The IFBC21 Social Media Virtual Summit took place on January 15, 2021. We had an excellent session with TikTok expert Sarah Wohlner. Read on to learn how to create viral TikTok views and get the views you deserve! *This is a summary of her talk. You can view the full video session by registering now.*

We all want to go viral, right?! You get more followers, more shares, more comments, more opportunities and it’s just more fun.

1. The Basics

While this might be boring or technical, it’s necessary to mention. To go viral consistently, you must have the basics down. I’m talking about the following:

• Video quality
  • lighting
  • sound
  • background
  • video clarity
• Specs
  • Orientation: Vertical is best.
  • Dimensions: 1080×1920
  • Aspect ratio: 9:16 is best
  • File type: .mp4 and .mov files
• Length
  • Between 1 sec to 60 seconds
• Be you!
  • That’s not so basic but it is the minimum you should be doing. There is no one like you!

2. A Hook

We all learned in grade school that your writing needs a good hook. Same thing here. Your video needs a hook. Think about all the other content out there and how easy it is for people to swipe right past your video. In the first 3 seconds, you need to capture the attention of your viewer. This could be something you say or something you show. Register for the full session for examples.

3. Be Controversial

I’m not talking about religion or politics, I’m talking *food* or *beer* controversial. If you have a blog or social media, you probably know what I’m talking about. Some people get heated over opinions and they will let you know. This is great for you because this will result in more comments and therefore more engagement which tells TikTok they should push your video to more people.

• Examples:
  • Saying something like “IPA is the worst kind of beer” or “the best brewery is ____.”
  • Or show you doing something “wrong” when it comes to drinking or brewing beer.

Check your blog and social media posts, I’m sure you have something that’s already considered controversial. Use that to your advantage. Register for the full session for more examples.

4. TikTok Trends

There’s a whole page on TikTok dedicated to current viral trends. Check it out on a daily basis and if anything fits your content try to participate. Even if it doesn’t fit your specific content and you just want to participate, go for it!

5. Quantity or Quality

This probably sounds a little backward, but stay with me. I’m not saying sacrifice your quality, I’m saying quality is subjective. Don’t be so hard on yourself and critical. TikTok is different than other platforms. I would say, it’s more casual. People like seeing the real you. When in doubt, post. Just think to yourself, does it meet the following:

• Is it…
  • … educational
  • … emotional
  • … entertaining
  • … engaging

 

Above all else, have fun! It will all be fine. What’s the worst that can happen? You post a video, no one sees it but you gain more knowledge and experience. That’s a win! Check me out on TikTok at @TasteandTraveler for some examples of how I implemented these strategies and tag me in your video so I can see what you’re up to. 🙂

Register now to get more information and listen to the full video session from Sarah Wohlner. To view all sessions from the January 15, 2021, Social Media Virtual Summit check out our Agenda Page.

Register Now for our next virtual summit on March 18th!