The Secret to Going Viral: the TikTok FYP
The Secret to Going Viral: the TikTok FYP
By: Lisa Mwange
For many brands, companies, and individuals getting featured on TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) is the simple determiner as to whether they will become somewhat of an overnight sensation. Due to the fact that TikTok has become one of the most popular and influential social media apps. Many musicians have been not only discovered via the FYP, but their songs have been able to reach record breaking chart levels. According to an article in Time some of the most notable musicians are Olivia Rodrigo, Tai Verdes, and PinkPanthress (2021). Small businesses have also been able to find unimaginable success simply through their exposure on the FYP, and normal everyday people have achieved influencer status because of their constant presence the FYP. As of February 2022, some of the most popular are Charli D’amelio who has 136.6M, Addison Rae 86.7M, and Bella Poarch 88M (Statistica 2022). So, what is the FYP and how do you get your videos to be featured on it?
What is TikTok & the FYP?
First off what is TikTok? TikTok is a social media platform where users can create and post short form video content. Now what is the FYP? It is the first thing you see when you open the app, it contains customized video selections that TikTok’s algorithm believes you will find interesting or entertaining.
Steps to Getting on the FYP
Landing page for finding viral TikTok audios
Create High Quality Content
This may seem like a no brainer, but you would be surprised how many people are confused as to why their videos are not generating any traffic meanwhile their content is subpar, and the viewer can tell the creator did not put any thought/effort into the post.
Shorter vs. Longer Videos
With TikTok’s new feature to post 1 min or 3 min videos it is important to know when to use each version
Story times – an interesting story should be shot using the 1- or 3-min feature because people are more likely to watch it all the way through and less likely to go to your page and find parts 6 -12 which are all 45 secs
Non-Story time videos should stay under 1 min, it is more likely for them to watch it all the way through and even more than once due to attention span and cognitive processing
Add Music
TikTok was originally called Musically, so the algorithm prioritizes content that features trending music and songs
There are a wide variety of songs to choose from that accurately represent what you’re trying to convey
Add Popular Hashtags
It is very rare for a new account to go viral without using hashtags, often this is because TikTok does not know which users to promote your content to. Therefore using relevant and popular hashtags will help TikTok guide your videos onto the FYP of the users who will engage with it the most.
Alongside of the relevant hashtags be sure to use at least one of the trending tags that the algorithm is currently pushing.
Keep Up With Trends
This is especially important when you’re trying to stay relevant and visible. The trends on TikTok have a very high turnover rate and if you continue to post content that pertains to ideas that were trending months ago you will lose the attention of your viewers
Engage, Engage, Engage
TikTok not only looks at the sounds and hashtags you use to promote your videos on the FYP, but also the engagement. if your followers are commenting/stitching/duetting your content then the more the app will promote it. therefore, you need to make content that is engage-able and respond to those who do interact with your content.
In the end you may do all these steps and still not have the engagement or exposure that you would like. TikTok fame and exposure is half scientific and half pure luck, you may be making the exact same content as a very successful creator, but you are only averaging 10 views per video. However, it is important to not get discouraged, continue to be consistent because you may never know when your big break my come.