Podcast Summary: Build Your Tribe | Grow Your Business with Social Media
Episode: How To Grow On TikTok In 2025 - From Zero Followers - 811
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Host: Brock Johnson
Introduction
In this episode of Build Your Tribe | Grow Your Business with Social Media, host Brock Johnson delves into effective strategies for growing a TikTok presence in 2025. Drawing from his personal experience of amassing over 300,000 followers in 2019 and successfully restarting with 10,000 followers in 2024, Brock provides a comprehensive, data-driven guide based on a study analyzing over 80,000 TikTok accounts and 1 million posts. His insights aim to help entrepreneurs and content creators navigate the evolving landscape of TikTok to build a loyal following and monetize their presence effectively.
Step 1: Define Your Niche ([00:28] - [10:45])
Brock emphasizes the importance of selecting a clear niche as the foundational step for TikTok growth. He recounts his journey, starting with dance and football-related content, which resonated well during TikTok's early days. However, as his focus shifted to business and entrepreneurship, his engagement dwindled, highlighting the necessity of maintaining a consistent niche.
Key Points:
- Consistency is Crucial: Switching niches can alienate existing followers.
- Experimentation: It's acceptable to experiment initially to discover what truly excites you.
- Niche Components:
- Who: Define your target audience's demographics.
- What: Identify the topics and problems you will address.
Notable Quote:
"The worst thing that could happen is that you don't pick a niche and you start posting about all these different topics." – Brock Johnson [04:30]
Step 2: Optimize Your Profile ([10:45] - [16:30])
Brock outlines the essential elements for setting up a TikTok profile that attracts and retains followers.
Key Points:
- Username: Should reflect your personal or business brand.
- Profile Picture: Personal brands should use a clear, well-lit selfie, while business brands should use a designed logo optimized for small displays.
- Bio: Briefly describe who you are, what you do, and your credibility. Unlike Instagram, TikTok bios are less critical but still beneficial for context.
Example:
"If this is a personal brand, your username has your personal name, and your profile picture is a close-up selfie." – Brock Johnson [12:15]
Step 3: Curate Your For You Page ([16:30] - [22:00])
To generate consistent content ideas, Brock advises intentionally curating your For You Page (FYP).
Key Points:
- Follow Relevant Accounts: Engage with at least 10 accounts that align with your content niche.
- Engage Actively: Like, follow, and save content ideas that resonate with your planned posts.
- Filter Out Irrelevant Content: Use the 'Not Interested' feature to refine the algorithm's recommendations.
Notable Quote:
"This is going to be such a useful hack for you moving forward so that when you are struggling for content ideas, it’s basically going to be served to you on a silver platter." – Brock Johnson [19:45]
Step 4: Strategic Posting Frequency ([22:00] - [25:00])
Brock discusses the importance of consistent posting frequency and offers recommendations based on his findings.
Key Points:
- Post Frequently: Aim for at least two posts per day to maximize follower growth.
- Sustainability: Choose a posting frequency that you can maintain long-term to avoid burnout.
- Content Types: Balance trend-based posts with original "talking head" videos to engage different audience segments.
Notable Quote:
"My general recommendation would be the minimum two posts per day." – Brock Johnson [23:30]
Step 5: Optimize Posting Times ([25:00] - [26:15])
Understanding the best times to post can enhance visibility and engagement.
Key Points:
- Professional Accounts: Best to post between 2-3 AM local time.
- Use Scheduling Tools: Utilize third-party schedulers like Metricool to automate posting times.
- Personal Adjustment: Identify and stick to the times that yield the best engagement for your specific audience.
Notable Quote:
"Figure out what works best for you and go from there." – Brock Johnson [25:45]
Step 6: Enhance Your SEO ([26:15] - [28:30])
Improving your TikTok SEO ensures your content reaches a broader audience.
Key Points:
- Video Content: Incorporate text on screen and closed captions as the algorithm analyzes this for SEO.
- Captions and Hashtags: Use concise captions (1-2 sentences) with 3-5 specific hashtags relevant to the content.
- Avoid Generic Hashtags: Steer clear of overused tags like #FYP; instead, use descriptive hashtags that accurately reflect the video's content.
Notable Quote:
"When adding a cover or text to the screen on the actual video on TikTok, it significantly increased their chances of showing up in search results." – Brock Johnson [27:45]
Step 7: Engage with Your Audience ([28:30] - [29:20])
Building a community requires active engagement with your followers.
Key Points:
- Respond to Comments: Acknowledge every comment to foster a sense of community.
- Use Follow-Up Questions: Encourage deeper conversations and interactions.
- Leverage TikTok's Reply Tools: Create additional videos in response to comments to maintain engagement.
Notable Quote:
"If people are taking the time to comment on your page, even if it's just something like a laughing emoji, take the time to reciprocate." – Brock Johnson [28:50]
Step 8: Repost Your Best Content ([29:20] - [29:48])
Maximizing the lifespan of high-performing content can significantly boost your account's growth.
Key Points:
- Repost Every 90 Days: Share your best-performing videos again after a few months to reach new audiences.
- Maintain Quality: Ensure reposted content is free of TikTok watermarks and remains relevant.
- Consistent Hashtags and Captions: Use the same hashtags and captions to retain SEO benefits.
Notable Quote:
"If it did well the first time, it will likely do well the second time." – Brock Johnson [29:10]
Bonus Tip: Utilize TikTok Live ([29:48] - End)
In addition to the eight steps, Brock offers a bonus tip to further enhance TikTok growth.
Key Points:
- Go Live Frequently: Regular live sessions correlate with increased account growth.
- Leverage Live Sessions: Posting a video before going live can amplify its reach and engagement.
Notable Quote:
"There seems to be a strong correlation between people who go live more frequently and people who grow on TikTok." – Brock Johnson [29:35]
Conclusion
Brock Johnson concludes the episode by reiterating the importance of taking actionable steps and maintaining consistency. He encourages listeners to implement the strategies discussed, experiment to find what works best for their unique circumstances, and remain adaptable as the platform continues to evolve.
Closing Quote:
"Ultimately, it's up to you to take action. It's up to you to create content. It's up to you to stay consistent." – Brock Johnson [29:20]
Actionable Steps for Listeners:
- Define Your Niche: Clearly identify your target audience and the topics you’ll cover.
- Optimize Your Profile: Ensure your username, profile picture, and bio accurately represent your brand.
- Curate Your For You Page: Follow and engage with accounts that inspire your content creation.
- Maintain Consistent Posting Frequency: Aim for at least two posts daily, balancing trends and original content.
- Adjust Posting Times: Experiment with different times to find when your audience is most active.
- Enhance SEO: Use relevant text on screen, concise captions, and specific hashtags.
- Engage Actively: Respond to all comments and foster community interactions.
- Repost Successful Content: Share your top-performing videos periodically to reach new viewers.
- Utilize TikTok Live: Incorporate live sessions to boost engagement and visibility.
By following these comprehensive strategies, listeners can effectively grow their TikTok presence in 2025, transforming followers into loyal customers and expanding their business reach.