How to Go Viral on TikTok: A Beginner’s Guide

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users. Unlike other platforms, TikTok’s algorithm allows anyone to go viral, even without followers.

If you still are unsure about why you should be on TikTok, consider this:

• 90% of TikTok users access it daily, often multiple times.
• The average time spent per day on the app is, on average, 46 minutes.

So, if you know how to create engaging, high-retention videos, going viral on TikTok won’t be out of your reach.

1. Understand How the TikTok Algorithm Works

1.1. Don’t Waste Your Viewers’ Time

Until you establish a recognizable brand, gimmick, and hook, you lack any qualitative edge to achieve virality on TikTok from the algorithm’s perspective—your chances hinge primarily on quantitative performance metrics. One crucial metric to monitor is your video’s completion rate, which indicates how well your content holds the attention of TikTok users. To enhance this, focus on concise and engaging content.

How can creators produce content that achieves a higher completion rate? The key is straightforward: respect your viewers’ time. If your videos fail to maintain engagement, TikTok’s algorithm will not prioritize them. Social media platforms thrive on user engagement; their revenue models depend on it. Therefore, the algorithm promotes content that aligns with this objective, boosting the virality of videos that effectively capture and sustain viewer interest.

Remember, the average human attention span is now only 8.25 seconds—slightly less than a goldfish. So, before you post, critically evaluate your content by asking: Would this bore my goldfish? If the answer might be yes, it’s time to revise for sharper impact and engagement.

Create Content in Response to Trends

One key challenge for content creators aiming for virality on TikTok, unlike other social media platforms, is its heavy reliance on trends, which can emerge from a meme, sound, or effect. The difficulty lies in balancing planned content with the rapid and often unpredictable shifts in what’s popular. How can creators adapt their strategies to these quickly changing content demands?

Honestly, there is no perfect answer for people that don’t have the time to put fresh content : you will inevitably compete against professional content creators, who’s sole time consuming hobby is creating fresh content for the platform.

However, many content creators overlook a crucial aspect when planning their content in advance: just as hashtags target users with similar search intentions, sounds also play a pivotal role. Sounds are often an underestimated tool for consistently reaching viewers who share a similar interest.

On TikTok, sounds tend to have a longer lifespan compared to memes because they can be reused in various contexts, allowing for more creative interpretations and adaptations across different videos. Sounds and music tracks on TikTok often become associated with specific challenges, dances, or trends, which can stay relevant and circulate widely for extended periods. This versatility makes sounds a staple in the platform’s ecosystem, continually revived through new content, even after the initial trend may have peaked.

In contrast, memes often rely on humor or novelty that can quickly saturate user feeds, leading to a shorter burst of popularity. Memes are usually tied to specific cultural moments or jokes that can lose relevance faster as the audience’s attention shifts to the next emerging trend or viral joke. Thus, while memes can explode in popularity quickly, they generally don’t maintain interest as long as sounds do on TikTok.

The song ‘What You Won’t Do for Love‘ is a great example of how a sound can remain relevant and versatile on TikTok due to its broad appeal. When creators use this song for storytelling, they typically share engaging love stories or heartfelt moments that demonstrate deep care and affection. Its smooth and soothing melody enhances these narratives, making the emotions more resonant and the stories more relatable. The general tone of the song allows it to be used effectively across various video types, setting the mood and bringing stories to life, whether they’re based on real events or fictional scenarios.

@viidadari

good sleep #baby #babytok #babyfever #cutebaby

♬ What You Won’t Do for Love – Bobby Caldwell

@islimoncita

Replying to @🐑🐑_tls 2 named, 3 to go😮‍💨 #fypシ #catsoftiktok #kittens #britishshorthair #browncat #scottishfold #fyp #davethemagicalcheesewizard

♬ What You Won’t Do for Love – Bobby Caldwell

2. Choose a Viral-Worthy Video Format

Certain types of content naturally perform better on TikTok:

• How-to & life hacks – People love quick, useful tips.
• Storytime videos – Engaging personal stories keep viewers hooked.
• Challenges & trends – Participating in viral challenges boosts visibility.
• Duets & reactions – Engaging with trending content increases exposure.
• Behind-the-scenes & relatable content – Authentic videos tend to spread faster.

If your content falls into one of these high-engagement categories, it has a better chance of going viral.

3. Hook Viewers in the First 3 Seconds

The first three seconds determine whether users keep watching or scroll past.

How to Grab Attention Immediately:

• Start with movement or action – Avoid slow intros.
• Use text overlays – “You NEED to see this…”
• Ask a curiosity-driven question – “Did you know this trick?”
• Show the end result first – Then explain how you got there.

If viewers stop watching early, TikTok deprioritizes your video, so grab attention fast.

4. Use Trending Sounds & Effects

TikTok heavily promotes videos that use trending sounds and effects.

How to Find Trends:

• Go to TikTok’s Discover page and check trending sounds.
• Watch popular creators and see what songs they use.
• Use TikTok’s search bar and type “trending sounds.”

Using a viral sound boosts your video’s chances of getting featured on the For You Page (FYP).

5. Optimize Captions & Hashtags for Discovery

While TikTok isn’t as SEO-focused as YouTube, captions and hashtags still play a role.

Best Practices for Captions:

• Keep them short and engaging – “This changed my life… 😳”
• Use a call-to-action – “Tag a friend who needs to see this!”
• Spark curiosity – “Wait until the end…”

Best Hashtag Strategy:

• Use #fyp, #viral, and #trending (but don’t overuse them).
• Include niche hashtags to target the right audience (e.g., #FitnessTips, #DIYHacks).
• Combine broad and specific hashtags to maximize reach.

Hashtags help TikTok categorize your video and show it to the right audience.

6. Keep Videos Short & Engaging

Shorter videos perform better because they’re more likely to be watched until the end.

Best TikTok Video Lengths:

• 7-15 seconds – Ideal for high engagement.
• 30-60 seconds – Works for storytelling & tutorials.

If your video is longer, make every second count to keep viewers engaged.

7. Encourage Comments & Shares

TikTok rewards videos that spark conversations.

How to Get More Comments & Shares:

• Ask a direct question – “What’s your biggest struggle with X?”
• Encourage debates – “Unpopular opinion: Pineapple belongs on pizza.”
• Use comment baiting – “Only 1% of people know this trick!”
• Reply to comments with videos – This keeps your content active.

The more interactions your video gets, the more TikTok will push it to new users.

8. Post at the Right Time for Maximum Views

The best time to post depends on when your audience is most active.

Best TikTok Posting Times (Based on Data):

• Weekdays: 6 AM – 9 AM & 7 PM – 11 PM
• Weekends: 10 AM – 12 PM & 6 PM – 10 PM

Posting before peak hours increases the chance of early engagement, which triggers the algorithm to boost your video.

9. Use Duets, Stitches, and Collabs for More Reach

TikTok prioritizes engagement-based features like Duets and Stitches.

How to Use These Features for Virality:

• Duet a viral video and add your reaction.
• Stitch a trending clip and give your take on it.
• Collaborate with other TikTokers to reach a wider audience.

These features help increase your exposure by tapping into existing trends.

10. Avoid Common Mistakes That Kill Virality

🚫 Slow intros – Viewers will scroll past.
🚫 Too much text on screen – Keep it short and readable.
🚫 Ignoring trends – TikTok favors current and trending content.
🚫 Posting without engagement – Reply to comments and engage with followers.