Hitting your first 1,000 followers on TikTok can feel like an uphill climb – you’re definitely not alone if you feel that way! But TikTok’s strength is that anyone can grow if their videos resonate with people. Once you learn how to make that happen, getting 1,000 TikTok followers gets a whole lot easier.
1,000 followers is a major landmark for any aspiring TikToker. It’s the point at which you unlock some of TikTok’s best features, like live streaming and receiving gifts. And with almost half the TikTok users in the US having already passed the 1,000 follower mark, there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same!
We’ve dissected how TikTok’s algorithm works so you can use it to your advantage and make videos it’ll share with more people. Plus you’ll find essential strategies you can apply to each upload to give yourself the best chance of finding new audiences.
- Understand how TikTok’s algorithm can grow your followers
- 9 proven strategies to get 1,000 TikTok followers
- Getting TikTok followers: Your FAQs answered
- Post consistently for the best chance of being discovered
- Stick to a single niche to find the ideal audience
- Hook viewers with high-quality, engaging content
- Use trending sounds and hashtags to get shown to more people
- Engage with viewers to build your own community
- Collaborate with other creators to tap into their audience
- Experiment with different formats to see what people enjoy
- Don't be tempted by buying followers
- See which videos convince people to follow with Analytics
Understand TikTok's algorithm to grow your follower count
If you want more followers, you need to understand TikTok’s algorithm. This clever tech looks at what you're watching and learns which videos you like so it can recommend similar content on your For You Page (FYP). Get picked up by the algorithm and your content will be shown to far more people, which means more views and potentially more followers too!
So how does the TikTok algorithm work?
Every time you post a video, TikTok tests how the first viewers respond. If they engage with it, your video will be shared with more people who enjoy the same kind of content. There are key signals that help the algorithm decide whether to share your video – let’s dig into them.
Engagement is key
Likes, comments, shares and watch time are strong indicators that people enjoy what you’re posting. And if TikTok sees that your content gets good engagement and keeps people hooked, it’ll share it with a larger audience.
Early performance matters
TikTok tests every video you upload, starting with a smaller audience before it decides whether to push it far and wide. If it sees good performance right away, it’ll quickly share your content to more and more of its users. So make the most of those all-important first views by doing all you can to grab people’s attention and keep them watching.
Trends and hashtags help you find new audiences
TikTok’s algorithm is designed to connect the right videos with the right viewers – your job is to make it easy for that connection to happen. Jump on a trend and the algorithm will put your video in front of people who have already watched similar videos. If they engage with your video, the algorithm will push it to more and more people.
Hashtags do the same job – they help TikTok figure out where your video fits, and who might want to see it. Think of them as shortcuts to get in front of fresh new audiences.
You don’t need luck to go viral!
Sometimes it feels like creators blow up overnight - but it’s time to bust that myth. The truth is that the most successful TikTokers grow because they understand how the algorithm works and use it to their advantage. The secret to hitting those big follower milestones? Posting consistently great content that gets engagement.
9 proven strategies to get 1,000 followers on TikTok
Building your TikTok following is about finding what works and doing it consistently. Create habits that help your content get discovered by new audiences time and time again. These tips are designed to help you keep growing your followers well after you hit your first thousand!
1. Post consistently for the best chance of being discovered
Every post is a new chance to get noticed. So the more regularly you post, the better your odds of landing on someone’s For You Page. It’s the simplest and most effective way of being discovered by TikTok’s algorithm and having videos shared with a wider audience.
It takes time to produce extra content, so think about how you can batch-create videos in one go and get into a rhythm of consistently uploading new content. After all, TikTok rewards momentum!
Pro tip: Pick 3-5 repeatable formats you can cycle through to keep things fresh without constantly starting from scratch. For example, behind-the-scenes clips or reactions that can be quickly shot and uploaded.
2. Stick to a single niche to find the right audience
When you double-down on a single type of content, you make it easy for the algorithm to get to know your ideal viewer. Focus on your chosen niche and TikTok’s algorithm will soon find the right audience for your videos.
Once someone sees and enjoys a couple of clips on their For You Page, they're more likely to take a look at the rest of your content and hit the follow button. So whatever your niche is – whether it’s fitness, skincare, comedy, or gaming – stick to it!
Pro Tip: Don’t worry about being boxed in by a specific niche – you can still be creative within a niche with formats like Q&As, product reviews and the like. Focus on your passion and let your personality shine through your content.
3. Hook viewers in with high-quality, engaging content
Your aim is to stop people from scrolling past your video. It’s why the first few seconds are especially important – so grab their attention right at the start and give them a reason to keep watching!
Once you have viewers hooked, keep them watching with punchy edits. Cut anything that doesn’t add to your video, keep your footage clean and your audio clear. And whatever you do, deliver on what grabbed their attention in the first place – there’s nothing more frustrating than a video that doesn’t follow through!
Pro Tip: Before you post, rewatch your video and ask yourself: “Would I stop to watch this?” If the answer’s no, make changes until it grabs your attention.
4. Use trending sounds and hashtags to find new audiences
When you hop on the latest trends, TikTok’s algorithm is more likely to show your videos to people watching similar content. Similarly, the right hashtags can help the algorithm find relevant audiences for your videos.
Keep an eye on the Discovery tab and see what trending content is gaining traction on your For You Page. When you spot a trend, think about how you can put your own spin on it. The key is to post content while the trend’s still hot.
When it comes to hashtags, make sure they’re relevant to the content you put out. Try and strike a balance between hashtags that are too broad (#trending will rarely get traction!) and super-specialised keywords that are relevant to your niche. Get the balance right – something like #booktok or #makeuphacks – and you’ll make your videos easier to discover for people who are already interested.
Pro Tip: Anyone can hop on a trend, but making it your own is where the magic happens. Align it with your content and you’ll reach new people in a way that feels authentically you.
5. Engage with viewers to build a personal connection
Remember how we said TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that spark engagement? That’s your sign to do everything you can to encourage likes, comments and shares. This can be as simple as asking people to drop a like, or encouraging debate in the comments. So ask your viewers a question and make sure you respond!
Build a back and forth with your audience and you’ll show TikTok that your content gets people engaged. It’s one of the algorithm’s favorite signals, helping it decide whether to share your videos with a wider audience.
Pro Tip: Take things a step further and create a Q&A to answer common questions from your followers in video form. You’re more likely to get people engaging in the comments and it’s an easy video format too.
6. Collaborate with other creators to tap into their audience
Want to find a ready-made audience for your content? Simply take a look at creators in your niche – chances are their followers will like your videos too.
See if you can tap into each other’s audiences by reaching out and suggesting a collaboration. Or fire off a quick duet or funny reaction to one of their videos. You might even catch the other creator’s eye and get a collaboration off the back of it!
Pro Tip: When reaching out to creators, the easier you make it for them to say yes, the better. Keep it casual and specific by suggesting a simple video idea that fits both your styles.
7. Try out different content formats to see what clicks
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new formats – you might land on something that resonates even better with viewers than what you post now. TikTok offers lots of different creative formats to explore, so mix things up with the likes of voiceovers, on-screen text, and candid vlogs.
You shouldn’t sleep on photo mode carousels either. They’re great for step-by-step tips, product breakdowns, or any kind of visual storytelling – and because viewers swipe through each image, they naturally spend more time on your post. It’s a great way to show TikTok’s algorithm you can keep people hooked!
Pro Tip: Scroll through your own For You Page and pay attention to what keeps you watching. Chances are the formats you like will resonate with your viewers too – so see what inspires you!
8. Don’t be tempted by risky shortcuts and buying followers
Buying followers might be tempting but it’s more likely to kill your growth long-term than give you a boost. Fake followers won’t engage with your content, which signals to TikTok’s algorithm that your content isn’t worth sharing and it’ll tank your reach – after all, why would other people watch your videos if even your own ‘followers’ don’t watch it!
TikTok can also detect this kind of artificial growth and may limit your account or even ban it. Instead, focus on organic growth by posting consistent, valuable content and going after meaningful engagement from real followers.
Pro Tip: If you want a boost, you could consider promoting a high-performing video with TikTok’s ad tools – it’s safer and far more effective than buying fake followers.
9. Check your analytics to see what’s working well
Analytics isn’t just numbers, it's the key to understanding what content your audience likes. If one of your videos is outshining the others you posted, it’s a good sign you should do more of the same. Equally, any upload that flops is an opportunity to learn why it didn’t resonate with viewers as much.
TikTok’s analytics are the best way to see what’s working and what isn’t. Look at metrics like watch time, engagement, and follower growth to identify patterns. When you spot a video that does well, think about why that is – then create more like it. If you want to understand which videos are getting people to follow you more, check out our guide on TikTok analytics.
Pro Tip: Dive into your follower demographics – age, gender, and active times are golden insights that will help you fine-tune what you make and the best times to post it.
Reaching 1,000 TikTok followers, Your FAQs answered
Get ready to grow your audience on TikTok
While it might be tempting to think that viral success is just around the corner, real growth on TikTok comes from being consistent. When you focus on regularly posting quality videos your audience loves, you’ll give yourself a better chance of being shared far and wide by TikTok’s algorithm.
You want to build a community around your content, so make sure you’re reaching out to other creators, and always make time to reply to your followers. Small actions can make all the difference in showing the algorithm that people love what you post. To learn more about how you can create popular videos that reach wider audiences, check out our guide on the TikTok algorithm.
Everything you need to know to master TikTok
Want to deepen your understanding of TikTok and learn how to hit viral success? Check out our related guides on all things TikTok:
- How to use TikTok
- How to get more followers on TikTok
- How to get more views on TikTok
- How to make a Series on TikTok
- How to go live on TikTok
- How to add music to TikTok
- How to make money on TikTok
- How much does TikTok pay creators per view?
- How to go viral on TikTok
- How the TikTok algorithm works
- How to use TikTok analytics
- How to Get 1,000 Followers on TikTok: 9 Tips To Hit The Milestone Fast
