Let’s be real: you’re posting videos on TikTok, but the views aren’t coming. You watch other creators rack up thousands while your content sits there like a ghost town. The algorithm feels rigged, the competition feels impossible, and you’re wondering if you’re just wasting time. Here’s the truth—how to get more views on TikTok isn’t magic, but it’s not random either. It’s about understanding what TikTok actually rewards and then building a system around it.
The platform’s algorithm has one job: keep people scrolling. If your video does that, you get views. If it doesn’t, it dies in the feed. The difference between a 500-view video and a 50,000-view video often comes down to three things: hook, pacing, and audience alignment. This guide breaks down the exact strategies that work right now, based on what the algorithm actually favors in 2024.
Hook Them in the First 3 Seconds—Or Lose Them Forever
The first three seconds of your TikTok video are make-or-break. Not three minutes. Not thirty seconds. Three seconds. That’s how long the average user takes to decide whether to keep watching or swipe to the next video. If you don’t grab their attention immediately, the algorithm sees a swipe, registers it as a “not interested” signal, and your video tanks.
A strong hook does one of these things:
- Shows conflict or curiosity – “Wait, what just happened?” (someone falling, a plot twist, a shocking statement)
- Promises a payoff – “Stick around to see the ending” or “I’ll show you how in 15 seconds”
- Triggers an emotion – Funny, shocking, satisfying, or relatable content that makes someone feel something
- Disrupts the scroll – A sudden cut, loud sound, bright flash, or unexpected visual
Think of it like a fishing line. The hook is what gets the fish interested. Without it, you’re just casting into empty water. Some of the best-performing hooks are:
- Opening with text on screen (2-4 words max) that creates curiosity
- Starting with the most interesting moment, not the setup
- Using a question that makes people want to see the answer
- Showing a before-and-after in the first frame
- Starting with movement or action, not a static shot
Pro tip: If you’re struggling to hook viewers, watch your analytics. TikTok shows you how long people watch before swiping. If 80% of viewers bail in the first 2 seconds, your hook is broken. Go back and re-edit the opening.
Use Trending Sounds and Music—It’s Not Optional
TikTok’s algorithm has a weird relationship with audio. It doesn’t just play videos—it plays sounds. If you use a trending sound, the algorithm assumes your video is part of that trend and shows it to people who engage with that sound. If you use an obscure or original sound, you’re starting from zero.
This doesn’t mean you have to copy trends exactly. But using the right audio gives your video a massive boost. Here’s why: when a sound is trending, thousands of creators are using it. TikTok groups all those videos together and promotes the best ones. If your video is good, you’re competing for the top spot in that sound’s ecosystem.
How to use trending sounds effectively:
- Open the Discover page and look at the sounds tab—these are trending right now
- Pick sounds that match your content type (don’t use a sad sound for a comedy video)
- Use the sound in a way that adds value or a twist—straight copying gets buried
- Post within 24-48 hours of the sound going viral (the window is tight)
- Check how many videos are already using the sound (if it’s 500K+, the trend is dying)
One caveat: if you’re building a personal brand or trying to stand out, you need to balance trending sounds with original audio. The goal is trending sounds for reach, original content for loyalty. Use trending sounds to get views, then use those views to build an audience that follows you for your unique perspective.
Master Your Posting Schedule—Timing Matters More Than You Think
When you post affects how many views you get. Period. TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t care what time zone you’re in, but it cares about when your audience is active.
The general rule: post when your audience is most likely to be scrolling. For most creators, that’s:
- 6-10 AM – People checking their phones before work
- 12-2 PM – Lunch break scrolling
- 6-11 PM – Evening wind-down time
But here’s the real talk: your audience might be different. If you’re posting content for night-shift workers, posting at 6 AM is useless. That’s why TikTok Analytics (if you have a creator account) shows you exactly when your followers are active. Use that data.
Posting strategy tips:
- Post consistently—the algorithm favors creators who post regularly (3-5 times per week is solid)
- Don’t post everything at once—spread videos out over the day and week
- Test different times and track which posts get the most engagement in the first hour
- Post when you can engage—the first hour is critical, so be ready to respond to comments
- Use the TikTok scheduler to post at optimal times even if you’re not available
One more thing: the algorithm gives new videos a small initial boost regardless of time, but that boost is wasted if it goes out when your audience is sleeping. Get the timing right and that boost compounds.
Write Captions and Hashtags That Actually Work
Your caption is real estate on the TikTok feed. Use it strategically. A caption doesn’t have to be long, but it should do one of three things: add context, ask a question, or create curiosity.
Examples of captions that work:
- “This took 3 hours to film and 2 seconds to ruin” (curiosity + relatability)
- “POV: You’re about to learn something” (sets expectations)
- “Tell me in the comments: would you do this?” (engagement hook)
- “This is why I can’t have nice things” (humor + relatability)
Captions that don’t work:
- Just emojis (no context)
- Novels (people won’t read all of it)
- Hashtags in the caption itself (use hashtags separately)
- Asking people to follow (weak engagement driver)
Now for hashtags: TikTok uses hashtags differently than Instagram. On TikTok, hashtags are discovery tools, not ranking tools. The algorithm doesn’t care if you use #FYP or #ForYouPage—those are jokes. What matters is using hashtags that are relevant to your content and have actual engagement.
Hashtag strategy:
- Use a mix of sizes: 2-3 niche hashtags (under 100K views), 2-3 medium hashtags (100K-1M views), 2-3 broad hashtags (1M+ views)
- Put hashtags in the caption, not the comments
- Research hashtags by clicking them and seeing what kind of content performs
- Don’t use more than 5-8 hashtags—it looks spammy
- Change hashtags based on content type (don’t use the same hashtags for every video)
The goal with hashtags is to get your video in front of people searching for that topic. If you make cooking videos and use #CookingHacks, you’re showing your video to people already interested in that content. That’s a win.
Build an Engagement Loop—Views Lead to More Views
Here’s how the TikTok algorithm actually works, simplified: a video gets shown to a small group. If that group engages (likes, comments, shares, watch time), it gets shown to a bigger group. If that group engages, it gets shown to an even bigger group. If engagement drops, it stops.
This is called the engagement loop, and it’s everything. You can’t buy your way into it, but you can design your content to maximize it.
How to build engagement:
- Ask questions in the video or caption – Comments are the strongest engagement signal. If someone comments, the algorithm sees that as a win.
- Create videos that make people want to react – Controversial takes, surprising facts, or relatable struggles get comments
- Respond to every comment in the first hour – When you reply, it bumps the comment to the top and signals to the algorithm that this video is generating conversation
- Use on-screen text that encourages action – “Comment if you agree” or “Tell me in the comments” works
- Make videos that people want to share – Funny, useful, or shocking content gets shared. Shares are gold for the algorithm.
- End with a hook to the next video – “Watch my next video to see what happened” keeps people in your profile
The hardest part about engagement is that it’s not automatic. You have to actively work for it. This isn’t like YouTube where you can post and let it sit. On TikTok, you need to be there, responding, building community, and creating content that sparks conversation.
Pick Your Niche and Own It—Consistency Beats Variety
The biggest mistake new TikTok creators make is posting random content. One day it’s a dance, the next it’s a cooking tutorial, the next it’s a rant about your job. The algorithm hates this because it doesn’t know who to show your videos to.
TikTok’s algorithm is built to categorize creators. It asks: “What does this person make? Who should I show their videos to?” If the answer is unclear, your videos get shown to no one.
Picking a niche doesn’t mean you can never deviate. It means having a core focus. Some examples:
- Comedy about a specific topic (parenting fails, workplace humor, dating disasters)
- Educational content in one area (productivity tips, cooking techniques, fitness advice)
- A specific aesthetic or style (cottagecore, minimalist, vintage)
- A particular audience (Gen Z advice, millennial nostalgia, dad jokes)
Once you pick a niche, own it. Post consistently in that niche. Let the algorithm understand what you do. After you’ve built an audience (10K-50K followers), you can branch out. But early on, focus is your best friend.
Real talk: niche doesn’t mean boring. It means focused. You can be funny within a niche, creative within a niche, and unique within a niche. The niche just gives the algorithm a target.
Edit Like the Algorithm Loves You—Pacing Is Everything
TikTok videos that perform well have a specific editing style. It’s not fancy—it’s fast. The pacing keeps people watching because there’s always something new on screen.
Editing principles that work:
- Cut every 1-3 seconds – Long static shots lose people. Cuts, transitions, or visual changes keep engagement high
- Use text on screen – Text breaks up the visual monotony and adds context (2-4 words at a time)
- Layer audio strategically – Trending sound + voiceover + sound effects = higher engagement
- Use transitions smartly – Quick cuts work better than fancy transitions. Transitions should be functional, not decorative
- Add B-roll or cutaways – If you’re talking to camera for 30 seconds, people leave. Cut to relevant visuals
- Use zoom or pan effects sparingly – They work but overuse kills videos
- Keep the aspect ratio vertical – TikTok is vertical-first. Horizontal videos perform worse
The editing style on TikTok is almost MTV-like—fast-paced, visually stimulating, and designed to prevent the swipe. Every frame should have a reason to exist.
One more editing tip: watch your average view duration in analytics. If people are bailing at the 5-second mark, your pacing is too slow. If they’re bailing at the 15-second mark, you’re losing them midway. Edit accordingly.
For more on video editing basics, check out how to speed up a video on iPhone—useful if you’re filming on mobile and need to adjust playback speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time to post on TikTok to get more views?
– The best time depends on your audience, but generally 6-10 AM, 12-2 PM, and 6-11 PM are peak hours. Check your TikTok Analytics to see when your specific followers are active, then post within 30 minutes of those peak times. Consistency matters more than perfect timing—posting regularly at any time beats posting sporadically at the “perfect” time.
Do hashtags really help you get more views on TikTok?
– Yes, but not the way they work on Instagram. Hashtags on TikTok are discovery tools. Use 5-8 relevant hashtags (mix of niche, medium, and broad) to get your video in front of people searching for that content. Avoid overusing hashtags or using irrelevant ones—the algorithm notices and penalizes it.
How often should I post to maximize views?
– Post 3-5 times per week for consistent growth. More than once per day can actually hurt you because the algorithm may suppress your videos if you’re flooding the feed. Quality and consistency beat quantity. Focus on posting regularly at times when your audience is active.
Why are my TikTok videos getting no views?
– Most likely reasons: weak hook in the first 3 seconds, using non-trending sounds, posting at off-peak times, unclear niche, or poor pacing. Check your analytics to see where people are dropping off. If it’s the first 2 seconds, your hook is broken. If it’s midway, your pacing is slow. Fix the problem area and repost.
Does engagement (likes and comments) really affect the algorithm?
– Absolutely. Engagement is the second most important signal after watch time. The algorithm prioritizes videos that get comments and shares because those indicate the video sparked conversation. Respond to comments quickly (within the first hour) to boost this signal further.
Can I grow on TikTok without using trending sounds?
– Technically yes, but it’s much harder. Trending sounds give you a massive algorithmic boost because they put your video in front of people already engaged with that sound. You can grow with original audio, but it takes longer and requires exceptional content. Use trending sounds early, then shift to original audio once you have a loyal audience.
What’s the ideal length for a TikTok video?
– There’s no magic length, but videos between 21-34 seconds tend to perform well because they’re long enough to tell a story but short enough to hold attention. Shorter videos (under 15 seconds) work for quick hooks or punchlines. Longer videos (60+ seconds) work if you have something valuable to say. Watch your average view duration to see what length works for your audience.
Should I use a ring light or professional camera to get more views?
– No. The algorithm doesn’t care about production quality. A video shot on a phone with good lighting, clear audio, and strong content will outperform a poorly-paced video shot on a professional camera. Focus on content and pacing first, equipment second. Many top creators shoot entirely on phones.
