How to Get Followers on TikTok
I’ll be the first to admit that when TikTok came along, I wrote it off. As an elder millennial, I was like, “A bunch of 17 years olds dancing to pop songs? I’ll pass.” I had absolutely no interest in being a part of these viral video trends, never mind understanding how to get followers on TikTok.
I guess I just saw it as another platform that wouldn’t last 5 minutes. How wrong was I?
My first video got over 10K views and I started gaining followers fairly steadily. It was a list of cozy games I was playing at the time that reminded me of Animal Crossing New Horizons. It now has over 150K views!
My next couple of videos did okayish (they were getting a couple of thousand views at the time of posting), but my fifth video was what really made me see that TikTok was worth investing my time in.
It’s a video about ‘5 cozy games to help you recharge this weekend’. During the first hour after I posted that video, views crept in. Every few minutes I would refresh and there would be another 100 views. Then things went crazy. Within a couple of days, the video had jumped from 1,000 to 100,000 views and I was gaining followers quickly.
Long story short, that video now has over 2.3 million views.
My most popular videos have between 30k and 1.1M views because I learned very quickly what worked and what didn’t on the platform, which led to getting my first sponsorship for a 15-second video after just 6 months! But more about that later.
Before I dive into my best tips on how to grow your TikTok following, let’s chat about why I think TikTok should be a priority for you. Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or sharing cozy gaming content, TikTok has incredible potential. Here’s why it’s worth a look:
- Get Ahead of the Curve: Ever notice how some creators took off by jumping on Instagram early? TikTok is still in its growth stage, meaning there’s room for creators like you to shine. Starting now can give you that edge, so when more people flock to TikTok, you’ll already have a cozy corner of the platform.
- Cross-Platform Connection: TikTok can do wonders for spreading the love to other places you share. If you post a fun video here, mention at the end that you have even more content over on Instagram, your blog, or wherever you’re building your cozy community. Think of TikTok as an introduction to all you have to offer.
- Potential to Be a Game Changer: Is TikTok here to stay? Only time will tell. But it has real potential, and joining now open up exciting possibilities as the platform grows. Starting now lets you explore and experiment without the pressure that can sometimes come with other platforms.
- Opening Doors to Serious Income: Most brands want to work with influencers on TikTok, and more are joining. This means you don’t have to wait to start seeing returns—my emails from brands are always asking for TikTok collabs more than any other platform.
Now that you’re on board and ready to explore TikTok, here are my top tips to grow your following organically.
How to Get Followers on TikTok: Look Professional
When you first start as a new TikTok user, you’ll want to learn the basics of the platform itself. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but with a few essentials, you’ll be creating TikToks that feel authentic and look professional in no time. You can use their in-app editor, or for editing outside of TikTok, I recommend CapCut—the only app I use for editing these days.
For inspiration, I enjoy following @itsmodernmillie and @katiesteckly on TikTok. They’re both pros at sharing helpful tips on TikTok features and video creation in general.
Discover Your Niche
A common mistake I see a lot by new creators on TikTok is following every trend without a clear focus. But if you want to attract a genuine audience who sticks around, it’s all about finding your niche.
If you already create content on other platforms, your niche should be an extension of what you share on Instagram or your blog. Cozy gamers could post gameplay videos or setups, while homebodies may share their relaxing self-care routines for example.
The goal? To build an audience that connects with you for a specific reason, making it easier to eventually collaborate with brands that align with your niche. Not every follower is a good follower—so let’s make sure you’re attracting those who genuinely care about your content.
If you’re still figuring out your niche, try asking yourself these questions:
- What are you most knowledgeable about?
- What are you most passionate about?
- What topic could you create content on for a year, even if you didn’t earn a penny?
Answering these can help reveal what makes you unique and what will keep you motivated on your content journey. Once you find that niche, you’ll be ready to create videos that feel true to you—and that’s the secret to standing out on TikTok!
Set up your profile
After you’ve nailed your niche, you should spend time setting up your profile. Your profile pic should be one of that clearly displays your face or one that distinctly says it is your brand.
For the text in your bio, get specific about who your content is for. Don’t just make it about you. I know it’s tempting to write a resume of your achievements but you only get a small amount of space and it should speak to your viewers.
Overcome the awkward
I hear so many people giving up on making shorter videos before they even begin because they feel awkward on camera.
A great way to overcome that awkward “What do I even film first? I just feel so silly standing there talking to a camera.” is to do something you would do normally. By that I mean, do something that feels natural:
- Go make a coffee
- Put on your makeup
- Go for a walk in nature
Of course you’re going to feel weird just talking to your camera at first, it’s unnatural. And if your feel awkward, you will definitely look awkward. Plus it gives your viewers something else to look at when you’re talking to them. I mean, who wants to just stare into your eyes for 2 minutes, except may be a puppy?
Provide something of value
Unless you’re a comedian or a Let’s Player with lots of surprising clips, you’re going to need to provide value or inspirational content. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since you need to give value and inspiration on all platforms.
Here’s a cozy, friendly take on how to boost watch time on TikTok:
Encourage Longer Watch Times
Just like YouTube, TikTok loves when viewers stick around for the entire video. The longer they watch, the better your video will perform and reach more people who’ll enjoy your content. So, how do we keep people watching until the very end? Here are a few ideas:
- Captions with Curiosity: Tell viewers why it’s worth sticking around. A little tease in the caption can make all the difference. Something like, “Wait for the surprise at the end!” can spark curiosity and keep them watching.
- On-Video Text: Sometimes a little on-screen text like, “I can’t believe this happened!” builds suspense and keeps viewers engaged till the end.
- Tutorials and How-To’s: People love learning new things, so tutorials naturally draw them in for longer watch times. Whether it’s a cozy drink recipe, a quick craft, or a gaming tip, tutorials keep people interested as they wait to see each step.
- Round-Up Videos: Listing the “Top 5 Cozy Games” or “3 Must-Have Fall Accessories” gives viewers a reason to watch through your list. They’ll be curious to see all the recommendations and stick around until the end.
Stick to a Posting Schedule
Consistency is key on TikTok! If you’re looking for steady growth, posting every now and then won’t do the trick. The more you share, the easier it becomes for people to discover you and feel inspired to follow along. After one of my videos went viral, my growth soared for about a week. But when I took a break to focus on other platforms, that momentum slowed and I missed out on potential followers.
So, how often should you aim to post? I’d suggest aiming for 1-3 times a week if you can manage it. I know—that sounds like a lot! But sticking to this schedule doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Here’s what helps:
- Batch Your Content: Pick a couple of days each week to record several videos at once. This way, you’ll always have content ready without the pressure to create daily. I keep a simple list of TikTok ideas on my phone so I always have fresh inspiration when it’s time to record.
- Build a Content Cushion: If you batch 5-7 videos twice a week, you’ll have enough content to cover several weeks, keeping you ahead of the game and taking the stress out of daily posting.
By creating a routine that works for you, you’ll keep your TikTok community growing organically.
Make the Most of Captions & Hashtags
TikTok captions have the same limit as Instagram these days with 2,200 characters. You can get as detailed as you like but remember to keep them relevant and relatable. You can use SEO to get your videos in front of more eyes. I recommend knowing what keywords your targeting to get the most out of your captions.
In this character limit you’ll also need to consider your hashtag strategy. Here’s how to find the best hashtags to use for your videos:
- Use trending hashtags
- Browse the TikTok app and look at other pages in a similar niche to you. See what hashtags they’re using.
- Stick to 3-5 hashtags. Anymore than that isn’t necessary. SEO plays a much bigger part in how videos get found now.
A solid hashtag strategy will boost your engagement and build your community. Please only use relevant hashtags. Just because #fyp has 6.3B posts doesn’t mean you need to use it on all of yours.
Work with brands
Would you believe that you don’t actually need millions of followers on TikTok to work with brands? I don’t and I get 4-figure brand deals every month!
But how does working with brands help you gain a following?
Some brands ask for boosting rights. That means they will promote the video you make for them to get more exposure.
That inturn brings in more eyes to your profile and not surprisingly, more followers. And the best thing? You don’t pay the as fees, the brand does. So you keep 100% of the profits from your brand deal.
Use the right kit
Just because you can film and edit your videos on your phone doesn’t mean you have to stop there. Having the right kit in your arsenal can take your videos from amateur to professional and help you gain more followers on TikTok.
I share EVERYTHING I use to film my TikTok videos in my free guide. You can grab it here.
I hope I’ve helped you get started and learn how to grow a following on TikTok as a gaming content creator, or whatever niche you’re in. If you want to know more about how to film TikTok videos, or even YouTube videos I recommend reading this post next.
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