As the founder of Growthcurve, a world-leading growth marketing agency, I’ve spent years studying and mastering the intricacies of TikTok’s algorithm. Viral success on TikTok isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy. By understanding how the platform works and leveraging proven tactics, you can create content that captures attention, drives engagement, and skyrockets your reach. In this article, I’ll share the most effective strategies for going viral on TikTok, including a powerful growth hack that involves posting multiple versions of the same video to maximize your chances of hitting an algorithmic “pocket” of virality.
Understanding Video Length and Its Impact on Virality
One of the most common reasons creators fail to go viral is that they’re producing content with the wrong video length. TikTok’s algorithm currently favors two specific formats: short videos (5-9 seconds) and longer videos (over 60 seconds). Anything in between often gets stuck in what I call the “Dead Zone,” where videos struggle to gain traction. This is because TikTok prioritizes watch time as a key metric for virality. Shorter videos are easier to watch multiple times, while longer videos provide more opportunities to engage viewers deeply.
For example, Bella Poarch’s iconic “M to the B” lip-sync video is just 8 seconds long but became TikTok’s most-liked video with over 64 million likes. On the other hand, Zach King’s Harry Potter illusion video, which lasts over a minute, captivated viewers with its storytelling and magical reveal, earning over 2 billion views. These examples highlight how aligning your content length with TikTok’s preferences can dramatically increase your chances of going viral.
If you’re repurposing content from platforms like YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels without adjusting the length for TikTok, this could be why your videos aren’t performing well. The solution? Either condense your message into a snappy 5-9 second clip or expand it into a compelling 60+ second narrative.
The Power of Visuals: Why Text Color Matters
TikTok is a visual-first platform, and even small details like text color can significantly impact your video’s performance. Through extensive research and testing, we’ve found that three color combinations consistently outperform others: white on black, yellow on black, and red text. These colors stand out on the For You Page (FYP), grabbing viewers’ attention as they scroll through endless content.
To see this in action, simply scroll through your own FYP. You’ll notice that many viral videos use these color combinations for their text overlays. This isn’t a coincidence, creators who regularly go viral have picked up on this trend and avoid using less effective colors like blue or green.
When adding text to your videos, ensure it’s bold, legible, and strategically placed within the frame to guide viewers’ eyes toward important elements of your content.
Choosing Viral-Worthy Topics
Creating content on trending topics is another critical factor for success on TikTok. Fortunately, TikTok has made it easier than ever to identify what’s trending through its desktop version and trends table. By visiting TikTok’s Explore page or searching for specific keywords in your niche, you can quickly determine whether a topic has viral potential.
For example, when Drake released his latest album, creators who posted related content saw their videos go viral within hours due to high search interest. Conversely, if you search for a less relevant topic, like an older album release, you’ll find that recent videos on that subject haven’t performed well. This is a clear sign to pivot to a more timely or engaging topic.
Additionally, TikTok’s trends table updates multiple times daily, showing trending topics across various categories such as beauty care, food hacks, or gaming. Use this tool to stay ahead of the curve and align your content with what audiences are actively searching for.
Crafting Irresistible Hooks
The first three seconds of your video are critical, this is when viewers decide whether to keep watching or scroll away. A strong hook can dramatically boost retention rates and signal to TikTok that your content is worth promoting.
An effective hook should:
- Visually represent what the video is about.
- Include bold text overlays that immediately grab attention.
- Feature a voiceover or sound effect that piques curiosity.
For example, Zach King’s chalk illusion video hooks viewers instantly by showing someone falling into what appears to be a trench but turns out to be an artistic illusion. This element of surprise keeps viewers engaged and encourages them to watch until the end.
The Growth Hack: Posting Multiple Versions of the Same Video
One of the most powerful yet underutilized growth hacks on TikTok involves posting multiple versions of the same video at different times to maximize your chances of hitting an algorithmic “pocket.” Here’s how it works:
- Create Variations: Use the same trending audio across all versions but change elements like on-screen text or captions to make each version unique. This prevents TikTok from penalizing you for spamming duplicate content.
- Post Strategically: Space out your posts by several hours or even days. This gives each version enough time to gain traction without competing against one another.
- Monitor Performance: Use TikTok Analytics to track which version performs best in terms of views, engagement, and watch time.
This tactic leverages TikTok’s batch processing system, where videos are shown to different groups of users at different times. If one version resonates with a particular audience segment, it can quickly gain momentum and go viral.
Creators who have used this strategy report significant spikes in views when one version hits its “pocket.” For example, posting three slightly different versions of a video over 24 hours can result in one version reaching millions of views while others perform modestly.
However, it’s essential not to post too frequently within short timeframes (e.g., back-to-back within minutes), as this can flag your account as spammy and reduce overall reach.
Maximizing Watch Time
Watch time is one of the most critical metrics for TikTok’s algorithm. To ensure your videos are promoted widely:
- Add suspense by teasing an outcome (e.g., “Wait until you see this!”).
- Use storytelling techniques like before-and-after transformations.
- Make longer videos slightly longer than competitors’ content.
For instance, if competitors in your niche post one-minute videos on average, aim for 1:15 or even two minutes. This slight increase in length can help you capture more watch time and outperform similar content.
Do you run a company that could be growing faster with TikTok?
At Growthcurve, we specialize in turning insights like these into actionable strategies that deliver real results for brands and creators alike. Whether you’re looking to grow your following or launch a viral campaign for your business, our team has the expertise to help you achieve your goals. Now is the time to act, the organic reach we’re seeing on TikTok today won’t last forever.
