In the dynamic world of social media, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse platform for creative expression and content discovery. 

With its massive user base and engaging short-form videos, it's no wonder that individuals and businesses are eager to grow their TikTok presence. However, achieving TikTok stardom requires a strategic approach. In this article, we'll explore five essential steps to help you grow your TikTok following and make your mark in the TikTok community. We used these tips to grow our in-house accounts to over 190K followers and over 70K followers. 

1. Post High-Quality and Eye-Catching Content

The foundation of a successful TikTok growth strategy lies in consistently delivering high-quality and eye-catching content. But what exactly constitutes "high quality"?

• Video Resolution: Ensure your videos are shot in at least 1080p resolution to maintain visual clarity.

• Lighting and Composition: Well-lit videos with thoughtful composition make a significant impact. Natural light or soft lighting setups work best. This doesn’t mean it needs to be aesthetic like Instagram; it means your video needs to have good lighting and minimal clutter so the subject is clearly in the frame.

• Clear Audio: Audiences appreciate clear and audible audio. Invest in a good microphone if possible.

• Engaging Storytelling: Craft narratives that capture attention and evoke emotions. Whether humour, inspiration, or relatability, a compelling story keeps viewers hooked.

2. Find Your Unique Style and Voice

Amidst the sea of TikTok content, finding your unique style and voice is crucial to stand out. Consider the following:

• Niche Selection: Choose a content niche that resonates with your interests and expertise. Your genuine passion will shine through in your content. Once you’ve chosen your niche, focus your content creation efforts on this topic. For example, entire TikTok accounts are dedicated to bullet journalling, homecooked meals by private chefs, or how to take care of your plants at home. Become the topic expert in your niche.

• Consistent Tone: Develop a consistent tone for your videos, whether casual, informative, or quirky. Consistency breeds familiarity among your audience.

• Signature Content: Create a signature element – a catchphrase, a recurring theme, or a specific editing style – that becomes synonymous with your content.

3. Adapt Trends to Your Content and Platform

TikTok thrives on trends. Staying current and participating in trending challenges can boost your visibility. However, don't forget to adapt these trends to your unique style and content:

• Put Your Spin on It: Inject your personality into trends. Give them your twist to make them more authentic and aligned with your brand.

• Relevance Check: Ensure that the trend aligns with your niche and audience. Jumping onto irrelevant trends might confuse your viewers.

4. Master TikTok SEO

TikTok SEO involves optimizing your content for discoverability within the platform. While it's not the same as traditional website SEO, the principles are similar:

• Keywords: Integrate relevant keywords in your video captions and descriptions. These keywords should reflect the content and make it easier for users to find your videos. What you say in your video is also important and helps the algorithm categorize your video so it’s easier for users to search and find information. Oftentimes, people would type in whole sentences when they are searching for information on Google. With TikTok, content topics are so particular that users simply search up a few keywords like “Peripera review” or “Tube Girl” to find what they’re looking for. This makes it very important to put the details of your video in the captions. Sometimes when others repost, duet, or comment on your videos, this also contributes to the keyword search on TikTok.

• Hashtags: Use trending and niche-specific hashtags to broaden your video's reach. While you can fit as many hashtags in TikTok’s 2,200 character limit, only using 2-4 related and niche hashtags is sufficient. With hashtags, it's best to do your own research and test out which hashtags are working for your videos. For example, you may want to be known as a location-based creator, and in that case, you can include 1-2 hashtags of your location. If there is a certain product or brand you are talking about in your videos, you may want to put that as a hashtag so that when people are searching for reviews on TikTok, your video pops up.

5. Analyze Performance and Keep Posting

Consistency combined with data-driven insights is the key to long-term TikTok growth. Analyze these key performance indicators (KPIs) for each piece of content to refine your strategy:

• Views and Engagement: Monitor the number of views, likes, comments, and shares. These metrics reflect the engagement level of your audience. Let’s say you don’t know what “good performance” means. Take a look at other creators who are in the same follower bracket as you. How are their videos performing? With this mindset, you’ll find yourself constantly setting up a higher benchmark as you consistently grow. 

• Follower Growth: Track your follower count over time. Consistent growth indicates your content's appeal.

• Completion Rate: This reveals how many viewers watch your video till the end. A higher completion rate suggests engaging content. From this, we can analyze why certain pieces of content performed better than others, and how some topics are more engaging for different audiences and demographics. When you can see who your audience is, it’s easier to tailor your content to meet the needs of your viewers. 

By evaluating these KPIs collectively, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of what's working and what needs improvement. Adjust your content strategy based on these insights.

Growing your TikTok following requires a blend of creativity, strategy, and perseverance. Posting top-notch content, finding your unique style, adapting to trends, mastering TikTok SEO, and analyzing performance are the stepping stones to success on this vibrant platform. Remember, TikTok rewards authenticity and innovation – so stay true to yourself while exploring new horizons. With dedication and these five essential steps, your TikTok journey could lead you to remarkable growth and recognition.