5 Easy Ways to Increase TikTok Views That You Should Implement Immediately
The scariest part about getting started on TikTok is just how much exposure you can get in such a short amount of time.
If you’re an aspiring influencer or a growing business, “too much exposure” may just be music to your ears.
Today’s blog breaks down the TikTok algorithm, and offers 5 easy ways to increase views on your videos.
A Little Background on the TikTok Algorithm…
When you share a TikTok video, regardless of whether you have any following at all, your video will be added to the For You Page of a “test audience”.
This audience is determined based on the interests and preferences of the users, which are established at initial signup and from the user’s interactions on the app.
TikTok experts believe this test group contains about 200 people.
The way the test audience responds to your video essentially determines whether or not it gets shown to additional users.
This brings us to our first tip...
Tip #1: Start with a Bang!
Attention spans have drastically changed since the newspaper-reading days.
Social media content has played a significant role in mass-consumption of information, and TikTok users especially expect a lot of info in a short amount of time.
After all, most users only get 60 seconds to shine, and up to 3 minutes if they’re lucky. Make the first few seconds count!
Instead of telling a story from the beginning, talking about the weather and the birds in the trees, start with the punchline.
❌ So the other day I was walking through the park, minding my own business…
✅ Let me tell you how I got 6,000 baby ducks to follow me home from the park!
Tip #2: Add a Trending Song
Every video is an opportunity to hop on a trend, so never forget the trending sounds!
Even if you are just recording a story, explaining a process, or sharing a tidbit of information, be sure to visit the Sounds tab on the edit screen of your video.
From there, click on the magnifying glass to search sounds, then click on the TikTok Viral playlist.
This is where you can see what songs are the most popular at any given time.
Select a song from this playlist that somewhat–you can use the word ‘somewhat’ as loosely as you’d like–fits the vibe of the video you are making.
Once you’ve added the song, feel free to adjust the volume. It doesn’t need to be loud; anywhere between 1-10 notches gets the job done.
When you use a viral sound, anyone who clicks on the sound–to ‘save’ it or see other videos that have used it–will have the opportunity to stumble across your video.
This opens the door for increased views, so be sure to always include a song.
Tip #3: Closed Captioning
Adding closed captioning is a best practice for videos on all social media platforms, however, with TikTok being a video-only platform, it’s imperative to take advantage of their auto-generated captioning feature.
Over 6% of the world’s population experiences disabling hearing loss.
According to the World Health Organization
TikTok has done an incredible job of making their platform welcoming to all users, and in turn, has built a very strong community among those hard of hearing.
Not only do captions help make content inclusive for all, but they also allow more users to enjoy your videos in ‘silent’ mode.
This means increasing views by making videos available everywhere (including waiting rooms, school campuses and office settings).
How to Add Captions:
Step one - Record your video and edit to your liking - hit the check mark to continue.
Step two - Tell your story using TikTok’s auto-generated captions feature.
On the video editing screen, select the Closed Captioning button from the edit menu (it may be hiding under the drop-down arrow) and wait for the captions to generate.
Step three - Be sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors, as well as censor any words that may be against TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
Along with captions, I always recommend optimizing your video cover on the Post screen with a captivating title.
This makes it easy for users to locate the video they are looking for when scrolling through your profile or their Liked Videos page.
Tip #4: Trending Hashtags
Apart from the initial interests established by users at signup, hashtags are one of the other ways TikTok pairs your content with a suitable audience.
Feel free to get creative; take a stroll through the Discover page, and see what hashtags are currently trending.
If any of these hashtags fit the topic of your video or seem to appeal to your target audience, use them.
If they don’t fit… well, you can still use them. TikTokers may call you out for using too many trending hashtags “for clout”, but it’s still commonplace among creators.
Additionally, you’re always welcome to ride the wave of TikTok trends and use these hashtags to inspire your next video!
Tip #5: Keep the Ball Rolling
If a video proves successful, consider using the topic to start a series.
Author, science communicator and TikTok star, Hank Green, uses his platform to share scientific explanations to TikTok’s strangest questions.
TikTok users tend to follow accounts with consistent content topics or themes.
Once you’ve established your niche, be sure to include a description of your speciality in your profile bio. This helps establish your goal and reassure users that they can expect more similar content in the future!
In Summary:
Start your videos off strong!
Add a trending song to every video
Optimize for silent viewing with closed captioning and video covers
Include trending hashtags to target your audience
Keep the ball rolling with a video series and matching bio
I truly hope this guide has given you some insight on how to increase your reach on the world’s favorite video platform. The Pollinia team will be sure to keep you updated with the latest social media features and best practices, so be sure to check back regularly!
PS - If you enjoyed this article, be sure to share it with a friend or colleague. 📤
