These days, TikTok is one of the most important tools in brand marketing. Creating a short, simple, and fun video that goes viral is one of the best ways to grow your customer database. When it comes to creating a viral-worthy TikTok, here are 10 tips for creating a viral TikTok.
- Understand your audience
- Keep it short and sweet
- Trends are your friend
- Utilize the Pin feature
- Play with Effects/Filters
- Take advantage of Duetting/Stitching
- Create playlists
- All captions need hashtags
- Interact with verified accounts
- Motivate viewers to interact
The best way to set your video up for viral success is by establishing and maintaining one solid target audience. There are many “sides” or “communities” on TikTok. For example, “BookTok.” This is a side of TikTok where all videos are centered around reading, writing, and buying books. Categorizing yourself into one of these “sides” or “communities” will give yourself a better chance of going viral, as the viewers will relate to your video, which will lead to more likes, shares, comments, and views.
As of 2022, TikTok has added a feature that allows you to record and post videos up to 3 minutes. While for some occasions this can be useful, it is important to keep video length between 15 and 60 seconds. This allows for the content to be digested easily and increases the chances that it will actually be viewed when shared.
If you want your video to go viral on TikTok, it is vital to understand and participate in trends. These can include trending sounds, filters/effects, and dances/challenges. One way to use trends to your advantage is by utilizing trending sounds and/or video formats and adjusting them to fit your brand identity and target audience. Because of the way the TikTok algorithm works, when someone likes one video with a trending sound, filter, or effect, more videos using the same tools will appear on their “For You Page.” So, by utilizing trends, you are more likely to increase your number of viewers.
Let’s dive deeper into filters/effects; one of the most IMPORTANT tools that TikTok provides. TikTok filters are basically the same as Instagram filters. They adjust the lighting and coloring of your video. Filters fall under four default categories: Portrait, Landscape, Food, and Vibe. Effects allow for more creativity in a video. There are a number of different effects with at least one new effect being added daily. The main categories for TikTok effects include Trending, New, Interactive, Editing, Beauty, Funny, and World. The effects that gain the most traction and increase the odds of going viral are usually found under the “Trending” category. A few of these include Green Screen/Green Screen Video, Disco, Tear, and Color Customizer. There are also effects you cannot add until you are finished recording, which allow for further modification. These effects fall under the categories of Visual, Sticker, Transition, Split, and Time. For more information on effects, filters, and how to use them, click here.
Duetting and Stitching is another tool TikTok has introduced to their platform that makes it easier to create a viral video. Duetting means to find another public video, record yourself reacting or interacting, and upload. The screen will be split, with your “duet” on the left side of the origin video. Stitching is another tool that allows you to combine a public video with one you are creating. When stitching a video, the other video will be used as the first part of yours. Here are examples on duetting and stitching.
Another addition TikTok has introduced is Playlists. Playlists allow you to categorize videos how you want. This helps viewers/followers to navigate through your profile and discover videos they enjoy watching. For example, if you are a beauty influencer/creator, you will be reviewing/using lots of different products. So, you may want to create playlists that categorize your video by brand and/or product. For more information on creating playlists and how to manage them, click here.
Another factor that impacts the popularity of a video is hashtags. By using hashtags in a caption, it will impact your audience’s algorithm and make it more likely to appear on the “For You Page.” There are two ways one can go about using hashtags. The first way is by addings hashtags that help categorize and identify your video. You can either use hashtags that relate to your video, or use trending hashtags, but by using both you will increase your odds of going viral.
Building your audience through a viral TikTok video can also be done by interacting with verified accounts. Commenting, liking, duetting/stitching, and collaborating with other TikTok users who are not only verified, but also have a large following, wil grow your audience and increase your follower-count. Connecting with accounts which gain a large amount of traction on a regular basis will encourage viewers to click on your profile, navigate through your account, and possibly interact with your page through viewing, liking, commenting, and following.
Last, but not least, a key part of creating a viral video on TikTok is by a “call-to-action” or influencing your audience to interact with your videos/account/other platforms. A good way to do this is by captioning your post with “like this video if you agree,” “comment your thoughts,” and/or “follow if you relate.” When you encourage viewers to connect with you, it will allow for TikTok’s algorithm to showcase your videos through the For You Page or your audiences’ followers, ultimately growing your view count and setting you up for viral potential.
The most important aspect to remember when following these ten tips is to remain true to your brand identity. Whether you are using an effect or commenting on a video, it is key that your choices align with your brand.
