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How I Gained 2 Million Followers on TikTok (Growth Tips)
Introduction
The title of this video isn't even clickbait—I actually have two million followers on TikTok, which is hard to believe at times, but over the course of this article, I'm going to show you exactly how I gained such a large following. Hopefully, I can give you some good tips and advice to nudge you in the right direction to do the same.
A Little Bit of Research
Before filming this video, I decided to do a little bit of research on YouTube to see what other creators' advice is when it comes to growing on TikTok. I was pretty surprised that most of the videos were just like growth hacks or gimmicks—things like posting seven times a day to increase your chances on the For You page, how to go viral in 24 hours, and algorithm changes. Plus, a lot of the people giving this advice weren't actually TikTok creators themselves.
Now, by no means am I trying to discredit any other creators on YouTube because I'm sure they actually give some good advice, but I find that growth hacks, although they work short-term, don't work long-term. So, my advice today will be all based on building long-term communities so you can hopefully eventually make a living off it like me.
My TikTok Journey
Before we start talking about virality and all that fun stuff, I want to give you a brief history lesson about my journey on TikTok. Basically, last year I only had twenty thousand followers on the app, and now I have two million. Everyone has to start at the beginning, and in July 2019, this was my first post on TikTok. It was me lip-syncing to High School Musical's "Gotta Go Your Own Way" using a Snapchat filter to switch between characters.
Embrace the Journey
Although I should probably be embarrassed by that video, I honestly love and embrace it. What's even better is that the same people who said TikTok was lame in 2019 are trying to make it big on the app in 2021. So the first piece of advice is: who cares what other people think?
Consistency and Resilience
In 2020, I decided to post on TikTok daily, which ended up as 700 videos and 1.8 million followers. Although that number makes me look successful, I actually failed a lot, too. The best thing about failures is that you learn the most from them.
Personal Branding
Personal branding is very important. I strongly believe that to grow on TikTok, you need to stand out, and to stand out, you need to have a strong personal brand. That's why you'll always see me wearing an orange cap and have my face at the start of the videos. Most top TikTok accounts are personal brands—they use their face to represent their business or brand.
Building Confidence
If you're not confident in front of the camera, you should start building that confidence because it will help you a lot on TikTok and other social media platforms as well. Your brand is already solidified by what you look like, which is uniquely yours.
Visual Consistency
Visual consistency helps in making people familiar with your face, leading to comfort and trust. For example, I always wear my orange hat, making it easier for people to recognize me even in real life.
Magnify Your Qualities
Magnify your unique qualities. For instance, I have a lot of energy, so I bring that energy to the forefront of my content. If you speak softly, then do just that; authenticity is more engaging than trying to be something you're not.
Going Viral
Going viral is different for everyone, but here are a couple of things I've learned:
Niching Up
Find something you're passionate about and create a lot of content around that topic. For example, I love travel, and I want to be known as the travel guy on TikTok.
Consistency
Consistency is key. If you don't know what to post about, just start posting everything and be consistent. Over time, you'll gather data on what your audience likes and dislikes.
Watch Time
The main thing TikTok focuses on is watch time. Make sure people watch your video for as long as possible. If you have a 15-second video and everyone watches it to the end, it will go mega-viral.
Hook them in the First Three Seconds
The first three seconds of the video are crucial. If you can't hook someone in the first three seconds, they'll just swipe past, damaging your watch time.
Concluding Tips
To summarize: have a strong personal brand, make sure you hook the viewer in the first three seconds, and get people to watch your video as long as you can. This three-step process helped me gain 2 million followers on TikTok. There is obviously so much more we could talk about, but this is a good starting point.
If you're interested in learning more or upping your TikTok game, I have a TikTok master class with over 50 videos and hours of content guiding you through the whole process, from setting up your account to going viral and making a living on the app.
Keywords
- personal branding
- consistency
- watch time
- hook
- viral
- niche
- TikTok growth
- visual consistency
- confidence
- magnify qualities
FAQ
Q: How important is watch time on TikTok?
A: Watch time is extremely important. It determines how TikTok will push your content to more viewers. The longer they watch, the more viral your video can go.
Q: What does 'niching up' mean?
A: Niching up means finding a particular subject or interest you're passionate about and creating a lot of content around that topic to build a dedicated audience.
Q: What are some tips for the first three seconds of a TikTok video?
A: Use the first three seconds to hook the viewer. Build curiosity or tension to make them want to watch more. Statements like "Wait for it" or "Watch till the end" can be very effective.
Q: How can personal branding help on TikTok?
A: Personal branding helps you stand out and be recognizable. Consistency in your visual brand and magnifying your unique qualities can build familiarity and trust with your audience.
Q: What should I do if I'm not confident in front of the camera?
A: Start practicing to build your confidence. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll become. Being authentic and genuine helps engage your audience more.