Are you not getting enough views on TikTok and looking for answers? Are you shadowbanned? Why can’t you crack the TikTok algorithm? 1 billion people use the platform monthly and you only get 215 views per post? I’m going to break it down for you in this blog, and I do not want you to take it personally.
I will tell you what may be wrong with your content but also what may be totally right! My TikTok is like a rollercoaster. Here and there, viral videos with millions of views and also videos that don’t even reach 500 views. I will break down exactly how things have changed in the last two years when it comes to TikTok algorithm but also what never changes no matter the algorithm.
Why Your Views are Low
The reason me or you get only 300 views per video has a couple of reasons. The most common for me was posting very similar videos from the same place (my office). I see this a lot. People post similar videos from their office/gym or reuse the same pictures with different captions, expecting the same results. If you have a video that is compiled of different clips, it helps to reedit it, use a different hook, and make it a bit more snappy. But I’m talking about the same video of you talking to a camera in your office the whole time, possibly using the same music.
The Key to Variety
Variety of content is key. Consistency is good for YouTube, not TikTok. Go outside, to a cafe, car, film everywhere. Do a post with pictures, post a 15-second video, post a 60-second video, use trending audio, use no music. Use captions, don’t use captions. You need to have a rainbow of TikTok content. If you keep doing the same thing, TikTok algorithm classifies you as spam. Because guess what? Your previous 20 videos only have 250 views, so why should this go viral if it’s almost identical?
Be Real and Authentic
Many times I thought I was being funny—wrong. Many times I thought I was informative when I was just boring. There’s so much content out there that you need to stand out. Good news though! Sometimes you stand out just with simplicity and authenticity. You don’t need amazing editing and video equipment. Most of my videos that went viral were filmed on my phone.
Another reason why my or your video only gets 300 views is simply because it sucks. Let’s be real.
Editing and Timing
By the way, you don’t need to use TikTok editing to get more views. I have edited plenty of videos in Premiere Pro and they did go viral on TikTok. It comes down to whether the content is good in combination with timing. Timing is really something which you can’t predict. Sometimes you’re too early, sometimes too late. Also, on current topics, you will go out of fashion quite soon. I’d rather create TikToks that have search potential even in 2 years.
Hashtags and Voice
Hashtags don’t really matter, okay? They help classify your content, but if you use voice-over or your voice in the video, the algorithm understands what the video is about. That’s why you can find hundreds, if not thousands, of videos that went viral but have zero hashtags. Which leads me to videos without voice. You need either caption generated on TikTok and a long description of what the photos or videos without the voice are communicating.
The Importance of Voice
I would say TikTok’s algorithm likes to hear people. It adds more personality and makes users watch longer. The biggest influencers on TikTok are the ones who speak.
TikTok algorithm update: Comment Strategy
The new thing on the block is comments need to have more than 5 words to help crack the TikTok algorithm. It supports actual conversations and community building rather than superficial one-word comments. Of course, another important number is the hook. How many seconds of the video are watched and how many people watched the whole video. That is basically your goal to measure the quality of content. The rest is about how interesting it is to people on TikTok. What is the timing of the video? And I don’t mean morning or evening. I mean the time in the universe.
Negative Content vs. Positive Content
My current struggle is that my negative content has immediate viral potential, and my most inspiring and motivational and fun content doesn’t even get 25% of the results. It is quite frustrating because I refuse to post only triggering videos or post them at all. I need to work on this. I have embarked on solo travel, and after a couple of weeks, I gained 300 followers and many of my videos hit 10-20k views.
Why Interesting Content Matters
Why? Because my content is now interesting! I am travelling, exploring the world, and documenting my journey. It’s so much more fun than office videos talking about marketing. How does this help my business? Getting traffic to my website with Linktree on TikTok where I sell my online courses. I also got published in the national newspaper thanks to my TikTok. I get many new connections on LinkedIn and email inquiries. I’m just getting started with my solo travel and shift in business.
TikTok Myths and the Reality
I also published a blog about TikTok myths, and I want you to read it. Better yet, if you get my online TikTok course, you will learn all the secrets, tips, and strategies for successfully building a brand on TikTok, including how to get hot leads and use the platform for business growth.
Viral Success and Business Growth
My most successful business video was a tutorial for ChatGPT which brought me 12 hot leads, hundreds of new connections on LinkedIn (yes, I know, weird!), and converted into 4 clients I still work with even after 2 years. And guess what? I didn’t have to chase the clients, they came to me. My only regret is that at the time of the video I didn’t have the product to sell, and I believe I missed out on a huge amount of money.
Unexpected Virality
I didn’t expect it to go viral! And I didn’t think I could take my business online, but after this video, I thought it is possible! When you go viral with your business videos, people want to buy your stuff right away. This hot potato will get cold very soon. If you have nothing to sell in the first 4 days of your video going viral, it’s over. You will still get views here and there but it’s just breadcrumbs.
Leveraging Traffic
I managed to rank my website number one on Google, and my TikTok traffic helped a lot! It’s an amazing backlink.
Case studies of cracking the TikTok algorithm
Imagine really going viral. I’m talking 15 million views. You can retire. If it’s a video that actually promoted your business, you will be finished. In a good way. Let me give you some amazing examples and inspirations.
@cc.campbell Who wants a coffee with some extra hate?! Day in my life running my coffee pop-up #coffeetrailer #dailyvlog #smallbusinessowner
@lydkram JIM! since 1976 🥹 you can buy his tees at jimmorris.com (link in bio)!! follow along with Jim on instagram @jimmorristees (linked in bio!!) & on here @Jim Morris Environmental Tees!! 🌊🌟 ft. Jim in his “water is life” crewneck sweatshirt!! 🌊 Jim loves nature so much and has been making wildlife tees (& more!) since the 70s, when he started making them to raise money for the environmental group at his college! He loves partnering with various wildlife artists and sharing the love of nature with all 🐸🐻🐠🦥
@knivestomeetyoulondon Is L’Entrecôte worth the wait? People are willing to wait up to 2 hours just to try L’Entrecôte’s famous steak and fries. I mean for £31, you get a salad with bread to start, and then not one but TWO helpings of steak and fries. So in a city where it costs £27.54 just to breathe, one thing is undeniable – it’s cracking value for money. I waited just a little under an hour to get into L’Entrecôte, but do I think it was worth the wait? Well you’ll have to watch and find out. #lentrecote #lentrecotelondon #lerelaisdelentrecote #londonfrenchfood #londonfrenchrestaurant #frenchfoodlondon #steaklondon #londonsteak #marylebone
One last thing I want to say. I know I said it before, but I’m seeing so many businesses making this mistake. Posting 20 videos which are similar and getting the same results of nothingness means this type of video doesn’t work. The algorithm is actually trying to tell you this. It’s trying to tell you to change it up!!
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