Becoming a social media sensation, regardless of the platform, usually only happens when a whole bunch of elements come together. So what does it take to become a TikTok Famous? Hard work? Focus? Luck? Style?
Yes, all the above and more.
Find Your Niche
Probably the most important thing is to find your niche, and the good news is, it’s also usually the easiest. It’s easy if you have something specific you want to say, but it’s not so easy if your aim is just to get followers and you don’t really have anything to say. So, first things first: Decide what you want to say, why you want to say it, and to whom you want to say it. Then build your brand around that niche.
Be Disciplined
Having found your niche, stick to it. Obviously, that doesn’t mean doing the same thing every day, but you do need to find a unifying idea or object. You will then need to make sure you post often and regularly. This requires discipline. When @brittany.xavier first started blogging and posting on Instagram as a hobby, she posted three times a day, and when she started posting on TikTok she posted daily. It looks like a fun, cool, way to earn a living, and it is—but it’s still work.
Don’t Ignore Substance for Style
Social media has been (justifiably) accused of prioritizing style over substance, but successful influencers pay equal attention to each because there’s not much use in showing off something beautiful if the viewer can’t make it theirs. And that’s as important for the viewer, who has a need to fulfil, as it is for potential advertisers/sponsors, who have a product to place. Make sure you include as much information as necessary to enable the influenced to act.
Be Human
Sure, there are some freakishly perfectly beautiful influencers, but the real strength of social media is that it is about ordinary people telling their stories. That’s why people love influencers who are not afraid to show their humanity and their vulnerability, and who have a personality that shines through what they do. People can identify with “real” people like @glitterandlazers and @fashion_grannies who defy ageist and sizeist stereotypes. It’s easier to be consistent if it’s your real personality, but a completely new—and even obviously fake—constructed personality might also work, depending on your goal and audience.
Tell a Story
TikTok videos are short, which is why many seem to just be snippets, and why influencers who can actually tell a story stand out. Anna O’Brien, for example, has come up with a brilliant way of turning lipstick colors into a story, and then tie an outfit around it.
Last But Not Least – Be Lucky
Yes, luck does play a part but, to paraphrase renowned golfer Gary Player, the harder you work, the luckier you get.
