How to Go Viral on TikTok: All Methods, One Complete Guide

This article provides a systematic overview of methods for enhancing your video visuals, supplemented with actual video case studies to help readers easily understand and quickly get started. The techniques introduced are simple to implement and can help your content rapidly achieve viral success—an effective pathway to “How to Go Viral on TikTok Overnight”—while also continuously expanding your follower base. In this way, these Famous Video Tips and Boosting Tricks offer robust support for your ongoing video production efforts.

A critical note: If you intend to operate a TikTok account over the long term, do not purchase any likes, follows, or saves, nor enlist friends and family to artificially boost your engagement. TikTok will inevitably detect these tactics, destroying your account’s long-term value. Engagement from unrelated audiences actually interferes with the recommendation algorithm. Ultimately, the only correct method is to create content that genuinely resonates with your viewers.

High-Information-Content Videos and Multi-Shot Videos

Why do we call them short videos? Is it just because they’re brief? Not at all. The essence of short videos lies in maintaining sufficiently high information density. By increasing the video’s information density, they can deliver a wealth of content in a format that viewers can quickly understand and efficiently absorb.

For instance, a 50-minute lecture can be distilled into a 3-minute segment with clear, accessible explanations, enabling audiences to promptly grasp the core ideas. A comprehensive car maintenance procedure can be fully explained in just 1 minute, smoothly covering everything from selection to installation. Even the process of joining a convenience store franchise—from location selection to cost breakdown—can be concisely addressed within a 2-minute overview.

More importantly, short videos can introduce you to aspects of the world you might never encounter otherwise. For instance, you might not know that your city has laundry facilities, distinctive plantations, or groups of people working in fields completely unfamiliar to you. Regardless of how extensive your experience, knowledge, or connections may be, there are always unexplored areas—content that platforms like TikTok make effortlessly accessible.

The core value of short videos lies in the synergy of high-density information, efficient distribution algorithms, and entertainment. By presenting highly condensed content, they fulfill entertainment needs, offering a relaxing and enjoyable viewing experience within a short span, while also broadening viewers’ horizons and helping them gain knowledge or skills. This fusion of entertainment and learning is the cornerstone of the success of short videos.

Returning to the heart of video production, simply segmenting lengthy, drawn-out content into shorter clips does not inherently boost information density. Without enhanced density, it will remain challenging to attract viewers, and the resulting engagement metrics will likely fall short.

Increasing Information Density

To compress information density, remove all nonessential content. If a detail can be omitted, omit it. If it need not be mentioned, do not mention it. Strive for brevity, clarity, and comprehensibility.

High-Density Shots

One approach to enhancing a video’s information density is to employ multiple shots or a very high shot frequency. In 2022, a creator known as @张同学 suddenly soared to fame on the Chinese version of TikTok by producing “high-density-shot Vlogs.”

Another example is the videos by the creator @你心中的小可爱, which feature experience Vlogs characterized by an exceptionally high number of shots and rapid transitions, so fast that they can feel overwhelming to follow. This format is highly effective for short-video marketing, offering extensive product displays within a single scene.

Adding Information

Picture-in-Picture is an effective means of boosting information density. By embedding supplementary footage within the main frame, viewers can simultaneously consume multiple streams of information. Their gaze shifts frequently, thereby potentially enhancing engagement metrics.

Moreover, integrating subtitles, emojis, icons, animations, and special effects can further enrich the informational content. Content creators should judiciously incorporate straightforward visual aids to assist audiences in swiftly pinpointing key information, reducing cognitive load, and facilitating a smoother viewing process.

• When referencing a place name, display a corresponding map;
• When presenting data, offer a clear table;
• When emphasizing keywords, include prominent subtitles.

Of course, these methods are merely techniques for augmenting information density. They do not fundamentally address the question of how best to create content.

The beginning of the video (Video Completion Rate)

You might have heard various claims about the importance of a video’s opening moments, but they all point to the same idea.

• 5-second completion rate
• 3-second completion rate

Boosting the 5-second completion rate of short videos is essential! According to the logic of TikTok’s “trial phase” recommendation algorithm, as long as most viewers don’t swipe away in the first 5 seconds, the video effectively passes an initial “screening,” giving it the opportunity to reach a broader audience. Since TikTok users tend to have short attention spans, creators need to grab their attention instantly. Some common tactics include using curiosity-driven or even slightly misleading text prompts on the screen, such as “You must watch till the end” or “Look closely! What is this?” While viewers might feel somewhat “tricked” after finishing the video, this strategy has been shown to significantly improve metrics.

The following two videos employ other viral techniques, such as “Plot Twist,” delivering continuous surprises through magical effects. This sets the creators apart from other photographers.

On platforms like YouTube, where long-form videos are common, the popular approach is to “front-load the highlights” (using a hook or cold open), moving the most compelling parts of the video to the beginning through editing. This tactic can also be applied to TikTok. For videos longer than 30 seconds, slower pacing may make it hard for users to stay engaged until the end. By cutting the most exciting moments into the very first frame, creators can immediately spark viewers’ curiosity.

Contrast

What is contrast? Let’s start with a simple idea: when the bright areas are exceptionally bright and the dark areas are exceptionally dark, the image gains a sense of “depth” and “impact.”

How to Go Viral on TikTok: All Methods, One Complete Guide

How does this idea translate into TikTok short videos? Let’s take an example. If you’re a pig farmer, how would you create a video? — Most people would probably record casually: filming pigs, the farm environment, or showcasing the pigs’ food. The content is dull and overly similar to competitors, making it hard to stand out, and the viewership would likely be mediocre.

However, one account stood out by creating a striking contrast: a pig farm + a sophisticated girl. You can see that the number of likes skyrocketed, reaching millions, and the exposure went far beyond that.

Note: Due to certain issues within the team, this idea has been split into two separate accounts, though the exact reason remains unclear to me.

In essence, contrast refers to a strong clash between attributes of people, events, or objects—things you’ve never seen combined before. It shatters the audience’s preconceived notions. On TikTok (or any short video platform), contrasts can be designed at the content level or within the account’s positioning.

What are some elements that can create “contrast”?

• Gender: Breaking into a market dominated by the opposite gender, such as a man trying on women’s clothing and using a “scientific” approach rather than “aesthetic preferences” to market it.
• Age: Elderly people engaging in activities popular among the youth, like trying trendy foods, playing with toys, or participating in entertainment.
• Style: A grandfather transforming from an ordinary figure into a sharp, charismatic CEO through a quick costume change, breaking stereotypes and delivering a strong visual impact.
• Scene: Singing in a hospital ward, doing homework in a bar, or playing chess in unexpected places.
• Objects: Drinking beer from a truckload of beer — an exaggerated but impactful scene.
• Profession: A teacher live-streaming to sell products or explaining relationship tips. A lawyer performing seductive dances while answering legal questions.
• …

How can you tell if a “contrast” is successful? — The key is whether it challenges the audience’s assumptions or common sense. The more unexpected and subversive the content, the better the results. Timing and platform dynamics are also crucial: if you can pioneer a “new type of contrast” and establish yourself in this unique niche, seize the opportunity to keep producing in this direction. Continuously refine and optimize—it’s the key to strengthening your advantage and expanding your reach. Any promising viral trend has the potential to bring you millions of subscribers.

Here are a few examples.

On Douyin (China’s TikTok), a creator named “@痞幼” initially shared daily life vlogs. Her breakout moment came when she posted a “motorcycle + girl” themed video, which went viral and cemented her position in the niche of “motorcycles, cars, and beauty.” At the time, most motorcycle-related content was created by men, and her presence created a stark differentiation. It’s even said that the Dodge TRX gained popularity in China partly due to her videos. However, simply repeating the “motorcycle + girl” theme today would no longer replicate that success.

Challenging traditional perceptions, some creators explore themes of feminism overtaking masculinity. This involves flipping traditionally male-dominated perspectives into female-centric narratives, revealing subtle, unconscious biases against women.

The majority of the audience were particularly impressed by the male protagonist wearing a throat guard, while the female protagonist even coined the term “Victoria’s Throat Guard” — a clever nod to Victoria’s Secret. This also stands as a prime example of innovative prop design.

A well-known example is Li Jiaqi — in China, he is the most famous cosmetics influencer, defying the traditional association of makeup with women.

In e-commerce, gender plays a significant role in audience dynamics. For instance, stores selling men’s clothing often employ female hosts to attract a broader audience. However, overemphasizing sensual elements when selling women’s clothing might attract unintended male viewers, diluting the target audience and reducing conversion rates. Striking the right balance in presentation style ensures that you draw in the right audience effectively.

Plot Twist

A “plot twist” refers to a sudden shift in the “storyline” from one scenario to its opposite (or a completely different one), shattering the audience’s expectations and delivering an unexpected surprise. In short videos, “plot twists” are created by incorporating unforeseen elements, such as surprising story developments, costume transformations, or special effects, to add drama and capture the audience’s attention.

The success of a plot-twist video depends on how “unexpected” it is. The more unconventional and surprising the twist, the better the entertainment value. Sometimes, twists can be layered—just when viewers think they’ve figured things out, another twist takes them by surprise, keeping them engaged until the video ends.

Common Types of Plot-Twist Videos

The most common plot-twist videos include:

• Transformation Videos
• Before-and-After Product Comparisons

New trends in creating plot-twist videos emerge periodically. You can either capitalize on these trends by producing related content quickly or brainstorm new ideas to innovate based on existing popular formats. Even minor creative tweaks can add unique appeal. Additionally, video styles that went viral years ago can be revived by incorporating fresh creative elements, potentially sparking renewed interest and going viral again.

Subscribe to my blog, where I’ll curate a collection of rich short video examples, making it as easy to find what you need as using a search engine.

Exaggeration Technique

Using over-the-top emotional performances to elicit empathy or purely to attract attention.

Prop Innovation

A common approach to prop innovation involves “resizing” products, such as the following examples:

How to Go Viral on TikTok: All Methods, One Complete Guide

Another method is to combine props in “unexpected ways.”

Using props in creative and unconventional ways. Do you recall the video mentioned earlier in The beginning of the video (Video Completion Rate)? — That’s right, the blogger used a “smart door lock” to take photos.

Another idea is to purchase industrial or specialized non-consumer products to create engaging and unique videos.

Shooting Angles

First-Person Perspective: The first-person perspective allows for a strong sense of immersion. For instance, when filming a date scene with a girlfriend, this viewpoint enables viewers to naturally place themselves in the video, evoking emotional connections and enhancing the video’s impact and appeal.

Overhead, Low-Angle, and Wide-Angle Perspectives: Special angles like overhead, low-angle, and wide-angle shots are rarely seen in everyday life, making them effective at capturing viewers’ attention and delivering unique visual effects.

Peeping Perspective: This technique uses objects to partially block the frame while incorporating subtle camera shakes, creating the feeling of peering into hidden truths or uncovering secrets. This adds mystery to the video. The more realistic the execution, the better the effect. Additionally, surveillance-style filming can be adopted; even if the video isn’t about surveillance, intentionally lowering the quality to resemble surveillance footage can increase realism and immersion.

Long Shot: Long shots are used to showcase the full view of people or objects, providing viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of the overall scene.

Dolly Zoom: Dolly zoom – Wikipedia

Bringing Products into Real-Life Contexts

Many people mistakenly believe that product photography is simply about showcasing the product itself, ignoring its real-life context. This lack of situational content often fails to capture viewers’ attention, leading to poor traffic performance.

I was reminded of the creator @小鱼海棠. If the makeup process is simply shown without context or a story, it’s hard for the audience to become interested. However, @小鱼海棠’s challenge is: taking photos with 999 other guys, and the process itself is naturally captivating. The makeup portion can be quickly and briefly shown, with the focus shifting to the shooting process and the story behind it. So, why include the makeup segment? This allows for the seamless integration of advertising content later, boosting the video’s commercial potential.

Simplifying Content for a General Audience

You should create content that prioritizes entertainment while incorporating some professional insights. The more technical the content, the smaller the audience, which limits your potential traffic and makes it harder to grow your followers. For example, when filming a car, focus on the experience rather than the technical specifications. You could showcase features like how this car can heat a fridge or how the large second-row screen can connect to a PlayStation, allowing you to play games with friends during a road trip—this will better engage the audience’s interest.

The same principle applies to electronic gadgets. Take a look at MKBHD’s videos; his content focuses on user experiences rather than deep dives into technical details.

Remember, don’t get carried away with your own preferences! Break down complex professional content into simple, engaging, and easy-to-understand formats that capture the audience’s interest and make it easy for them to follow.

Imitating Games, Movies, and Other Media

Creating content that mimics animal movements, movies, TV shows, or involves cosplay often attracts viewers’ interest and generates good initial engagement.

Reenacting Scenes, Dilemmas, and Challenges

By recreating the characters, settings, and situations, the story’s plot and atmosphere are presented directly. This approach eliminates the need for the audience to think hard, as it is clearly acted out, making it easy to understand at a glance. Here are a few examples:

Trending Memes and Nostalgic Content

On Douyin and TikTok, nostalgic themes like “Back to 2018” often appear. Short video trends evolve rapidly, but past viral memes and creative formats can be recreated—and if you add a new twist, even better—as they still have the potential to attract significant attention. For holiday-related topics, every year provides an opportunity for repeated creation, so preparing materials and ideas in advance is crucial.

For example, the creator @CC雨涵 posted a video on January 25, 2023, at 14:36, and again released another video on the same topic on February 11, 2024, at 12:04. The staggering number of likes indicates that its exposure in China may have already surpassed hundreds of millions.

The key elements that made this video go viral:

1. Chinese New Year (the biggest holiday in China).
2. Themes of money, elegance, family (aunt), and the New Year.
3. The caption reads: “My unmarried, anti-marriage aunt came home for New Year and handed out red envelopes,” which struck a chord with the audience.

ASMR

TikTok ASMR videos use soft sounds and visually appealing imagery to offer viewers an immersive sensory experience. This approach can also be applied to product unboxing, and you might have noticed that some car videos are shot this way as well.

Special Effects

Using “special effects” to create videos is particularly well-suited for platforms like TikTok, where the possibilities for creativity are endless.

When it comes to the work of the following creators (@陶阿狗君 & @jessechrisss), I feel their ideas are practically “custom-made” for short-video platforms. Their content aligns seamlessly with the music, rhythm, timing, tone, and overall viewing experience. It’s cool, youthful, and feels like “native content” for platforms like TikTok (Douyin). To use a metaphor, it’s like a species perfectly evolved for its environment, entirely compatible with the platform’s ecosystem.

However, if you upload this kind of content to Twitter feeds, traditional Instagram feeds, or YouTube, the reaction might be: “Okay, this looks cool,” but it lacks that inexplicable magic, that special connection required to go viral. Watching these videos on a regular webpage also doesn’t deliver the same dopamine hit.

陶阿狗君: You might have seen her videos on TikTok—they’re incredibly cool! She is a Douyin creator who has independently pioneered a unique creative style. However, her performance on TikTok hasn’t been as strong as on Douyin, likely because her videos have been repeatedly re-uploaded by others (as TikTok isn’t directly accessible in China). For the platform, this means the same videos are uploaded multiple times; for viewers, it means they’ve watched the videos repeatedly without knowing which account belongs to the original creator. Moreover, the videos uploaded by 陶阿狗君 on TikTok seem to be less clear than those on Douyin.

How to Go Viral on TikTok: All Methods, One Complete Guide

It’s also worth mentioning that this type of video is perfect for monetization. Whether through short-video e-commerce or ad partnerships, these creative ideas have unlimited commercial potential.

TikTok’s @jessechrisss is another outstanding creator whose work is visually captivating and imaginative.

Finally, the legendary Zach King needs no introduction. He was already creating viral content long before Douyin even came onto the scene.

Zach King – YouTube

Other notable examples:

• @开普勒星人: A fictional account of someone living on the moon.
• @柳夜熙: A virtual beauty expert who can capture spirits.
• @nikolaisavic A man who gained massive TikTok fame for his seamless transitions.

A Thought to Ponder: The potential for AI-generated videos and images is only beginning to unfold. What new opportunities can you discover?

Personification

Transforming non-human animals or inanimate objects into human-like characters can lead to unexpected and creative works.

The reverse approach is equally effective for capturing attention—having humans imitate animals or inanimate objects can also produce viral videos.

Emotions Evoked by Video Imagery

Video imagery has the power to evoke emotions tied to specific scenes. Certain video frames naturally convey emotions, but the feelings they trigger may vary across countries and cultural backgrounds. Often, these shared emotional responses can be observed in the “video comment section.” By analyzing and organizing them, creators can flexibly incorporate these insights into their content creation process.

Conflict and Opposition

Conflict arises when a goal meets obstacles. Often tied to desire, conflict occurs when you aim to achieve something but face layers of challenges along the way. These stories, filled with twists and turns, keep the audience’s curiosity peaked. Videos with such tension remain engaging, preventing fatigue and boosting completion rates.

Arguments or the revelation of certain events are also examples of conflict.