20 TikTok Video Ideas Proven to Gain More Followers

We get it. It can be tempting to buy followers to skyrocket yourself to a lifestyle of TikTok fame and fortune. But the algorithm just ain’t having it. The truth is, that the most sustainable way to gain more followers is by achieving authentic, organic growth. 

So how do you do that? You can start with these 20 TikTok video ideas to help get you onto that coveted ForYou page. Then you’ll be ticking up your follower count in no time!

Up Your Follower Count with These 20 Ideas

1. Create tutorials

Showcase some special knowledge or skill in short video tutorials. Tutorials explain how to accomplish a task. Although TikTok now allows videos up to 10 minutes long, most TikTokers just don’t have the time. For a tutorial, aim for a value-packed 60-second video. 

Do you have a special liquid eyeliner hack or foolproof lipstick application? Dazzle them with short makeup tutorials. Are you a business owner selling a product or service? Make a tutorial that shows exactly how the customer can use it while highlighting its benefits. 

Whatever you do, make sure the tutorial keeps the tasks simple and clear for the users to follow and mentions all the elements needed to accomplish them. 

2. Lip-sync videos

Not all of us can sing. But, good news, anyone with a TikTok account can use the lip-sync feature. When creating a new video, you can easily scroll through a list of available songs to lip-sync to. Pick out your favorite song and belt your heart out baby (but silently)!

Whether it be a song or a trending sound clip, there are loads of options to get creative with. You can lip-sync the words of your favorite comedian, actor, or politician. Simply recreate it to fit the context of your life, channel, or brand voice. 

3. Duet of Tiktok videos

The Duet function on TikTok allows you to post your video side-by-side with another TikTok video. It will be displayed on a split-screen that will play at the same time. Here are a few Duet ideas: 

• Singing Duet: Harmonize with another singing video to create an even more powerful effect. You can also create a duet of sounds rather than voices.

• Dancing Duet: Enlist yourself in a dance challenge by learning the choreography of your favorite dancer. Perfect the moves and impress the world with your fancy footwork!

• Behind-the-scenes Duet: If your followers are asking “how do you do it?”, consider making a behind-the-scenes Duet that shows the making of your videos while the original video plays at the same time.

• Reaction video: If a viral video can benefit from a second perspective, make a reaction video. This is helpful if you are an expert in that field, and can help build your brand authority. 

4. Create funny videos

Got jokes? Entertainment is by far the most popular content category on TikTok, and pranks rank third. A good sense of humor will get you pretty far in the TikTok world. If you can make your video funny, silly, or loaded with satire, you will have TikTok followers in the palm of your hand! 

There are so many ways to infuse humor into your content. Make ‘em laugh with pranks, fails, slapstick, skits, or just trolling your kids. 

5. Create dance videos

If you are wondering what popular content category came in at number 2, you guessed right. Dance videos are the second most popular TikTok videos.

Whether you’re dabbing, flossing, doing the Dougie, CitiRokk, or hitting the Woah, did you know that these are all dance crazes popularized on the platform? Be part of the next viral craze by finding what dance is trending now, and record yourself busting the move! 

Or, pick out a popular song and add your unique moves. Include a few of your best buds, or make it into a work party dance. 

6. Educational videos

Even though funny videos and dance videos top the TikTok charts, educational content is also becoming popular. Teach your followers about topics that interest you and encapsulate your brand. Although just educational videos are a hard sell to keep followers consistently engaged, consider peppering them into your TikTok marketing strategy. 

Science experiments can be particularly eye-catching. We’ve seen Steve Spangler spin a coffee mug on a board over his head with not a drop spilled. We’ve seen Mrs. B freeze a water bottle in seconds and Bill Nye put out a candle from far away. Is it magic? No, it’s science!

7. Create branded hashtag challenges

Branded hashtag challenges prompt Tiktok users to create videos on a specified theme under a specific hashtag. This encourages a much greater reach, increases brand awareness, and is a genius way to advertise a campaign or make content go viral. 

A famous branded hashtag challenge that went viral was Chipotle’s 2019 #GuacDance branded hashtag challenge. People were encouraged to send in submissions of themselves dancing to the “Guacamole Song” by Dr. Jean, and showcasing their love for guacamole. There were a whopping 250,000 submissions that tagged #GuacDance. 

The secret to their success? The challenge should be easy for people to do, fun, and the rules must be clear. 

8. Collaborating with an influencer

TikTok influencers are professional content creators with a massive reach to audiences. For this reason, linking up with one can be advantageous. Their audience will become aware of your brand, which can drive up your follower count.

Collaborating with an influencer can be as simple as getting them to endorse your brand or create product reviews, or it could include an account takeover or TikTok hashtag challenge. Make sure you link up with an influencer that you mesh well with and who shares similar values with your brand.

9. Trending hashtags

Riding a TikTok trend can also be very beneficial for your follower count. It is easy to get views on something that is already a part of the current cultural zeitgeist. Find out what the trending hashtags are on TikTok. What resonates with you? What do you react to?

Make a video incorporating the trend’s theme, and use the same hashtags in your video to be part of the trend. These videos have a higher probability of gaining likes because they are already popular. Throw in a #FYP or #ForYouPage to hopefully get your content plastered on TikTok home screens. 

10. Voiceovers

Instead of using a voice clip, create a unique voiceover to grab some attention. TikTok allows you to add commentary over any video. You can tell a story, crack jokes, add your own unusual perspective, and whatever else your heart desires. Just make sure what you have to offer is entertaining, educational, or inspirational!

11. Fast, slow, reverse

To stand out, create video content that is sped up, slowed down, or reversed. Depending on the type of content you are doing, this can be a great way to emphasize the theme of the post. Reverse effects make things almost appear unreal and can capture the audience’s imagination. Sped-up videos can simplify more complicated, lengthy themes and slow-mo videos can highlight details we often miss. 

12. Make art 

TikTok is a great place to showcase your art. You’ve probably seen many videos recording artists in the midst of creating drawings, sculptures, tattoos, graffiti, and the list goes on. This can also be done to show off your craft and DIY projects. 

13. Test out life hacks or make your own

We all love shortcuts that make our lives just a bit easier. That’s why life hacks are popular videos that get followers’ attention. You can either record yourself trying out a viral video life hack or react to others trying these life hacks. Or, why not create your own? It could even be centered around your product or service; something that few people have thought of and most people can benefit from. 

Try to include some snappy music and humor to make it fun for the audience. Be sure to include the genuine results of the life hack so that people know it is worth a try. 

14. Meme roundups

If you consider yourself on the top of your meme game, stitch together some of your favorite memes in a meme roundup. Memes cover all topics, including the latest trends and news in the world. Select the latest memes that relate to you and your brand, and share them on TikTok. 

Great memes are hard to pass up, so doing this consistently will grab attention and get followers hooked. 

15. Fan Q&As

As your following grows, you are sure to get many questions from your followers. Show them you’re listening by creating Q&A videos. When they see you are willing to engage with your audience, this builds a sense of trust, and are then likely to ask more questions in the future. 

Engaging with your followers is quantified in your engagement rate. The more people watch, like, and comment on your videos, the more the algorithm will suggest your content to other people. Interacting with your audience will also help you come up with more content ideas based on your followers’ feedback. You are getting to know your audience and they’re getting to know you, which is an essential part of influencer marketing. 

16. Livestreams

Another way to boost your engagement scores is by doing livestreams. Broadcast yourself live in real-time, showing off your product or service while connecting with your followers. Or livestream your small business so your followers can see where the magic happens. Livestreams can last up to 60 minutes on TikTok. 

TikTok livestreams also offer gift points you can receive from your followers as you stream. These points can be redeemed for cash, making it another incentive to go live.

17. Makeovers and Transformations

Shocking makeovers and transformations are sure to stop anyone mid-scroll. Whether you are a makeup artist, fashion stylist, hair stylist, or fitness guru, creating transformative videos can work as a sort of social proof of your abilities. Show the transformation of your client’s trainwreck tousled rat’s nest to an ultra-sleek cheeky bob.

Or their mismatched-oversized-outfit-turned-sophisticated-tailored-suit. If you are a professional trainer, highlight the before and after of someone who has melted the pounds away working through your program. 

18. Day in the life vlogs

If you are racking your brain trying to figure out how to post videos that go viral, just stop! You don’t need to try hard to get people’s attention. Be you and create your day-in-the-life vlogs. The more real, the better. In daily life, even the most seemingly meaningless things are enough to resonate with people. 

19. Cooking videos

We all like to eat. Pick out a viral recipe and give it a go. Enough said. 

20. Put on a contest 

To get users involved with your brand, put on a contest. Unlike a TikTok challenge, a TikTok contest is mainly controlled by the brand or business. You can offer a prize, a timeframe, and lay out the rules that explain how users can enter. Challenge your followers to create some content to fulfill the contest’s rules.

This is called user-generated content (UGC). As an example, you could encourage your followers to create UGC that shows them using your product or service in an unusual, exciting way. Make sure you get permission to share the UGC on your channel.

Encouraging your followers to make content for your channel not only builds credibility, brand awareness, and engagement scores, it can also save you some time and money on content production. 

Authentically Express Brand Values

Skits, challenges, contests, science experiments, memes, lip-sync, dancing; there are tons of TikTok ideas that can get you more followers without having to buy them. Play around with these ideas to come up with something entirely your own. Whatever you decide to do, make sure the content aligns with your brand image and marketing strategy. When you are authentically expressing your brand values, your audience will naturally show up. Then monetize with Tappie!