Ever wondered how some TikTok videos seem to blow up overnight, racking up millions of views, while others barely make a ripple? 🤔
It’s not just luck—there’s a method to the madness. Whether you’re a brand trying to expand your reach or a creator looking to make your mark, going viral on TikTok is entirely possible with the right strategies.
In this guide, we’ll break down the secrets behind TikTok’s virality. You’ll learn how to ride the latest trends, engage your audience, and use tools like ClickUp to plan, create, and track your content like a pro.
Ready to take your TikTok game to the next level? Let’s dive in and make your next video go viral! 🚀
- Going Viral on Tiktok: What Really Happens?
- Strategies for Creating Viral Content
- 1. Keep up with the latest trends
- 2. Use trending and relevant hashtags
- 3. Spark curiosity
- 4. Use trending music to your advantage
- 5. Post consistently and at the right times
- 6. Tell a story
- 7. Vary your video length
- 8. Entertain and be relatable
- 9. Add value and educate with content
- 10. Engage with your TikTok audience
- 11. Jump on memes and challenges
- 12. Collaborate with other creators
- 13. Leverage user-generated content
- 14. Cross-promote your TikTok content on other platforms
- 15. Improve your editing skills
- Create and Plan Engaging Content
- Beyond TikTok: Orchestrate Marketing Across Channels With ClickUp
- What Not to Do to Go Viral on TikTok
- Reel It in: Go Viral On TikTok with ClickUp
Going Viral on Tiktok: What Really Happens?
We’ve cracked how to go viral on TikTok. 🔑
Or at least, our marketing teams and HRs have, after getting a whopping 19 Million views, 1.8 Million likes, and 188k saves on this video.
Want to see the magic? 😉👇🏻
Going viral on TikTok isn’t just about luck. TikTok’s algorithm does the rest if you can put the right pieces in place. But first, you need to understand how the TikTok algorithm works.
Understanding the TikTok Algorithm
TikTok is built on algorithms that determine what you see in your ‘For You’ page or ‘FYP.’
That’s why getting a handle on how it works is so important for creators and businesses who want to go viral.
- User engagement: Measures likes, comments, shares, and watch time to gauge interaction. Videos that hold viewers’ attention longer tend to be promoted to a broader audience.
- Video relevance: Assesses factors like hashtags, sound, captions, and video descriptions to determine content relevance and signal if a video is relevant to a user’s interest
- Account activity: Analyzes past user behavior, such as videos watched, liked, and shared, to personalize recommendations.
- Video quality: Considers elements like video resolution, audio clarity, and production value, although high quality is not strictly required for algorithm success
Additional factors:
- Time spent on the app: Influences TikTok’s recommendations based on how long users engage with individual posts. A recent Washington Post video says that the duration of user engagement with individual posts can dramatically affect the algorithm’s recommendations on TikTok
- Device and location: Factors in device type and location to recommend regionally relevant content.
When you post videos incorporating all these key factors, TikTok’s algorithm boosts their visibility, promoting them to more users. As engagement grows, the cycle continues, increasing exposure until your content reaches that highly sought-after ‘viral’ status.
Here’s a quick diagram representing a working TikTok algorithm. 📍
Strategies for Creating Viral Content
TikTok viral videos happen from 1% luck and 99% strategy. 🧠
We’ve compiled the best strategies for going viral on TikTok. Some of them are similar to effective social media project management strategies but are essential to streamlining the TikTok content creation process and increasing the chances of viral success.
1. Keep up with the latest trends
Trends are what fuel TikTok, and here’s how you can make the most of them:
- Stay up-to-date: Regularly check the ‘Discover‘ page to see what’s trending. Is it a particular song or a filter? Or a crazy online challenge?
- Make it relevant: Align with TikTok trends that resonate with your brand creatively. But remember to make it relevant. For example, if a dance challenge is trending, could you do it while showcasing your product?
- Create your trend: Initiate your trend or challenge if you’re feeling creative. If it catches on, it could skyrocket your visibility
Know when to skip a trend: Avoid jumping on trends that don’t align with your brand values or audience. 🚫
For example, when the “NFT craze” peaked, many brands rushed to create and sell NFTs without understanding the technology’s implications. Brands like Taco Bell faced backlash when they launched NFT art, which some felt was tone-deaf, particularly given the environmental concerns associated with NFTs.
Engaging in such trends can backfire if they don’t resonate with your audience or contradict your brand values, highlighting the need for thoughtful engagement.
Also Read: How to Use TrendSpotting (with Examples)
2. Use trending and relevant hashtags
When you use hashtags, remember to balance trending hashtags and those specific to your industry or brand. However, you should avoid overwhelming your caption with too many hashtags.
Although TikTok allows adding multiple hashtags, use three to five hashtags per post. 🔖
By choosing the right hashtags, you can captivate the audience most likely to be interested in your industry, products, or services, ensuring your content gets the attention it deserves!
We used a similar strategy in our viral video, ‘The Scrum Master’ (2.8M views).
We stuck to 4-5 trending hashtags—#corporate, #corporatelife, and #9to5, while #scrum and #projectmanager were highly relevant to our brand and video content.
3. Spark curiosity
Ever scroll past a video only to loop back because the opening line was that intriguing? That’s the goal. 🎯
Start with a question, suspense, or a wild scenario. Take a page from Legendaryshots, a TikTok account known for wild experiments that keep people glued till the end.
4. Use trending music to your advantage
Music plays a massive role on TikTok—nearly 90% of respondents in a study say sound is central to their experience. 🎶
Using trending sounds will help your content get noticed. Choose trendy music or sound effects that complement your video and grab your attention. The right sound can enhance the mood and make your video more memorable.
For example, you can use an upbeat, motivational song for a video showing your daily morning routine.
You can also create your own audio or sound bites to complement your video. Doing this also gives your music a chance to go viral.
For example, the viral Taylor Swift song “Anti-Hero” was paired with everything from break-up stories to pet stories, racking up millions of views.
Speaking of songs, have you heard our banger TikTok soundtrack—Choices? 😉
5. Post consistently and at the right times
Consistency tells Tiktok’s algorithms that you’re actively publishing fresh content for its users.
The more consistent engagement your account gets, the more preference algorithms give to your account. But timing matters, too!
Create a consistent posting schedule and stick to it. Post frequently to keep your content fresh and relevant, and use TikTok analytics tools to identify the optimal times your audience is most engaged. Posting when your audience is online is one of the well-known TikTok hacks.
Research by SocialPilot revealed the best time(s) to post on TikTok in 2024.
Pro Tip: Want to streamline this? Tools like ClickUp’s Calendar View can help you easily manage your posting schedule. 📅
6. Tell a story
People love stories, and the TikTok audience is no exception. 💬
Yes, music is essential for engagement; we have already addressed that. But did you know that 80% of the top TikTok videos incorporate music?
This is particularly impactful when paired with relatable storytelling, as seen with successful campaigns that utilize trending sounds or create custom soundscapes to capture attention.
A well-told story can connect with viewers on a deeper level and encourage shares. A strong storyline can also hook viewers early and keep them watching longer.
🌟Example: If you’re in the fitness industry, you could create a video story around your initial days working out at a gym. How did you feel initially? What gave you the push to make changes in your routine?
7. Vary your video length
Experiment with different video lengths to see what works best for your audience.
📌 According to Social Insider, short videos of 0 to 15 seconds get an average of 9.40% video views, while longer videos get a lump sum of 7% view rate.
This means shorter videos often perform better in terms of views. But that doesn’t mean longer videos can’t work! It’s about finding the sweet spot that works for your content and audience.
🍃 Friendly Advice: Experiment with different lengths to see what resonates. But keep in mind: If you have a powerful story to tell, don’t be afraid to go long!
8. Entertain and be relatable
TikTok is fun, and humor is key. Use it to create situations that viewers can connect with. A fun and engaging video is more likely to go viral. So, don’t be afraid to add personality and humor to your videos.
📌 According to TikTok:
- 7 in 10 viewers say ‘making people laugh’ is considered the most enjoyable aspect of watching TikTok ads
- 30% of TikTok users said humor in creator content was a top motivation for purchase intent
- ‘Funny’ is the top video category that viewers want to see from creators
Oh, it looks like we just went viral for the same reason!!! 😉
Perfection isn’t required: Embrace your quirky moments! 💜
Don’t worry about making every TikTok perfect. Sometimes, the quirky, raw moments resonate the most with your audience. So let your creativity flow—mistakes and all!
9. Add value and educate with content
Provide value to your viewers by offering useful information or educating them on a topic. This can establish you as an expert and attract a loyal following.
How-tos, tips, and tricks are the most engaging way to educate your niche audience. However, ensure that you’re creating original, authoritative content.
10. Engage with your TikTok audience
Interacting with your followers is key to building a community. Boost user interaction by creating content that sparks immediate action! Try adding a question-based call to action (CTA) or developing topics based on user suggestions and trending interests.
Once the post is live, look for opportunities to engage with your network. Reply to comments and encourage your followers to join the conversation.
💡 Pro Tip: Reply to comments within the first hour of your video going live. TikTok rewards content that sparks engagement, so responding to viewers quickly increases your chances of being pushed to more feeds. ⏳.
11. Jump on memes and challenges
Participating in popular memes and challenges can help you reach a wider audience. Stay updated on current trends and create your unique twist to stand out.
Stay current on trends: Keep an eye on the ‘Discover’ page and follow relevant creators to stay updated on what’s trending. Timing is key—jumping on a challenge early can set you apart before it becomes saturated.
Add a unique twist: Joining a trend is great, but putting your spin on it makes your content memorable. Whether adding a brand-specific element, humorous take, or creative variation, a unique twist helps your video stand out.
🌟Example: Let’s say there’s a popular TikTok challenge where users showcase a dramatic transformation to a specific song. You could join in by revealing a before-and-after using your product or service.
If you run a skincare brand, show a fun transition from waking up with bedhead to glowing skin after using your products. This taps into the trending format and highlights what your brand offers entertainingly. By blending your niche with a viral trend, you connect with a broader audience while keeping your content relevant and engaging.
12. Collaborate with other creators
Partner with other creators in your niche to reach a wider audience. Collaborate on duets, stitches, or joint videos to increase visibility and exposure.
When choosing influencers to collaborate with, it’s essential to consider a few things:
- Follower size
- Audience alignment
- Content style
Use influencer marketing tools to keep track of your collaborations, marketing campaigns, influencers in your niche, etc.
🌟 Example: Imagine you run a healthy cooking channel and partner with a fitness influencer. You could create a joint video in which you prepare a nutritious meal together, showcasing the cooking process and its benefits for a healthy lifestyle.
This collaboration combines your audiences and provides valuable content that resonates with viewers interested in cooking and fitness.
13. Leverage user-generated content
Encourage your followers to create content related to your brand or products. Feature the best submissions on your TikTok channel to engage your community and showcase user-generated content.
Crocs made it happen! All with a viral TikTok campaign that ran on user-generated content.
Here’s the story:
In 2018, Crocs launched a trend calling people to customize their Crocs. The campaign had a strong ‘IM GONNA BE whatever I want.’
“Show us what YOUR $1,000 Crocs looks like by customizing, enhancing or by just embodying the Come As You Are mentality and letting the world know I AM GONNA BE whatever I want.”
While users created their classed-up versions of Crocs, Post Malone created one too. The limited edition shoes sold out within 10 minutes! 👀
All of this happened without Crocs creating a single piece of content.
So, why not take a page from Crocs’ playbook? Inspire your audience to showcase their creativity and watch your brand thrive through authentic connections!
14. Cross-promote your TikTok content on other platforms
Don’t keep your Tiktok content in a silo. Share your TikTok videos on other social media platforms to drive traffic and increase visibility. Encourage your followers on other platforms to follow you on TikTok.
Integrating your TikTok content into your broader social media strategy expands your audience and creates a more cohesive brand narrative. Highlighting the unique aspects of your TikTok videos can spark curiosity and draw in followers eager to engage with your creative journey across platforms.
🌟 Example: Create a teaser or highlight reel of your TikTok content to share on your Instagram Stories or feed, enticing viewers with snippets of what they can expect.
If you’re showcasing a DIY project on TikTok, post a quick before-and-after clip on Instagram, prompting viewers to check out the complete transformation on your TikTok. Additionally, consider pinning a TikTok video to the top of your Facebook page or featuring it in a newsletter to capture the attention of your email subscribers.
This multi-channel approach boosts your TikTok visibility and fosters a more engaged community across platforms.
15. Improve your editing skills
Enhance your videos with effective editing techniques. TikTok offers a range of effects, from filters to green screens, to make your videos more engaging and fun. Feel free to experiment and see what works for your content.
Alternatively, you can use video marketing software to add transitions, text overlays, and music. A well-edited video can greatly improve its overall quality.
No editing skills? No problem! 🎬
Don’t worry if you’re not an editing expert—TikTok’s built-in tools make it super easy. Start small: throw in some fun text, try out a transitions, and play with the effects. But here’s the thing—sometimes, keeping it simple works best when you’re just getting the hang of it. Have, fun and let your personality shine through!
Create and Plan Engaging Content
Your first step to TikTok virality? Planning. 🖍️
ClickUp provides robust features to help you brainstorm, organize, and refine your content ideas. ✨
Brainstorming sessions with ClickUp Whiteboards
ClickUp Whiteboards are digital canvases where you and your team can visually brainstorm content ideas. Imagine a virtual whiteboard where you can add notes, images, mind maps, and links to ClickUp Tasks or Docs.
For instance, you can use ClickUp Whiteboards to:
- Generate topic ideas for your blog posts, social media content, or video scripts
- Sketch out outlines and storyboards for your content
- Organize your research findings and competitor analysis
🍃 Friendly Advice: Ever had a genius idea for a TikTok video at 2 a.m. but totally forgot it by the time you woke up? Yeah, us, too. That’s why ClickUp’s mobile app is perfect—just jot down those midnight epiphanies right when they hit you!
Research and ideation with ClickUp Brain
ClickUp Brain is your all-in-one AI-powered content assistant. It can analyze your content and suggest relevant topics and ideas for future content creation.
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a creative rut, trying to come up with fresh and engaging content ideas, you’re not the only one. That’s where ClickUp Brain comes in to save the day! It’s here to help you:
- Identify trending topics related to your niche
- Analyze your content performance to see what resonates with your audience
- Generate new content ideas based on your existing content and audience data
ClickUp Brain can help you scale your content production significantly.
Create a calendar
Once you’ve brainstormed and finalized your content ideas, use ClickUp’s Calendar View to plan and schedule your content.
Here’s how it can help:
- Create and visualize your content schedule: Visualize all your planned tasks, including social media content, videos, and more, displayed on a calendar
- Drag-and-drop scheduling: Reschedule content by dragging and dropping tasks on the calendar. Adjust your schedule based on unforeseen circumstances or changes in priorities
- Assign tasks and set deadlines: Assign content creation tasks to specific team members and set deadlines. Ensure everyone has the same view as you and is accountable for their assigned content creation workload
- Integrate with existing tools: Integrates with popular social media platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and more, allowing you to schedule your social media content directly within the app
ClickUp offers a variety of free content calendar templates to help you get started quickly, such as 👇
ClickUp Modern Social Media Calendar Template
Need a framework to get your content organized? The ClickUp Modern Social Media Calendar Template helps you manage and schedule your social media content across various platforms. Here’s what this template offers:
- Advanced task management: Create, assign, and track detailed tasks for your social media content
- Content scheduling: Schedule posts for various platforms and times based on dates
- Collaboration tools: Work with your team to brainstorm, create, and manage content together
- Performance tracking: Monitor the engagement and performance of your social media posts
- Integrations: Connect with any popular social media platform and other tools for a seamless workflow
Similarly, the ClickUp Social Media Template offers a streamlined approach to managing social media content. It provides a basic framework for scheduling posts, assigning tasks, and tracking progress.
Scheduling posts
Once your content is created and planned, the next step is to schedule your posts. ClickUp’s Calendar View makes this process simple and efficient.
Assigning dates for every task
- Open the calendar view: Navigate to the Calendar View in your ClickUp Workspace
- Drag and drop tasks: Click on a task and drag it to the desired date to automatically assign the task to that specific date
- Set due dates: Set a due date by clicking on the task and selecting the ‘Due Date’ option for tasks that require a specific deadline
- Adjust time zones: If your team is working in different time zones, ensure that the correct time zone is set for each task to avoid scheduling conflicts
Scheduling recurring posts
If you have recurring content, such as weekly or monthly newsletters, you can use ClickUp recurring tasks to schedule them automatically.
- Create a recurring task: Create a new task and select the ‘Recurring’ option
- Set recurrence pattern: Choose the desired recurrence pattern and set the schedule—whether it is daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly
- Define end date: Specify when you want the recurring task to end
Tracking performance
Knowing your content’s performance is vital for leveling up your social media strategy! When you pinpoint what resonates, you can refine your approach and craft content that captivates your audience.
ClickUp Dashboards
ClickUp Dashboards provide powerful tools to track key metrics and gain valuable insights.
How ClickUp Dashboards acts as your social media analytics hub:
- Centralized monitoring: Bring all your social media metrics together in one dashboard with ClickUp for a clear performance overview
- Visual representation of data: Use customizable charts and graphs to spot trends and track engagement effortlessly
- Track performance against goals: Set social media campaign goals and track your progress towards them within your ClickUp Dashboards. This helps you measure your success and identify areas for improvement
ClickUp Social Media Metrics Template
Need help tracking your social media metrics? The ClickUp Social Media Metrics Template simplifies the process and helps you analyze your social media performance. It provides a dedicated dashboard with key metrics to help you understand how your content is performing.
- Pre-built dashboard: Tracks key social media metrics like follower growth, engagement rate, and website traffic
- Customization: Tailors the dashboard to track the metrics most relevant to your social media goals
- Automated data population: Saves time by automatically pulling data from your social media accounts
- Data-driven marketing: Empowers you to make informed decisions and optimize your social media strategy based on actual performance data
ClickUp Marketing
ClickUp Marketing is a powerful marketing planning software designed to streamline your entire marketing workflow.
It gives you all the tools to effortlessly juggle all your marketing projects and campaigns across multiple channels. Plus, manage your TikTok content with:
- Effortless organization: Ditch the spreadsheets and organize your TikTok content effectively within ClickUp
- Collaborative workflow: Brainstorm ideas, assign tasks, and collaborate with your team on video creation—all within one platform
- Streamlined workflow: Use ClickUp’s multiple views (List, Calendar, Kanban) to create custom content calendars for your TikTok strategy. For instance, you can use Kanban view to manage the different video production stages, from brainstorming ideas to editing and final approval
Beyond TikTok: Orchestrate Marketing Across Channels With ClickUp
ClickUp isn’t just for TikTok. Its versatility allows you to manage all your marketing initiatives, regardless of the channel.
Plan and execute email campaigns, manage social media content for different platforms with social media templates, and track website traffic—all within a centralized hub.
Multiple views for different needs:
ClickUp stands out because of its remarkable flexibility. Choose the view—List, Calendar, or Kanban—that best suits your needs and the specific marketing project you’re working on. This personalized approach ensures a clear and organized workflow across all your marketing channels.
💡Pro tip: Use dedicated TikTok marketing tools to track campaign performance effectively, optimize content strategies, and reach your target audience on the platform.
What Not to Do to Go Viral on TikTok
While going viral on TikTok can be exciting, it’s important to remember that not every trend or strategy will work for every brand. Here are some things to avoid when trying to go viral:
1. Straying from your brand identity
It’s tempting to jump on every trend, but it’s important to stay true to your brand identity. Trying to be something you’re not can confuse your audience and alienate potential followers.
2. Forcing trends
Don’t force yourself to participate in trends that don’t align with your brand or content style. Authentic content is more likely to resonate with your audience than forced attempts to be trendy.
3. Ignoring your target audience
When creating content, always consider your TikTok audience. What kind of content do they enjoy? What interests do they have? Content that resonates with your audience is more likely to go viral.
4. Overusing hashtags
While hashtags are important for discoverability, too many irrelevant hashtags can hurt your reach. Stick to using relevant hashtags that are used by your TikTok audience.
5. Not promoting your content
Once you’ve created a great TikTok video, don’t just sit back and wait for it to go viral. Promote your content on other social media platforms and encourage your followers to share it.
Remember, going viral on TikTok is not about following every trend or strategy. It’s about creating authentic, engaging content that resonates with your target audience. By staying true to your brand and understanding your audience, you’ll be well on your way to TikTok success.
Reel It in: Go Viral On TikTok with ClickUp
TikTok offers businesses and individuals a unique opportunity to reach a massive audience. However, building a following on TikTok doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s okay! Every new follower is like a tiny high-five from someone who loves your content. Focus on creating videos you’re proud of, and the followers will come. ⏰
But when the question is how to go viral on TikTok and manage your content, ClickUp has your back.
Remember to maintain your brand identity, analyze your performance, and adapt your strategy with time.
ClickUp’s features can help you save time, improve efficiency, and ultimately achieve your TikTok goals. From content planning and scheduling to tracking performance, ClickUp offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you create and manage your content effectively.
Try ClickUp today and start creating viral content with ease! 🎯