According to the latest count, TikTok has 1.7 billion users worldwide. And while its audience may sound big (like, almost-a-quarter-of-the-planet big), that’s just half the story!
The real beauty of TikTok for creators is that its audience is hyper-engaged. On average, they spend 95 minutes on the platform every day. To put that in context, people only spend around half an hour per day on Instagram.
So if you want to make it as a creator, you need to be on TikTok. And if you want to make it on TikTok, you need to get your first 1,000 followers.
But before I tell you how, let me tell you why.
Why the 1,000 follower milestone matters
On TikTok, 1,000 followers is the tipping point that lets you start making money from your content. And that’s all thanks to TikTok LIVE.
Once you reach 1,000 followers, you can join the Creator Next program and start streaming live content. Your viewers will then be able to send you TikTok Gifts while watching, which you can later convert into Diamonds and, more importantly, cash.
Speaking of cash, if you’re interested in making money from your content, you should also check out my top subscription platforms for creators.
Still with me? Great! Now let’s talk about how to get followers on TikTok.
Five tips to get 1,000 followers on TikTok
Over the next couple of minutes, I’ll give you five tips you can start following today to get more followers on TikTok.
Here they are:
- Only make videos between 4-10 seconds or 2-3 minutes
- Follow your competitors’ fans to get on their radar
- Jump on popular challenges and trends
- Use viral TikTok sounds
- Promote your channel on other platforms
Shall we?
1. Only make videos between 4-10 seconds or 2-3 minutes
When it comes to TikTok, size matters!
Data from Buffer shows that videos between 3-10 minutes get the most views. Wait a minute, that’s not what you said in the heading, I hear you cry! Don’t worry, I haven’t gone mad. Let me explain.
You see, there’s a very important factor that this data leaves out: effort.
The time and effort it takes to make a three-minute video will be very different to the time and effort it takes to make a five-second clip. So, yes, the longer video may get more views. But, if you can create 10 short videos in the time it takes you to make one long one, then the smart money is on shorter content.
Right?
Here’s another reason not to get hung up on super-long content.
On TikTok, a “view” is counted the instant your video starts to play. So all the data above really shows is that TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes longer videos.
If you want to get more followers on TikTok, which of course you do, then you should focus less on views and more on engagement. And for that, we need to talk about watch rate – that’s the percentage of users who watch videos to the end.
Buffer’s report shows that videos between 0-3 seconds and 4-5 seconds have the highest watch rates. Surprisingly, 2-3 minute videos have the next-best watch rate, followed by 6-10 seconds.
With all that in mind, I’d suggest that you focus on two distinct video lengths:
- 4-10 seconds
- 2-3 minutes
This will give you a solid balance between effort and engagement. And it will set clear expectations for your followers so they know what to expect and keep coming back for more.
💡Top tip: Need help creating and scheduling your content? Check out my A-Z of free small business tools for creators.
2. Follow your competitors’ fans to get on their radar
Head still spinning from that last tip? Don’t worry, this one’s nice and easy – it just takes a little patience!
Here’s what you’re going to do:
- Make a list of your top 10 competitors on TikTok
- Navigate to their followers
- Click on each profile and follow them one by one (max. 30 per day)
It may sound simple, but it’s an effective way to get yourself seen by people who like content like yours.
And if you’re keen to keep your following count down, go back and unfollow them a few days later.
3. Jump on popular challenges and trends
If you want your content to blow up, you need to get on TikTok’s Discover page. And if that’s ever going to happen, you need to start tapping into popular challenges and trends.
You’ve seen them. The photo filters, the dances, the viral songs – more on those in a second.
Now, of course, you can’t jump on every challenge and trend that comes along. But if there’s something you can get involved with that feels authentic to you, do it.
To get your cogs whirring, here are some of the best TikTok trends for artists:
- Where you started vs. where you are now – comparing your earliest creations to what you’re making now
- Film your process – behind-the-scenes content showing how you make your art
- Slow reveal – teasing your audience before revealing a new piece of art
- The artist vs. the artwork – putting yourself out there by letting your audience see the artist behind the art
- Mistakes, rejections, and failures – showing that you’re human by sharing a few of your less-than-perfect creations
But please, be smart and avoid life-threatening trends like the Blackout Challenge.
4. Use viral TikTok sounds
88% of TikTok users say that sound is vital to their experience on the platform.
So, back in February, many users were shocked to find that Universal Music Group had pulled its music catalog from TikTok, including huge names like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Drake.
But that hasn’t stopped big tracks from going viral on the platform, including:
- Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish
- Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter
- Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar
- TEXAS HOLD ‘EM by Beyoncé
In TikTok, these songs appear as “sounds” that you can add to your videos when posting. And behind the scenes, they work just like hashtags. So if someone has watched another video featuring Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar, for example, they’re more likely to be shown your video if it features the same sound.
Here are a few ways you can use viral sounds in your content:
- Time-lapse process videos of you creating something
- A guided tour of your art studio
- Teaser content for upcoming art drops
- You can even play on song lyrics to have a little fun with your audience
It really is a no-brainer, this one.
5. Post at times when people are most active
Data from Sprout Social shows that Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best days of the week for engagement, while Sundays are the worst.
Here’s a quick guide to help you find the best posting window for each day of the week:
- Monday, 3pm to 6pm – low-to-average engagement
- Tuesday, 4pm to 6pm – 3x better engagement than Mondays
- Wednesday, 9am to 6pm – joint highest day for engagement
- Thursday, 9am to 6pm – joint highest day for engagement
- Friday, 4pm to 6pm – 3x better engagement than Mondays
- Saturday, 9am to noon – low-to-average engagement
- Sunday, 8am to 6pm – worst day of the week
💡Top tip: Post your longest and highest-effort videos on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Then post your shorter supporting content every other day of the week.
Final thoughts
Now, of course, these tips alone won’t get you to 1,000 followers. You need to put in the work to create some killer content. You need to post consistently. And you need to engage with your audience in the comments to keep them coming back for more.
But as long as you’ve got the time and dedication to do all these things, you’re sure to be celebrating that 1,000-follower milestone before you know it!
So what are you waiting for? The clock’s … eh … never mind.
Featured image by Nik
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