How to Make a Viral TikTok Video

Be uniquely interesting: As an agent once told me, it’s not enough to be good looking—you have to look or be interesting enough that people want to see more. Although being good looking helps—it’s not enough to go viral (unless you’re so good looking you’re on another level). Be interesting by letting the inner light shine. Reality shows are popular because people like real people. Be weird, be interesting, be you.

Pick topics people can relate to. If you’re talking about formula 1 racing—most people’s eyes will glaze over and turn into sand. Appeal to the masses by doing or saying something that appeals to the masses and not a select group. I actually have nothing for a third!

Load your channel with unique, quality content. Engage with accounts similar to those you'd like following you. Remix and post video responses to other popular videos.

Trend Challenges: Participate in popular TikTok challenges and trends. Keep an eye on the trending page and join in on challenges that are gaining momentum. Use relevant hashtags and create engaging content that aligns with the trend.

Collaborate with Influencers: Reach out to influencers in your niche and collaborate on content. By partnering with influencers who have a following, you can tap into their audience and increase the chances of your content going viral.

Engaging Content: Develop a content plan that includes a mix of popular TikTok formats such as lip-syncs, dances, and how-to videos, tailored to your niche. Use high-quality editing apps to enhance your videos with effects, transitions, and well-synced music. Test different video lengths, posting times, and content types to see what resonates most with your audience. Regularly review your video analytics to understand which videos are performing best and refine your strategy based on this data.

I believe that going viral on TikTok with zero followers is definitely possible. In fact, I guess it's all about the right tactics and a bit of creativity.

1. Catchy and Relatable Content: I believe that creating content that resonates with a broad audience is key. I think it's important to tap into trends and challenges that are popular on TikTok at the moment. By doing so, I guess you can increase the chances of your video being discovered by a wider audience.

2. Consistent Posting: I believe that consistency is vital when trying to gain traction on TikTok. I think it's essential to post regularly to keep your audience engaged. I guess this can help in building a loyal following over time. Whether it's daily or a few times a week, I think it's important to establish a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it.

3. Engage with the TikTok Community: I think it’s crucial to actively engage with the TikTok community. I believe that responding to comments, duetting with other creators, and participating in challenges can help boost your visibility. I guess it’s all about being a part of the platform’s ecosystem and not just a passive observer.

1) Create videos that are longer than 1 minute. TikTok has learned that viewers spend 90% more time watching longer videos.

2) Research trending topics and videos through keyword research. For example, type into the search bar content marketing strategy and review the top 3 videos that show up. Analyze how the video was filmed and the keywords used in the video and caption.

3) Hook your audience in from the start! People are scrolling quickly so you want to stop their scroll by immediately grabbing their attention with a strong hook and keep them hooked throughout your videos. The longer a viewer spends on your video, the better it will perform.

1. Maximize your SEO on TikTok. The things you're saying on your video are not necessarily the things your audience would use to search for your type of content, especially if it's storytelling-related content. Search up keywords your video is related to—for example, "marketing online." Then check TikTok’s "Others have searched for" section, take those keywords, and add them as small text in your video and in your caption. The algorithm will detect them even if viewers can’t see them.

2. Use more hashtags your audience uses to describe themselves vs. hashtags describing your video. For example, instead of #socialmediaexpert or #socialmediamanager, use niche hashtags like #entrepreneurjourney, #theCEOmindset, or #womencollaborators (under 20M views). This ensures TikTok shows your content to the right first batch of people who engage early, boosting your chance of going viral.

3. Storytelling with two-way skits. These let your audience feel part of the story since they’ve likely shared the same pain points. It’s an engaging way to explain complex solutions and helps people remember your content 8x better than plain educational videos. Incorporate two-way skits to connect authentically and boost retention.

Going viral on TikTok with zero followers can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here are three tactics to increase your chances:

1. Leverage Trending Challenges: Stay updated on the latest trends and challenges on TikTok. Participate in popular challenges by putting your unique spin on them and use trending hashtags. Make sure your video aligns with the theme but adds something fresh to increase its discoverability.

2. Create Engaging and Shareable Content: Focus on videos that are entertaining, relatable, or valuable. The more engaging, the more likely people will share. Experiment with tutorials, comedy skits, or short stories. Eye-catching visuals and music help improve shareability.

3. Optimize Your Profile: Build a profile that clearly communicates who you are and what you create. Use a standout profile picture, memorable username, and engaging bio with relevant keywords. Collaborate with larger creators to reach new audiences. Stay consistent, post regularly, interact with comments, and track analytics to refine your strategy.

Social media can be a fickle game, especially when you’re trying to go viral on TikTok. Just like Google, the TikTok algorithms keep changing. But there are strategies you can use to go viral even with zero followers:

1. Create Engaging Content That Hooks Your Audience From The Start: Make your content relatable, entertaining, or informative, and open with a strong hook. Engaging starts help videos get shared and gain traction.

2. Trending Challenges and Hashtags: Watch for trending challenges, sounds, and hashtags. Participate by adding your unique spin. This helps improve visibility since many users search and follow trends.

3. Engage and Collaborate: Interact with your audience consistently—reply to comments and messages. Collaborate with other creators in your niche to expand reach and strengthen community.

Momentum takes time, but these tactics boost your chances of going viral, even if you start with zero followers.

Let’s face it — your business needs to be on TikTok if you want to capture consumer attention, especially among younger generations. To make this happen, start with consistency. Even if you have zero followers and no engagement, posting regularly will help change that over time.

Next, use strategic hashtags to attract fresh eyes and followers that fit your target audience. Hashtags are a powerful way to bring in people genuinely interested in your content.

Finally, have fun. TikTok thrives on engagement and entertainment, so don’t take your posts too seriously. Authenticity and consistency together will help you grow your account and gain meaningful followers.

1. Don’t make “virality” the main goal. Instead, focus on learning about your audience and what resonates with them.

2. Find a video style that both you and your audience enjoy, then double down by creating more videos in that format.

3. Create top-of-funnel content that is opinionated, aspirational, or relatable. This kind of content captures attention, builds connection, and naturally drives more people into your community.

1. Engage with other creators by liking, commenting, and sharing their content. Build real relationships with genuine comments that add value — this helps you get noticed by their audience too.

2. Use trending hashtags and challenges to expand your reach. Stay updated on what’s popular, participate, and always put your own creative spin to stand out.

3. Focus on creating engaging content that’s creative, authentic, and entertaining. Experiment with duets, challenges, and trends, while ensuring your videos are high-quality, well-edited, and showcase your personality.

1. Create videos with mass appeal. Focus on content that resonates with a wide audience, not just a small niche, to maximize chances of going viral.

2. Be consistent. Don’t expect your first video to blow up — it may take your 30th, 40th, or 50th post. Posting regularly builds momentum and increases reach.

3. Stay persistent. If one profile or content style doesn’t work after hundreds of posts, pivot. Start fresh if needed, learn from experience, and keep trying until you hit your stride.

1. Use Spark Ads. Even with no followers, you can boost other people’s posts that mention or feature you. This TikTok ad format leverages their popularity to amplify your reach.

2. Make 10 short videos (15s each). Test different hooks, bodies, and calls to action. The first 2 seconds matter most — aim for 30% watch-through. Then iterate with small tweaks (background, music, words, etc.).

3. Say something controversial (but not offensive). Tapping into trending discussions is a proven way to grab attention and increase your chances of going viral.

Knowing the trends will get you seen. Having great content will make you go viral.

1. Explore the “For You” Page — TikTok’s algorithm curates this feed where most trends emerge and gain traction.

2. Check Trending Hashtags — Use the Discover page to spot updated hashtags tied to popular challenges, themes, or topics.

3. Listen to Trending Music — Music drives TikTok trends. Pay attention to tracks used in popular videos, as they often indicate emerging challenges or dances.

4. Engage with TikTok Communities — Participate in social groups, forums, and sites where trends are discussed to catch them early.

Then create unique, well-executed content using trending music and hashtags. The key is jumping on trends early and producing innovative content fast enough to ride the momentum.

Leverage Trending Hashtags and Sounds: Use TikTok’s Discover page to spot trends and incorporate them naturally to maximize reach.

Create Authentic, Engaging Content: Authenticity drives loyalty. Blend storytelling, humor, or emotion, and study top-performing TikToks for insights.

Collaborate and Participate in Challenges: Partner with other creators and join relevant viral challenges to expand visibility and grow faster.