TikTok’s one of the omnipresent platforms you can’t exclude from your campaign: while the algorithms may be a little wonky, they tend to deliver stable results, if a trifle unpredictable. Affiliates, however, already have everything at the tips of their fingers: the data, the techniques, the content, the CTAs, the hooks, the strategies that work against all odds…
But the question remains the same: how to get more views on TikTok? Can a pre-recorded video become viral? What makes it viral in the first place?
The answer is a tad more complicated than a simple yes, but we’ll try to explain.
Why TikTok Views Matter
TikTok is an annoying platform: vain attempts at acting, weird dances, bizarre trends, and piles of inauthentic content make it hard to love — this is what many people see when they first log in and plow through self-proclaimed influencers with a follower base of twenty people.
Once you get the hang of it, however, you realize that TikTok is a treasure trove you have been looking for your entire life: first of all, the views you get impact your visibility and reach, expanding your audience and nudging people to subscribe to your account. Consequently, your follower base grows — depending on the frequency with which you post content and a few other factors, it may be a fairly quick process or ploddingly slow — which increases engagement and provides opportunities for monetization and brand deals.
How TikTok Counts Views
As you probably know, YouTube has its own approach when it comes to view counting: it happens only when a viewer — a real viewer, might we add! — intentionally clicks the Play button and watches the video for thirty seconds. At least.
This calculating technique cannot be applied to TikTok, where — though with certain caveats — the average length of the vid is significantly shorter. So, the developers came up with their own strategy.
TikTok counts a view almost instantly when your content starts playing, meaning even a brief watch contributes to your total. At the same time, views aren’t the only criterion you should keep an eye on: views only measure how many times people watched your vid; it would be foolish to ignore likes, which reflect audience appreciation, and watch time, which encourages rewatches and retains viewers longer.
How the TikTok Algorithm Works
If you want to know how to get views on tiktok, you should understand the algorithms the platform goes by. Unlike many other socials, TikTok does not rely on follower count; instead, it evaluates how individual videos perform and then decides how widely to distribute them on the For You page. But more on that below.
Key Ranking Factors
Opinions may vary, but we single out four major factors that influence the content you post.
Watch time and completion rate
This one should be obvious — and this is one of the biggest and strongest signals that show TikTok that your content is engaging. In other words, the platform concludes that your content is worth promoting only if the viewers watched it till the end — or returned to rewatch it.
Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
Remember the last time you watched a YouTube video — quite possibly, a blogger asked you to share, like, and subscribe. While it’s a very popular CTA, it doesn’t often happen on on TikTok, but the principle nevertheless remains the same. Interaction in any form demonstrates that users are pleased with the content quality and find it valuable or at least entertaining. As a result, such a video gets pushed further to wider audiences.
Video relevance and keywords
Treat TikTok as an analyst because it often displays the qualities of a finicky specialist. The platform analyzes everything it possibly can analyze: hashtags, captions, and even on-screen texts, so resort to clearer keywords to help the platform deliver your content to interested users.
User behavior and interaction history
As a rule, TikTok algorithms define what users watch, like, or skip. Based on the readouts, the platform decides what else these people might want to watch: if your video hits a nerve in a particular audience, the algorithm shoves it to said audience. Simple as that.
12 Proven Ways to Get More Views on TikTok
Now we can get down to business. If you’re wondering how to boost TikTok views, you can resort to one (or several) tactics mentioned below.
1. Hook Viewers in the First 3 Seconds
Hooks are crucial, and they may be shocking or repulsive — practically, you can do anything to capture the momentum and freeze users staring at the screen: a sudden question, an unexpected statement, a compelling visual — fan out the options and choose the one that fits best.
2. Find and Focus on a Clear Content Niche
It’s normal to have many hobbies and interests and share them with the public, but when it comes to business, stick to one niche and remain consistent within it to let TikTok recommend yout posts to the right audience.
3. Use Trending Sounds and Music
One of the tips we couldn’t overlook is definitely the trending sounds: it’s not a secret that TikTok often promotes content that uses popular music.
4. Add Relevant Hashtags and Keywords
It’s no longer a secret that there is no feature TikTok fails to analyze: even hashtags and on-screen texts are not safe. Luckily, it’s not as remotely scary as it may sound: these relevant, trending, and/or niche-specific hashtags, when used pertinently, can significantly boost your visibility.
5. Post Consistently
If TikTok had a Bible of its own, Consistency would be among the first few commandments there. Regular posts, just as the previous aspect, increase your chances of being seen and demonstrate that you are an active creator.
6. Optimize Video Length for Retention
We all know TikTok for shorties, and yes, shorter videos do tend to perform better, but the length isn’t the operative word here: sometimes even a 30-second video may be stultifyingly boring. Focus on retention and keep the content engaging, so people watch your video till the end.
7. Use Captions and On-Screen Text
Text elements are often neglected, but they reinforce your message and provide additional context for the algo.
8. Create Shareable and Rewatchable Content
Create content you would like to share with your friends or rewatch — it always performs better. While it’s hard to pinpoint what people actually rewatch, we’d make a bet on relatable videos, recipes, or all sorts of tutorials.
9. Engage With Your Audience in Comments
Interaction goes both ways, so try your luck in building a community and encouraging people to communicate. It may not be the answer to the perennial question of how to get more views on tiktok after posting, but yes, this may be considered a ruse to employ.
10. Collaborate With Other TikTok Creators
There’s a dozen ways to attract a new audience, but collaboration is probably the easiest and most effective one. When you post a video made in collaboration with a fellow creator, you engage this creator’s audience too, and they’re vehemently writing the comments below. Who knows, maybe they will subscribe to your account as well?
11. Participate in TikTok Trends and Challenges
Trends push content forward; it’s been obvious since… the beginning of TikTok. Now you can seize the opportunity and add a creative spin to be noted.
12. Analyze Performance With TikTok Analytics
Analytics… is a drab task for most people and doesn’t quite jive with the nonchalant nature of the platform, but it still remains an integral part of any growth, both professional and personal. Different content makers prioritize different aspects, but among the most important metrics we’d recognize demographics, watch time, and engagement.
Best Time to Post on TikTok for More Views
High views is an achievable goal, but, alas, it is heavily influenced by the time you post your content.
General posting recommendations
The rumor has it that TikTok has a legendary perfect time for posting content, and yes, it’s true — to some extent. The thing is that each audience is most active at different moments, and if you manage to find out when it happens, you will aptly capture early engagement. Common high-activity periods normally include mornings, lunch hours, and evenings.
How to find the best time for your audience
Well, the drab thing rises again — consult your analytics dashboard on TikTok analytics to see when your followers are online and which posts perform best. Besides, you can try experimenting with posting times to discern the patterns and adjust your schedule.
TikTok Features That Can Boost Your Views
At the same time, TikTok has a few secret — or not so secret — tools that can expand your reach.
Duets and stitches
Duets and stitches are two mystifying notions for those who have never visited TikTok or haven’t stayed there long enough to admire its diversity and wit.
So, apart from the usual TikTok videos that migrate to other platforms and perform several times after that, there are two distinct types: duets (side-by-side videos) and stitches (vids that play sequentially: your response comes after the original). Both these types allow aspiring creators to make their own content based on the already existing videos, which serve as a stepping stone to popularity and engagement.
TikTok Promote and ads
Can you promote on TikTok? Sure, there’s an entire feature for that, and the name doesn’t keep you in the dark: for once, the name — Promote — implies exactly what it is. Rumor has it that Promote can work perfectly well by itself, but coupled with paid ads it can boost visibility even further.
Interactive features (polls, Q&A, effects)
There’s no way to say it mildly: TikTok is an extremely interactive platform, where people communicate all the time. They chat in the videos and under the videos, and it’s hard to imagine a place where conversation would flow just as effortlessly and with so many — and so diverse — participants. But videos and comments aren’t the only source of incessant communication: to spark a discussion, TikTokers often resort to interactive features — creative effects, polls, and Q&A — and invite people to take part in a confabulation.
Common Mistakes That Reduce TikTok Views
Albeit TikTok seems a fairly simple platform to navigate, affiliates and aspiring content makers tend to make mistakes, some less grave than others. In the section below, we will elaborate on the most common pitfalls.
Weak hooks and slow intros
Hooks can be shocking. You may err on the side of caution and choose a relatively tame statement, or go all-in and traumatize people with a piece of news you’re later going to debunk or explain. Both work well, but the rule of three seconds must always be kept in mind, because if the video doesn’t keep a viewer in a chokehold, they scroll it away.
Posting overly promotional content
Do you like products being pushed into your face? Answer this question before you move on because it really matters: most likely, your reply can be boiled down to a simple “no”, and it applies to other people around. While salesy content can indeed be funny or engaging, it usually tends to feel strained and over-the-top, which, unfortunately, increases its chances to flop.
Ignoring trends and platform culture
You may have noticed, but we will spell it out: TikTok thrives on trends, and this statement can be further expanded — trends include sounds as challenges as well. In other words, you’re bound to participate, use trending sounds and songs to enhance visibility; if you don’t adapt the challenges to your niche… You can guess what happens next.
Poor video quality
TikTok is so unserious, TikTok is so silly, TikTok is this, TikTok is that, and, though these statements are somewhat true, you must post high-quality videos… but not because the platform orders you to. The thing is that people are finicky, and they might scroll your video away if they come across bad lighting, unclear audio, or low resolution.
Inconsistent posting schedule
Retrace the steps to the Bible moment of the article and take a deep breath. Schedules are a pain in the rear, for want of a better word, but this is exactly what can help you build momentum and maintain audience interest.
How Long Does It Take to Get More Views on TikTok?
This is another question you often see on socials, and the sad thing is that no one can — even roughly — estimate the exact timeframe. Some videos become viral in a matter of mere seconds after being posted; others take days; the third category may be pushed in the farthest corner on the Internet because the creator failed to do research, adjust their content, and post it in the right time.
However, if you are a diligent content maker, you should expect first changes within 24–48 hours, as the algo pushes the first 200–300 views. In certain cases, videos may go viral — immediately or after 2 days. Again, it is not possible to give exact numbers, but the general timeline tends to look like this:
- Initial traction, which takes up to 48 hours. The algorithm tests videos on small audiences and concludes whether it should be pushed to a larger pool or not.
- Viral Delay, up to 5 days. Videos hit the For You Page.
- Consistency, up to 3 months. The algorithm parses and understands your niche.
- Long-term strategy, 90 days. To establish the growth, specialists advise to post 1–3 times a day for 90 days straight.
Conclusion
Essentially, TikTok — as any other platform working as a stable source of income — requires a multifaceted, complex approach, which refines all aspects of the content and strategy. First, you glean information about the algorithms, policies, trends, and timeframes; then, you create content and test it on your audiences and monitor analytics, tracking the patterns and doubling down on the most successful readouts. Next, content makers should build rapport with their audience and try interactive techniques: it helps establish an online presence and cultivate a public image. Finally, it often pays back to keep a finger on the pulse and use the features implemented into the platform: we don’t know how it affects the final result, but perhaps the platofm somehow acknowledges the fact that you use its tools, not some third-party instruments…