Have you been trying to turn your Tik Tok profile into a success story, but haven’t quite seen the desired results yet? It may be that you’re missing some key strategies that could help you get ahead on this popular social media platform. It isn’t enough to just post regularly, or to have a killer aesthetic. There are several factors that may not seem that significant, but that can actually help you get the algorithm’s attention – and the attention of potential new followers!

However, keep in mind that you don’t have to sacrifice your own vision for your TikTok page in order to get ahead. Even if you’re using many of the same strategies as other TikTokkers, you can still stay true to your own goals. Of course, if you want to see faster results you can use sites like TikCeleb to grow your followers, views, and more. This is just one of many ways to get ahead on TikTok. From joining collabs to following trends, you can choose the ingredients to your success on this app.

#1: Understand your target audience

Which came first – the content, or the target audience? On TikTok, that’s a tricky question to answer! Some creators tailor their content to their niche; in that case, they’re specifically making content for an established target audience. Other creators have a specific vision for their content; even though they may fit into a particular niche, there are elements of their content that are totally unique to them. In that case, they attract an audience because of their originality, not simply because they embody the same popular tropes as other creators.

Even so, it’s important to understand what your audience does and doesn’t want. For example, a creator who turns their TikTok page into their own personal soapbox probably wouldn’t have much success. Their opinions might be interesting, but their charisma would have to be off the charts in order for people to stick around for each new take on random topics. On the other hand, that same person could do commentary videos on specific genres of content – celebrity drama, political news, etc. This would enable them to keep offering their opinions on all kinds of topics, but it would also serve to attract a loyal audience who truly appreciated their content.

#2: Cross-promote your TikTok profile

Anyone who has TikTok is probably on other platforms as well, such as Instagram, YouTube, or Meta (formerly Facebook). The question is, do their followers on other platforms know about their activity on TikTok? Many of them would love to get even more content from their favorite creator, but they have to hear about it first! If you haven’t promoted yourself on other platforms, both you and your followers are missing out. Include a little blurb about TikTok in your Instagram or Meta captions, tell people at the end of YouTube videos, or even post some TikTok content as YouTube shorts.

#3: Seek out brand sponsorships

An increasing number of brands have been turning to online influencers as part of their marketing strategies. Even if you haven’t accumulated a massive following, it’s still possible to get sponsored by a brand that wants to target Gen-Z and millennial audiences. This adds money to your bank account, and legitimacy to your TikTok page. It signals your viewers that you’re here for the long haul, and makes them more likely to stick around because they know they can count on you for regular, quality content.

#4: Play along with the algorithm

What makes the difference between viral videos, and content that doesn’t even break 50 views in a month? In some cases, the barely-viewed videos are objectively funnier or more interesting than the ones that go viral. There are usually several factors at play, but the main one is the algorithm. Just like with any other social media site, TikTok’s algorithm looks for certain things before it’ll promote a video. If you want to get your videos onto as many For You Pages as possible, try using the strategies below.

• Duet or stitch other creators

These features essentially let you make short reaction videos to other creator’s content. Since the all-knowing algorithm assumes that the other creator’s followers will be interested in seeing your reaction, they’ll recommend your videos to all those new people. This could lead to them seeing your video, checking out your profile, and becoming your followers as well!

• Use trending sounds or songs

TikTok is known for the popularity of lip-syncing content, whether it’s to songs or other audio recordings. Some sounds or songs go viral on the platform, leading to all kinds of creators using them. The algorithm promotes content that uses these viral sounds, because obviously that’s what people are interested in hearing.

It’s pretty obvious how you can take advantage of this; just make sure you follow these trends too! However, keep in mind that not every trending sound will be a good fit for your niche. If you start chasing trends for their own sake, you might confuse or alienate your audience.

• Follow trending challenges or dances

TikTok is full of creators replicating viral challenges and dance moves, and it’s easy for creators of all types to get in on the action. These are great for nearly every niche, since they can be done by practically anyone. When posting your take on a challenge or dance, don’t forget to use the right hashtags – that’s how TikTok knows to promote your video!

To find trending hashtags, simply look at what other creators in your niche are doing; if something is going viral, many of them will already be doing it. You could also go to the caption field, type “#”, and look at the suggested hashtags – TikTok will suggest the most popular ones first.

The takeaway

Growing your profile on TikTok may seem like a tall order, but the mystery usually disappears once you understand how the platform works. With the right strategies and some determination, you can find the success you’ve always wished for!