Building a following on TikTok is more challenging than on other platforms due to the effectiveness of its algorithm and For You feeds. Users can scroll endlessly without needing to follow any accounts.
However, growing a large audience and establishing an online presence is possible. Many creators and brands in the United States have successfully built communities on TikTok. Social media experts from Intel, Booking.com, and Verizon have shared their strategies.
This content focuses on their success strategies, audience growth methods, and actionable tips to help others achieve similar results on TikTok.
Why Growing TikTok Followers Matters
Building a follower base on TikTok can determine whether you remain a fleeting trend or establish lasting influence.
Posting a viral video can bring temporary attention, but sustaining growth ensures continued visibility and opportunities. Focusing on follower growth in the United States offers benefits such as:
- Increased Reach and Brand Awareness: TikTok’s algorithm shows more of your content to followers, even on their For You pages. A larger audience means more views and higher awareness.
- Monetization Opportunities: A higher follower count can attract brands with larger budgets, create better sponsorship deals, and allow creators to charge more per post.
- Better Virality Potential: Engaged followers who interact with your content signal TikTok’s algorithm to share your posts with a broader audience, improving your chances of going viral.
- Building Trust and Authority: Follower count serves as social proof for TikTok users, especially for unfamiliar brands. For advertisers and businesses, a higher count signals credibility and encourages engagement.
Gabe Gomez, Social Strategy Lead at Verizon, explains that follower growth reflects content value and audience connection, highlighting its importance in building a meaningful presence on TikTok.
Your current followers can provide key insights about the type of content to create. Treat them as an asset for shaping future posts and expanding your influence.
How to get followers on TikTok: Best Tested Ways
Building a strong presence on TikTok requires strategic effort. Here are practical steps to grow your followers, tailored for users in the United States.
1. Create Content That Attracts Followers
Producing high-quality content is the most effective way to grow a TikTok following. This approach has remained consistent since TikTok's inception and will continue to work as the platform evolves.
To create content that performs well, focus on making it one of the following:
- Entertaining: Aim to make people laugh or feel good. TikTok users often look for content that lightens their mood and helps pass the time.
- Educational: Share quick tips, tutorials, or interesting facts. Content that teaches something new encourages users to follow for similar insights.
- Inspiring: Post content that motivates action. This could range from self-improvement ideas to recommendations for shopping or lifestyle changes.
Once strong content is in place, additional strategies can enhance growth. For example, brands like Duolingo have set a precedent, using engaging and unpredictable approaches to entertain audiences.
2. Focus on TikTok's Algorithm
Reaching followers starts with getting content in front of them. TikTok's algorithm heavily influences this. The key factors driving content visibility are user interactions, post details, and account or device settings, with the first two holding the most weight.
To increase reach, focus on creating engaging, TikTok-native content that connects with the target audience. This type of content increases the chances of landing on the For You Page (FYP), TikTok’s primary driver for visibility in the United States.
3. Define the Target Audience
For businesses, identifying the right audience is essential. This group includes individuals interested in the brand's niche, products, or services.
For example, Booking.com focuses on users looking for travel-related content, offering both general travel inspiration and specific posts catering to niche interests.
A clearly defined audience helps ensure that content resonates, increasing engagement and follow potential.
4. Maintain Consistency
After defining the audience, selecting a specific niche is the next step. This helps create a stronger connection between content and followers. Consistent posting is vital for sustained growth.
As social growth requires time, posting high-quality content on a regular schedule helps build recognition and relevance. This approach ensures steady progress toward gaining followers.
5. Engage in Trends
TikTok trends are a proven strategy for gaining visibility. Trends often involve viral sounds, transitions, or formats that capture user interest. Participating in these trends early boosts engagement and increases follow rates.
Businesses should adopt a fast approval process for trend-based content to avoid delays. Note that TikTok Business accounts can only use licensed sounds, so verify that trending audio is available in the platform's library before posting.
Jumping on trends quickly helps content stay relevant, increasing the likelihood of growing a follower base in the United States.
6. Promote TikTok Videos on Other Platforms
Growing a TikTok following requires leveraging other platforms. Expanding visibility increases the chances of reaching a larger audience in the United States.
Here are effective methods:
- Add a link to your TikTok profile on a "link in bio" page and use it across platforms like Instagram.
- Embed TikTok videos directly on your website.
- Highlight popular TikTok posts in newsletters.
- Mention your TikTok profile on podcasts.
- Share links to recent posts in online communities.
7. Use TikTok's Creator Search Insights
TikTok's Creator Search Insights tool can be a powerful resource for personal or creator accounts. It shows what users are actively searching for on the platform.
Here’s how to use it effectively:
- Generate New Ideas: Use the trending search list and the content gap feature to identify video topics in demand but not overly saturated.
- Optimize for Search: Once you identify a topic, incorporate the exact phrases into captions, hashtags, and in-video text to boost discoverability.
Note: Creator Search Insights is available in select countries and applies only to personal accounts, not business profiles.
8. TikTok SEO
Optimizing content for TikTok SEO is essential to increase visibility and followers. TikTok’s introduction of Creator Search Insights highlights its growing focus on searchability.
Optimize captions and in-video text to include relevant keywords to take advantage of this.
For example, if a trending hashtag or search term like "summer vacation ideas" is gaining traction, create content around that concept and integrate the keywords in both the video and its caption.
9. Optimize the Profile
A TikTok profile should communicate the type of content posted and why users should follow. Focus on two areas:
- Bio: Use the 80-character limit to highlight your niche concisely.
- Name: This is the first impression on users’ For You Page (FYP). Make it catchy and relevant to encourage followers.
10. Post Frequently
Consistency is key to the growth of TikTok. While TikTok suggests posting multiple times daily, a manageable starting point for most users is three to five posts weekly.
TikTok’s algorithm rewards frequent posting, giving more opportunities for content to gain traction. To streamline this process, batch-create and schedule posts using planning tools.
This approach reduces the workload while maintaining an active presence, increasing your chances of going viral and gaining followers.
11. Cross-Promote with TikTok Creators
Collaborating with other creators is a strategic way to introduce your content to a wider audience. TikTok's features, like duets and stitches, allow creators to engage easily, combining audiences through shared videos.
A duet places your video side-by-side with another creator's content, while a stitch integrates clips from their video into yours. These tools help foster collaboration and engage different viewer groups.
Focus on creators whose audience and style align with yours. Research engagement rates and propose collaborations that align with mutual goals. Key points for successful collaborations include:
- Establish clear agreements about content and messaging.
- Avoid working with creators whose brand conflicts with your own.
- Credit collaborators appropriately.
- Ensure the partnership feels authentic.
Effective collaborations can lead to ongoing partnerships, such as shared challenges or content series. Working together also provides opportunities for audience growth, content diversification, and stronger community ties.
12. Use Hooks to Gain Followers
The opening three seconds of a video are critical to capturing attention. Effective hooks grab the viewer’s interest and encourage them to watch until the end. Examples include:
- "You won’t believe this..."
- "Why is nobody talking about this?"
- "Most people don’t know..."
Hooks work best when they create intrigue and promise value. Some ideas for hooks include:
- Lists: Offer tips, tricks, or rankings, such as “5 tips for gaining TikTok followers—number 5 is a game-changer.”
- Surprising endings: Begin with an unexpected result, then show how it happened.
- Challenges: Create engaging content with impressive or humorous outcomes.
- Rankings: Share opinions about topics your audience cares about, keeping them watching to see the full list.
Conclusion
Building a follower base on TikTok requires consistent effort, creativity, and strategy.
Consistency, collaboration, and strategic promotion across platforms further ensure sustained growth and visibility.
These steps increase reach and provide opportunities for long-term influence and success on the platform.
