TikTok Trends You Need to Know to Grow Your Following

Are you tired of seeing zero growth on TikTok while others go viral overnight? While some users seem to gain a following quickly, others are left wondering what they’re doing wrong—most of us will blame the algorithm. So, what’s the secret? Staying on top of trends and creating content that resonates with your audience — it’s all about relatability and authenticity on this platform. It sounds easy, but it takes consistent effort! 

Whether you’re new to the platform or just looking to step up your game, these tips will help you take control of your TikTok success. Let’s get into it and start turning those views into followers.

Boost Engagement with Viral TikTok Challenges

Join trending challenges and incorporate popular sounds to boost your engagement quickly. Keep in mind that trends move fast — what’s trending today might not be trending tomorrow, so act quickly. 

Find and Participate in Trending Challenges

TikTok’s Creative Center is a great place to go for current TikTok trends. That’s where popular videos, hashtags, sounds and creators are highlighted. By regularly using TikTok, you’ll encounter trends daily, so be sure to follow key creators to stay updated on the latest content they’re producing.

Engage early in these trends to maximise your exposure. TikTok challenges are designed to be easy for users to join, which makes them perfect for quickly boosting visibility. For instance, the “Gen Z Marketing Scripts” trend is currently gaining momentum and can easily be tailored to fit your business or brand.

Check out this trend in action! 

@currys

The end 🤣🤣 #genz #genzlife #currys #tech #uk #fyp #viral

♬ original sound – Currys

Analyse Engagement Results

Using TikTok’s analytics tools is crucial for understanding what works. Check which videos have high engagement rates. How many times has it been reposted, and how many people have liked and commented? Did users watch the full video? This data will help you tweak your approach to better match your audience’s interests.

If you notice a drop in engagement, reassess your strategy. It could be a signal to try a new challenge or modify the type of content you are producing. Consistent improvement based on analysis will help keep your audience engaged and grow your follower count.

TikTok Content Ideas to Get Your Brand Known

While TikTok challenges are fun, they aren’t enough to make your brand stand out. To establish a strong presence, focus on producing original, captivating content.

Create Unique and Engaging Themes

Start by understanding what resonates with your audience — this involves some trial and error and competitor analysis to see what works in your niche. Next, experiment with various themes. For example, if you’re in fashion, go beyond showcasing outfits. Share ‘behind-the-scenes’ footage of photoshoots or offer ‘styling tips for specific events.’ In the travel industry, you could explore unique destinations by creating ‘hidden gem’ guides or ‘day-in-the-life’ vlogs from various countries. If you’re in health and wellness, focus on topics like ‘quick workout routines’ or ‘mindfulness tips for stress relief’ to engage and inspire your audience. You get the gist!

It’s wise to keep track of your trials. Note what type of videos get the most engagement, shares, or comments. This will help refine your content over time; it’s a continuous process of discovery and adaptation.

Tap Into the Power of User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is a great way to tap into the creativity of your followers while building a sense of community around your brand. By encouraging them to join in on TikTok trends or participate in challenges related to your products, you make them feel valued and extend your brand’s reach as they share their content with their own networks.

Highlighting and featuring the best user videos on your profile shows appreciation and motivates others to get involved. 

Keep Your Content Fresh and On-Trend

To keep your followers engaged, it’s crucial to refresh your content regularly. Platforms like TikTok are constantly shifting, and jumping on the latest TikTok trends is a great way to stay relevant. By being quick and nimble with your ideas, you can avoid stagnation and keep your audience coming back for more.

Planning content at least a month ahead ensures you’re always on track with both short-term and long-term goals. A content calendar helps you stay organised while allowing room to adapt to emerging trends. If a product or service isn’t getting the attention it deserves, think about how you can reframe it in line with current TikTok trends.

Brands across various industries are doing this all the time. For example, cosmetics brand P. Louise used the popular ASMR trend on TikTok to promote its makeup bundles. Travel Agency TUI jumped on the ‘Very Demure‘ trend to showcase premium seating upgrades. By aligning your content with the right trend, you not only stay relevant but also show off your brand’s personality in a relatable way, subtly driving engagement and sales.

@plmakeupacademy

If you havent already babe its time to PowDer up! ⚡️⚡️#plouise #plouisemakeupacademy #makeup

♬ Nasty – Tinashe

@tuiuk

See how we have premium seating upgrades? 😍 very demure, very mindful ✨ p.s. we have up to £250* off on long-haul holidays on our website, so why not treat yourself? 💅✈️ *T&Cs apply #tui #verydemure #verymindful #longhaulflight #tuiholidays

♬ original sound – Jools Lebron

Creator Search Insights 

TikTok’s Creator Search Insights is a powerful tool for brands looking to discover trending content ideas and understand what’s resonating with audiences. By typing “Creator Search Insights” in the search bar, creators and brands can unlock valuable data on popular search trends.

The tool brings up frequently searched topics, which can be sorted by categories like fashion, food, tourism, sports, etc. One of the key features is the ability to filter for content gap topics — these are subjects that users search for often, but that have a low presence in TikTok videos, providing an opportunity for brands to capitalise on untapped trends. Lasagna soup is going wild this autumn! 

@whatinthechef

Recipe below for this cream one pot lasagna Ingredients: – 3-4 tbsp Olive Oil – 1 Large White Onion – 4 Garlic Cloves – 1 Carrot – 1 Celery – Pinch of Salt and Pepper – 500-600g Beef Mince – 1 tsp Salt – 1.5 tbsp Tomato Puree – 400g Passata – Sprinkle of Mixed Italian Herbs – Sprinkle of Basil – Sprinkle of Oregano – 1 tsp Sugar – 800ml Veg Stock – 150ml Double Cream – 400g Dry Lasagna Sheets – Hard Cheese or Parmesan – Handful of Mozzarella – Handful of Parsley – Ricotta Method: 1. Heat the oil in a pan. Diced the onion and chop the garlic and add it to the pan. Cook and stir until the onions become translucent. Chop the carrot and celery and add them to the pan along with salt and pepper. Stir and cook for a further five minutes until everything softens. 2. Add in the mince meat and cook it until brown. At this stage, I like to drain out most of the fat or water release from the meat as it removes the ‘fatty’ smell. Add the salt to the meat and stir. Add in the tomato beauty with a splash of water and stir. Cook for a few minutes. 3. Add 250ml of water and bring up to heat. Put the lid on and simmer on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes. This step is optional. 4. Once done, reduce any water down then add in the passata and stir through. Add the mixed herbs, basil, oregano, chopped parsley, and sugar, and then stir and cook for two minutes. 5. Add the veg stock and the double cream, then stir. Increase the heat to medium-high, then bring everything up to heat. Add the broken lasagna sheets (don’t dump them like I did as I had to separate them in the sauce, add them separately). 6. With the heat on medium-high (you want it bubbling, not low heat). Cook and stir for 10 to 12 minutes until all of the sauce thickens and the lasagna sheets cook through. If at any point the sauce dries out before the lasagna sheets are cooked through, then drop the heat a little. Add splashes of water if needed if it dries out too much. 7. Once done, turn the heat off and grate in hard cheese and the mozzarella. Stir through and garnish with parsley. Finally, top with dollops of ricotta #lasagna #lasagnasoup #italianfood #italianrecipes

♬ original sound – whatinthechef

What TikTok Says is Trending This Autumn 

This autumn, TikTok is buzzing with diverse fashion, food, and culture trends. The outdoorsy #PNW (Pacific Northwest) aesthetic is gaining traction, inspired by the moody vibes of shows like Twin Peaks and Twilight. Think fleeces, flannels, and hiking shoes.

Meanwhile, #Britishcore is having a moment, fueled by a summer of UK sports success and a Britpop revival, highlighted by Oasis’ much-anticipated reunion. Over on #FoodTok, Filipino food is rising in popularity, and the #snackbox trend continues to inspire creative meal prep.

As days get shorter, cosy indoor trends like #cozygaming — featuring relaxing video games — and the emerging trend of desk scaping (aesthetic desk setups) are taking over. For book lovers, #BookTok remains huge with nearly 40 million posts. Lastly, 90s rave music is back, with #happyhardcore making a bold return. 

Solving Low Engagement Problems

Revise Content Strategy to Align with Trends

1. Evaluate Current Trends: Regularly check TikTok’s Creative Center and Creator Search Insights for content ideas.
2. Analyse Your Content Performance: Use TikTok Analytics. Look at which videos have low engagement. Identify themes, formats, or topics that may not resonate.
3. Identify Successful Trends: Find which trends have high engagement rates. These trends should be tailored to your niche to ensure relevance.
4. Adapt Your Content: Modify your video themes and formats to align with observed trends. Ensure your content adds your unique touch, keeping it authentic and relatable.
5. Plan Ahead: Draft a new content calendar. Prioritise trend-aligned content, scheduling it for maximum impact.

Note: Using both popular and niche trends increases visibility without losing your key audience.

Re-evaluate Posting Times and Frequencies

1. Review Analytics Data: Re-examine your TikTok analytics. Identify when your audience is most active.
2. Adjust Posting Times: Post during peak engagement times. This strategy increases the likelihood of your content being seen and shared.
3. Frequency Assessment: Evaluate how often you post. Too few can result in being forgotten; too many can overwhelm. Find a balance.
4. Test and Monitor: Experiment with different times and frequencies. Use feedback and analytics for continuous improvement.
5. Iterate Based on Results: Once optimal times and frequencies are discovered, maintain this schedule. Regularly adjust as audience patterns evolve.

Ready to Improve Your TikTok Strategy?

TikTok growth doesn’t have to be a mystery. By embracing TikTok trends, refining your content strategy, and making data-driven adjustments, you can unlock your brand’s full potential on the platform. 

Whether jumping on viral challenges, engaging with user-generated content, or simply understanding the best times to post, each step brings you closer to a thriving TikTok presence. Ready to put these strategies into action? Stay on top of the trends, keep your content fresh, and watch your following grow!

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