Since any user on TikTok can go viral at any time, you might be wondering if a TikTok follower count actually matters. There's no better platform to start building a brand where you can build a massive following in a matter of weeks.
So does it even matter how many TikTok followers you have? The short answer: Yes. The higher your follower count is on TikTok, the more chances you have of gaining more exposure, going viral, and winning your marketing goals.
Impact of Follower Count on TikTok
While TikTok's algorithm is designed to give every user a fair chance at going viral, a large follower count on TikTok serves as social proof, validating a creator's content and signaling popularity which helps generate growth, views, and engagement. For creators and brands, a higher number of followers typically equates to increased visibility and lucrative monetization opportunities.
The TikTok follower metric is not just a vanity number; it frequently influences the TikTok's algorithmic promotion of content. Greater follower counts can result in improved content discoverability, increasing changes of virality, and thereby elevates a creators' status on the platform. In other words, the more followers you obtain, the more chances you have that your content will be seen by other users. Read on to understand the more technical explanation for why this happens.
Algorithm Advantages for Greater Reach
While TikTok does not share the exact way it's algorithm works, we know TikTok promotes content based on user interactions, learning from likes, comments, and the time spent on videos. Highly interactive posts climb TikTok's ranks fast. This means increased exposure and potential follower growth as your content circulates.
When a user follows your TikTok account, your content is more likely to appear on their “For You” page (the main page where a person scrolls on TikTok), making your content more visible to them and potentially their followers as well. During the “seeding” phase of your video, or when TikTok starts monitoring your video to users to gather data in realtime on your content, the more engaged followers you have, your video has a greater chance of getting seeded to more users who are interested in your content. Each user that gets to see your content, like it, or interact with it is another chance for TikTok to rank you video high enough to be seeded to other users, including those who don't even follow you.
Thus, while a larger following does not guarantee more viewers will see your content, all of our research and data shows that your chances of getting your video seen by more people goes up, thereby giving users more opportunities to engage with your content, and increasing your chances of going viral.
Videos aligning with the algorithm's preference for high value content and engagement have a higher probability of featured appearances on users' "For You" pages. Crafting content that resonates with audiences, carries share-worthy appeal, and encourages user interaction can dramatically influence the spread of your videos, raising your profile and follower count in the process.
Boosting Your Online Credibility
On social media, numbers often translate to influence—more followers can suggest higher credibility, trustworthiness, and authority within a niche. A significant follower count on TikTok can establish you as a thought leader or trendsetter.
For creators and businesses alike, a high follower count is akin to a seal of approval, enhancing perceived expertise and quality of content. This perception can be crucial in the world of TikTok, where millions vie for viewers' attention.
While follower numbers don't tell the whole story, they often serve as the first point of assessment for new viewers. If your follower count is substantial (and coupled with high engagement rates), it acts like a beacon, attracting more eyes to your content and potentially unlocking new avenues for growth and monetization.
Community Building
A larger following on TikTok can help you build a strong community around your content and brand. By engaging with your followers, responding to their comments, and creating content that resonates with them, you can foster a sense of belonging and loyalty among your audience. This community can provide valuable feedback, encouragement, revenue, and inspiration as you continue to grow and evolve your TikTok presence.
Opportunities for Monetization
A robust TikTok follower count can unlock significant monetization avenues, becoming a tool that dramatically increases your earning opportunities.
-Leads: If you run a business or sell a product or service, building a brand on social will be a crucial and largest source of leads. This means customers, investors, partners, and sales that will flow towards you passively as you make content.
-Brand Partnerships: Promos with corporate brands can yield lucrative partnerships.
-TikTok Creator Fund: Eligible creators can earn money directly from their content's performance.
-Merchandise Sales: Leverage influence to sell personal branded merchandise to a dedicated follower base.
-Affiliate Marketing: Promote products and earn commission on sales made through affiliate links.
Building a large and engaged following subsequently opens the door for exclusive creator programs and sponsorships.
Enhanced follower metrics not only bolster credibility but also enhance the attractiveness of your profile to potential advertisers, amplifying monetization potential.
Growing your TikTok follower count
The key to winning on TikTok is having a well-defined strategy and audience plan, regularly creating compelling and high-value content, and engaging/fostering your community and leads. It requires careful analysis and checking analytics frequently to understand what content is or isn't working when it shows up on your audiences' screens.
A lesser-known opportunity, but extremely valuable approach to supercharge growth is leveraging media buying on TikTok to amplify your content directly from your username.
TikTok Boosting for Visibility and Virality
Sometimes even the greatest content needs a little extra push. Amplifying content directly on TikTok via your brand handle can supercharge audience growth overnight, getting your content in front of a targeted audience group. This strategy only works if your creative strategy, production, and other marketing elements are all established. It is the secret behind massive growth of some of the largest personalities and your favorite creators. Reach out to UFACTORY if you are interested in learning more about how you can build a viral brand quickly using these strategies.
