TikTok is showing no signs of slowing down as one of the most-used social platforms in the world. With over one billion monthly active users and ranking as the top app for consumer spending, you and your business need to be on TikTok – like yesterday.
With conflicting information found online and ‘magic tricks’ that supposedly help you blow up on the app, we’ve found it to be a bit more challenging than just jumping on trends and posting frequently. So we decided to test out some of the most popular TikTok tips and strategies to see if we can get our CEO, Darrell Keezer, to become the next big TikTok Influencer. Our goal? Reach 1 million views in 3 months or less.
Here is our initial strategy:
- Create a Brand New Account
- Find Our Niche
- Post 5-7 times a week
- Have a GOOD HOOK
- Focus on Watch Time: Short and Concise
- Establish Authority for Advice
- Add On-Screen Text or Closed Captions to Videos
- Create Case Studies on Trends/Hacks
Now 1.5 months in and 32 videos later, let’s look at what has worked and what didn’t.
Case Study 1: Video Cuts
We tried a strategy of adding several small clips into a video to make a seamless talking transition. We cut a video into 6-8 clips and uploaded them together instead of uploading one long take. This case study was a SUCCESS! This video performed well and was one of our top-performing posts, even though it was pretty similar to the rest of the tips we posted before and after it. This video also boosted our following by +35 in 24 hours.
Check it out: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZML3CrDug/?k=1
Case Study 2: TikTok Audio vs Original Audio
We tested 3 different strategies; using TikTok trending audio vs. TikTok recommended audio vs. Original audio. Here’s how they ranked:
- TikTok Reccomended Audio
- TikTok Trending Audio
- Original Audio
The best performing videos were those with TikTok recommended audio, which is the sounds suggested to you when you click the “add audio” button.
Pro tip: Try choosing instrumental songs for the background of speaking videos.
Case Study 3: Looping Audio
We tried a trend of “looping audio,” which essentially was short audio plus text on the screen with tips relevant to our niche. The video looped 2-3 times before a user could read the entire screen of information. This was to try and trick the algorithm into thinking that viewers were engaged and rewatching the video. Unfortunately, this case study was a FAIL. It was the worst-performing video, with only 14 views in 24 hours.
Check it out: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZML3QowRU/?k=1
Case Study 4: Close Up Video
We tested 2 styles of videos; close up and pushed back. Despite other recommendations from TikTok, we didn’t notice a significant difference in performance between each style of video. However, we found that videos closer to the face and cropped look more aesthetically pleasing and feel more organic.
Check it out: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLEKBKNL/?k=1
Case Study 5: Trend Hopping
When first planning our strategy, we recorded close to 30 videos to batch our content in one day. However, we found that these videos were sometimes lost in the constantly evolving trends. So, we decided to start recording on-the-fly videos that hopped on trends and related them back to our niche. These videos performed very well. They broke up our content nicely, showed personality, and received the most engagement from users. One of these trends was our 2nd best performing video so far.
Check it out: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZML3CG9Xa/?k=1
After testing out many different strategies, we found that there isn’t one magic blueprint to get your video to go viral – you just need consistency and patience. Here are some of our TikTok best practices for you to implement into your filming:
Batch Your Content
Book out shooting days for you to record a series of videos that are relevant to your niche. Prepare for outfit changes, props, set changes, etc. and create a list of videos you’d like to make.
Save Videos in a “RECREATE” Folder
While actively scrolling on your FYP, save relevant sounds/videos to a folder to recreate later or have as inspiration. This will keep you organized and full of content ideas, but it will also give the algorithm a chance to figure out your niche.
Have a Call to Action
Mention a call to action in your video rather than in the caption. For example, request your audience to do something like “follow for more,” “comment,” “tag a friend,” etc.
Respond Actively to Comments
Sharing a video response to a question or comment is way more effective than responding through text.
Pro Tip: Pre-plan what questions your audience may ask and pre-record responses.
Show Your Personality
Polished videos are excellent, but TikTok is an opportunity for you to make videos on the fly and show off your day-to-day life and personality. Try mixing up professional content with on-the-fly content instead.
Expand Your Points
Break up points and/or tips and tricks into multiple videos to expand content further. Leave the audience on a cliffhanger for what’s to come next.
If you’re not on TikTok, you need to be. Contact our team today to learn how we can help you take your business to the next level with TikTok! We’ve got you covered whether you want to enhance your skills and strategy or take your content to the next level with a social media manager! For an in-depth TikTok and social media training tailored specifically to your business, check out our workshops designed for professionals at every level.
Now that you have learned these TikTok best practices and what worked/what didn’t work try it out for yourself. Contact us, and our social media team will be happy to help if you need some assistance!
