You’ve heard TikTok can grow your brand fast – but no one’s hitting that follow button. What’s missing? In this blog post, Mega Digital will break down 20+ expert tips on how to get followers on TikTok quickly! These are practical advice to help you grow with purpose, not just chase views. So let’s get started!
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Top 21 Hacks to Get More Followers on TikTok
Want to grow your TikTok followers without relying on luck or a one-time viral hit? Here are 21 proven TikTok tips that will help you get more followers on TikTok free and boost your visibility faster than ever!
1. Change your name and username to include keywords
Since TikTok allows users to search by keyword, it is easier for people looking to find your profile if you add keywords closely related to your niche.
For example, if you post tips about personal finance, change TikTok username to something like @techreviewalex and your name to Alex | Tech Reviewer. This small change can help you appear in search results when users look up related content.
2. Use TikTok SEO
Similar to Google, TikTok now functions as a search engine. Therefore, using keywords strategically in your videos will help your content and profile appear in search results.
To do TikTok SEO, include relevant keywords in 3 key areas:
- Your TikTok captions
- The text displayed on the screen
- Your spoken audio or voiceover
For example, in a video about introducing restaurants in Vancouver, you should add on-screen text such as “My favorite restaurants (in Vancouver)” or “POV: You finally find out the best Vancouver restaurant”. This would certainly increase the possibility of your video appearing in a search result.
3. Record with TikTok’s in-app camera when possible
TikTok algorithm tends to favor videos recorded and edited directly within the app. Although third-party editing tools give you more creative freedom, TikTok’s native camera ensures your video fits the preferred format and metadata.
However, if you think recording in-app camera feels a bit too raw or limiting, you can use TikTok’s built-in features like beauty filters, auto-captions, effects, and voiceovers.
4. Use trending sounds, effects, and filters early
When TikTok rolls out a new feature, it often prioritizes delivering videos from early adopters. In this way, the platform encourages more creators to try them out.
Thus, if you’re among the first to use a new effect or audio, your video has a better chance of landing on the TikTok For You Page. To catch up with new trends, you should:
- Keep an eye on the Effects tab in the TikTok camera
- Check the TikTok Creative Center for newly popular sounds
- Watch for filters that appear in multiple videos on your For You Page
5. Start with a hook in the first 3 seconds
TikTok users scroll quickly. Therefore, if your video isn’t impressive enough at first glance, they will keep moving. Hence, a robust hook can increase the watch time of users on your video, which is the key factor for TikTok to decide the extent of content delivery.
A hook can be a question, a bold statement, or a surprising visual. “Mistakes New Sales People Make” for example, can instantly spark curiosity for solutions. Also, phrases like ‘POV’ or ‘watch this till the end to see the results’ could keep the viewers hanging for the results.
6. Add subtitles to every video
Many users scroll through TikTok without sound, especially in public places. Consequently, if your video depends solely on audio, you may lose viewers.
That’s why you should add subtitles. They make content accessible and increase comprehension, especially if you speak fast, use slang, or have a strong accent.
To add subtitles, you can use TikTok auto-captioning tools or manually add text for better control of timing and placement.
7. Don’t delete underperforming posts
Deleting the TikToks that don’t perform well might be very tempting. But that could do your account more harm than good in the long run.
There are times when the TikTok algorithm doesn’t boost a video’s performance right away but after some days or even weeks! Additionally, deleting too many videos at the same time may appear as suspicious activity and could harm your next video’s distribution.
Hence, instead of going for the delete button, consider making that video private, evaluating what went wrong, changing your content strategy, and moving on.
8. Use curiosity gaps in captions
Use curiosity in your captions to hook the right audience and keep them coming back for follows. When people are intrigued enough to watch your full video, they’re also more likely to follow you to see more similar content.
You could add captions like “Wait till the end” or “You won’t believe what happened next…”. But make sure the video meets viewers’ anticipation because if they feel unsatisfied, they won’t hit follow.
9. Avoid using external links in early posts
When you want to build a follower base, you have to keep viewers inside your TikTok. If your early content is always directing them to your website or shop, they may not feel like you are creating value on the platform.
Therefore, grow your TikTok presence first. Build trust, post useful content, and give them reasons why they should follow you. After you have built a connection with your viewers, you could begin inputting external links and driving traffic.
10. Ask people to tag a friend
A great way to gain new followers is to have your current viewers introduce your content to others. Asking them to tag a friend is one of the easiest ways to do that. But generic requests like “Tag a friend” often get ignored.
Instead, make it personal:
- “Tag a friend who’s obsessed with skincare”
- “Tag someone who needs this reminder today”
When the request feels specific and relatable, people are more likely to tag someone. This will bring in new viewers to your video or even a new follower who resonates with what you post.
11. Make it loop seamlessly
Videos that loop seamlessly tend to get rewatched without the viewer even realizing it. This keeps your content in front of the viewer long enough for them to click your profile and decide to follow.
A good loop makes the end of your video connect smoothly back to the beginning. One popular example is the makeup transition trend, where a creator starts bare-faced and finally reveals a full glam look, only to reset the scene and begin again. The transition is so smooth that it feels like the video could go on forever.
12. Join “saves for later” trends
Some trends encourage people to save videos for future use like tutorials, templates, life hacks, or step-by-step guides. These videos often contain information that’s useful enough to return to.
When your content gets saved, it sends a strong signal to the algorithm. And more importantly, it builds trust and credibility. When someone finds your tip so valuable they save it, they’re also more likely to follow you to see what else you’ll share in the future.
13. Turn your top comment into your next viral video
Your comment section is a goldmine for content ideas. If someone leaves a thoughtful, funny, or controversial comment that gets attention, you can use TikTok’s “reply with video” feature to answer it in your next video.
Let’s say you’re a digital ad agency, and someone comments, “Not getting the result I want for my business”. You could reply with a video about reasons TikTok ads aren’t converting and how to fix them.
This tip keeps your existing followers engaged and shows potential followers that you listen, respond, and create content based on community interaction.
14. Use TikTok Creative Center as your idea lab
If you want to grow your followers quickly, you need to stay ahead of trends and understand what works. TikTok’s free Creative Center is one of the best tools for this.
Inside, you’ll find data on:
- Trending sounds and hashtags
- Top-performing ads and creators by industry
- Popular video formats by region
From these data, you can tailor your content strategy to tap into proven formats that resonate with your audience instead of jumping on trends that don’t convert.
15. Go live at the same time every week
TikTok Live is an opportunity to build deeper connections with your audience, leading to more followers.
Going live consistently – at the same time each week – creates a routine. In other words, your audience will start to expect your lives and follow you to make sure they don’t miss the next one.
Just make sure to promote your Lives ahead of time through Stories or pinned comments, so more people show up and more non-followers get a reason to become your next fan.
16. Use TikTok’s search bar to guide your content topics
TikTok’s search bar can be useful to align your content with what people are interested in. When you type in a keyword related to your niche, TikTok will automatically suggest phrases based on what users search for in real-time.
For example, if you type “book”, suggestions like “booktok” or “book recommendation” may appear. These autocomplete results are in-demand topics. By creating videos that answer these exact queries, you’re more likely to show up in TikTok search results.
17. Create a test account
Not sure what content style works best for your audience? Try creating a test account. This second account allows you to experiment with different hooks, formats, video lengths, or topics without affecting the performance of your main TikTok profile.
For instance, you might test one version of a working day vlog with text overlays and another version using voiceover storytelling. By seeing which one performs better, you’ll know what’s more likely to attract followers.
18. Embed TikTok on your blog or website
If you own a website or blog, you can grow your cross-platform presence by embedding TikTok videos. It allows you to showcase your content to your existing website visitors, many of whom may not have discovered you on TikTok yet.
Suppose you’re an ad agency and published a blog post titled “How to Scale TikTok Ads for E-commerce”. You can embed a TikTok where your expert explains one tip from that blog in 30 seconds. This invites the reader to click on the video to follow you on TikTok for more tips.
19. Link TikTok with your email list or community
Don’t limit your TikTok content to the platform alone. People who already trust you in one space are much more likely to follow you in another. So if you have an existing email list, Discord group, or Facebook community, make sure you’re actively promoting your TikTok profile within those spaces.
Send out an email introducing your TikTok and linking to your top videos. Share sneak peeks or behind-the-scenes clips in your private groups and invite members to follow you for more.
20. Audit your followers and remove ghost followers
Since TikTok uses engagement metrics to decide how widely to show your videos, it will assume an account filled with ghost followers is not worth pushing. And that hurts your chances of reaching new people.
Thus, be careful with accounts that are inactive, spammy, or never engage with your content. Remember to audit your followers every few months and remove inactive or suspicious accounts. Only focus on genuine followers who care about what you post.
21. Run TikTok Ads
The fastest way to grow your followers is through TikTok Ads, which pushes your content to those who might never find you organically. TikTok ads help you reach the targeted audience and promote your best-performing videos, thus quickly boosting visibility.
At Mega Digital, we specialize in running high-converting TikTok Ads for brands looking to grow strategically. Ready to scale your presence? Hit the contact button to receive support from our experts.
What to Avoid If You Want More TikTok Followers?
Gaining followers on TikTok isn’t just about doing the right things. It’s also about avoiding the wrong ones. Here are three common mistakes to avoid if you’re serious about building a real TikTok following:
1. Using banned or overused hashtags
Using restricted or overused hashtags is one of the most underrated issues. TikTok may limit your video’s reach if you use flagged or shadowbanned hashtags like #Adulting.
On the other hand, some hashtags may be too common like #fyp or #viral. For example, fashion brands creating content only with hashtags #style or #outfit may get buried under millions of posts, while using more niche tags like #minimalstyle or #workwearideas helps attract more followers.
>>> Read more: Best TikTok Hashtags to Skyrocket Your Video Views [2025]
2. Buying fake followers
Buying followers for your profile gives it an impressive look. However, it brings you more harm than good.
TikTok algorithm focuses on engagement, not just follower count. If your follower lists are mostly inactive or fake accounts, you may end up with a very small engagement rate. This tells TikTok your content isn’t worth delivering.
For instance, if a creator buys 10,000 followers but gets only 50 likes per video, TikTok sees that as low-quality content and limits its reach to real users.
3. Ignoring TikTok Analytics
Ignoring TikTok Analytics is another big missed opportunity. Your analytics reveal many insights from your audience’s most active hours to which videos drive the most engagement.
Let’s say you consistently post at 10 a.m., but your analytics show your followers are most active at 8 p.m. -you’re likely missing out on better exposure and potential followers simply because of timing. Checking these metrics regularly helps you adjust and grow faster.
>>> Read more: How to Use TikTok Analytics for Analysis and Reporting
Wrap Up
Growing a loyal following on TikTok takes more than luck. It takes consistency and a clear understanding of what your audience wants.
By applying these 20+ expert tips, you’ll be in a much stronger position to get followers on TikTok and build lasting engagement. Start small, test what works for your niche, and don’t forget: real growth happens when you create with purpose!
