There’s no denying that TikTok has a compelling reputation for breaking out creators. Whether it’s broad content creators like Charli D’maelio or a niche “Plantfluencer” creator like Garden Marcus, TikTok is a powerful tool for every creator.
However, such a popular app can feel incredibly intimidating for new creators. Luckily, we’ve put together a proven strategy to earn your first 1000 followers on TikTok. Below, we’ll share how you can pass that milestone with flying colors and share what you need to do once you’ve passed that revered 1K.
Why The First 1000 Is So Important
Once you have a network, it will grow itself, so long as you have taken the actions to foster an engaged community. Your first thousand followers will be your most difficult to earn since you need to be your own advocate and provide obvious value to your supporters.
It’s a lot easier to grow once you have others to help validate your reputation. Your first thousand followers lays the groundwork for future success and therefore takes a lot of time, effort, energy, and adaptability to find your groove within the internet.
How To Get Your First 1000 Followers On TikTok
Without further ado, here are 6 key principles that are sure to earn you your first 1000 followers on TikTok.
1. Consistency Is Key
The algorithm feeds on consistency and will reward you for showing up as much as possible. That means finding a way to consistently post valuable content related to your niche on a daily basis. This is perhaps the most difficult learning curve that comes with TikTok, but trust the process and know that like any other skill, it will become easier as you get the hang of it.
2. Provide Value
All of the content you create should educate, entertain, or inspire your audience. Try to think of what you would be inclined to bookmark or share as a user, and aim for that sort of content. Realistically, there will be some posts that provide more value than others simply because you have to put out a large volume of content, but the more value you can provide, the faster you’ll grow.
3. Target Your Desired Audience
Target your desired audience by duetting and stitching videos within your content niche. These content types don’t require you to come up with your own scratch concept, and they automatically push you to the duetted creator’s audience.
4. Be A Member of The Community
The more you engage with others, the more love you’ll get back on your own creations. Being a member of the community isn’t just about engagement, it can also help you source collaborations with likeminded creators. You also need to be a consumer of the app to understand what’s on trend.
5. Learn From Others
Learn from other creators in your community. What sort of hashtags are they using? What videos produce the most traction? Use these lessons to help bolster your own content strategy. Be a consumer as much as you are a creator.
6. Understand The FYP
TikTok is unique in that it is primarily structured around the FYP, which commits to degree of regularity. That means that the people you see in this alogrithmically curated feed are completely different from day to day, and that the actual percentage of content you create vs content others will see is fairly low.
This is why you need to create content in volume. The more content you create, the greater chance you have a landing on the FYP. Use your analytics to see what content funnels are landing on the FYP and aim to make more of that type of content.
You Hit Your First 1000 Followers On TikTok… Now What?
Congratulations! You made it to the promised land. Now it’s time for the real work to start. Here are 5 key actions to take once you pass 1000 followers on TikTok.
1. Take Ownership of Your Data
It’s essential to have a strong fan funnel so that you can track what pieces of content are leading to conversions. A central link in bio like Koj is important, not only because it can provide you with this valuable data, but it will also serve as a pocket website that allows fans to engage with your external content without leaving TikTok.
Use your analytics tab to see what posts are leading to the most engagement and conversions from your fanbase.
2. Get To Know Your Fanbase
When in doubt, ask some of your fans what they’re looking for, or why they followed you in the first place, and delivered. If past predicts future, this strategy is perfect for taking you to the next level while directly interacting with your supporters.
3. Craft Virtual Experiences For Your Fanbase
It’s key that you get to know your fanbase on a deeper level to facilitate a more sustainable connection. Craft spaces for your fans to learn more about you and connect with you as a person and brand. This could be utilizing Ask Me Anything or challenging them to dare you via Dare Me.
4. Find Your Own Avenues of Monetization
Earning passive income from viewership or sponsorship is great, but these forms of income are volatile and are subject to destruction based on the algorithm. Craft your own forms of dependable monetization so that you can secure yourself as a creator. This could be taking on paid Shoutouts for your fans, or setting up a Locked Photo and Video storefront to provide monetizeable exclusive content for your audience.
5. Rinse and Repeat
It can be tempting to lay off once you’ve reached a certain milestone in your social journey, but fight the urge and stay focused. As long as you continue to engage and adapt with the needs of your community, there’s no reason you can’t thrive as a full time creator.
Earning your first 1000 followers on TikTok isn’t easy, but it’s certainly within your reach with the help of these strategies. Have fun building your personalized content strategy!
Related Links
Habits of Full Time Content Creators
How To Stay In Touch With Your Fans
Why You Need Just 1,000 Fans