How to Grow TikTok Followers: Master the Algorithm

TikTok is where the cool kids hang out these days - well, by kids we mean folks that are in the 18-34 age group (60%+ of TikTok users fit in this age group). And, with more than a billion active users spending an average of 52 minutes per day on the app, TikTok offers massive potential for creators and brands looking to expand their reach.  

But here's the catch - to truly succeed on TikTok, you need to crack the code on how to grow your follower count. This is especially true if you want to use TikTok for business!

Don't worry, we've got you covered! Below, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the TikTok algorithm and share proven strategies to finally grow your followers and dominate your niche.

Optimizing Your TikTok Profile

Before you start pumping out content, take a moment to optimize your TikTok profile. First and foremost, it needs to be a business account. If you wanna promote your business the right way on social media, this step is a must! 

Think of your profile as your digital storefront. You want to make sure it's inviting and informative. Start with a clear, high-quality profile picture that represents your brand or personality. 

Next, craft an engaging bio that succinctly communicates what your account is about and includes a strong call-to-action.  

Pro Tip: Don't forget to include a link to your website or other social profiles to drive traffic beyond TikTok.

Then, start identifying your content themes and niche. 

If you really want to grow your TikTok followers, you need to become the go-to account for your specific topic or industry. 

Start researching trending hashtags, looking for the hottest TikTok sounds, and see what challenges related to your niche are being posted. 

Finally, keep in mind that consistency is key. You should aim to establish a recognizable brand aesthetic and voice that followers can count on. 

Okay - with all that set, it’s time to start creating some TikTok videos!

Creating Algorithm-Friendly Content  

Here’s the fun we’ve been waiting for! It’s time to start creating scroll-stopping content! 

How long should your TikTok videos be to grow followers?

Well, when it comes to video production, the optimal length varies depending on the type of content. 

Tutorials and educational videos can run a bit longer (60-90 seconds), while snappy, entertaining clips should aim for the 15-30 second sweet spot.  

Regardless of length, make sure to frontload your videos with a strong hook that grabs attention within the first few seconds - aim for three seconds to get ‘em hooked.

We’ve even seen creators be a little in your face in the first three seconds literally saying to the viewer “Hey! Stop scrolling…” Then, they proceed to drop some amazing knowledge on the viewer, and with a little luck they gain a new follower!

Related: What is the Best AI TikTok Video Generator?

No - you don’t have to dance on the app. 

This is still a common fear business owners have because of the Covid-19 era. It seemed like everyone was lip syncing and dancing for a minute there, didn’t it? 

You don’t have to do that though. But, whenever possible, it is a good idea to try and incorporate what’s trending in with your overall content strategy.  

Just make sure you have plenty of evergreen content on your profile too - this will help ensure your content is still relevant even after trends fizzle out.

CTAs for the win!

To boost engagement, incorporate clear calls-to-action throughout your videos. Encourage viewers to like, comment, and share your posts. And, you can even outright ask them to follow you. We see it all the time with creators saying “Follow for more tips on (insert your niche here)...” 

Spark conversations by asking questions or inviting viewers to participate in challenges. Interactive elements like polls and quizzes are also great for driving engagement. 

And don't underestimate the power of trending sounds and music - using popular tracks can significantly increase your chances of landing on the For You page. 

While we’re talking content - we highly recommend creating a content calendar that will help you stick to a regular posting schedule too. If you want people to keep coming back, you need to add content to your feed regularly.

You Should Be Using ALL The TikTok Features 

TikTok offers a suite of built-in features that can help amplify your reach and grow your followers. Again though - this is a primary reason your account on TikTok should be a business account! 

One of the most powerful tools is analytics. We’ll get into this a little deeper in a moment, but there’s a lot of helpful information within your TikTok analytics dashboard! 

The next feature you should take advantage of on TikTok is the almighty hashtag!  

We mentioned this in the optimization stage, but now it’s time to put things into practice. If you haven’t yet, do your research to find relevant, high-traffic hashtags that align with your content. 

Pro Tip: Aim to use a mix of trending, niche-specific, and branded hashtags to maximize discoverability.

You don’t want to add more than three to five of these bad boys to your videos. But, you’re missing out on huge visibility opportunities when you don’t use hashtags. These are the things that tell TikTok what your videos are about. When people are looking for that topic, TikTok can then serve up your account which could lead to a bunch of new followers. 

Finally, don’t turn off the duets and stitches option! This is another awesome way to expand your reach, and find new potential followers.  

These features allow you to create a video that integrates with another user's content, exposing you to their audience. Duets and stitches are perfect for collaborations, challenges, and reaction videos. When using these features, be sure to tag the original creator and encourage further engagement. 

With a little luck, as you start doing duets and stitches, other creators will start doing ones with your TikTok videos too! And, if they aren’t - well, you could start networking with folks and asking for collaborations. 

Content Planning and Scheduling

It bears repeating, so we’ll say it again - Consistency is the name of the game on TikTok. 

To keep your followers engaged and attract new ones, you need to maintain a regular posting schedule. Aim to post at least once per day, with bonus points for posting during peak engagement times (typically afternoons and evenings).  

Use a content calendar to plan out your posts in advance and ensure a healthy mix of content types (tutorials, challenges, behind-the-scenes, etc.). 

When planning your content, focus on creating value for your target audience. How-to videos and tutorials are always a hit, as people turn to TikTok to learn new skills and hacks.  

Participating in trending challenges is a great way to ride the wave of virality and gain exposure to new viewers. But again, find a way to put your own spin on it to make it more authentic to your brand. 

And don't be afraid to pull back the curtain and share raw and real, behind-the-scenes content - TikTok users love seeing the human side of brands and creators.

Some of our favorites are creators that show their TikTok followers when things are going wrong in their business. It adds a special human element to the content that endears us towards the creator - and if they show how they overcame the setback, well…let’s just say that’s a TikTok following recipe that bakes up nicely every time.

Analytics and Optimization

To continually refine your TikTok strategy and accelerate your follower growth, you need to dive into your analytics. Keep a close eye on key metrics like views, likes, comments, and shares.  

But, with your business account you can go even further! Look into when folks are on your page. Take note of their age, their gender, and even their location. Data like this can be gold as it can steer your content into videos that will speak even more directly to your target audience. 

Now, don’t expect your audience to grow by leaps and bounds overnight. It takes time to build followers. Set realistic growth benchmarks and track your progress over time. 

Use all the data you gather to identify your top-performing videos and look for patterns in terms of content themes, formats, and posting times.  

A/B testing is a powerful tool for optimizing your TikTok content. Experiment with different hooks, calls-to-action, hashtags, and sounds to see what resonates best with your audience.

Pro Tip: Be sure to test one variable at a time so you can accurately attribute results.

When you change too many things, it’s hard to tell what moved the needle in any given direction. So try one thing at a time. Then, based on your findings, double down on the elements that drive the most engagement and follower growth.

Scaling Your TikTok Growth

As you start to gain traction on TikTok, it's important to think about how you can leverage your success to grow your brand across other platforms. Cross-promote your TikTok account on your website, email newsletters, and other social profiles. Use an AI-backed tool like Castmagic to make quick work of repurposing your top-performing TikToks into bite-sized content for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even Facebook or X.

Through building a multi-platform presence, you can funnel followers from one channel to another and create a virtuous cycle of growth. 

Another key to scaling your TikTok growth is community building. Engage with your followers on a regular basis by responding to comments, hosting Q&A sessions, and featuring user-generated content.

Look for opportunities to collaborate with other creators and brands in your niche. Not only will this expose you to new audiences, but it will also help you build authentic connections and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Tools and Resources to Grow Your Followers on TikTok

To streamline your TikTok content creation and analytics, check out these handy tools and resources: 

- Video Editing Apps: Adobe Premiere Rush, InShot, Capcut, Funimate

- Sound Libraries: TikTok's built-in library, Epidemic Sound, Artlist  

- Analytics Platforms: TikTok Analytics, Pentos, Tokfluence

- Scheduling Tools: Loomly, Hootsuite, and TikTok’s native in-app scheduler

And we have to mention Castmagic! Our all-in-one platform makes it easy to repurpose longer content into snackable TikTok videos. Simply upload your audio or video file and let our AI-powered tools generate video scripts, captions, and more. Click here to learn about many of Castmagic's Use Cases.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While there's no one-size-fits-all formula for TikTok success, there are some common pitfalls to watch out for: 

1. Posting Infrequently: Consistency is crucial on TikTok. Aim to post at least once per day to keep your followers engaged and attract new ones. 

2. Jumping on Irrelevant Trends: It's important to participate in trends, but make sure they align with your brand and target audience. Hopping on every trend just for the sake of it can come across as inauthentic. 

3. Neglecting Engagement: TikTok is all about community. Make sure to respond to comments, engage with other creators, and encourage interaction on your own posts.  

4. Ignoring Analytics: Don't fly blind! Regularly check your analytics to see what's working and what's not. Use this data to continuously optimize your content strategy. 

Steer clear of these common mistakes and stay focused on creating value for your audience. This will help you get that much further along on your TikTok path.

Bonus Tips for Advanced TikTok Growth

Ready to take your TikTok game to the next level? Try these advanced strategies: 

1. Run TikTok Ads: TikTok's ad platform allows you to target specific audiences and get your content in front of new potential followers. Start with a small budget and test different ad formats to see what works best. 

2. Host Live Streams: Live streaming on TikTok is a great way to connect with your audience in real-time and showcase your personality. Use live streams for Q&As, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes peeks. 

3. Create a Branded Hashtag Challenge: Launch your own hashtag challenge to encourage user-generated content and build buzz around your brand. Make sure to promote your challenge across other social channels and consider partnering with influencers to expand your reach.   

4. Stay on Top of Trends: TikTok is all about what's hot right now. Keep a pulse on emerging trends and be ready to put your own spin on them. Some key trends to watch include AR effects, social justice themes, and nostalgic content. 

Incorporating these advanced strategies into your TikTok game plan can accelerate your growth, and help you stand out.

You’ve Cracked the Code - Watch Your TikTok Followers Soar!

To recap: Here’s the steps to take to grow on TikTok:

– Optimizing your profile

– Creating engaging content

– Using TikTok features, and 

– Staying data-driven

– Taking advantage of tools for growth

Keep these ideas in mind, and you'll be well on your way to building a thriving community on the platform.  

Success on TikTok takes consistency, creativity, and a willingness to experiment and adapt. But with these strategies in your toolkit, you have everything you need to crack the code and watch your follower count soar. 

And, if you want some help with content creation from Castmagic, click here to test our AI-powered tools for free!