What resonates with TikTok users? How can my brand go viral on TikTok like other brands are?

With more than 1 billion monthly users, TikTok is quite an addiction and the perfect place for your brand to interact with your target consumers. TikTok’s algorithm makes it so anyone can go viral–whether they have 2 followers or 2 million followers.

If you’re not ready to consider going viral but you’re considering having a presence for your brand on TikTok, we have some great posts for that! You can read them here, here and here.

Brands love the potential to go viral on TikTok because it’s easier than on other platforms with 1 in 10 videos going viral. Keep reading if you want your brand to go viral on TikTok.

Elements of a Viral TikTok Post

Semrush did a research report on what makes a TikTok post go viral and you can read their report here. But there is a lot of information in it, so we are highlighting the main takeaways:

• Happiness was the most common emotion triggered by viral TikTok videos: 58% were made in a way that inspired happiness over other emotions.
• More than 1 in 3 viral TikTok videos focused on a person speaking within the first three seconds.
• More than half of viral TikTok videos used music as their primary backing sound in the first three seconds.
• Sixty percent of viral videos featured one person visible on screen. Only about 17% had no humans visible, and less than 10% featured more than two.

Embrace the “For You” Page

The For You Page is where all the magic happens. Understanding this is the most important component of mastering TikTok. 

Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok doesn’t offer the same type of feed, instead, they have the For You Page. This page recommends videos to users based on the type of content they consume.

The For You Page is actually a good thing for brands because you don’t have to have a lot of followers to show up on your target audience's page. Businesses just starting out with their TIkTok strategy have more potential on this platform than others.

Understand Trends

TikTok is trend-driven. This means you need to know about current trends and be able to predict future trends. Since trends are short-lived, by the time you see one, you may already be late to the game. 

You can discover trends in the For You Page and when you jump on a trend, your videos will get put in front of many new eyeballs. 

Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are a key piece of TikTok’s algorithm. 

3-5 hashtags are optimal for your posts and adhering to TikTok’s algorithm.

Try to stay away from generic hashtags as they have a lot of competition. Instead, use ones that your target consumer would be interested in.

Wondering how you can come up with a good variety of hashtags? Here is a free tool.

Be Sure to Have a Pro Account

Creating a pro account is simple and it increases your chances of showing up on users’ For You Pages.

A pro account also gives you access to analytics so that you can see which videos resonate the best with your audience.

How Partnering With Influencers Helps

An influencer’s audience hangs on to their every word so having them mention your brand and how to check out your brand on TikTok is extremely effective.

Use a tool like Influencity to find influencers who have curated an audience that you want your TikTok videos to get in front of.

Create a Challenge

Challenges in TikTok go viral super fast. To create a challenge, think of something that aligns with your brand that is funny or fun and record a video of you doing the challenge and challenge your audience to do it too.

Challenges are discovered and tracked by hashtags. Use an enticing but unique hashtag.

Try TikTok Ads

Instead of focusing only on organic efforts, brands have had success with TikTok ads. They essentially fast-track your content to become popular. 

Optimizing Your Videos for TikTok

Part of going viral on TikTok is obviously a good video. We talked data and strategy so now let’s talk creativity and creating great posts. Here are a few things you can do to ensure your TikTok videos rock:



• Use TikTok’s tools for video and sound effects
• Try to keep videos at 15 seconds
• Don’t overly promote your products or services–TikTokers hate advertising
• Use hashtags and mentions in the captions
• Use a text overlay for your CTA

Do you have any TikTok tips for other brands? We’d love to read your insights in the comments below!