How To Grow A TikTok Audience If You Have 0 Followers

Introduction

Today, I'm sharing my seven-step method to grow your audience and your income on TikTok. If you want to get viral views, followers, and make money from your TikTok videos, you must start with the end in mind. Before you ever post a video, sit down and think about who your content is for and what problem you're trying to solve with your videos. Essentially, determine what you want to be known for. If you don't take the time to figure this out, you will never break out of the 200-view jail. No one will follow you, and you won't be able to monetize your TikTok account.

Step 1: Clarify Your Content

If you aren't clear about what your content is about, you'll confuse the algorithm. The algorithm, a smart yet limited robot, won't know who to show your content to. Because of this, it may show your content to the wrong audience, leading to low watch time, which is critical for viral success on TikTok. Consistently creating content around a specific topic aimed at your ideal viewer will train the algorithm to show your content to the perfect person every time, skyrocket your views, and help you gain followers.

Step 2: Optimize Your Profile

When a creator gets some traction and starts getting views but not as many followers, the issue often lies in their profile. Their profile might be too self-centered or vague. Make your profile about your viewer, highlighting how you can help them. Your bio should clearly state what you're about and how you can solve their problems. This makes it more likely for new viewers to follow you.

Remember, initially, it will take longer to get followers. People are more likely to follow someone with more followers as it gives you an authority level. When you first start, it takes time, but it will snowball as you gain traction.

Step 3: Use TikTok Settings to Your Advantage

Switch to a Creator account if you haven't already. Creator accounts can use commercial sounds essential for trending content, unlike Business accounts. Make sure to toggle off the settings that suggest your account to friends and family, as they are not your ideal audience. This forces the TikTok algorithm to hunt for the right audience instead of showing your content to people who are not your target viewers.

Step 4: Start Posting

Publish at least one video per day. Quality content posted less frequently is better than spamming low-quality content. MrBeast once said it's easier to get 5 million views on one video than 50,000 views on 100 videos. Quality in TikTok comes through practice, so the more you post, the better you become at creating content. Establish a habit of posting daily and doing the necessary research to learn what works in your niche.

Step 5: Do the Research

It's crucial to do your homework. Study other creators in your niche and look for their outlier videos—those that perform significantly better than their average. Learn from these videos to understand their hooks, topics, and content formats. Your ability to get views and followers largely depends on the quality of your ideas and hooks more than any hashtags or descriptions.

Step 6: Focus on the Process, Not the Views

It's essential to stay consistent. Focus on two things: posting daily and doing your research. Force yourself to tick these boxes every day. Success in TikTok comes through steady, daily effort. Determine your success by your actions – not by your views – to avoid discouragement and maintain consistency.

Step 7: Build Your Funnel

Hitting 1,000 followers on TikTok is crucial because it allows you to add a link in your bio. Use a tool like a Stand Store to create an in-app store where potential clients can book calls, sign up for an email list, or purchase products. Keep your offers minimal to avoid confusion. Use pinned videos and playlists to highlight your best bingeable content, making it easy for viewers to consume more of your content.

Once all pieces fall into place, double down on what's working, continue researching new trends, and be patient as growth will take longer than you expect. To ensure you're prepared for the challenges of getting stuck at low views, check out resources that offer solutions and strategies to overcome these obstacles.

Keywords

TikTok algorithm
TikTok viral views
TikTok followers
TikTok monetization
Creator account vs. Business account
Profile optimization
Posting frequency
Content research
Content quality
Building a funnel

FAQ

Q: How do I determine what type of content to create on TikTok?
A: Start by identifying your ideal viewer and the problem you aim to solve with your content. Be consistent with your topics to train the algorithm to find your audience.

Q: Why should I switch to a Creator account on TikTok?
A: Creator accounts allow you to use commercial sounds, which are often part of trending content, giving your videos a better chance to go viral.

Q: How often should I post on TikTok?
A: Post at least once per day to gather feedback, data, and to build consistency.

Q: What should I focus on in my TikTok profile bio?
A: Your bio should emphasize what you are about, the problems you solve, and how you can help your viewers. Make it viewer-centric rather than self-focused.

Q: How do I handle the emotional ups and downs of low views?
A: Focus on the process of posting regularly and doing research. Judge your success by your actions rather than by your views to maintain consistency and avoid discouragement.

Q: How should I use research for my TikTok content?
A: Analyze outlier videos from creators in your niche to identify winning hooks, topics, and formats. Implement these insights into your content strategy.

Q: What tools do you recommend for building a funnel on TikTok?
A: Tools like Stand Store are useful as they enable in-app stores where followers can easily book calls, subscribe to email lists, or purchase products without leaving TikTok.