Let’s face it—TikTok is like a buffet. You can try everything, but if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you might just leave with a plate of disappointment. So, how did I hit 140k followers with zero budget? Grab a snack, and let me break it down for you:
1. Pick a Topic
I went for book reviews, but not your average “this book was neat, 10/10” stuff. I broke down dense, dry books, explaining high-level concepts and making them digestible. Think CliffsNotes, but cooler. I stayed objective—no “this book changed my life” bias here. This meant I could even tackle controversial books without sparking a flame war in the comments (well, most of the time).
2. Unique POV
My secret sauce? Reporting the author’s POV, not mine. It wasn’t about agreeing or disagreeing but delivering the facts. This gave me the freedom to cover anything and kept people intrigued. When someone asked, “Wait, are you endorsing this?” I could confidently say, “Nope, just the messenger!”
3. Test (and Test Some More)
I tried everything:
• Talking directly to the camera? Eh, too much pressure.
• Podcasting-style voiceovers? Better, but still not quite it.
• Full-on visual storytelling? Getting warmer.
• The Winner: A mix of stock footage, UGC clips of the book itself, and images/graphics to back up my voiceover. It was the perfect recipe: engaging, professional, and efficient. Plus, people love seeing the book they’re hearing about—it’s oddly satisfying.
4. Iterate
Every TikTok was an experiment. Some flopped, some soared. But each one taught me something new. Did this transition land? Was the pacing right? What about the music? It’s like trying to cook without a recipe—you’ll burn a few meals, but eventually, you’ll make something edible (and viral).
5. Relationship with the Audience
I lived in the comments. Seriously, if someone took the time to comment, I made sure to reply. It wasn’t just about engagement; it was about connection. The best part? People started tagging their friends, which did half my marketing for me.