I Tried Creating a Viral TikTok Edit

Introduction

Creating a viral edit on TikTok can often feel like a game of chance, with skill and experience sometimes overshadowed by pure luck. To put this theory to the test, I decided to launch a brand new TikTok account named "Brian VFX 6." I wanted to see if I could achieve virality without any prior experience, all while aiming for a spot in TikTok's creativity program, which pays $ 48 for every 1,000 views, but requires a minimum of 100,000 valid views in the last 30 days.

The Setup

To establish credibility right from the start, I fabricated a backstory in the bio, claiming my previous page boasted 380,000 followers. This statement was entirely false, but online, who can really tell? I chose an AI-generated image for my profile and added "After Effects" to make it sound like I was a professional rather than just another casual CapCut user. I planned to primarily use CapCut for editing, as it’s more accessible for beginners.

The First Edit

My first project involved creating an edit of Conor McGregor, as his upcoming fight had him trending. I used footage from one of his recent streams on Kick, where he humorously critiqued Kamaru Usman. After adding subtitles and incorporating some effects to enhance the video, I created a montage that showcased McGregor's fighting prowess.

Upon posting, I was pleasantly surprised that within just a couple of hours, I had garnered two followers, 58 likes, and 730 views. Some comments were entertainingly critical, leading me to ponder TikTok's audience engagement.

Attempting to Go Viral with “Suits”

Next, I decided to try my hand at creating an edit of "Suits"—a series that consistently goes viral on TikTok. After emulating a recent viral edit, I thought I would achieve significant traction. However, this video shockingly garnered zero views. It seemed TikTok had decided not to promote this content.

Finding New Inspiration

I noticed a trending figure on TikTok, Joma, a lawyer gaining massive traction online. Recognizing his rising popularity, I created an edit using clips from his recent documentary, hoping this would engage viewers more effectively. The result was much better, yielding 5,000 views after three hours of being live.

Experimenting with Various Themes

Despite some successes, creating content for trending topics became an uphill battle. I edited various subjects, from popular memes to figures like Joe Biden and celebrities, yet none appeared to gain traction. I experimented with edgy subjects, including a figure associated with lesser-known internet memes, but the videos underperformed, often achieving zero views.

A Game-Changing Edit

Inspired by the immense popularity of "The Boys," a parody superhero show, I crafted my last-ditch effort after the release of its season finale. I believed this was my opportunity to go viral. My edit, which derived from an intense scene in the episode, turned out to be my best work. Miraculously, the next morning when I checked TikTok, the video had accumulated 110,000 views overnight. Not only did it exceed all expectations, but it also eventually surpassed 1 million views, allowing my account to grow by approximately 1,000 followers in just a few days.

Conclusion

Despite the ups and downs of this experiment and the arduous journey of creating 30 edits, it became apparent that going viral on TikTok is not merely about luck—skills, timing, and quality all play pivotal roles. My experience reinforced the notion that virality is still achievable, and for those struggling with engagement, it may simply suggest a need for improvement in content quality.

Keyword

TikTok, viral edit, Brian VFX 6, CapCut, Conor McGregor, Suits, Joma, TikTok Creativity Program, The Boys, trending topics, zero views.

FAQ

Q: Did your fake backstory actually help in gaining followers?
A: Yes, the fabricated backstory in the bio helped establish some credibility which potentially helped gain followers initially.

Q: What tools did you use for editing?
A: I primarily used CapCut for video editing, as it’s more user-friendly compared to other software.

Q: Why did some videos achieve zero views?
A: Some content received zero views possibly due to TikTok's algorithm, which might have deemed the videos non-original or not engaging enough.

Q: How important is content quality for virality on TikTok?
A: Content quality is crucial for virality on TikTok; even if a topic is trending, the edit must be engaging and well-executed.

Q: How long did the entire experiment take?
A: The entire process involved creating around 30 edits and spanned several days.