5 Ways to Get on the TikTok “For You” Page
By: Elizabeth He
Whether it be for entertainment or marketing purposes, TikTok has grown to be one of the most popular social media platforms.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video-sharing app that lets users curate videos that can be up to three minutes long. It originally launched as a video platform for lip syncing and dancing videos, but has now evolved into an app with content available for all users. TikTok gained followers and became the most popular app in 2020 where it was downloaded 850 million times. TikTok had 1.2 billion active users in Q4 2021 and is expected to reach 1.5 billion by the end of 2022.
TikTok offers a myriad of sounds and song snippets for users to choose from as well as he options to add voiceovers, special effects and filters. If they choose to, users can directly add videos that are created on their phones. TikTok also allows users to “stitch” videos so people can record their reactions to videos and share. TikTok users continue to share lip-syncing and dancing videos, however, they have expanded to posting challenges, funny videos, vlogs, “how-to” videos, and more.
With the rise of TikTok, businesses have depended on this up-and-coming platform to market their products and services. Marketers today are drawn to TikTok since it is a social media trend that specifically targets young audiences. TikTok marketing is a great opportunity for brands to boost their credibility by sharing content that builds their brand image. Unlike Instagram and YouTube, TikTok accounts with zero followers can generate millions of views as long as the content appeals to the audience.
What is the TikTok “For You” page (FYP)?
The TikTok FYP is a feed of customized videos that the TikTok algorithm has curated to meet each user's specific interests and niches. It is composed of videos from random users rather than people you are already following. The “For You” feed is a central feature on TikTok and serves as a recommendation system. Upon opening the app, users will land on the “For You” page. TikTok tries to make this a personal experience and provides a stream of videos that is catered to each user's specific interests. The more a user uses TikTok, the more the videos are catered to their interests.
According to TikTok, the types of video recommendations on the “For You” page depend on various factors. It is based on user interactions, including videos that users like or share, the account each user follows, comments that are posted, and videos that are created. It also makes recommendations based on video information based on captions, sounds and hashtags. Lastly, video recommendations can also be based on account settings, language preference, country and device type. An example of how TikTok will give you recommended videos is if you watch a video all the way through. This tells the algorithm you were interested in the video and will continue to give you similar content on your “For You” page.
So you may be wondering, what does it take to get onto the TikTok “For You” page? Let’s get into 5 tips for getting your content on TikTok’s FYP.
5 Ways To Get Your Content on the TikTok “For You” page
Although there is no fool-proof way to become TikTok viral, here are some steps that can help if you are trying to get your content onto the “For You” page:
1. Post shorter videos
Recently, TikTok began to allow users to post videos that are up to three minutes long. However, since people have short attention spans, it is better to post videos that are shorter and quicker to the point. Ideally, a TikTok video should be 15 seconds long. The first 3-5 seconds should be creative and memorable since you only have a couple of seconds to get people's attention. In this short amount of time, you should also be including content that is sharable and savable. What we are aiming for is content that someone will watch all the way through. If you have kept your viewer engaged throughout the whole video, you have a higher chance of your video being placed onto other people's “For You” page.
2. Post-high-quality videos
The videos you post should be high quality. Low-quality and grainy videos will not land you a spot on the TikTok FYP. A lot of smartphones now offer an HD video option, so be sure to take advantage of that when creating content. Another step you can take to elevate your TikTok game is to use good lighting. Whether it be natural light or ring light, putting in the extra effort so that your video is not dark or dimly-lit will create a higher chance of you getting on the FYP. Improve your video content by using editing skills like filters, transitions and stickers. This will help keep your audience engaged.
3. Make content that is catered towards your niche
In order for your video to be sent to other user’s FYP, it is important to find your own niche on TikTok. A niche community is people brought together by a similar interest or goal. TikTok uses niches and brings them together to support organic growth and interaction in between communities. If all of your content covers a certain topic, the algorithm will most likely send it to other users who are also interested in that topic, thus sending your video to even more people’s FYPs. Examples of niche communities would be health and fitness, DIY crafts, beauty, fashion, etc. The more likes, comments, completions, and re-watches you get from your niche community, the more likely it will be served to larger audiences.
4. Use trending sounds
When using TikTok, one of the most important tools to use when trying to end up on the FYP is using trending sounds. Utilize apps like “TrendTok” to identify what sounds are on the rise. When picking a trending sound, it is better to pick one that is not oversaturated with videos. This way, it is easier for other users to find your content. If there is already a lot of TikToks using a certain sound and if the videos under it were uploaded weeks ago, it may be a sign that the trend is dying.
5. Utilizing hashtags
Lastly, when posting videos, it is always helpful to include hashtags in your captions. Even though it may seem beneficial to use #fyp and #ForYouPage, it does not guarantee that you will get on the FYP due to the high volume of content that is being posted under these hashtags. Be sure to include keywords that are relevant to your niche and include them in your caption. It is important to choose a small number of relevant hashtags and mix popular ones with less popular ones. Do the research and look into what hashtags are currently trending in your niche.
Remember, there is no true formula in going TikTok viral. The key is to consistently post and experiment until you find a strategy that works for your content. Have you gone TikTok viral? Leave your TikTok tips in the comments below!
Keywords: TikTok FYP, TikTok viral, TikTok marketing, for you page, TikTok tips
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