TikTok has come a long way from its origins as a cute lip-syncing app with a cult Gen Z following. The short-form video sharing platform now has around three-quarters of a billion active users worldwide.
And if you’re at all familiar with the app, you’ve probably heard a lot about the For You Page (FYP). Considered the “holy grail” of success on the app, getting featured on the FYP can present many benefits for your business.
In this post, we’re going to cover exactly what TikTok’s FYP is, how it benefits your business, and eight ways to get on it so you can increase your engagement and brand exposure.
The For You Page (or FYP) is the first page users land on when they open the TikTok app. It shows them a curated feed of videos from creators they might not follow, but that TikTok’s algorithm thinks they might like, based on their interests and past interactions. TikTok’s aim is to keep users there longer with targeted content.
It’s simply not enough to post great content on TikTok and hope users will start following you. You need to get in front of large audiences and at the top of your prospects’ minds—and landing on the FYP can get you there.
Getting on the FYP can help you:
The algorithm TikTok uses to select content for its FYP remains shrouded in mystery. However, there are several strategies you can employ to improve your chances of winning a starring role on the FYP stage.
Here are eight ways to increase your chances of getting featured on the TikTok For You Page.
It stands to reason that the more you post, the greater the chance you have of getting your content on the FYP; you’ve got to be in it to win it.
Aim for three times a week, building up to daily posts. But don’t be tempted to post content just for the sake of it. Make sure it’s good quality and engaging.
You also need to post at the right times.
As engagement increases your chances of getting on the FYP, you should post when your audience is online and ready to interact.
So how will you know when the best times are?
Using trending hashtags makes your content more likely to be picked up by the algorithm and, therefore, boosts your chances of hitting the FYP. Just like Instagram hashtags, TikTok hashtags categorize your content and increase your discoverability.
Aim for quality, not quantity–choose 3-6 trending hashtags that are relevant to your content.
You can use #fyp and #ForYou, but there’s no guarantee this will work. Hashtags relevant to your content and niche provide a better chance of success with your TikTok marketing and will help you attract the right followers.
For help choosing hashtags, search for keywords relevant to your niche and see what hashtags the most popular videos are using; or you can even rely on basic keyword research from your SEO efforts.
TikTok rewards high-quality, engaging content. If your video gets a good reaction, it’s got a better chance of ending up on the FYP. But how do you ensure your content is a cut above the rest?
Firstly, your video and audio quality must be top-notch. Most smartphones offer HD video, so it’s easy to create high-resolution videos without a big budget.
Take inspiration from others but don’t be tempted to copy. Users enjoy unique content, so make sure your TikTok ideas stand out from the crowd. We’ve got lots of ideas in our guide to going live on TikTok.
Take trends in a new direction. Get creative and experiment with filters, stickers, and transitions. This will increase views and engagement.
TikTok cares about completion rates. Basically, that’s how many people watch your video to the very end. The more viewers that do so, the more likely your content is to get on the For You Page.
Videos can be up to one minute long, but the theory is that making your videos as short as possible will increase their chances of being watched to the end. But again, quality is king. If they are short, make sure they are still fun, interesting, and engaging. Your main aim should be boosting their chances of likes and shares.
Experiment with different lengths to find what works best for you.
Collaborations expand your reach, and if your partner shows up on the FYP, you’ll benefit too. You can collaborate with creators in many ways, including duets and Stitches (we show you how to Stitch on TikTok here).
TikTok has the highest influencer engagement rate of any other platform. So you can jump the queue to the FYP by getting instant engagement when you partner with TikTok influencers.
To get started, identify the best TikTokers and influencers for your campaign and schedule some time to chat with them, over the phone, email, or even web-based conferencing.
Music plays a significant role in TikTok’s videos—think of music and sounds as hashtags.
Users can search for specific audio clips, sounds, and effects in the app. By using trending audio clips in your video content, you can boost your likes, comments, and views.
How do you find popular sounds to use in your videos?
Tap the ‘Sounds’ button and check out the ‘Discover’ page for trending sounds, recommended sounds for your videos, and more.
And you can save them as favorites to use later when you’re feeling inspired.
You’re limited to 150 characters, so you need to focus on writing short captions that include relevant hashtags and that encourage engagement.
Try creating curiosity-piquing captions like “Wait to see what happens at the end”. This could boost views and completion rates. You could also ask a question to spark viewers’ interest. Or tease the information you’re about to reveal.
The hook—the vital first few seconds of your video—is like the headline of your TikTok content. It must grab your audience’s attention and make them want to watch until the end. Research popular videos in your niche so you can tailor your hook to resonate with your target audience.
Here are a few killer ways to begin your hooks that have been proven to increase views:
However you craft your hooks, make sure they’re personalized for your audience. This will help increase engagement and your chances of hitting TikTok’s FYP.
There’s no surefire formula for landing your content on the TikTok FYP, and the algorithm is constantly changing. But social media marketing trends indicate that TikTok is becoming a major player, so you must be ready to maximize its potential.
The great thing is that you don’t need loads of followers to get on the FYP. And if you try out these eight hacks, you’ll significantly increase your chances of securing your spot.
Jenna Bunnell is the Senior Manager for Content Marketing at Dialpad—an AI-incorporated, cloud-hosted, unified communications system that provides valuable call details for business owners and sales representatives—with helpful resources like these sales coaching tips from Dialpad. She is driven and passionate about communicating a brand’s design sensibility and visualizing how content can be presented in creative and comprehensive ways. Check out her LinkedIn profile.
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