How to Post on TikTok for Everyone to See

You've just poured your creativity into a new TikTok, hit post, and waited for the views to roll in... only to be met with a slow trickle. If you feel like your incredible content isn't reaching the audience it deserves, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through the exact settings, strategies, and content techniques you need to ensure your TikToks get seen by everyone on the For You Page and beyond.

First Things First: Check Your Privacy Settings

Before you dive into content strategy, you need to handle the most basic step: making sure your account isn't private. A private account will only show your videos to a friends list you approve - completely blocking you from the For You Page and wider discovery. Let’s make sure everything is set up for public viewing.

How to Make Your Account Public

If you're starting a new account or you've never checked this setting, it's the most common roadblock to getting views. Here’s how to fix it in seconds:

1. Go to your Profile page in the TikTok app.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select "Settings and privacy."
4. Tap on "Privacy."
5. At the very top, you'll see a toggle for "Private account." Make sure this toggle is switched OFF. If it's green, your account is private. If it's gray, you're public!

Once your account is public, everyone on and off TikTok can view your videos, making you eligible for the For You Page.

Setting Individual Video Privacy

Even with a public account, you can control the audience for each individual video you upload. When you get to the final "Post" screen for a new video, look for the option "Who can watch this video." You’ll see a few choices:

• Everyone: This is the default for public accounts and the setting you need to reach the widest audience.
• Friends: This limits the video's visibility to users who you follow and who follow you back.
• Only you: This makes the video private to you, like a draft you’ve published just for yourself.

To get your posts seen by everyone, always make sure this is set to "Everyone" before you hit post.

Understanding the All-Powerful "For You" Page Algorithm

Putting your account on "Public" is like opening the door. Now, you need to convince the TikTok algorithm to actually send people through it. The "For You" Page (FYP) is where virtually all growth happens, and its goal is simple: to show people more of what they like to watch.

When you post a video, the algorithm shows it to a small test group of users. Based on how that group interacts with your video, TikTok decides whether to push it to a larger audience, then an even larger one, and so on. Your job is to create content that sends positive signals to the algorithm.

The main signals it looks for are:

• Watch Time & Completion Rate: This is a massive factor. Did people watch your video all the way through? Even better, did they watch it more than once (a replay)? A high completion rate tells the algorithm your content is captivating.
• Shares: A share is a powerful endorsement. When someone shares your video with a friend, to a text message, or on another platform, it signals to TikTok that your content is valuable enough to be passed around.
• Comments: Comments show that your video sparked a conversation. The more comments you get, the more the algorithm sees your content as engaging.
• Likes: While important, likes are a slightly weaker signal than the others. It's easy to like a video and scroll on, but it still shows positive feedback.

Your entire content strategy should revolve around creating videos that encourage these specific interactions.

Creating Content That Gets Seen Everywhere

Now that your settings are correct and you understand what the algorithm wants, it's time to build a content strategy designed for virality. Here’s how you can make videos that people can't help but watch, share, and comment on.

1. Master the 3-Second Hook

You have less than three seconds to convince someone not to scroll past your video. Your opening, or "hook," is the single most important part of your TikTok. Forget long, slow intros. You need to grab attention immediately.

Effective hooks often:

• Ask a question: "Did you know you could do this with your iPhone?"
• State a bold claim: "This is the mistake 99% of people make when cooking pasta."
• Start with the final result: Show a beautiful finished product before showing the process.
• Create curiosity: "Here's what they don't tell you about starting a small business."

Study the first few seconds of viral videos in your niche. You'll notice they never waste time. They jump straight into the action or the most interesting point.

2. Use Trending Sounds and Audio Strategically

TikTok is an audio-driven platform. Using a trending sound is like joining a platform-wide conversation, and the algorithm often gives a boost to videos that use popular audio clips. Here's how to do it right:

• Find them on your FYP: As you scroll, pay attention to sounds you hear repeatedly. That's a trend in its early stages. Tap the spinning record icon in the bottom right corner to see the sound's page and add it to your favorites.
• Check the "Add Sound" page: When creating a video, tap "Add Sound" at the top. TikTok will recommend sounds that are trending right now under lists like "TikTok Viral."

Don’t just slap a sound on a random video. The best approach is to find a way to adapt the trend to your specific topic or perspective. For example, if a trending sound features a funny dialogue, think about situations in your industry or life where that dialogue would fit.

3. The Right Hashtag Strategy

Hashtags help TikTok understand what your video is about and who it should be shown to. A common mistake is to either use none or to stuff the caption with 20 irrelevant tags. Instead, use a mix of 3-5 hashtags that cover these categories:

• Broad hashtags (1-2): These are high-volume tags that describe your general topic (e.g., #marketing, #baking, #fitness).
• Niche hashtags (1-2): These are more specific to the content in your video (e.g., #socialmediamanager, #sourdoughforbeginners, #homeworkout).
• Trending/Timely hashtags (1): If relevant to your video, include a hashtag that's popular right now.

This mix gives the algorithm clear signals about your video, helps target interested viewers, and gives you a chance to rank in both broader and niche searches or trends.

4. Embrace High-Quality Production (Without Breaking the Bank)

"High quality" doesn't mean you need a Hollywood studio. It simply means creating a pleasant viewing experience. You can achieve this by focusing on:

• Good Lighting: Stand facing a window (natural light is best) or invest in a cheap ring light.
• Clear Audio: Your phone's built-in microphone or headphones with a mic will work well.

5. Tell a Story or Provide Value

Every viral TikTok falls into one of two categories: it's entertaining, or it's educational. Create entertainment by telling a short story with a beginning, middle, and end. It can be as simple as: "Here's how I failed 3 times to perfect a cake and finally succeeded." Valuable content teaches something useful, like: "Here are 3 tips for making the perfect cake." Both approaches give viewers a reason to watch through and share your content with others.

Optimize Your Posting Strategy

Creating great content is half the battle. Optimizing your posts can amplify your reach.

Know Your Best Time to Post

When you post matters. The idea is to share your videos when your target audience is most likely to be online. TikTok Analytics can show you the exact hours and days your followers are most active:

1. Go to your Profile and tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
2. Select "Creator tools."
3. Tap on "Analytics."
4. Go to the "Followers" tab to see a graph showing follower activity by the hour. Note the peaks.

If you're a new creator and don't have enough data yet, try posting at generally popular times, like weekday evenings and weekend afternoons, to see what works best for you.

Write Engaging Captions

Your caption is a valuable tool for engagement. Use it to include a short, compelling "Call To Action" (CTA) that prompts interaction, such as:

• Asking a question: "What do you think of this? Let me know in the comments."
• Asking for input: "Tell me your favorite recipe in the comments!"
• Directing them: "Follow for Part 2! Double tap if you agree!"

Engaging directly with your comments by liking and replying also signals a healthy, active post to the algorithm.

Final Thoughts

Getting your content seen on TikTok is a mix of technical setup, understanding the algorithm, and consistent creative strategy. By ensuring your account is public, creating hooks that grab attention, and optimizing your posts for engagement, you open the door to reaching a massive audience. Remember that consistency across your social channels is key to growth.

As your presence on TikTok and other platforms grows, keeping everything organized can become a major challenge. This is where tools specifically built for content creators, like Postbase, come in. Our platform allows you to schedule your content across all of your accounts from one visual calendar, helping you stay consistent and freeing you up to focus on creating great content that your audience will love.