Views are the lifeblood of TikTok for both aspiring content creators and seasoned Tiktokers. The more views you have, the more visibility and engagement your content receives. They can lead to brand collaborations, greater monetization and perhaps even TikTok stardom.
But with millions of videos being posted every day, standing out and capturing attention on TikTok can feel like a daunting prospect. Do you need to dig deep into your pockets to reel in views, or is it possible to see your content flourish on TikTok without spending a dime?
This comprehensive guide will unravel the secrets to unlocking your TikTok potential. Read on to discover insightful tips on creating engaging content, building a connection with your viewers, and bolstering your view count.
- What counts as a TikTok view?
- TikTok view bots: Are they worth it?
- 11 ways to get free TikTok views
- Watch your Tiktok views soar!
- 1. Focus on the For You feed
- 2. Keep viewers hooked
- 3. The length of your content matters
- 4. Hop on trends and popular sounds
- 5. Collaborate with other TikTokers
- 6. Craft engaging captions with keywords
- 7. Make wise use of hashtags
- 8. Time your posts right
- 9. Cross-promote on other platforms
- 10. Engage with your audience
- 11. Mythbusting: Should I exit TikTok after posting a video?
Understanding TikTok views: How many is a good number?
Before we dive in, you might be wondering ‘what is a TikTok view’ exactly. In a nutshell, a TikTok video that appears on a user's screen for a total of three seconds or more is counted as a view. It’s a measure of how often your content has graced users' screens and held their attention, even for a brief moment.
But what defines a 'good' number of views on TikTok? This can vary depending on several factors, including how many followers you have, the type of content you post, and your engagement rate. When you start out on TikTok, racking up anything from a couple of hundred to a few thousand views for each video is commendable. As your follower base grows, you’ll want to see a proportionate rise in views.
Is 1,000 views on TikTok a lot, then? For established creators boasting a large following, this number might be on the low end. However, for smaller or newer accounts, hitting 1,000 views can be a significant milestone. It indicates your content is reaching beyond your immediate followers and attracting more eyeballs.
While views are a valuable metric, they aren't the be-all and end-all on TikTok. High engagement in the form of likes, comments, shares, and saves can signal to the TikTok algorithm your content is worth promoting to a broader audience.
TikTok view bots: Should you pay for views?
In your quest for TikTok views, you might come across phrases like "TikTok view bot" or "free TikTok views." These refer to automated services or software promising to spike your view count artificially. But while these might seem like a rapid-fire way to pump up your numbers, they’re actually more likely to damage your channel.
TikTok's algorithm is sophisticated. It can often sniff out and eliminate fake views as part of its ongoing mission to keep interactions on the platform authentic. And while there are services pledging "real" views for a fee, these views often lack genuine engagement, which is a key ingredient TikTok prizes.
So is using bots to inflate view counts legal? The practice, known as viewbotting, treads a murky legal path. However, it's definitely against TikTok's community guidelines and can result in your account being flagged or banned.
Bots and purchased views may seem like an easy shortcut, but they’re not worth the risk. Instead, zero in on crafting engaging content and building a genuine connection with your audience for sustainable, long-term TikTok growth.
11 ways to get free TikTok views
Bagging free views on TikTok hinges on a combination of things. You need to craft engaging, on-trend content. Turn your viewers into cheerleaders for your channel. And understand how TikTok’s algorithm can lend a helping hand to your videos.
If your TikTok videos are falling flat, it might be because they’re not optimized for the platform. Perhaps they’re too long, the video quality is low, or they don’t have a clear focus. It’s easy to fix though. With a dash of consistency, creativity, and the following tips, your view count will start to soar.
1. Focus on the For You feed
Ask yourself, will your content keep viewers hooked? And does it encourage engagement? TikTok's For You feed, the hub where most users spend their time, is curated by an algorithm tailoring content to each user's taste. The more a user engages with your content, the likelier the algorithm is to spotlight your future videos.
2. Keep viewers hooked
The first few seconds of your video can make or break a viewer’s interest. Craft a compelling hook to reel viewers in. It could be an unpopular opinion, a tease for a captivating story, or a thought-provoking question. Once you have them invested in your video, don’t give them a reason to swipe away.
Aim for a video that’s all killer, no filler! And consider how you could create a video loop that keeps people watching, like Zach King does with his infinite supply of watermelons.
3. The length of your content matters
TikTok is all about making hyper-engaging content. Convey a message or tell your story as succinctly as possible to maintain your viewers' attention.
You may only need 10 seconds to get your point across. But it’s also fine to keep people captivated for half a minute or longer. If you need more than 45 seconds, just make sure your content is keeping people engaged all the way through.
4. Hop on trends and popular sounds
Using trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges can help you get discovered by more people. But remember, the key is putting your own unique spin on the trend so you stand out from the crowd. Not sure where find what's going viral? You can head to TikTok Creative Center to see all the top trending content in one place!
5. Collaborate with other TikTokers
Collaboration can help you tap into new audiences and gain more views. Creating a duet or a stitch video with another TikToker is a great way to create something brand new that resonates with a wider audience.
After all, where else would you be able to collaborate with some of the biggest stars in the world? See if you can tap into the audience of megastars like Billie Eilish or Gordon Ramsey.
6. Craft engaging captions with keywords
An intriguing caption can spark curiosity and pull viewers in. Sprinkling in relevant keywords will help your video to show up in related searches and increase it's discoverability. TikTok psychologist Dr. Julie Smith sets a stellar example with engaging, keyword-rich captions that draw people into her videos.
7. Make wise use of hashtags
Hashtags can be your ticket to discovery among users hunting for specific themes or trends. The key is to use relevant and trending hashtags people are already searching for. That way you can be sure there’s already an audience looking for similar content. Just steer clear of anything too niche.
8. Time your posts right
Maximize the views you rack up by posting when your audience is most active. Typically more people will be using TikTok in their free time, which is why early morning, late afternoon, and evening see particularly high engagement. However, this varies based on your audience and the timezone they’re in.
Once you have a few posts under your belt, you can use TikTok analytics to identify the peak times watch your content. Posting regular, high-quality videos at these times can boost your visibility and views significantly.
9. Cross-promote on other platforms
Don’t be shy about leveraging your followers across social media to boost your TikTok views. Sharing snippets of your TikTok videos on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter can entice your followers to view the full video on TikTok.
Remember a lot of the tracks you’re able to use on TikTok could land you with copyright issues on other platforms. Create content that’s safe across all your platforms by soundtracking your videos with copyright-free music from Uppbeat.
10. Engage with your audience
TikTok rewards content that drives engagement, so encouraging people to get involved is a surefire way to get the algorithm to share your content wider. Responding to comments, hosting live streams, and engaging with your followers can help boost your visibility on the platform. It’s called social media after all, so be sociable!
11. Mythbusting: Should I exit TikTok after posting a video?
You might've heard logging off the app after posting can bump up your views. The rationale is TikTok will want to tempt you back to the platform by showing your video to more people, giving you a higher view count when you return. But there's no solid evidence to back this claim. Staying active on the platform and engaging with your audience is a more reliable way to boost your visibility and garner more views.
Keep going and watch your TikTok views soar!
You should now be well-versed in the art of crafting TikTok videos that pull in views. Every step of your content creation journey offers an opportunity to tweak your video and increase your chances of reaching more viewers.
Plan your videos so they’ll slot right into people’s For You Page and keep them watching. Get creative with trending sounds or collaborate with some of the biggest TikTokers on the planet. Build a community of dedicated followers who interact with your content and power it to even more views.
Don’t be tempted to take shortcuts. Paying for views might seem like an easy route to success, but TIkTok is wise to inflated numbers and will penalize you in time. Instead, the best way to increase your views is to create irresistible content that viewers can't help but watch.
Save your money and learn how to create compelling videos. It's a surefire investment in your TikTok journey! And if you want to learn more about how to go viral on TikTok, you can check out our guide for that too.
- 1. Focus on the For You feed
- 2. Keep viewers hooked
- 3. The length of your content matters
- 4. Hop on trends and popular sounds
- 5. Collaborate with other TikTokers
- 6. Craft engaging captions with keywords
- 7. Make wise use of hashtags
- 8. Time your posts right
- 9. Cross-promote on other platforms
- 10. Engage with your audience
- 11. Mythbusting: Should I exit TikTok after posting a video?
