How to Go Viral on TikTok: 10 Actionable Tips (With Examples)

Truth: There aren’t any ‘100% success guaranteed’ tactics to go viral on TikTok. There’s no way to determine which TikTok video will achieve viral success.

Also truth: There are various strategies to increase your chances of achieving viral success on TikTok. These methods still can’t guarantee virality, but they can tip the scales in your favor.

This article will share ten such tips to help you create viral content. But first: What does it even mean to go ‘viral’ on TikTok?

What does it mean to have a ‘viral’ TikTok video?

At which number of views, likes, comments, or shares does a video classify as a viral video? There’s no universally agreed-upon number, but a Reddit thread shows many TikTok users saying any video getting one million views or more can be called viral.

I’d argue viral success is more about:

• How many new people (who match your target audience) did you reach: You don’t just want empty five minutes of fame that dies down in a day or two. Creating viral content is about reaching the right target audience at scale, not anyone who’d watch.
• How many of those views converted into followers and/or conversions: Holding someone’s attention for a short video is one thing. Intriguing them enough to stick around, watch your other (not viral) TikTok videos, and hit follow is another. It’s the real win. Again, you don’t want empty reach. The goal is to get more loyal TikTok followers.
• How huge or slim are your chances of replicating this viral success on other social media platforms: A good idea is a good idea on every social media platform. Viral content on TikTok should also be able to achieve similar results (like more-than-average engagement) on other social media platforms supporting short-form video content.

When you ask, ‘how to go viral on TikTok,’ zoom out and see going viral from a more wholesome & long-term perspective: What do you want to happen after you go viral on TikTok?

With that, I’d also advise against using virality as the foundation of your social media strategy.

Don’t try to go viral…just to go viral

TikTok, a social media channel, has made a name for itself as ‘the place where viral videos take birth without much effort.' And yes, sometimes creators get lucky and accomplish success by having that one viral video. But those are outlier cases.

Trying to go viral on TikTok just to go viral will lead to you:

• Creating bland content that doesn’t build a lasting impact
• Getting frustrated at not being able to go viral on TikTok (or not being able to replicate your one viral success)
• Sharing content that gets a lot of engagement, but does nothing to achieve your long-term social media goals or reach the right audience

Your social media marketing plan should be to get more of your target audience to notice (and buy) from you. Going viral on TikTok is a means to an end, not the end itself.

Not to mention: While going viral on TikTok can certainly be immensely helpful, you should still be able to meet your targets by creating quality content — even if you don’t go viral on TikTok week after week. Which leads me to the next section.

Consistency is the bedrock of virality

I hate to say it, but your first TikTok video likely won’t go viral. If you’re like most people, neither will your second. Or third. Or fourth. Or fifth. You get the gist.

A consistent posting schedule is not only part of a wholesome TikTok strategy, but also the foundation of going viral on TikTok. How?

• First, it’s simple science: The more you post, the higher your chances of creating content that goes viral. The odds are in your favor with consistent posting.
• Second, your content ideas and production quality will improve: Again, the more you post, the more you’ll learn what kind of content your target audience loves and how to keep viewers engaged. You’ll have more TikTok analytics to guide your content creation, too.
• Third, the TikTok algorithm loves consistency: The TikTok algorithm pushes accounts that post frequently. It’ll show more of your videos in the For You page — increasing your chances to go viral on TikTok.

Ideally, you should post videos at least once every day. The best approach is to keep going viral on TikTok as the secondary goal of your TikTok strategy. The primary objective should be to create quality content that resonates and invites more of your target audience to follow you. This is also helpful because…

There’s no one surefire formula for going viral on TikTok

I said it in the intro and I’ll say it again: There’s no known formula to go viral on TikTok. If there was, everyone would be using it.

If your sole purpose is to go viral on TikTok, you’ll drive yourself into a wall. Aim for growing organically rather than overnight. Work toward increasing the probability of creating a viral video, but don’t view it in a silo. Even if a video doesn’t go viral, it can still help add new followers to your TikTok audience.

This is important especially given it can take a lot of time for your TikTok videos to grow viral.

How long does it take for a TikTok to go viral?

There’s a lot of debate online about how long it takes for your TikTok videos to go viral. Some say TikTok content peaks immediately — so either your video will go viral in under a week or it won’t. Others say TikTok content is more of a slow burn — so your old videos can also go viral.

The truth? No one knows. The TikTok algorithm works in mysterious ways and sometimes will push your old videos to TikTok users. All you can do is stick to posting consistently and hope to wake up to a million or more views.

How to go viral on TikTok: 10 ways to stack the deck in your favor

The above caveats were essential to know and accept before you read about how to go viral on TikTok. Now that you’re aware of the nuances let’s get into the actual tactics. Here are ten ways to increase your chances of going viral on TikTok:

1. Have a hook with a wow-factor

Your video should be able to stop the scroll. And the only way to stop the scroll is to have an A+ hook — aka the sentence or phrase that starts your video. If you’re just using trending sounds, your “hook” is the text or visual that pauses a watcher in their tracks.

An example of a mind-blowing hook is a video that’s garnered over 16.3M views by Mila Jaye, where she says, “Cancel me, call me fake, block me, bully me in the comments, I truly do not care, but…”

@vanilla_swirlxx Replying to @Hungry Heart Home - Wren i love that yall are loving vani cream + castor oil!! 🫶🏼 heres another affordable nighttime skin care routine @La Roche-Posay @Bioderma Canada #skincareroutine #nighttimeskincare #affordableskincare ♬ original sound - vanilla swirl 🍦

The video instantly captures your attention with the shock value of what Mila is saying. Using copywriting formulas can help you write more captivating hooks. Also pay attention while scrolling your own For You page. Which are the videos that are stopping you from scrolling? What did they do to capture your attention? Observation alone can inspire many creative hooks.

2. Build jump cuts in your video editing

The video platform TikTok is notoriously famous for having/pushing/creating content that serves a short attention span. But you know what keeps a user’s attention? Jump cuts in your video editing.

Video editing — particularly jump cuts at the right moment — can convert the most boring topics into a compelling story. It keeps the audience engaged to watch till the end because it doesn’t ‘feel’ like work to watch the video.

You don’t have to spend hours editing your videos. Do something simple, like shoot your video script from various camera angles and combine them using enough changes so the audience keeps watching.

If you’re looking for an example of the best jump cuts, no one does it better than Armen Adamjan. Every single video of his is excellent because of his energy and the fast video cuts.

@creative_explained Some new kitchen hacks that you’ll love! 🤩#kitchenhacks #lifehacks #cleantok #cookingtips #howto #cookinghacks #cleaninghacks ♬ original sound - creative explained

3. Capitalize on the latest trends

There are three ways to use trends on TikTok:

a. Find the latest TikTok trends and put your own spin on them. These are platform-wide trends that everyone is doing. You can put your own spin on them by customizing them to your niche. These trends also often extend to other social media channels. An example: the Wes Anderson trend.

@lukejacksonfilm My wife approved this I promise. #wesanderson #accidentallywesanderson #filmtok ♬ Little Things - Adrian Berenguer

b. Use trending sounds in the background of your videos. These are popular audio clips or trending music. Sometimes, these trending sounds are also accompanied by unique TikTok trends. An example is the ‘As it was’ song by Harry Styles.

@ali_kay1 you know it’s not the same as it was.. this one broke my heart #babiesoftiktok #momsoftiktok #7monthbaby ♬ original sound - Michaela

c. Create videos on niche-specific trends: These are the emerging trends in your industry. Conversations about them might be less popular on TikTok as a platform, but they are fresh & trending topics in your niche. For example, glass skin is one of the latest trends in the skincare world.

@cicihaskill Ill never get over the ✨GLOWY skin✨ after the collagen mask!!! #collagenmask #glowingskincare #glowingskintips #glassskin #tiktokshopsummersale ♬ original sound - cici haskill

Keep up-to-date on TikTok trends, trending sounds, and industry trends. This will help you find content ideas and increase the chances of a video going viral. TikTok often pushes trending content on its platform and uses trending sounds.

4. Analyze the viral videos in your niche and replicate the common patterns

The TikTok algorithm is a master at studying user preferences and giving viewers exactly what they need. But thankfully, many videos that go viral are often like siblings — they share certain traits.

Search for a term or keyword your audience might use to discover content like yours. What are the commonalities between the videos with the most engagement? For example:

• Are many of them dance videos with text above? If yes, create entertaining content.
• Are many of them personal and/or vulnerable? If yes, create behind-the-scenes content that keeps your audience engaged.
• Are many of them using trending sounds? If yes, it might be a good idea to find trending music & popular audio clips and use them in your own videos.

For instance, let’s say you’re a food creator. When I searched for “cooking tips” on TikTok, I found all videos with over a million views:

• Use their own audio
• Share one or more fundamental cooking principles
• ‘Show’ how to implement the tip and/or hack step-by-step

These insights can help me understand my audience’s behavior and create content they actually need. If you combine these with conclusions from the Creator Search Insights dashboard and your own TikTok analytics, you’re much more likely to hit the jackpot of a viral content idea.

Are you practicing competitive analysis and finding which videos of your competitors are going viral? Use TikTok’s “Popular” tab in any TikTok account to instantly find anyone’s best-performing videos.

Again, analyze patterns here and try to find commonalities. Are all the videos following specific storytelling techniques? Is all the viral content funny videos? Are all of them using trending sounds?

Tracing these patterns will help you understand the key factors that make a video go viral.

5. Keep it short (unless necessary)

The TikTok algorithm monitors your average watch time. The more you post videos that get watched till the end, the more TikTok favors you over other creators. And the shorter your video, the higher your chances of improving your watch time.

Creating content that’s short and straightforward will require you to put on the video editor’s hat. Go in with a red pen and cut any clip that doesn’t need to be there.

CleanTok creator Azure MacCannell has a bank of viral videos that all thrive due to their short length and use of trending sounds.

@livecomposed Oops 😂 #cleantok #cleaningtiktok #cleaning #springcleaning #cleaningproducts #cleaninghacks ♬ Lottery - K CAMP

6. Encourage an engaging call-to-action

Once the love comes, it just keeps on coming. In the end of your video, encourage your audience to comment and/or share your content. This way, when your video performs well, you create an excellent feedback loop to keep more people coming.

For example, Gigi Grombacher created a response video (that got over 2.3M views) about a popular message she gets from her community and asked for their help in the caption.

This call to action prompts her followers and a wider audience to participate and chime in via the comments — increasing the engagement on her post.

If you post controversial takes or speak about current trends, comments might roll in just because people want to continue the conversation. Whatever you share, think of a strong ending that nudges your audience to engage with you.

7. Add your own context to a viral TikTok video

TikTok content has a way of feeding off of each other. If a video in your niche is already going viral on the social platform, stitch your own video with it. Using the same hook will help retain TikTok users who have already seen the video on their feed. It can also be a positive signal to the TikTok algorithm when you add to the conversation.

A great example is this viral stitch video of creator Nicole Fay on a viral fashion hack (over 17M views).

@nicolefay_ Fashion Hack #fashionhacks #jeanshack #jeans #fashiontips ♬ original sound - Nicole Fay

8. Take a stance on a controversial topic (authentically)

If you have the right marketing sources in your back pocket and if you practice active social listening, you’ll know what’s trending in your industry. Use these insights to create videos around controversial topics and share your opinion.

This is similar to the previous method, where you stitch with a video that’s already viral. But instead of relying on the TikTok algorithm to show you a video that’s viral on the topic that you have a strong opinion on, you’re taking a more proactive approach. If the world is buzzed with conversation on a controversial topic, it will generate more reach on TikTok — even if you can’t find videos that are already viral on the subject matter.

A great example is this video (over 1.6M views) by Morgan Sanner, where she shared her long-standing opinion on return-to-office mandates.

@resumeofficial $51 a day to go take zoom meetings from an empty office, all so they can tout “culture” #remote #remotework #workfromhome #returntooffice #commute #costofliving #work #corporate #corporategreed #compensation #greenscreen ♬ original sound - Morgan - Resume Writer 📝 ✨

The topic is controversial in her niche (remote working) and to add fuel to the fire, it is also a trending topic in her industry as more and more companies are asking employees to return to the office.

9. Offer valuable and out-of-the-box tips

Creating viral content is often about sharing extraordinary, unique, and yet surprisingly simple tips within your niche. For example, beauty creator Lena created a video about a last-minute Halloween makeup hack that got over 28.9M views.

@lenkalul last minute halloween hack 🕷️🕸️🖤 ib: @Priscilla Grihim products i used: @NARS Cosmetics explicit lipstick in ‘on top’, Nars lip liner in ‘spunk’ + ‘mysterious red’ velvet matte lip pencil on the lips @makeupbymario master mattes eyeshadow palette @SHISEIDO controlled chaos mascara ink + crystal gel gloss on the lips #halloween #halloweenlook #costumeideas #halloweenmakeup #makeup #makeuphacks #halloweenhacks #halloween2024 #spidermakeup #cobwebmakeup ♬ sweater weather x after dark - 𝟑𝟗𝟒 𝐗𝐕𝐈

The reason it went viral was:

• It’s timely: Halloween is right around the corner. People are already searching for last-minute tips similar to the ones Lena shared.
• It’s quick and simple: The short video length combined with the easy-to-do hack makes Lena’s TikTok content extremely useful and actionable.

A great way to find content ideas for this category is by using TikTok’s creator search insights tool and your TikTok analytics.

TikTok’s creator search insights can help you pinpoint content gaps in your audience’s feed. Your analytics can help you determine which content topics are a hit amongst your TikTok community.

Combine the valuable insights you derive from these sources to find emerging trends and areas where you can offer easy-to-implement tips in your niche.

10. Add your own personality to your TikTok videos

Sorry to be cliche, but your biggest power is that no one is you. Are you funny, quirky, silly in real life? Bring that energy into your TikTok presence. Creating videos that put your personality front and center will not only increase your chances of going viral but also make you much more memorable.

Take Haley Pham. She has built a personal brand around her personality. Various videos of hers have gone viral, and surprise surprise, most of them show her nature and demeanor.

@haleypham

my husband read a book 🙏🏻

♬ original sound - Haley Pham

It can be uncomfortable to be completely yourself online but lean into it to show people what sets you apart.

Virality is for a week, community is forever

TikTok can take you from zero to viral success overnight. But creating videos on TikTok — if you’re doing it just to go viral — can often feel like trying to drink water with a fork. You can create, post, stitch, hop on trends…and still be stuck in the 200-view jail.

So let virality be a pleasant surprise, not the sole goal. Aim to scale your TikTok marketing, grow your followers, and build a solid community. Follow the principles above to create high-quality content for your audience that reaches more new people.

If you go viral, nothing like it! But it takes a little time, don’t be disheartened. Focus on building your TikTok presence with authenticity and grace. Going viral will come sooner or later.