high-quality videos and don’t follow any of the strategies we outlined above, people likely won’t see your account.
So make sure you’re following these strategies, while also taking advantage of any tips you can find for making your content better. And don’t worry– we’re about to give you some tips of our own!
Tips for how to blow up on TikTok in 2024
Now that we’ve covered how to approach your TikTok strategy, let’s talk tips for how to create viral-worthy TikTok videos.
Use a strong hook
We get it– if you’re familiar with marketing at all, the advice to “use a hook” sounds basic.
It is basic. But it’s also so important that we had to include it.
People have short attention spans, and if you don’t manage to hook your viewers in the first few seconds, they’ll be gone.
Your brand has 3 seconds (yes! Literally!) to hook someone who comes across your video on their For You page. And if you manage that, you’ve already achieved a small win.
But what makes a good hook? A good hook can be:
- A pressing question, which is a question that will grab your audience’s attention. For example:
- If you sell sleeping remedies, a pressing question might be: “Are you struggling with sleep?”
- If you’re a fashion brand, a pressing question might be: “Is your spring wardrobe feeling blah?”
- If your company helps entrepreneurs grow their companies, a pressing question might be, “Do you want more sales?”
- Anything that piques their curiosity. For example, showing off a closed box in the first few seconds and saying something like, “Hey guys, stick with me to see what’s inside.”
- Something out of the ordinary or surprising. For example, a short stunt performed in the first few seconds of your video.
Bottom line: make the first 3 seconds of your video as captivating as possible.
Keep videos short
On TikTok, short content is king. Generally, you’ll want to keep your videos under 15 seconds– although this *does* depend on the video subject.
But if your goal is going viral, don’t post a 2-minute long video. Two minutes is a big ask when they can just swipe to see something more entertaining.
Tell a story
Human brains are storytelling and story-keeping machines. It’s how we’ve connected with other humans for thousands of years.
When you use storytelling, you’re inviting viewers into something their brains know and love. You’re pulling them into the tale by engaging their emotions, and you’re making your brand more memorable in the process.
However, you’ve probably figured out that you can’t write a novel and have it go viral as a TikTok script. You’ll need to adapt your storytelling. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Spotlight your customers. If you’re not sure what stories to share– have customers share them for you! Real stories from real people resonate. (That’s why we’re so passionate about UGC content for brands)
- Show before and after. Great stories involve transformation. That’s why one of the quickest (and most enticing) short-format stories is the “before and after.” Show what someone’s life was like before they had your product… and after. Tell the story as clearly as possible through visual differences.
- Make the audience the hero. This tip is from Donald Miller, author of Building a StoryBrand: Every story has a main character, a hero. Make your audience the hero, and show how they can overcome a challenge with your help. For example, instead of talking about how awesome your product offering is (“enhanced ai-powered thingamajigs!”), talk about how it will change their lives (“You’ll be THE rising star at work.”)
Encourage users to interact
Finally, because TikTok pays attention to interactions, ask people to comment on your videos. You can also provide prompts for people to Stitch or Duet your video. TikTok rewards all of these types of interaction, so make sure you’re scooping up the easy wins!
Conclusion– our honest thoughts on going viral
So there you have it- our top strategies and tips for how to go viral on TikTok.
However, the truth is that “going viral” probably won’t happen overnight, and there's a formula behind it. And sometimes, even if you follow these strategies to the letter, you still won’t go viral.
That’s not a reason to give up. If you post consistently on TikTok and follow the advice we outlined in this article, you’ll gain visibility. Visibility translates into a bigger social media presence, more followers, and more sales. Those benefits are enough to keep going, in our opinion, even if you never blow up on TikTok.
Every CEO or Founder wants to go viral on TikTok, but focusing on getting one viral video sets you up to fail. You’ll be ready to play the long game when you realize you don’t have to get a million views for your brand to reap rewards from TikTok.
So play it smart and use the strategies and tips in this article. And if you don’t get that viral video right away, keep trying. It’s worth it.
We’d love to hear your thoughts: What did we miss?
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