How to Get Views and Likes on TikTok

Trying to crack the TikTok algorithm can feel like you're throwing content into a void, hoping something sticks. But getting more views and likes isn’t about luck, it's about understanding what viewers want and giving the algorithm the right signals. This guide breaks down the actionable strategies you need to create content that captivates your audience and genuinely boosts your engagement.

Master the "For You" Page: How the TikTok Algorithm Works

First, let's clear something up: the TikTok algorithm isn't a mysterious gatekeeper trying to keep you down. It's a recommendation system with one simple goal: keep users on the app as long as possible. It does this by showing people content it thinks they will like, watch, and interact with. Your job is to create videos that send all the right signals.

While TikTok keeps the exact formula under wraps, we know it pays close attention to a few specific user behaviors. Understanding these is the first step to working with the algorithm, not against it.

The Most Important Factor: Watch Time

If you take away one thing, let it be this: watch time is king. The algorithm heavily favors videos that people watch all the way through, or even multiple times. This signals that your content is engaging and valuable.

• Completion Rate: For a 15-second video, getting viewers to watch all 15 seconds is a huge win. A high completion rate tells the algorithm your content is compelling enough to hold attention.
• Re-watches: If someone watches your video more than once, that's an even stronger signal. This often happens with videos that are surprising, have a quick plot twist, or include text that's on screen just a little too fast to read in one go.

Focus on creating content that holds attention from the first second to the last. This is far more impactful than just begging for likes.

Key Engagement Signals

After watch time, the algorithm looks at more direct forms of interaction. These are positive indicators that people are actively enjoying your content.

• Likes &, Comments: These are classic signs of engagement. Comments are particularly powerful because they signal an active conversation is happening around your video.
• Shares: When a user shares your video (via text, to another app, or by reposting), they're essentially co-signing your content and telling the algorithm it's worth showing to more people.
• Saves: Saves indicate that your content is so valuable or useful that a user wants to come back to it later. This is a strong positive signal for educational, tutorial, or inspirational content.

How Your Video Gets Discovered

When you post a video, it doesn't just go live to all your followers. TikTok pushes it out to a small test audience on their For You page. The algorithm then watches how this initial group interacts with it:

• If the test group has high watch time and engagement, TikTok pushes it to a larger group.
• If that larger group responds well, it gets pushed out even further. This is how videos go viral.
• If the initial group scrolls past it quickly, the video's reach will likely be far more limited.

This is why the first few hours after you post are so important. Captivating that initial audience is your ticket to wider visibility.

Create Content That Stops the Scroll

Knowing how the algorithm works is only half the battle. You have to create videos that actually earn those views and likes. Your top priority should be making content for a human, not just an algorithm. Here's how to make your content compelling and thumb-stopping.

1. Hook Them in the First 3 Seconds

You have a vanishingly small window of time to grab someone's attention. The first few seconds of your video must give a viewer a reason to stop scrolling. Avoid long, slow introductions. Get straight to the point with something intriguing.

Try these types of hooks:

• Ask a Question: "Are you making this common coffee-making mistake?"
• Make a Bold Statement: "Most of the marketing advice you hear is just plain wrong."
• Start with the Action: Show the 'after' result of a DIY project right at the beginning, then show how you got there.
• Use On-Screen Text: A text hook like "The one app you need to download today" can immediately tell the viewer what the video is about and why they should care.

2. Leverage Trending Sounds and Audio

Using trending sounds is one of the fastest ways to tell the algorithm your content is relevant right now. The app favors trends, and users often enjoy seeing creative variations of a sound they already recognize. But don't just lip-sync to a song - think about how it can apply to your niche.

For example, if a trending sound features a funny dialogue, think about how you could adapt that conversation to a situation in your industry. A marketer could use it to act out a client call, or a baker could use it to represent a conversation between cake ingredients. This connects a popular trend with your unique content, making it both discoverable and original.

To find trending sounds, just scroll your For You page. When you hear the same audio two or three times, tap on the sound. If you see that thousands of videos have been made with it recently, it’s a good one to try.

3. Capitalize on Trends and Challenges

Beyond audio, TikTok is built on trending formats and challenges. These are specific editing styles, types of jokes, or video concepts that become popular for a period of time. Just like with sounds, participating in a trend helps your content fit into a larger conversation on the platform.

The key is to give the trend your own unique spin. If there's a popular "Day in the Life" trend, don't just show a generic day. Show a "Day in the Life of a Solopreneur Running a T-Shirt Business." This uses a familiar, popular format to introduce viewers to your specific world and expertise.

4. Tell a Good Story

At their core, the best TikTok videos tell a story. Humans are wired for narratives, and even a 30-second video can have a satisfying story arc that keeps people watching. Your story doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be simple, relatable, and human.

Great story formats for TikTok include:

• Transformation: Show a before-and-after, whether it's redecorating a room, mastering a new skill, or building a brand from scratch.
• Problem-Solution: Identify a common pain point your audience has, and then show them how to solve it.
• A Relatable Experience: Share a short, funny, or insightful story about a personal experience. This builds a powerful connection with your audience.

Optimize Your Posts for Maximum Reach

Making a great video is the hardest part, but a few technical optimizations can help give it the best possible chance to be seen.

1. The Right Way to Use Hashtags

Think of hashtags not as a magic bullet for virality, but as a way to categorize your content and help TikTok understand who to show it to. Spamming dozens of irrelevant, huge hashtags like #fyp or #foryoupage won't do much. Instead, be strategic.

Use a combination of 3-5 hashtags:

• Broad Category Hashtags (1-2): These relate to your general topic. For example, #smallbusiness or #photographytips.
• Niche-Specific Hashtags (2-3): These are more targeted to your specific audience. Instead of a general tag, use something like #etsysellertips or #portraitphotography101. These help you reach a more engaged, relevant viewership.
• Trending Hashtags (Optional): If your video relates to a current trend, you can add that tag, but don't force it if it doesn't fit.

2. Write Captions that Drive Engagement

Your caption supports your video. Keep it short, but use it to encourage action. A great caption adds context and gives viewers something to do after they've finished watching.

• Ask an open-ended question: Instead of "do you agree?" ask "what's one piece of advice you'd add to this list?" This invites more detailed comments.
• Create Curiosity: Phrases like "The end result was not what I expected at all..." can create intrigue and encourage people to watch the entire video.
• Directly State Value: "Save this for your next project." This can increase your save count.

3. Find Your Best Time to Post

Posting when your audience is most active gives your video a better chance of gaining that initial traction. You can find this data directly in the app.

Here's how:

1. Go to your profile and tap the three lines in the top right corner.
2. Select Creator Tools, then Analytics.
3. Go to the Followers tab and scroll down to "Follower activity."

This graph will show you the days and hours your followers were most active in the past week. Use that as your starting point, but don't be afraid to experiment. Use the most active time as a baseline and test posting an hour earlier or later to see what works best for you.

Play the Long Game: Build a Community

A viral video is great, but a real, dedicated community is much more valuable. Focusing on views and likes is only part of the puzzle. The most successful creators are the ones who build relationships with their audience.

1. Genuinely Interact With Your Audience

Engagement is a two-way street. When people take the time to comment on your video, respond to them! Replying to comments - especially early ones - not only makes your audience feel seen but also signals to the algorithm that your content is sparking a conversation.

Use the "reply with video" feature to answer interesting questions. This gives you new content ideas and rewards an audience member for their great question.

2. Be Consistent

You don't need to post five times a day, but you do need to find a sustainable posting schedule and stick to it. Consistency trains the algorithm to know what your content is about and keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more. Find a rhythm that works for you, whether it's three times a week or once a day. The key is to not post in large batches and then disappear for weeks.

Final Thoughts

Getting more views and likes on TikTok isn't about finding one secret hack. It's about a consistent strategy that mixes an understanding of the platform with the creation of authentic, engaging content that keeps viewers watching and builds a true community around your brand or profile.

Building that consistency can feel overwhelming when you're jumping between apps. We actually built Postbase to make that exact process feel simple and streamlined. You can use our visual calendar to plan out your content, schedule your short-form videos to TikTok and other platforms in advance, and see exactly what's resonating with our analytics - all of which frees you up to spend more time creating great videos.