If you use TikTok often, you know just how popular the platform is. According to Backlinko, TikTok has about 1 billion monthly users. A simple scroll through the app will show you an assortment of content related to everything from the latest trends, comedy, decor tips, and how to make fried ice cream as a beginner.
Influencers use the platform to showcase their entire lives and promote products their audience likes. Celebrities and average Joes alike are now using TikTok as a way to promote business ventures and other useful content.
Whether you’re new to TikTok or you’ve been trying to gain a following for a while, there are several ways to grow your audience.
Do you want to know how to get followers on TikTok? It takes time, effort, and dedication, but it’s possible to find steady growth with the right strategy. By following the simple steps outlined in this article, you will learn how to grow on the platform, gain traction, get more views, and eventually increase your fan base.
If you want to know more about how to get followers on TikTok and make yourself a household name, read on to get the most practical strategies.
Pick a Niche
The first step to take when you intend to gain followers on TikTok is to pick a niche. This is true for almost every business venture or marketing decision you could make.
But, why is it so important?
Your niche will help you create content that is focused on a specific topic or series of related topics. If you choose a niche about “fitness fashion” and post these videos regularly, you shouldn’t also be posting about gardening. The two don’t fit well together and will end up confusing your audience, rather than honing in on your target.
To get a good idea about niches on TikTok, you’ll need to study your competitors to know what’s working. Make sure the niche you’ve chosen is something you’re interested in, so there’s a constant drive to create new content.
Some of the most popular niches on the platform include
- Easy Recipes
- Drawing for Beginners
- Funny Cats
- Couples Goals
Do your research to find out what’s popular and start thinking about content ideas. Most importantly, though, think about different niches you’re passionate about, so you can provide the most relevant and interesting content possible.
Also Read: 5 Tips On Using Music In Social Media Marketing
Identify Your Target Audience
As a creator who wants to know how to gain more followers, finding your target audience is just as important as finding your niche.
You will find that choosing your niche can help determine who your audience is and what they’re looking for. The team at TikTok has mentioned some of the best practices when using TikTok to identify your audience.
These include
- Thinking about ‘who’ your audience is.
- Connect to subcultures with similar beliefs.
- Drive deep connections on the platform.
When you have a focused audience who is interested in your videos, it will work in your favor. Your audience is the core of a rock-solid marketing strategy because they will engage with your content. That will subsequently help your videos to rise within the TikTok algorithm, so it’s more likely people will see what you’re publishing regularly.
Post High-Quality Content
Without quality content, your TikTok account will go nowhere. Finding helpful, fun, and engaging videos is the prime reason most viewers flock to the platform.
While it may appear to some that TikTok gurus simply turn on a camera and start filming randomly, this is far from the truth. There are strategic moves they make behind the scenes to create clips that resonate with viewers.
One of the best ways to ensure your content stays relevant is to create a content marketing plan. Invest in premium software to create videos, and post at intervals when your audience is active. Also, making sure your videos are in HD quality should be on the top of your list. It’s not enough to turn on your phone and shoot a single take. Your content needs to be taken seriously, and that often requires quality equipment and editing know-how.
Be Creative and Think Outside the Box
No one can teach you how to be creative on TikTok, but it’s something that you can learn. Take a look at what other creators are doing and get some inspiration from it. Being unique will help you stand out while still appearing to be down-to-earth and relatable.
You should never change your personality to fit a stereotype. Remain true to yourself – most people can tell when you’re being real or not! To get new ideas, look at the comments your competitors are receiving because viewers often make suggestions about what they like to see.
Occasionally, switch up your videos with different filters, music, and scenes your viewers wouldn’t normally expect from you. This creates an element of surprise that could keep them intrigued and waiting for what’s coming next. That doesn’t mean you should abandon your “template” completely. People like familiarity. But, making subtle creative changes can make a big difference.
Keep An Eye On New Trends
Have you ever taken a look at the TikTok trending page? If you haven’t, it’s time to do some research. TikTok trends are forms of expression that are popular on the platform at a particular time.
To successfully find and utilize trends, you should
- Spend time on the platform
- Look at what your competitors are doing
- Explore the Discover page
- Listen to the music being used in videos
There’s no need to partake in every single trend that exists on TikTok but consider the ones related to your brand or business. When you identify the trend, experiment with various video editing techniques to see what fits best. If you’re not too sure if something works, ask family and friends to give their honest opinion.
Another way to test the waters is to make short clips of the trends in your niche and tease your audience. Based on their reception, you’ll have a good idea as to whether something will be successful or not.
Engage With Your Followers
All social networks require some form of engagement and TikTok is no different. The video-based platform is very fast-paced and people move on to the next best thing quickly.
To keep your followers entertained, you will again have to study your competitors, review trends, and stay active to know what your audience likes.
Additionally, promoting your TikTok by running a contest or giveaway while using contest templates can be an effective way to capture your audience’s attention and encourage them to participate in your content.
Also, you should be posting regularly to increase more engagement. It takes a lot of dedication to create new material, test it out, and then showcase it to your audience – but it’s worth it!
To avoid being overwhelmed while still satisfying your audience, scheduling content ahead is a must. Almost every content creator knows this, even if they don’t follow it precisely. Some popular tools to use are
- Loomy
- Crowdfire
- TikTok Scheduler
- Social Pilot
Once you’ve adjusted to your schedule, you’ll find it considerably easy to create and post content regularly.
Include the Right Hashtags
Did you know that using the right hashtags on TikTok can extend your reach? According to Hootsuite, using hashtags related to challenges is particularly helpful for content creators. This is because about 61% of users prefer when brands engage in challenges.
So, how should you be using hashtags to get more followers on TikTok?
Start by developing a legitimate hashtag strategy, instead of using hashtags you think will work. Spending time on the Discover page in the app is the best place to start researching which hashtags are relevant and those that are trending.
According to the Influencer Marketing Hub, some of the most popular hashtags in 2022 are
- #foryoupage
- #fyp
- #foryou
- #viral
- #love
- #funny
- #memes
- #followme
While these are the most popular hashtags on the platform, you will still need to find hashtags that are not too competitive to help you find a focused audience. It’s recommended that you use a mix of the most popular and some of the less competitive hashtags to reap the benefits.
Publish The Videos at the Right Time
Growing on the TikTok platform takes a lot of work and creators want to make the best content for their audience and post as quickly as possible. While this is applaudable and posting regularly does make TikTok users happy, the time you post can have a positive or negative effect on your efforts.
According to research conducted by Influencer Marketing Hub, the best times to post on TikTok are as follows
Monday: 6 AM, 10 AM, 10 PM
Tuesday: 2 AM, 4 AM, 9 AM
Wednesday: 7 AM, 8 AM, 11 PM
Thursday: 9 AM, 12 AM, 7 PM
Friday: 5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM
Saturday: 11 AM, 7 PM, 8 PM
Sunday: 7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM
The most highly engaged time slots are Tuesday at 9 AM, Thursday at noon snd Friday at 5 AM. If you do choose to post during these times, it’s expected that your videos will get more views and higher engagement. Following this strategy could help your reach in the long run, as you’ll be showcasing your videos when most users are on the platform.
Cross-Promote Your Tik-Tok Videos
Have you ever shared your TikTok videos on any other platform? This is known as cross-promotion, and it’s a fantastic way to get more views on TikTok. Video is now a key marketing strategy and other platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are stepping up their game to include it.
By cross-promoting your TikTok content, you will be saving time on content creation, widening your audience, getting more views, and giving more exposure to your content on TikTok.
To make this work, your TikTok logo should be visible on the video, so users know where to find your content. For maximum impact, consider including an animated logo that reflects your brand personality and encourages viewers to visit your TikTok profile.
Later has a thorough guide on how to market your brand on TikTok and cross-promote content effectively.
Use These Strategies to Get More Followers on TikTok
Now that you’ve learned the steps necessary to get more followers on TikTok, it’s time to apply them practically. Remember, it’s important to first discover your niche to find a target audience and post content that speaks to them. It will take time to gain traction on the platform because as it stands, the competition is fierce.
That shouldn’t stop you from doing your research to find the best hashtags to promote your videos. Posting regularly and at the right intervals should bring you more exposure and a more active audience.
Take advantage of the knowledge you’ve received here and start creating content that people will love. Your plan to be more popular on TikTok can work – if you implement these tips and don’t give up too quickly.
