7 Tips for Creating a Viral TikTok Video
The TikTok video algorithm’s about to love you
In case you haven’t been paying attention. TikTok isn’t just for 16-year-olds doing choreographed dances anymore. In other words, brands are racking up millions of views. They’re also building ride-or-die communities and actually moving the needle on sales. All from a single TikTok video.
Going viral isn’t some mystical thing reserved for the algorithm gods’ favorites. It’s about understanding what makes people *tick*. And what makes them physically unable to scroll past your content. We’ve spent countless hours studying what works (and cringing at what doesn’t) on TikTok, so you don’t have to.
<TL;DR> Going viral on TikTok comes down to a few things. Firstly, killer hooks, jumping on trends with your own spin, and keeping videos short. Then, nailing captions and hashtags, staying authentic, and posting consistently. And last, actually engaging with your community. In short, if you do all seven, you’re basically giving the algorithm exactly what it wants.
7 Tips for Creating a Viral TikTok Video
1. Start With a Hook That Stops the Scroll
You’ve got 0.5 seconds. In other words: Half a blink.
Your opening frame needs to *smack* people in the face with intrigue. Bold text overlays and questions that make people audibly say “Wait, WHAT?”. Or visuals so chaotic that they have to see what happens next. Some hooks that consistently perform? “If you’re still doing [X], stop immediately”. “The [industry] secret no one’s talking about”. Or one of our personal favorites, “I’m a [incredibly niche career title]”.
Make it impossible to scroll past. That’s the entire game.
2. Jump on Trends, but Make Them Yours
Trending sounds and viral challenges are basically cheat codes for the For You Page. Riding trends isn’t optional if you want visibility. It’s mandatory.
The catch? You can’t just copy and paste what everyone else is doing and call it a day. The brands actually *winning* on TikTok? They take a trending audio or format and filter it through their own personality. A coffee shop using that trending sound to showcase their oat milk art? Brilliant. A corporate law firm forcing itself into a dance trend because *the kids like it*? Absolutely not.
Check the Discover page daily and jump on what genuinely makes sense for your brand. Not every trend deserves your energy.
3. Keep It Stupid Short
TikTok might allow 10-minute videos, but let’s be real. Nobody’s watching your 10-minute brand video go viral.
The content that actually takes off? Usually 7-15 seconds. Occasionally, 30 if it’s that good. In sum, every single second needs to justify its existence. Cut the five-second intro where nothing happens. Skip the unnecessary setup. Get to the point immediately, then get out.
Think of it like a *really* good Tweet. Say what you need to say, make it hit, then stop talking.
4. Your Captions and Hashtags Actually Matter
Captions aren’t just mandatory boxes to check. They’re prime real estate for sparking conversations. Add context, crack a joke, or ask something that makes people type furiously in the comments. Because comments? Algorithmic gold.
For hashtags, literally nobody is searching #fyp or #viral. Stop using them. Mix niche hashtags specific to your industry with broader category tags. Then, maybe add one trending hashtag if it’s genuinely relevant. Research shows that 3-5 hashtags is the sweet spot. Why? Because this helps the algorithm discover who actually wants to see your content.
5. Authenticity Wins Every Single Time
The overly-polished *clearly-has-a-production-budget* content? It flops. Hard.
People show up to TikTok for real, unfiltered moments—not your brand’s version of a Super Bowl commercial. Show the behind-the-scenes chaos. Let your team’s actual personalities shine. Share the reality of running your business, even when it’s messy.
In short, the brands absolutely dominating TikTok aren’t the ones spending $10K per video. They’re the ones being unapologetically themselves and having fun with it. Anything raw and relatable beats pristine and perfect every single time.
6. Post Like Your Algorithm Depends on It (Because It Does)
TikTok’s algorithm is low-key obsessed with creators who consistently show up. So, if you’re posting once a month and praying for virality? In short, that’s not a strategy, that’s a wish.
We recommend publishing at least 3 to 5 posts per week. And posting daily content if you can swing it without sacrificing quality. Timing matters too. Check your analytics to see when your followers are actually online. Or, test different times until something clicks. Early mornings (6-10 AM), lunch (12-2 PM), and evenings (7-11 PM) are usually *solid* bets.
7. Actually Show Up for Your Community
Hitting post and ghosting isn’t it. What happens after you post matters just as much as the TikTok video itself.
Reply to comments. Engage with other creators. You can also duet and stitch content that’s relevant to your brand. Actually take part instead of just broadcasting into the void. More engagement signals to the algorithm that your content deserves more eyeballs. It also creates a community that actually cares about your brand.
So, that first hour after posting? Critical. Reply to every comment, scroll your feed, and engage with others. In short, you’re telling the algorithm that your content is worth pushing.
Your TikTok Video Deserves Better Than *Winging It*
Creating content that goes viral is part creative genius and part strategic planning. It’s also super exhausting when you’re already running a business.
If you’re reading this thinking, “I literally cannot add one more thing to my plate”. Same. That’s pretty much why we exist.
Let Us Do the TikTok Thing
At Scott Social, we live and breathe this stuff, so you don’t have to. We make custom TikTok strategies and create scroll-stopping content that drives real results. We also handle everything from brainstorming to posting. And replying to that one person who comments on every single video.
Let’s build a TikTok presence you’re actually excited to show people.
Slide into our inbox and see what we can do for you.
Uplevel Your TikTok Game ↓
WRITTEN BY:
Halie Engler
Social Media Strategist + Copywriter
