How to Get Famous on TikTok in 7 Steps

Do you find yourself scrolling through TikTok, wondering how all these creators have been able to attract such massive followings? Maybe you’ve even thought that you, too, might have a shot at becoming TikTok famous.

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, with nearly 700 million users as of January 2021. This means that, in addition to it being incredibly entertaining, TikTok is the perfect place for anyone looking to produce creative content, build a personal brand, or grow their business. 

If you’re not yet familiar with TikTok, or if you’re an active consumer of content but not yet a creator, start with this introductory class from Taylor Loren. Loren will teach you everything you need to know about how TikTok works, what kinds of videos you can create, and how to post your very first one. 

In the meantime, read on to find out the exact strategies you should follow to go viral on TikTok.

Now let’s dive into how to get famous on TikTok! 

How to Get Views on TikTok

Unlike other social media platforms, you don’t need to have any followers to start getting noticed on TikTok. If the app’s algorithm favors your videos, they’ll be shown to tons of people who have never seen or heard of you!

Here’s how the algorithm works: When you first post your video, it will be shown to a small group of users. Based on how this small group reacts to your video—how many likes, comments, and shares it receives—the algorithm will be able to predict whether it’s worth showing to others. 

TikTok’s ultimate goal is to keep users on the app as long as possible, so naturally, the videos the algorithm favors do exactly that: they are engaging and share-worthy. As Loren puts it, your video will have the potential to go viral if it elicits a strong emotional reaction from the viewers. 

Why is TikTok popular? Because the videos we see on it make us feel something. Most popular videos are funny, entertaining, educational, relatable, impressive, or surprising. Others inspire us or make us feel sentimental or nostalgic. The effect is amplified when we check the comments and see other people who feel the same way, creating a sense of community. 

Before we get into the step-by-step process of how to become TikTok famous, let’s take a look at a few popular creators and how they’ve used this concept to achieve TikTok fame. 

Famous TikTokers You Can Learn From

1. @newt isn’t a professional chef, but he enjoys trying new things in the kitchen. Not only is watching him create elaborate meals incredibly satisfying, but it gives viewers confidence that they, too, could learn a new skill and make something delicious. 

2. @partyshirt try out life hacks shared on TikTok to see which ones are real and which are fake. The thrill of finding out whether or not something actually works keeps people coming back for more.

3. @jaxwritessongs is a skilled singer-songwriter who writes hilarious remixes and responses to popular songs. Not to mention, her original songs are incredibly relatable and catchy. 

So does all this mean that if you want to be TikTok famous, you have to be a talented singer or chef? Absolutely not. The point here is that each of these creators has found something they enjoy doing and something that elicits a strong reaction from their viewers.

Wondering how you can do the same? Let’s take a closer look at how to get famous on TikTok. 

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How to Be TikTok Famous in 7 Steps

Is it easy to get famous on TikTok? Not exactly. But if you follow the below steps, you’ll be much more likely to get more eyes on your videos and find people who like what you’re doing. 

Step 1: Pick a Niche

You’ve probably heard this one before, and for good reason. Narrowing down the focus of your videos will help you find and retain your audience. When someone sees your content for the first time and likes it, they want to be able to come to your profile and see more of the same. 

Your niche doesn’t have to be too specific—and you can certainly break away from it every once in a while to take part in a trend—but try to pick something you feel passionate about. As you’ll see in the following steps, you’ll be creating a lot of content, so your niche has to be something you have a lot of ideas around and something you won’t easily get tired of. 

Step 2: Create a Content Plan

Before you start posting on TikTok, spend some time watching other people’s videos and gathering ideas. Think about different types of videos you would like to—and would have time to—create. Are they short or long? Entertaining or educational? 

You never want to run out of ideas, so while you’re browsing, be sure to save any videos you’d like to recreate later in your favorites. 

Pro Tip: You can save a video to your favorites by pressing and holding on the video until this screen pops up. 

Step 3: Create a Schedule

If you take nothing else from this guide, remember this: you have to post consistently. While there are certain things you can do to increase your chances of going viral, a massive part of it still comes down to luck. The more often you post, the more opportunities you create for one of your videos to take off. 

Don’t worry too about posting five times a day, though—that’s certainly not realistic for everyone’s lifestyle. Focus more on staying consistent. 

If you’re still finding it challenging, try creating your content in batches to save time. 

Step 4: Jump on Trends

If you’re wondering how to go viral on TikTok, you absolutely must participate in challenges and jump on trends. Your chances of blowing up skyrocket when you use trending sounds, trending effects, or trending hashtags. This is because people often browse through collections of videos related to a single trend, so your video will have a much better chance of getting discovered. 

All this being said, try to still incorporate your niche into your video. You can jump on a trend but put your own spin on it so your content remains on brand. 

Step 5: Use Hashtags

Hashtags are used a little differently on TikTok than on other social platforms. People don’t search by hashtags to discover new content. Instead, the TikTok algorithm uses hashtags to help categorize your content and show it to the appropriate audience. 

With this in mind, keep your hashtags to a minimum—three to four work well for most creators —and make sure they accurately represent your video and your niche. 

Step 6: Make Use of the Duet and Stitch Features

Why is TikTok so popular? Because it gives people lots of opportunities to interact with each other’s content. To use this to your advantage, encourage others to duet or stitch your videos—this will introduce your content to their audiences, amplifying your reach. 

Also be sure to duet or stitch other people’s videos—it’s a great way to get in on a conversation or trend and showcase other creators in your niche. 

Step 7: Pay Attention to Analytics

The built-in analytics in TikTok will tell you exactly when your audience is most active, so you can schedule your posts at a time when they’re most likely to receive good engagement. 

You can also use analytics to see how your past videos have performed and experiment with different tactics. TikTok isn’t always predictable, but if you can identify patterns in what kinds of videos receive the most views and engagement, it’s worth a shot to try and recreate their success with your next video. 

The biggest piece of advice for becoming TikTok famous is simply to keep creating and not give up too soon. It may take some time and dedication, but if you follow these seven steps and stay consistent, you’ll be well on your way to TikTok stardom! 

Ready to Go Viral on TikTok?

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Written By

Sayana Lam

Sayana is a musician, writer and graphic designer based in Toronto, Canada.

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