How to Get More Engagement on TikTok

Ever wondered why your TikTok views are low? It doesn’t mean your content is bad, it could just be an indication that you’re not keeping an eye on the latest viral trends. Or, it could be that your video content feels overproduced. Or, maybe you just need to better showcase your authenticity.

Sometimes failed attempts and awkward interactions can help you create a more personal connection and find a wider audience.

Quality content isn’t always, you know, super high quality. By building a strategy that focuses on authentic, relevant content, you can attract more viewers, get in front of the right audience, and boost engagement. But, once you’ve found that audience, your job isn’t done! You need to keep your viewers around by replying to their comments, creating a video response, or creating duets that feature someone else’s video.

What Is a Good TikTok Engagement Rate?

It’s difficult to say exactly what TikTok engagement rates are ‘good.’ Depending on your brand’s size, industry, and audience, it can vary wildly. But, as a rule of thumb, we’ve put together a very loose set of guidelines that you can use to gauge where your engagement rate stands.

  • Excellent engagement rate: 10% and above
  • Good engagement rate: 5% to 10%
  • Average engagement rate: 2% to 5%

Typically, smaller TikTok accounts have a higher engagement rate, often hovering around 10%. Because they usually create content that is laser focused, they’re able to utilize niche hashtags to reach a very specific, very engaged audience. For larger accounts, it’s not uncommon to see lower percentages, but much higher reach.

Calculate Your TikTok Engagement

If you’d like to calculate your own engagement rate, it’s pretty easy. First, you’ll need to beat up a nerd and steal his calculator. After that, you just total up your video’s likes, comments, shares, saves, new followers, and reactions. Once you get that number, divide it by the number of views your TikTok video got. Then, multiply that number by 100 to get your video’s percentage.

An infographic showing how to calculate your TikTok engagement rate.

Understanding How Your Niche Works

Before you do anything, you need to build a TikTok strategy around your brand’s niche. Staying consistent is key to the success of your videos, so you need to decide what ‘room’ you’ll stay in and, you know, actually stay there.

Niches are critical because, simply put, you’re just not going to appeal to everyone. And, really, you don’t have to. You only need to appeal to your target audience. In fact, a niche TikTok account with 10,000 engaged followers can earn $500 to $800 per sponsored post. And, even if you don’t plan to monetize, niche hashtags have much higher TikTok engagement rates.

How Do You Make Successful TikTok Videos?

If your aim is to boost your TikTok engagement rate, you need to think of your videos as recipes. A recipe is a single, finished product that requires a collection of different ingredients. Your video content is no different. It’s about mise en place. Get everything you need together, set the stage, and then do the work.

  • Focus on the hook. First things first, you have to capture the viewers’ attention. Usually, viewers will watch a video for seven seconds before they decide to move on to the next. There’s no time for suspense or foreshadowing! Get to the point in under three seconds!
  • Approach your content with fresh eyes. It’s easy to lose yourself in content creation. It’s also super easy to lose sight of your video’s goal. So, take your creator glasses off and ask if your message is really being conveyed and ensure all the basic info is there.
  • TikTok content should be fun-sized. You have a great story to share and it could take hours. But, listen, ain’t nobody got time for that. TikTok users want bite-sized content. If your video is longer than thirty seconds, you can be certain they’re going to tune out.
  • Always be authentic. Your TikTok followers come to you because, well, they like you. So, don’t hide that. Don’t adopt a false persona. Just, you know, be yourself, stay true, and cultivate a reputation for authenticity. Over time, you’ll see your engagement grow.
  • Incorporate trending sounds and music. By including trending hashtags, sounds, and music, you can leverage the popularity of existing content. In fact, some of the biggest viral trends on TikTok are the result of creators using popular sounds in their own videos.
  • Use creator tools to improve quality. Tools like CapCut can help create quality content more easily. As the most trusted free video editor, CapCut lets you use templates, create backgrounds, add video captions, upscale your videos, and much more.
  • Post at the right time. Part of your marketing strategy should be figuring out when your target audience is active. Once you understand this, you’ll be able to release your videos at peak times, which will boost views and help increase your engagement rate on TikTok.
  • Use an analytics tool to see what works. If you want to increase engagement, you’ll need to keep a close eye on how your content is performing. Since the TikTok algorithm is always changing, you should be able to recognize changes and change along with it.

What Is the TikTok 3-Second Rule?

In a nutshell, the first three seconds of your video have the biggest impact on your TikTok engagement rate. If you don’t immediately capture your viewers’ attention, they probably won’t stick around. And, if TikTok sees people bailing on your content, they’re likely to flag it as, well, not very engaging and drastically restrict its visibility.

So, if you really want to increase engagement, you need three things in those three seconds: an engaging hook, visually striking or relevant imagery, and an extremely clear purpose.

Don’t Wing It, Plan Your Video Content

TikTok users value authenticity. They can see right through overtly scripted, unnatural content. If they detect that your video isn’t meaningful to them, they’re going to leave. So, when you create content, you need to work from an organized content strategy or, at the very least, a solid plan.

  • Set goals. Determine what your video is going to be about and what its message is.
  • Get organized. Write down ideas, outline your script, and create a basic structure.
  • Plan your hook. Figure out exactly what you’ll do in your video’s first three seconds.
  • Choose effects. Choose music, sounds, and effects that keep your video natural.
  • Practice! It’s okay, not even DiCaprio gets it in one take. Practice, practice, practice!
  • Be technical. Make sure your lighting, microphones, and other equipment are in order.
  • Edit wisely. As we’ve said, use tools like CapCut to polish your video like a freaking pro.

Make It Short, Sweet, and Simple

All of your TikTok videos should be short, entertaining, and to the point. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again before this post is finished: your videos need to start off with an interesting, eye-catching hook.

You don’t have to overthink it, though. Remember to stick to one main idea and don’t complicate it by adding extra stuff. By sticking to your primary point, you make it easy for people to connect with you. In this case, less is more. And, over time, you’ll see your TikTok engagement rate soar as more people find – and actually watch – your videos.

Low Budget, High Engagement Rates

One of the best things about TikTok marketing is that it doesn’t have to break the bank. Viewers appreciate ‘real’ creators, which means you don’t need pricey equipment. You really just need a great hook, a creative take, and patience. In fact, smartphones are perfect for filming, especially when paired with freely available tools.

You can also use natural lighting and DIY props to enhance your visuals. And, you can recreate popular TikTok trends, sounds, and challenges to keep your content relevant. Good storytelling, humor, and authenticity are usually more relatable to viewers than high production values.

Lean Into Viral Trends

Using viral trends is a great way to jumpstart your TikTok engagement rate. When you join in on hashtag challenges and use trending sounds, you can reach a broader audience by tapping into a conversation that’s already in progress. 

But, to really shine, you need to add your own twist to trends. Whether it’s a humorous take on a dance or a unique spin on a popular sound, showing off your personality can ensure your TikTok video stands out.

A screenshot of recent TikTok viral trends.

How Do I Get More Views on TikTok After Posting?

After you’ve posted, there are a lot of things you can do to increase engagement. You should try to interact with comments as soon as people post, and even follow them back. You should post at peak times, when your audience is most active. You should urge viewers and friends to share your video content to increase its reach. And, of course, you should be repurposing your content on other platforms, which can drive traffic to your TikTok profile.

Why You Have Low Views on TikTok

If you aren’t getting views or likes on TikTok, you’re probably doing something wrong. Luckily, it’s super easy to fix most minor issues. Trust us, you don’t have to be a social media manager or a digital marketing specialist to boost your views and get more TikTok followers.

  • Weak hook in the first few seconds. Use your video’s first three seconds wisely.
  • Posting at inactive times. Rework your schedule to post when people are active.
  • Inconsistent posting. TikTok likes consistent posting and its algorithm rewards it.
  • Ignoring trends. TikTok trends aren’t optional, join in and recreate them for visibility.
  • Poor video quality. Make sure your video isn’t blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit.

Does TikTok Count Your Own Views

Yes and no. If you’re watching from your own account, TikTok will not count your view. If you’re watching from another account, it will count. TikTok’s algorithm is also designed to prevent one person from inflating views, so repeatedly watching videos won’t really affect their view count.

So, while you can give your views a small boost, improving the engagement rates of other users is the most reliable way to push your video to more people on the platform. For that reason, you should focus on encouraging likes, comments, and shares whenever possible.

How To Grow on TikTok

Growing your TikTok page requires a mix of creativity, consistency, and strategy. To start, you’re going to want to post content regularly, which’ll keep your account active and visible. Of course, you’ll also want to follow all the latest trending hashtags, sounds, and TikTok challenges.

Beyond that, as we’ve said, you have to grab your viewers’ attention in three seconds or less. If you don’t, you’re just not going to get results. But, you’ve asked how to increase your TikTok engagement and the answer is simple: be interesting very quickly.

If you’re struggling to be interesting, just remember that TikTok rewards creators for staying true to their niches. So, choose a niche, a theme, or a recurring concept for your content. Over time, you’ll develop a loyal following because they’ll know exactly what to expect from you.

Lastly, utilize TikTok analytics to understand your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly. You have to give the people what they want. Find what works, call it your niche, and ride it to better engagement rates.

Can My TikTok Video Get More Views Later?

Yes, even if your TikTok video has been up for a while, it can continue to get more views. If your video’s engagement rate is high and people are liking, commenting, and sharing it, it can pop up on viewers’ ‘For You’ pages. And, sometimes, a video can blow up days – or even weeks – after you post it because it fits a new trend.

How To Get More Views on TikTok After Posting

If you want to push new visitors to your older TikTok videos, you should engage with users when they interact with them. You’ll want to respond to every comment, follow commenters back, and create video replies to capitalize on new interactions.

When Should I Promote My TikTok Content?

You should promote your content only when you know that your audience is active. This lets you be certain that your promoted content is being put in front of the most relevant, most responsive audience possible.

  • Switch to a Pro Account: If you haven’t already, switch to a TikTok Pro or Business account, which gives you access to more detailed analytics.
  • Access TikTok Analytics: Head to your TikTok profile and slap those three dots (or hamburger icon) in the top right corner, then select ‘Creator Tools’ and ‘Analytics.’
An illustration showing how to log in to TikTok analytics.

Now that you’re in the right spot, you’ll want to analyze your followers to determine when they’re most active.

  • In Analytics, click on the ‘Followers’ tab.
  • Scroll down to the ‘Follower Activity’ section.
  • Make note of when your followers are most active.

Once you have this information, consider promoting your videos at peak times, when you know your audience is watching. And, if you want to go the extra mile, keep a record of how well each of your promoted videos do so you can understand what kinds of content perform well at certain times.

Get Help On TikTok and Other Social Media Platforms

If you’re struggling to get traction on your social media channels, Kzoom’s team is here to help. With years of experience, we can work with you to ensure that you post consistently to improve your brand’s engagement.

So, if you want to reach a wider audience on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other social media platform, we encourage you to contact us today. We’ll be happy to sit down with you, talk about your options, and help you increase your TikTok engagement rate.

To take advantage of the expertise of a digital marketing agency and get started on the road to success, contact us here and we’ll be in touch right away!

Show this blog some love!

Kiah McMeekan

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Kiah is a passionate marketer. She is a social media wizard who loves staying on top of current trends and creating intriguing content.

In her free time she loves digital painting, reading fantasy novels and spending time in the woods with her dog, Luna.