TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social platforms with 1B monthly active users.
The speed in which creators can grow audiences is nothing like we’ve seen before. 16-year-old TikTok creator, Charli D’Amelio became the first person to hit 100M followers, in just over a year. In comparison, it took 14 years before any account on YouTube hit 100M subscribers.
Vamp creator and TikToker @denis told us she grew 50k followers in under four months. How did she do it and how can you emulate the same success growing your own TikTok following? Keep reading to find out.
#1 Engage in community management
Like any platform, one of the best ways to grow your audience is to commit to regular community management. That means engaging with your followers and the wider TikTok community through on a daily or weekly basis.
So what does this look like on TikTok? Firstly, get to know your followers through your insights and engage with their accounts and content. Then use TikTok’s unique features to make connections. Try replying to comments with a video, stitching and duetting videos or using the new Q&A function, exclusively available to Creator Account holders.
Learn more about these community management tips here.
#2 Hit the For You Page
Getting your content featured on the For You Page is essential for account growth. It’s the primary TikTok feed where users, who don’t follow you, find your content. We know how its algorithm works. It takes user interactions, video information and account settings into consideration. Based on that, there are some things you can do to help increase your chances of hitting the FYP.
Number one is to participate in challenges and trends. They help you get noticed, gain followers and perhaps even go viral. @denis says, “You should be quickly jumping on the latest trends and challenges but do your own take on them.” This will keep your content relevant to your audience. For example, skincare guru @skincarebyhyram participated in this trend where people run away from their problems. He flipped it and made his version specifically about a skincare products.
Another great tip is to include high-quality transitions in your videos. They’re a great engagement builder. Viewers will re-watch your content multiple times to figure out how you did it, increasing the total watch and play time. To make your transitions as smooth as possible. “Consider your lighting, as even a subtle change can ruin a transition. Always try to shoot in even lighting” recommends @denis.
It’s also a good idea to put closed captions on your videos. “Not only does this make your content more accessible, but users will spend more time watching your video when they can understand what’s happening with no sound. This helps push your content up the algorithm” says @denis.
Here are more tips to help you go viral on TikTok and earn more about how to join challenges and trends here.
#3 Start a new trend or challenge
Why wait for new trends and challenges to roll around when you can create them yourself! Get it right and there’s a chance your account could go viral, giving you a big bump in new followers and engagements.
When creators start new trends or challenges, most of the time, users who participate will give credit to the creator and tag them in their caption or comment section. This will help your account reach a wider community and the more popular it becomes, the more people will join the trend or challenge. Need some inspiration? Start with your niche and build a trend or challenge around what you’re best known for i.e. dance, singing, photography, cooking, styling, make up etc.
#4 Post regularly
Sharing a constant stream of new content is key for TikTok growth. You give your account more chances of going viral and hitting the FYP (and we all know that’s a one way ticket to gaining new followers) and you also keep your current audience engaged, helping you retain loyal followers.
TikTok themselves say posting three to five videos per week has proven to be successful for steady growth. Vamp creator @denis was posting three times a day in the four months she gained 50k followers.
#5 Collaborate with other creators
Collaboration is a great way to network, get your name out there and build a larger, like-minded audience. Collaborating with other creators can help you reach a wider community, as their follower base will be exposed to your account, leading to a healthy boost in new followers.
Not sure how to get the ball rolling? Try engaging with creators who you feel are genuine and match or compliment your niche. Reach out to them personally and explain why you’d like to collaborate.
#6 Cross promote on other social channels
This tip is easy and requires little energy, but can sometimes be overlooked. TikTok is considered a fairly new social app, which means your following on other platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, could be larger. You have the opportunity to promote yourself on these platforms to help grow your TikTok audience.
A social user may find you on YouTube or Instagram first and decide they love your video content and want to also follow you on TikTok. Make a link to your account more accessible, either in your bio or in captions, and you’ll start to see your community grow.
#7 Find your niche
Discovering your niche and perfecting your content will likely attract a more engaged audience. Users love finding creators who have discovered their specialism, as they know they can always find quality content that interests them on your profile. They may even click that follow button to receive more of this same content in their Following Feed.
Already perfected your content on other social platforms? Great! Use your expertise in that category to shoot TikTok content that aligns with this other presence to save time and draw your current audience over to TikTok. If you’re just starting out, dabble in a few different categories first to figure out your strengths and what performs best for you.
Learn more about how you can find your TikTok niche here.
