How to Grow TikTok Views

Getting your videos seen on TikTok feels like a secret code, but it's simpler than you think. There are no magic tricks or expensive shortcuts, only a clear set of strategies that put your content in front of the right audience on the For You page. We’re going to walk through the exact steps you can take to stop posting into the void and start growing your views organically.

The First 3 Seconds Decide Everything: Nail Your Hook

If you lose a viewer in the first few seconds, you've lost them forever. The initial hook is the single most important part of your video because it determines whether someone keeps scrolling or sticks around to watch. The goal is to immediately stop the scroll and create curiosity.

Your hook needs to be an attention-grabbing statement, a compelling visual, or a question that sets up the rest of the video. Think of it as the headline for your content.

Here are a few types of hooks that consistently perform well:

• The Provocative Statement: Start with a bold or controversial opinion related to your niche. For example, a fitness creator might say, "You're probably doing your squats all wrong." This makes people stop and think, "Am I?"
• The Problem/Solution Hook: Clearly state a common pain point your target audience has. A social media manager might start with, "If you're struggling to come up with content ideas, here are three you can steal."
• The "How-To" Hook: Get straight to the point and promise a valuable outcome. For example, "Here's how to edit your videos to look 10x more professional in under 60 seconds."
• The Storytelling Hook: Begin a story that piques curiosity. A small business owner could begin with, "I almost quit my business three times. Here's what happened..."

Whatever hook you choose, pair it with on-screen text in the first frame. This reinforces your message for people watching with the sound off and instantly tells them what your video is about.

Work With the Algorithm, Not Against It

The TikTok algorithm isn’t a mystery box, it’s a system designed to keep users on the app as long as possible. To do that, it pushes content that people find engaging. Your job is to create videos that send the right engagement signals to the algorithm. When you do, TikTok rewards you with more views.

Here are the primary signals the algorithm cares about:

• Watch Time and Completion Rate: This is arguably the most important metric. If people watch your video all the way through - or even multiple times (a "loop") - it’s a huge signal that the content is high-quality. The algorithm will push it to more people. This is why keeping videos short, snappy, and re-watchable is so effective.
• Shares: A share is a powerful endorsement. When someone shares your video with a friend or saves it, they're telling TikTok, "This video is so good, others need to see it." Optimize your content to be "shareable" by making it highly useful, relatable, or funny.
• Comments: Comments start conversations and increase the time spent on your video. Videos that spark debate or ask a direct question tend to get more comments. Replying to comments keeps the conversation going and boosts your video's relevance.
• Likes: While still a positive signal, likes are the least impactful of the core engagement metrics. It's an easy, low-effort action. Focus on creating content that drives watch time, shares, and comments first.

Your goal isn't to trick the algorithm. It's to create content so good that people *naturally* watch, share, and comment. When you do that, the views will follow.

Strategies for Creating Unskippable Content

Getting views isn't just about understanding the algorithm, it's about making content people genuinely want to watch. Here’s how to build a content strategy that consistently brings in new viewers.

Tap into Trending Sounds and Formats

Using trending audio is a direct line to reaching a wider audience. When a sound is popular, TikTok's algorithm is actively looking for new videos using that audio to show users. You can find trending sounds on your For You page, the "Add sound" library when creating a video, or by exploring TikTok's Creative Center.

But here’s the key: don't just copy the trend. Adopt it for your niche. If everyone is using a specific sound for a dance, think about how you, as a chef, financial advisor, or book reviewer, can use that sound to tell a story or share a tip relevant to your audience. The creators who succeed tie trends back to their core message, making the content both discoverable and valuable to their specific community.

Become the Go-To Source in Your Niche

It can be tempting to post about anything and everything, but niching down is a faster path to growth. When you consistently create content about a specific topic (e.g., vegan recipes, vintage fashion, Notion tutorials), you accomplish two things:

1. You teach the algorithm who your audience is. If all of your videos are about gardening tips for small spaces, TikTok learns to show your content to people who have shown an interest in gardening, plants, and apartment living. This leads to higher engagement from a more targeted audience.
2. You build a loyal community. A viewer who stumbles upon your helpful gardening video is more likely to follow you because they know they'll get more of the same valuable content. Generalists get one-off viral hits, specialists build sustainable hype on TikTok and thriving communities.

Ask yourself: what topics are you an expert in? What could you talk about endlessly? What problems can you solve for a specific group of people? Your answers point to your ideal niche.

Give Them a Reason to Stick Around: Create Genuine Value

Every video you post should offer some form of value to the viewer. When someone stops scrolling for your video, they're silently asking, "What's in it for me?" Your content needs to provide an answer. Value typically falls into one of three categories:

• Educational: Teach your audience something. This could be a step-by-step tutorial, a hidden hack, a little-known fact, or career advice. Educational content is highly shareable and saveable because people want to refer back to it later.
• Entertaining: Make your audience laugh or feel something. This includes relatable skits, witty commentary, satisfying ASMR videos, or funny stories. Entertainment is the heart of TikTok and a powerful way to build a connection with viewers.
• Inspirational: Motivate your viewers. Share a personal story of success or struggle, offer an uplifting message, or showcase a beautiful transformation. This type of content builds deep emotional connections and encourages thoughtful comments.

Getting the Small but Important Details Right

Once you have a great video idea, a few finishing touches can dramatically improve its performance. These aren’t complicated tricks, just small optimizations that make a big difference.

Write Captions and Hashtags that Actually Work

Your caption should complement your video, not just repeat what's happening on screen. The best captions are short, add context, and encourage engagement. A simple but effective strategy is to end your caption with a question. For instance, if you share three marketing tips, ask, "Which tip was your favorite?" This prompts comments and instantly boosts your engagement.

For hashtags, quality over quantity is the rule. An overloaded mess of 20 hashtags looks spammy and confuses the algorithm. Stick to a simple formula of 3-5 hashtags:

• 1-2 Broad Hashtags: These are high-volume tags related to your general industry (e.g., #marketing, #smallbusiness).
• 1-2 Niche Hashtags: These are more specific to your video's topic and help target your ideal viewer (e.g., #contentstrategy, #tiktoktips).
• 1 Potentially Trending Hashtag: If relevant, include a currently trending tag to catch a wave of views.

Use Clear Audio, Good Lighting, and Fast-Paced Edits

You don't need a professional camera crew to succeed on TikTok, but you do need to meet a basic quality standard. Viewers have a low tolerance for videos they can't see or hear clearly.

• Audio: Make sure your voice is audible and clear. If you're outside, use a small microphone to cut down on wind noise. Using trending sounds can also cover for less-than-perfect ambient audio.
• Lighting: Film in a well-lit space. Natural light from a window is often the best and most flattering option. A simple ring light can make a huge difference if you’re filming indoors.
• Editing: Keep a quick pace. Use jump cuts to remove pauses and keep the energy high. Adding on-screen text, captions, and simple effects directly in the TikTok app can make your videos more visually interesting and easier to follow.

Find the Best Time to Post (Without Obsessing Over It)

Posting when your audience is most active can give your video an initial boost of engagement. The best way to find your ideal times is to look at your own analytics.

In your TikTok profile, go to Creator Tools >, Analytics >, Followers. At the bottom, you'll see a chart showing the days and hours your followers are most active. Use these times as a starting point.

However, don't overthink this. A great video posted at an "off" time will always perform better than a mediocre video posted at the "perfect" time. Consistency and content quality are far more important than the exact minute you hit publish.

Final Thoughts

Growing your TikTok views comes down to a consistent strategy: hook your audience immediately, create content that provides real value for your niche, and send positive signals to the algorithm through genuine engagement. It's a feedback loop where great content leads to views, which gives you the data to make even better content.

Mastering this process requires planning and consistency, which can be tough to juggle. To help creators and marketers stay on track, we built Postbase from the ground up for modern social media, with a special focus on short-form video. The visual calendar lets you plan your TikToks weeks in advance, and our rock-solid scheduling means your content goes live exactly when you want, every time. It just works, so you can spend less time managing your posts and more time creating.