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I made a new TikTok and grew it for two weeks, here’s what i learned…

Introduction

After more than a year of expressing very unpopular opinions where short form content and especially TikTok are concerned, I decided to create a new TikTok account. Over two weeks, I focused on creating and engaging on the app to gather more first-hand experience, knowledge, and fresh opinions. This journey has been insightful, revealing a lot about the TikTok algorithm and how the platform works.

The Journey Begins

I initiated this TikTok account as a personal video diary meant to track a journey and serve as something to look back on. However, I soon realized this was an excellent opportunity to learn about TikTok's algorithm and platform dynamics. For two weeks, I posted daily and adopted a relaxed approach towards growing on TikTok.

Unfortunately, I can't share my full analytics because TikTok takes two days to process them, and yesterday, one of my new videos received over 50,000 views in less than a day, which means those numbers aren't yet included in my analytics. Therefore, I'll likely create a separate video detailing my first 30 days on TikTok with comprehensive analytics.

Initial Growth and Observations

In just two weeks, my TikTok account garnered around 50 followers and accumulated roughly 60,000 views. Here are my thoughts and observations after two weeks of growth on TikTok:

The Reach Potential

TikTok's reach potential is insanely high compared to other social media platforms. From the very first video, with zero followers, I saw significant engagement. My first video received over 5,500 views in under two hours. Consistently, videos posted daily gathered hundreds to thousands of views, with one video blowing up to over 50,000 views, all while having just 50 followers.

Algorithm Friendliness

The TikTok algorithm is far more creator-friendly than any other social media app. It works in favor of both the creators and the platform's goal to keep users engaged. Unlike YouTube, where factors like click-through rate and audience retention are crucial, TikTok videos are forever in the algorithm, allowing for continuous engagement.

On TikTok, the goal is simple: create engaging videos that hook viewers and keep them watching. This is significantly different from platforms like YouTube, where you have to attract viewers with catchy titles and thumbnails.

The Downside: Hate Comments

While TikTok provides immense reach and engagement, it is also riddled with hate comments. Unlike YouTube, where I have barely received any hate comments despite having over 100,000 subscribers, TikTok, with its younger audience, does tend to be more negative. However, you do have the option to block users, delete comments, or even turn off comments altogether.

Monetization Challenges

Monetization on TikTok is not straightforward, especially for new creators. The TikTok Creator Fund is limited and currently available only in select countries, excluding Canada, where I reside. While there's potential for brand deals, affiliate marketing, and selling products, these opportunities are relatively slim for accounts with low followers.

Engagement Over Followers

Gaining engagement on TikTok is much faster than gaining followers. Despite high engagement in terms of views, likes, comments, and shares, follower growth is slow. In my experience, my account had around 1,000 profile visits, with a conversion rate of about 5%, showing that engagement metrics far outpaced follower growth.

Niches vs. Personality

On TikTok, niches are less important compared to personality. Unlike YouTube and Instagram, where sticking to a niche is crucial, TikTok allows for a diverse range of content. You can grow a following just by having a magnetic personality, even if your content is a hodgepodge of different topics.

Posting Frequency

Daily posting is critical for growth on TikTok, and posting multiple times daily can further accelerate growth. Fortunately, creating TikTok videos is far easier than producing YouTube content, making daily posting more manageable.

Optimizing with Keywords

Keywords play a vital role in helping the TikTok algorithm categorize and push your content. Just like YouTube and Instagram, optimizing videos with appropriate keywords in the text, captions, and hashtags is essential for reaching the right audience.

Insights for Success

Here are some effective strategies for growing on TikTok based on my observations:

  1. Not Every Video Will Blow Up: Accept that not all videos will go viral. Focus on creating content consistently.

  2. Use Longer Text on Short Clips: This encourages viewers to re-watch the video to read the text, thereby pushing it further into the algorithm.

  3. Leverage Trending Content: Videos centered on trending and relevant topics are more likely to blow up.

  4. Engagement Matters More: Likes, comments, shares, and bookmarks are significant indicators for the algorithm.

  5. Diverse Content is Welcomed: Don’t hesitate to post content that deviates from your usual themes. It often doesn’t impact your overall growth negatively.

Personal Reflection

Through this experiment, I have realized a few key things:

  • YouTube Remains My Primary Platform: Despite the fun experience on TikTok, YouTube is still my main platform.
  • TikTok vs. YouTube Shorts: TikTok is miles ahead of YouTube Shorts in terms of engagement and reach.
  • Monetization Needs Improvement: Expanding monetization options for creators outside select countries would significantly benefit TikTok.
  • Adult Creators Needed: TikTok could benefit from a larger community of adult creators to balance the predominance of younger users.

Overall, this two-week TikTok growth journey has been insightful and enjoyable. For those looking to expand their social media presence, experimenting with TikTok is worth considering.

Keywords

  • TikTok growth
  • TikTok algorithm
  • Social media engagement
  • Content creation
  • TikTok monetization
  • Daily posting

FAQ

Q1: How quickly can a new TikTok account gain views? A: A new TikTok account can start gaining views almost immediately. Even with zero followers, videos can receive thousands of views within hours of posting.

Q2: Is the TikTok algorithm more creator-friendly than other social media platforms? A: Yes, the TikTok algorithm is significantly more creator-friendly, offering equal opportunities for engagement regardless of follower count.

Q3: Are hate comments common on TikTok? A: Yes, due to its younger user base, TikTok tends to have more hate comments. However, creators can manage comments by blocking users or disabling comments.

Q4: Can new TikTok creators monetize their content? A: Monetization options on TikTok for new creators are limited. The Creator Fund is only available in select countries, but there are still opportunities for brand deals and affiliate marketing.

Q5: How important are niches on TikTok? A: Niches are less important on TikTok compared to personality. A diverse content range is accepted, and engaging personalities can thrive regardless of niche.

Q6: What’s the significance of daily posting on TikTok? A: Daily posting is crucial for growth on TikTok because it maximizes engagement and reach. Posting multiple times daily can further enhance growth potential.

Q7: How do keywords impact TikTok videos? A: Keywords help the TikTok algorithm categorize and push your content to the appropriate audience, significantly influencing reach and engagement.

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