With everchanging trends, interests and algorithms, the shortanswer is no. No agency can 100% guarantee social growth or viral content. However, here’s what we can do to help improve your social media presence and impact those vanity metrics.
Let’s start with the basics
Taking part in things like viral dances, challenges and overall topics is always going to help improve your content visibility on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But remember, these trends have a shelf life and what’s popular one day may not be popular the next. Be sure to jump on trends quickly to increase your chances of going viral.
You should also use topic-related, relevant hashtags rather than generic ones that are commonly used. Check your profile insights to gauge when your followers are most active, post within this time frame and stick to a particular niche to attract people with a similar interest to your topic.
Be consistent. If you’re not posting 3-5 times a week on Tiktok or Instagram, another brand will be stealing the spotlight of your potential audience. Think of it this way: the more you post, the higher the chances are that your video will go viral. So if time isn’t on your side, consider bulk filming to ensure you have enough content to go out the following week.
What’s going to make your content stand out from the rest?
With SEO being a key part of online visibility, it’s no wonder platforms like TikTok are now integrating optimisation into their algorithm filtering process. As a result, it’s important to include niche-related keywords into your videos either in the caption or the audio. Research shows that 75% of people watch video content without sound, so make sure you include subtitles to target every audience, even those who listen on mute. That being said, integrating your keywords into the subtitles can increase SEO optimisation and therefore boost your video further than those not implementing this technique.
TikTok offers tools like TikTok Creative Center, TrendTok, or Trendpop which allow content creators to spot rising trends before they peak. This means you can plan your next viral video as the trend is just beginning! Use these available tools to stay in the loop, keep your content fresh and spark creativity.
But what about the content creation itself?
It’s important to have a hook-optimised video structure so think about including these essentials in your next piece of content:
- A killer 3 second introduction – A strong hook that grabs attention immediately (e.g., “You won’t believe this…” or a problem-solving question).
- Fast Cuts & Dynamic Edits – Quick jump cuts, text overlays, and zoom-ins to hold the viewer’s attention.
- Exciting Effects – Unexpected changes in tone, visuals, or perspective that resets the viewer’s attention.
- Loops – Teasing something at the start and delivering the answer at the end to encourage watch time.
- Competitor Research – Analyse your competitors’ most viral posts and create similar content with a fresh spin.
- Content Testing – Get creative by testing multiple variations of a concept to see what resonates with your audience and continue pushing content that works.
How do we get results?
Now that we have covered the basics, what else can you do to get results? The answer is simple: an engagement strategy.
Interacting with other accounts will not only encourage people to return the favour on your videos, but could also help your brand gain exposure from your witty or valuable comments.
Adding a pinned comment to your own video will also encourage conversation. Commenting “drop an emoji if you can relate” or “who agrees?” will encourage users to share their own experiences, therefore sparking conversations and boosting your engagement. Another great tactic is to reply to comments with video; this helps boost visibility and shows you’re passionate about responding to your community.
It’s also essential to have a quick response time. Nobody wants to ask a question and be left waiting a week for an answer. Show you care, respond and engage as much as you can with your followers to keep them interested.
Organic VS Paid Advertising
When getting started, it can be hard to get results as quickly as you would like, which can often lead to feeling demotivated or giving up. However, the combination of organic and paid advertising is key to online success.
With paid advertising, you have the opportunity to choose what your goal is and define your target audience, meaning you are guaranteed results from the right people. Often we see pages become overly ad heavy which can be off-putting as it appears too salesy. So having a mixture of both paid and organic advertising will help your growth and maintain your brand’s authenticity.
Work with a team of social media experts
Whilst agencies cannot guarantee your next viral piece of content, we have the tools and knowledge available to give you the best chance possible.
Great content + Optimisation + Engagement strategies = Our recipe for success
If you’re interested in a bespoke social media strategy tailored to your business needs, get in touch with us today!
