How to go viral on TikTok — 12 proven tips [2024]

In 2024, getting your brand a presence on TikTok is a strategic move for creators and businesses that want to expand their reach and showcase their product. TikTok's huge user base and opportunities for high engagement provides the platform for a potential viral video. This can lead to many benefits, which include B2C marketing, growing a community, and sales; among other benefits.

However, going from no followers, to going viral on TikTok is easier said than done, and has eluded many content creators and brands. This mainly stems from a failure to completely understand TikTok's ever-evolving algorithm, and the various tactics required to capture the attention of an increasingly diverse TikTok audience. Therefore, successfully producing that viral content isn't just about chance; it's about strategic content creation and timing.

So, if you are a frustrated user with no followers, and have resorted to typing in 'how to go viral overnight on TikTok' on Google search, then fear not, as this guide will provide 12 actionable tips to help increase your chances of getting millions of views, help you get more TikTok followers, and help you go viral on TikTok. 

Read on to discover how you can propel your TikTok video into the spotlight!

How TikTok virality works

Before delving into exactly how to go viral on TikTok, it's first important to gain an understanding of this virality, as in how the TikTok algorithm works, and the types of content that tend to do well. These insights should help to provide you with a better understanding.

Overview of TikTok's algorithm

The TikTok algorithm is a highly important facet of the platform, and it uses a data-driven approach that is able to deliver highly personalized content. Utilizing cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies, the algorithm sifts through and analyses certain user interactions including likes, comments, shares, duration of views, and even how patterns emerge from the rewatching of content. This continuous analysis enables the TikTok platform to build up a comprehensive profile of each user's interests.

With all this captured information, the TikTok algorithm puts together and optimizes the "For You Page" (FYP), which aims to present content that would resonate with the viewer. Whilst improving the user experience, this also provides an important opportunity for content creators. By leveraging this high level of personalised content, creators have a higher chance of achieving viral status for their work, given that users are far more attracted to, and likely to engage with this content. This alliance between user engagement and how they discover content is what makes TikTok's algorithm unique, and which makes it an extremely powerful tool for those who know who to use it.

Types of content that tend to go viral

Virality on Tiktok seems to generally be characterized by the three factors of authenticity, positivity, and relatability. Videos that have the elements of fun and happiness are more likely to go viral. Additionally, videos that are set to popular music, follow current trends, or that are associated with viral challenges, are the ones that are likely to gain repeated viewings and faster traction.

The platform also allows plenty of diversity and niche micro-cultures to thrive. The ability to appeal to audiences on such a granular level gives these types of videos the same potential to become viral as any others. An original video can become viral when the creator takes advantage of communal features such as the Duet function.

Understanding how the TikTok algorithm works, and the types of content that most appeal to audiences, is critical to increase your chances of going viral. Creators need to know how to navigate the intricacies of TikTok if they are to improve their chances of creating that next viral phenomenon.

12 tips for going viral on TikTok

If you are reading along, you will now know that creating that next TikTok sensation requires more than just luck. It involves a lot of careful planning, an understanding of the platform's culture, and that critical ingredient of creativity. The following 12 tips will guide you through the fundamentals of making video content that will not only attract plenty of viewers, but that will give you the possibility of creating content that becomes the next viral TikTok video.

1. Find your niche

It's important to find that niche that interests you, and that is most likely to unleash your creative talents. This will define your audience and allow you to develop a loyal following. Your chosen niche should be based on an area where you feel comfortable that you can consistently produce content and become an authority on your subject, whether that's comedy, education, or any other niche that is able to spark your creativity.

For instance, if you're a budding cook with a flair for regional cuisines, your niche could revolve around creating short, engaging videos that showcase unique recipes or cooking techniques from different cultures. In this way, you not only appeal to food enthusiasts but you can become the go-to source within the TikTok community for this area of interest. Creating and developing your niche helps to attract an audience that shares your passion, and in this way helps to produce a buzz in your community, and engagement around your content.

2. Creating engaging and original content

Aim to produce content that quickly engages viewers. Make sure your TikTok video is attractive by using clear visuals and a persuasive narrative. TikTok users love originality, so avoid keeping too close to what is already out there, and instead, imbue your video with your own creativity.

Consider the possibilities of TikTok for a language teacher. They create videos that highlight common mistakes, give tips on pronunciation, and show humorous examples that demonstrate how the language is used. By combining education with humour, they can make the learning of a language more enjoyable. The unique blend of learning and entertainment keeps the budding language learners engaged, and keeps these viewers eager for the next lessons.

3. Use trending hashtags and stitch videos

The use of relevant hashtags considerably improves the discoverability of your video. Keep track of the popular hashtags that match your content and the interests of your community. By using the more popular hashtags you are helping the TikTok algorithm to boost your videos in their own niche and trend. For example, a fashion influencer who uses the relevant hashtag #OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) can increase their exposure to a wider audience.

Another way of promoting your TikTok videos is by "stitching" your content with trending videos. This is by weaving your unique perspective into an ongoing and trending conversation. An example of how this can work is by taking a popular makeup tutorial, and by adding your own unique spin on it; like using budget-friendly products, or introducing a quick hack. This approach displays your creativity while engaging with an already-interested audience. By tapping into the current TikTok trends, you are encouraging participation and interaction from the TikTok community, prompting users to share your videos and follow your content.

4. Create a unique TikTok challenge

Start a TikTok 'Pass it On' challenge. This is where a creator starts a challenge, to which each participant adds their own particular twist, before "passing it onto” the next TikToker. This could be a dance move, a drawing addition, or the next twist in a story. Such challenges can spread virally as they grow, creating an interactive chain that can be traced back to you the creator. 

For instance, a musician could kick off a challenge by playing a chord progression and then inviting others to add their own verse or melody. With each new contribution, the piece evolves, showing off the creativity and talent of each musician. Participating in challenges not only builds upon the reach of the original post, but can also make this content a highly popular TikTok collaboration.

5. Use highly catchy music

Music can be critical for your viral TikTok video. By adding trending sounds and music into every video, even if it's just for the first few seconds, you are making them more catchy. The TikTok platform has a library of TikTok sounds that users will generally like, so use them in order to make sure your video will be more widely noticed.

For example, a travel vlogger could integrate the latest viral beats into a video which showcases incredible destinations, synchronizing the music with the scene transitions. This not only improves the visual experience, but also attracts more viewers via the popularity of the music. This is because users like to search for their favourite trending music, and this can lead them to your video, increasing the chances that it might be liked and shared.

6. Engaging with the TikTok community

It's vital to build a relationship with your viewers. Therefore, respond to comments, participate in duets, and work on fostering that sense of community. By making every effort to engage with your audience, you are making them feel valued and more likely to engage with you in turn. Remember, trying to achieve that viral video doesn't happen overnight. First you need to attract your community and build for the longer run.

For instance, taking the time to engage with as many comments as possible on your video shows your viewers that they are appreciated, and is more likely to make them come back for the next one. When you collaborate in a duet with another creator you get to introduce yourself to their audience as well. Acknowledging your followers on TikTok through shoutouts or personalized content, makes them more likely to be loyal and recommend you to others. All these different kinds of engagement ensure that your videos get seen by a wider audience and improves the chances of you producing that all-important first viral video.

7. Consistency and frequency of posting

Consistent posting times are critical for maintaining your audience on TikTok. Find out when they are most active, and then aim to post at those peak times. Knowing when your content goes out helps your audience to get ready for your posts, and builds anticipation and loyalty.

So how often should you post on TikTok to go viral?

The best time to post on TikTok really depends on your audience, but a general guideline is a consistent posting schedule of at least once a day. By analysing your engagement data, you can identify when your videos receive the most attention, and then you can schedule your posts accordingly.

8. Collaborating with other TikTok users

Collaborating with fellow TikTok users is a great way to get your content in front of new eyes and thereby extend your reach. 

For instance, a DIY crafts creator collaborating with an upcycling expert can combine two audiences interested in sustainability and creativity. This synergy can significantly boost visibility and increase your community around shared interests, making your videos more likely to go viral on TikTok.

9. Leverage other social media platforms

Cross-promoting your TikTok content on other platforms can drive traffic to your TikTok profile. By sharing teasers of your TikTok videos on other social media platforms like Instagram or X (Twitter) you can entice viewers into viewing your full content on TikTok.

For instance, a travel blogger could put a 15-second clip of their TikTok video into their Instagram stories, together with a call-to-action which encourages viewers to watch the whole thing on TikTok. By leveraging the huge audiences on other platforms you not only increase your TikTok viewers, but you also begin to build a presence across more than one of these platforms, thereby increasing your chances of a viral success.

10. Consider using shock tactics

Something unexpected, or which shocks the viewer, can capture immediate attention. Videos that surprise and shock are more likely to be shared and discussed. That said, make sure that the surprises comply with TikTok's community guidelines, and do not transgress the boundaries of your audience.

For example, imagine a fitness trainer who posts a video of what looks to be an extremely difficult workout challenge, but which, with a humorous twist, turns into a beginner-friendly version of the challenge, thereby surprising the expectations of your viewers. This kind of playful twist not only grabs attention, but could get your viewers to share and discuss it.  

11. Leverage unconventional holidays and observances

Post content that refers to unique holidays and observances. These occasions often lack competition compared to major holidays, which gives your content more of an edge, making it more likely to be shared across TikTok for its novelty value.

For example, let’s take National Pizza Day. If you are a content creator who happens to be a foody, then you can take advantage of this quirky day by creating a series of videos that feature delicious pizza recipes from around the world; including a behind-the-scenes look at how each dish is prepared and cooked. What this does is kill two birds with one stone, as you are not only celebrating the holiday, but also demonstrating your great culinary skills and knowledge. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask your viewers what their favourite pizza toppings are, or invite them to share their own recipes in order to increase engagement.

12. Learn from your successes (and mistakes)

Analyze the performance of your videos in order to identify the patterns in your viral successes. Use TikTok's analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t. Adapt your strategy based on this data, constantly refining your approach with each post.

So if you had a behind-the-scenes video series on callisthenics (for example), and it had noticeably more engagement than your other content, then this would be a strong indicator that you should double down on this. Not only will this satisfy your audience, but it will also position you as an authority on callisthenics on TikTok. 

Remember, always track the increased engagement and followers from these videos, as it will continuously help you to identify what video content will generate the most attention. 

Tools for TikTok Success

To maximize the chances of a viral video, it's essential for TikTok creators to use tools that can increase their content's reach and engagement. These resources provide insights, enhance content quality, and encourage audience participation.

TikTok analytics and insights

TikTok offers built-in analytics so that creators can monitor the performance of their content. By accessing these insights, creators can learn about their audience demographics, understand the patterns of engagement, and identify which videos perform best. This data is crucial for optimizing one's content strategy in order to adapt to trends and preferences that match their follower base.

Key Metrics:

• Number of views and watch time
• Follower growth
• Engagement rates

Creators should regularly review their analytics and make informed decisions that can lead to the making of a viral video.

Apps and editing software for creating high-quality content 

High-quality content is much more likely to capture the attention of multiple viewers and encourage sharing. There are many apps and editing platforms that can help creators to produce more polished videos. By using tools for editing, sound mixing, and special effects, TikTok creators can produce professional looking content that is more likely to attract viewers and get them to share.

Popular Editing Tools:

• Adobe Premiere Rush
• InShot
• TikTok's own editing features
• CapCut

It's important to select editing tools that align with the creator's skill level and creative requirements.

TikTok rewards and loyalty platforms

Last but not least, rewards and loyalty platforms can give your TikTok campaigns that foundational boost needed to create a snowball effect.

Enter Tropee - a turbocharged rewards page that helps you grow your creator business by setting up tasks for your fans to complete. These tasks can be anything, like asking people to follow your on TikTok or like your TikTok videos. For each task they complete, your fans will earn points that they can use to get rewards or join giveaways.

On Tropee, you get to decide what rewards to offer — whether it's ebooks, shoutouts, one-on-one calls, physical products or exclusive content. You can even create giveaways, so you're sure to get your fans excited to help you reach your TikTok goals.

What’s more, Tropee makes content sharing across multiple social media platforms easy, through the use of a unique URL which is used for each campaign; thereby avoiding the hassle of figuring out distribution.

In addition to this, Tropee's built-in viral sharing capabilities, which include a referral system, encourage viewers to share content across their networks, significantly increasing the reach of the campaign.

And best of all, the creating your Tropee is free, offering unlimited access to all features without the need for a credit card.

Conclusion

To succeed on TikTok, it's not just about hitting 'post' and hoping for the best. It's a mix of smart planning, knowing what makes your followers tick, and letting your creative flag fly. Investigate your passions, make videos that grab people from the outset, and keep an eye on what's trending in order to get your content seen by more eyes. Interaction is key—chat with your viewers, get together with fellow TikTokers, and spread the word across other social media platforms to widen your circle.

Staying regular with your posts and staying true to what's you is what will help your videos stand out. It's all about trial and error, learning what works and what doesn't. Each video is a chance to connect, entertain, and grow your tribe. So, put your unique spin on things, keep at it, and your next upload could just be the one that everyone can't stop talking about.

We hope these tips will help you get one step closer to becoming viral on TikTok.

Best of luck!