The short-video platform TikTok can be a powerful social media branding and ecommerce tool. But if no one sees your posts, all your efforts can amount to little. Increasing viewership is the first step to accomplishing every TikTok goal, from driving sales to achieving viral fame.
Timm Chiusano is an expert in TikTok marketing. He built an audience of more than a million followers by experimenting with content and establishing authentic relationships with followers. Here’s more on Timm’s TikTok journey and a few tips for getting more views on TikTok.
What is a view on TikTok?
Anytime someone watches your video on TikTok it counts as a view. Because there’s no minimum view duration, watching for even a second counts as a view. If a single viewer watches your video multiple times, TikTok counts each play as a separate view. (You do not receive views for watching your own video, however.)
TikTok views are one way the social media platform gauges a video’s popularity. Attracting views can have a snowball effect—as your video gains traction, the TikTok algorithm promotes it more. The more people watch your content, the wider your reach, the higher your brand awareness, and the greater your earning potential. Influencers can attract bigger partnerships and earn additional money from TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program.
How much does TikTok pay per view?
Depending on the video, TikTok pays between 50$ and $1 per thousand views. The TikTok Creator Rewards Program (which replaced the TikTok Creator Fund in 2023) compensates creators who meet the eligibility requirements and post high-performing videos.
Creator requirements
To receive payment from the program, you must adhere to TikTok’s community guidelines and meet certain requirements.
- Location: The TikTok Creator Rewards Program is currently available to creators based in the United States, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil.
- TikTok account type: You must create content for personal accounts—business accounts are ineligible for the Rewards Program.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old to receive compensation from TikTok. Creators in South Korea must be at least 19.
- Follower count: The Creator Rewards Program is open to creators with a minimum of 10,000 followers. The minimum follower count for TikTok creators in South Korea is 50,000.
- View count: You need at least 100,000 total account views during the past 30 days. Account views represent the total number of views across all the videos on your page.
- Account standing: TikTok only approves creators who comply with its community guidelines and terms of service. Accounts that violate TikTok’s terms of service after approval may be removed from the program.
Content requirements
A TikTok account in the Creator Rewards Program may not earn money on every video. TikTok considers content eligible for compensation if it meets the select criteria.
- Original video content: You must shoot and produce your own TikTok content. Using a collaboration tool to create a video does not disqualify your account but Duets, Stitches, and video collaborations with other users do not earn rewards income.
- Duration: TikTok videos must be at least one minute long.
- More than 1,000 views: TikTok videos start earning rewards after the first 1,000 views.
- No advertisements: Sponsored content and videos containing paid promotions cannot earn additional compensation from TikTok.
- Meets content standards: Content that violates policy does not accrue earnings and may be removed from the platform.
Should you buy views on TikTok?
Buying views to increase your visibility may be tempting, but it violates TikTok’s terms of service and can put your account at risk. Doing so disqualifies you from the Creator Rewards Program and can lead to penalties, even if you’re not pursuing rewards. If TikTok detects fake engagement, the algorithm may suppress your content, reducing your visibility.
How to get more views on TikTok
- Post consistently
- Participate in trends
- Post engaging content
- Prioritize video quality
- Add hashtags
- Write accurate descriptions
- Add sounds
- Collaborate
- Build a community
- Optimize your account
- Use your data
- Promote your content
- Practice authenticity
Establishing a strong TikTok presence takes time, patience, and planning. These are some of the essential methods content creators like Timm Chiusano use to get more views on TikTok:
1. Post consistently
TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes active accounts. Posting at least a couple times a week increases the chances that TikTok promotes your TikTok content. As your following grows, maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged with new videos.
2. Participate in trends
Stay up to date on viral TikTok trends by watching content on your For You page or checking the platform’s Trend Discovery tool. Put your own spin on trending topics or layer popular audio clips on top of your videos to engage with trends while still furthering your brand message.
3. Post engaging content
A high engagement rate proves that people care about your content and that can lead to algorithmic promotion.Post content that captures the viewer’s attention and inspires them to leave a comment. Incorporating questions into your content creates opportunities for more engagement.
4. Prioritize video quality
Make sure that your video content is sharp, clear, and well-lit. Create videos with a direct takeaway, whether it’s valuable information or a funny anecdote viewers can share with their friends. As Timm explains on an episode of Shopify Masters, it’s important to ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this? Is it delivering value to somebody?” Users are more likely to share or save content that teaches them something valuable or provides advice.
5. Add hashtags
Properly tagged TikTok videos appear in search results when users look up a topic. Adding relevant hashtags makes it easier for users to find your content. Pay attention to trending hashtags and use them when applicable.
6. Write accurate descriptions
A well-written video caption tells the algorithm what your content is about and can help spark engagement. For example, you might include a prompt that encourages viewers to leave a comment. Include relevant keywords to help your content appear in search results.
7. Add sounds
Adding trending sounds to your content can help it land on a user’s For You page. TikTok uses popular music the same way it uses hashtags: If a user watches a video with a popular sound bite, the algorithm shows them other videos with the same audio.
8. Collaborate
Collaborating with TikTok influencers can help you reach a wider audience. Contact other creators through networks like Shopify Collabs to propose a partnership or use collaborative tools like Duets and Stitch to put your own spin on viral videos. (Keep in mind that if you use a TikTok collaboration tool, that video is not eligible for TikTok monetization.)
9. Build a community
Create a loyal community and establish trust with your audience. For maximum engagement, take the time to respond to comments and like positive replies, and respond to constructive negative comments thoughtfully to show that you appreciate feedback.
Interacting with your followers increases the chances they’ll comment on a video again. As Timm puts it, “I just want you to know me, trust me, know my background, know that at least a general high-level understanding as to why I would be telling you this.”
10. Optimize your account
A complete profile page is a requirement for the TikTok Creator Rewards program, so take the time to create an eye-catching profile. Write a short bio that explains who you are and the kind of content you create. Using keywords in your bio can help users discover your account. Choose a clear profile picture that expresses your personality and sets the tone for your page.
11. Use your data
Use video performance data to refine your content strategy. TikTok analytics provides information on video views, watch time, and video completion rate, as well as demographic insights about your specific audience. Reviewing this data can yield insight into what your audience likes. Take a strategy-based approach by identifying your most successful videos and looking for common threads. Then, use what you learn to create more videos using similar techniques.
12. Promote your content
Cross-promote your content by sharing links on other social media platforms. If you have a dedicated Instagram following, for example, you could post an Instagram Story to let your followers know you’ve shared a new TikTok video.
13. Practice authenticity
Letting viewers get to know the real you can help build a loyal following over time. Let your personality shine. Authenticity is one of Timm’s pillars of success. “Just being human in it and being myself is, I guess, the differentiator,” he says. “That’s what everybody should be leaning into.”
How to get more views on TikTok FAQ
Why do views matter on TikTok?
TikTok’s algorithm treats views as a measure of quality and boosts popular videos within the app. In the Creator Rewards Program, more TikTok views also mean higher compensation.
How do I increase TikTok views?
The best way to attract views on TikTok is by consistently posting engaging, high-quality videos that keep people watching. Make sure your visuals are sharp and well-lit.
Is 500 views on TikTok good?
Success is relative. Getting 500 views on a TikTok video is an impressive achievement for a new account, but it might be disappointing to a creator with 20,000 followers. Eligible videos need at least 1,000 views to receive compensation from the TikTok Creator Rewards Program.
