How to Get TikTok Famous: Ultimate Brand Guide

We all remember the disco-dancing raccoon “Pedro, Pedro.” It felt like the song and the raccoon were everywhere, taking over our feeds in the blink of an eye.

But this seemingly “overnight success” was far from random. There is always a strategy behind the content that first takes over our feed and then live rent free in our heads.

For this viral moment, Sony Music took a classic disco tune to TikTok and found virality by riding the wave of music trends and memes. 

The result? 49 billion views on the campaign garnering massive engagement and an expanded reach beyond expectations.

A smart strategy is what drives engagement and real growth on TikTok. 

In this guide, our creator content team at House of Marketers is going to break down how to create engaging content on TikTok so you can go viral on TikTok as well!

We’ll show you how to set yourself up for success by, 

• Knowing who you’re talking to
• Collaborating with influencers
• Choosing the right hashtags and more!

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to grow your engagement and make your TikTok account stand out.

So, let’s dive in and start building your TikTok presence, step by step!

How to Get TikTok Famous?

1. Start by Understanding Your Audience

The first thing you need to do on TikTok (or any platform) is figure out who you’re creating content for. Without that, you’re just throwing content into the void and hoping something sticks. 

TikTok’s user base is primarily made up of Gen Z and Millennials, with a strong majority being women. So, before you dive in, make sure you’re clear on your target audience and if this group aligns with your brand’s goals.

Check out other TikTok Statistics + Facts You Need to Know.

Here’s how you can get started:

• Check Out Your Competitors and Influencers: See what content is working for competitors or influencers in your niche. Take notes on their most popular videos, then brainstorm how you can add your own twist to those ideas.
• Repurpose What’s Worked Elsewhere: You’ve likely created content for other platforms, so why not repurpose it for TikTok? The style might be different, but the core themes or ideas could work well. More on this later.
• Tap into Your Customer Persona: Think about your customer persona. What are their interests? What would they enjoy seeing on TikTok? TikTok thrives on creativity, so while it’s okay to experiment, make sure your content still speaks to your audience’s likes and needs.

Preply is a  great example of how understanding your audience can take your TikTok game to the next level.  While Preply was already having success on TikTok, they knew they needed to push further. So, they really dug into their audience’s preferences and looked for new ways to connect. And the result? A +145% increase in revenue from new subscribers.

What does this teach us? 

TikTok’s algorithm is all about viral discovery, and that’s what makes it so exciting. Hence why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different content types and strategies to find what truly resonates with your audience. 

Maybe even try TikTok challenges and collaborating with influencers?

2. Take Advantage of TikTok Challenges with UGCs & Influencers 

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok, you’ve probably noticed how much the platform thrives on challenges. Whether it’s a viral dance, a silly challenge, they get a lot of attention. So, how to create engaging content on TikTok?  You can either 

1. Join an existing challenge, like branded challenges
2. Participate in community challenges 

Branded Challenges 

These are challenges initiated by brands, usually paired with a catchy hashtag to help promote something specific. 

Here’s what we’ve learned, brands that nail TikTok challenges get massive visibility. Take  Trident Egypt’s TikTok campaign, for example. Their #TridentOnTheBeat dance challenge exploded on the platform, driving 70 million views and 12.1K+ UGC videos. 

That’s not just success; that’s TikTok at its best, where authenticity and fun meet massive engagement.

Want to boost your brand’s reach with influencer marketing to go viral on Instagram?  At House of Marketers, we specialise in influencer marketing, helping you find & manage partnerships that drive results. Contact us to start your campaign. 

Community Challenges

These are usually started by popular TikTok creators. Once a challenge starts to gain traction, brands can jump in and participate, helping them tap into an already-engaged audience. If there’s one brand that consistently stays on the radar of marketers, it’s Duolingo. Why? Because they know how to stay involved in trending conversations. Take the #ChkChkBoom challenge, for example. Duolingo jumped on this trend alongside StrayKids, effortlessly connecting with a wider audience and staying relevant in the ever-changing TikTok landscape.

@duolingo #ChkChkBoom Challenge ???? w/ @Duolingo #duolingo #듀오링고 #StrayKids #스트레이키즈 #ATE #ChkChkBoom #dominATE_NEWYORK #YouMakeStrayKidsStay @Stray Kids ♬ original sound – MC LEEKNOW

So, if you see a relevant trend that makes sense for your brand, don’t hesitate to jump on it. Or better yet, create your own challenge and see if it catches on!

A great way to amplify your participation in these challenges is by using branded hashtags. Let’s see how branded hashtags can enhance your TikTok strategy.

3. Get TikTok Hashtags Right, And Don’t Overdo It

Hashtags are essential on TikTok, but there’s a right way to use them. Here’s the thing: don’t just throw in every trending hashtag you see. If it’s not relevant to your content, it can come off as spammy.

Use Relevant Hashtags

The goal is to make your content easier to discover. When choosing hashtags, look at the view count and pick the ones that align with your message. You’ve probably seen people overloading their captions with hashtags like #fyp or #foryou, but if they’re not relevant, they won’t do you any favors.

Branded Hashtags 

These help you build your own TikTok community. Just like how Trident did with #TridentOnTheBeat. Nivea also used the hashtag #MantraLuminous630 to create buzz around its skin care line. By getting influencers to share real, relatable content, they sparked a huge conversation and saw a 6.3% increase in brand awareness.

@grace._mondlana Radiating differently through the @NIVEA South Africa Luminous630 serum ✨????. I only experienced acne in my 20s & that took a toll on my confidence which was regained by my NIVEA Luminous630 skin care routine.????????‍♀️ Now, it has been 2 years of having even toned & radiant skin, with an ingredient that is not a secret ✨THIAMIDOL✨. Start your Luminous journey today.???? #realwomenrealresults #nivealuminous630 #iam #thiamidol #ad ♬ original sound – Grace Mondlana ????

This shows that hashtags need to be used purposefully to have any tangible impact in creating engagement on TikTok. 

4. Stay on Top of Trends Because Music and Memes Go Hand-in-Hand

TikTok is a music-driven platform, where trends often explode because of a catchy sound or song that goes viral. In fact, we’ve seen a surge in tracks being made specifically to be TikTok-friendly, with artists crafting their music to fit the viral nature of the platform. 

Staying on top of trending TikTok music and challenges is essential if you want to make the most of TikTok’s algorithm.

A perfect example of this is the Pedro, Pedro trend. Originally recorded in 1980 by Raffaella Carrà, this infectious disco track got a massive revival in 2024, thanks to its remix by DJs Agatino Romero and Jaxomy. The song quickly became a global hit, driven by its presence on TikTok and a new meme character, Pedro the Raccoon. 

Sony Music’s campaign fully capitalised on this combination of trending music and viral meme culture to make the song go viral in a way that transcended the platform.

The campaign worked wonders, with Vici Clausen, a music influencer’s video alone, racking up 6 million views. Meanwhile, Pedro the Raccoon’s meme account amassed 132,000 followers and generated a staggering 15 million views on a single video.

@vicic7this absolute banger is finally on spotify friends ????????♬ Pedro – Jaxomy & Agatino Romero & Raffaella Carrà

A lot of the time, these trends and challenges spill over onto other social media platforms like Instagram. So, does that mean you need to create brand-new content for each platform? No one has time for that! 

Let’s take a look at cross-promoting next.

5. How to Cross-Promote Your TikTok Content on Instagram

Cross-promotion is key, especially since your followers on Instagram might not even know you’re active on TikTok. 

Let’s explore how to seamlessly cross-promote your TikTok content on Instagram. Repurpose your TikTok videos on Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts.

But…

There’s a myth going around that Instagram doesn’t allow watermarked TikTok videos. But that’s simply not true. Don’t believe us? Well, hear it straight from Instagram’s Head himself 

Source: Instagram 

The truth is, Instagram doesn’t penalise third-party app content. Instead, it penalises watermarked content because it could be misused. So, go ahead and share those TikToks across platforms without hesitation!

So, by letting your followers on other platforms know that you’re creating content on TikTok, you can boost your engagement twofold without relying solely on TikTok’s algorithm.

6. How To Increase Engagement on TikTok?

If you want to grow on social media, you need to engage, not just with your followers but also with other creators.

• Stitch and Duet: These TikTok features let you interact with other users’ content by adding your own reaction or commentary. Use these to stay relevant and create engaging, collaborative content.
• Like, Comment, Share: Don’t just post your videos and disappear. Interact with others, especially those in your target audience or niche. Engaging with other content makes it more likely they’ll engage back.

Engagement is a two-way street. The more you engage with your audience on TikTok, the more they’ll connect with you and your brand.

Learn more about how to increase engagement on TikTok on TikTok Creator Academy.

7. What is the Right Time to Post on TikTok?

If you want your videos to perform well, you need to publish them when your audience is most active. Luckily, TikTok’s analytics make this pretty easy to figure out.

• Use TikTok Analytics: Head to your Follower Activity section in your analytics to find out when your audience is most active. Then, post just before those peak times.
• Experiment with Posting Times: Even though TikTok analytics can guide you, it’s worth experimenting. Try different posting times and see what works best for your brand.

Understanding your audience’s online habits is key to getting more eyes on your content and eventually more followers. So pay attention and adjust as needed.

8. Add a Simple Call-to-Action

It’s amazing how simple requests can drive results. Asking your followers to engage can significantly boost your reach on TikTok. A call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your video, like “Follow & Comment!”, encourages people to take the next step and interact with your account. 

If you’re creating a multi-part video or series, a CTA can prompt viewers to come back for more. Just don’t overdo it. CTAs are most effective when they feel natural and provide value to the audience.

9. Monitor Your Progress and Iterate

The beauty of TikTok is that it gives you tons of data to track your performance. Use your TikTok analytics to see which types of videos are getting the most engagement. This allows you to refine your strategy and keep producing content that resonates with your audience.

Look at what’s working, whether it’s the type of content, the timing, or the format, and double down on it. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to scrap it and try something new.

10. Experiment with TikTok Ads

Once you’ve built up some organic content, it might be time to test out TikTok ads. In-feed ads and Branded  Effects like the ones used in Trident’s campaign are two ad formats that can give your brand the boost it needs.

 

 

Source: TikTok

Start small, test different approaches, and use the analytics to see what works. Over time, you’ll learn which types of content get the best results, both organically and through ads.

Source:  TikTok Ads 

Conclusion

There you have it. This is your roadmap on how to get TikTok famous. Start by understanding your audience & once you know who you’re creating for, jump into challenges. From there, focus on the trending music that fuels viral content on TikTok, and don’t forget to cross-promote your videos on other platforms to maximise reach. Engage with your audience through features like Stitch and Duet to create more interaction, and always monitor your performance with TikTok Analytics to see what’s working.

Finally, don’t shy away from paid ads once you’ve built some organic content. Testing out In-Feed Ads or Branded Effects can give your TikTok presence an extra boost.

Check out our other TikTok Success Stories

• House of Marketers generated 6.3M engagements for the Euroleague Basketball Association
• House of Marketers secured a 35% uplift in brand recognition for Biodance on TikTok 

Remember, the key to success is staying flexible, experimenting with different formats and approaches, and learning as you go. 

Now it’s time to take what you’ve learned and put it into action to go viral on TikTok.  If you need expert guidance, House of Marketers is here to help. We also offer a TikTok account rental service that provides you with access to target any region and access to higher levels of customer support. Our experts set up these accounts, ensuring they’re tailored to your brand’s goals, so you can focus on achieving the best results for your marketing strategy.  

Contact us today to keep your campaigns on the cutting edge.