I Rigged the TikTok Algorithm to Make Me Go Viral
Science & Technology
Introduction
The TikTok algorithm is renowned for curating content that feels personal, showing users videos that resonate with their interests like no one in real life could. Inspired by this, I set myself an ambitious goal: to hit 1 million followers in a single week by posting 50 videos over the course of the next seven days. Although uploading 50 videos felt daunting, I believed that with strategic content, I could replicate my previous success where I grew from 0 to 100,000 followers in a week.
Having noticed that interview-style content performed well, I ventured out to ask people questions on the street. I started simple, asking questions like, "Can you name a TikToker?" and "Can you name a YouTuber?" I was optimistic because my previous growth was quick and unexpected. Yet, as I navigated through the throngs of people, I grappled with uncertainty and self-doubt when I received blank stares or hesitant responses.
Despite the hesitance, I learned that the key to thriving on TikTok lies in engagement. Views translate into likes, comments, shares, and follows. The more compelling the questions I posed, the higher the chance people would interact, thus looping back to more views. My influences included popular formats like "Billy on the Street," where awkwardly funny social experiments create engaging content.
However, I quickly realized that asking people on the street wasn’t as impactful as I hoped. I shared some initial clips on YouTube, but it fell flat—my worst-performing short yet—and I was baffled. The lack of engagement indicated I needed to spice up my approach. The following day, armed with cash to incentivize responses, I returned to the streets, this time at the beach. This method yielded a slight uptick in responses, and I could feel my content potential building.
Through relentless editing, I drew from different avenues. I experimented with music that I muted in my videos, hoping to benefit from the algorithm tagging my content under viral sounds. I thought that by flooding my channels with engaging and fresh ideas, I could build momentum; however, challenges still flickered on the horizon.
As the days marched on, I encountered a lull. Despite striving to ride on trends and capitalize on viral moments (like the Amber Heard trial), many of my posts languished with little traction. This led me down a rabbit hole of reposting old material that once flourished; again, subpar results led me to question the state of my account. Views stagnated, and while I’ve never been a believer in the concept of Shadow Banning, part of me felt it might be happening.
While I celebrated some humorous content during the week, the hopeful journey wound through turbulence. My breakthrough idea was themed around harnessing inside jokes and exploiting TikTok’s trending drama. Collaborating with fellow creators, my intention sharpened: spark engagement through comments that would organically build. I executed videos around viral themes, only to chase the views that never quite chased back.
Ultimately, my ambitions culminated in 103,000 new followers during this week-long odyssey; a significant win but far from my elusive million. Reflecting critically on my journey, I recognized that reaching for the stars of virality often necessitates the gravity of quality content, even if it feels disingenuous to pursue trends that feel inauthentic.
I began to think about pivoting back to my roots on YouTube, where I felt more in control of my narrative and growth process. TikTok offers its audience; however, delivery often hinges on dance themes and trending ideas I was not keen to follow. Despite wanting to challenge the TikTok algorithm's unpredictable nature, I resolved to take a breather and focus on content creation that felt authentic.
Keywords
- TikTok
- Algorithm
- Viral Growth
- Followers
- Engagement
- Interview Content
- YouTube
FAQ
Q1: What was your goal with TikTok? A1: My goal was to reach 1 million followers within a week by uploading 50 videos.
Q2: Did you find any specific content types that worked well? A2: Yes! Interview-style content and engaging questions at public places appeared to resonate, but performance varied.
Q3: What challenges did you face during the week? A3: I dealt with self-doubt, poor performance of content, and frustrations with audience engagement.
Q4: Did you consider the idea of Shadow Banning? A4: While I don’t generally believe in Shadow Banning, I did question if it was impacting my account due to stagnant views.
Q5: What is your plan moving forward? A5: I plan to focus on YouTube where I feel the algorithm is more favorable and align my content with authenticity.
