Top 12 Tips for Creating Trending TikTok Videos of 2025

1. Find your Niche

A ship that sails in every direction never reaches shore. Therefore, whenever you create content for any social media platform, the foremost exercise is to identify your niche. You can’t just make random videos and expect them to count as success.

Instead, you should create videos that resonate with the tastes and preferences of your target audience. Remember, for TikTok video production, you must understand your niche’s dynamics and create an overarching theme/niche for your videos.

Having a niche doesn’t restrict your content. It brands you as a go-to source for something specific. As a result, it attracts fans who genuinely care about that topic.

Therefore, please identify your specific area of expertise and focus on it. Your loyal fans will appreciate knowing what to expect from you.

Take Khaby Lame, for example. He became one of TikTok’s most-followed creators by focusing on a clear niche: wordless comedy and reaction videos. He stays consistent with this unique style and has earned millions of followers and global recognition.

2. Start with a hook

The best content for TikTok starts with an eye-catching hook. Your opening isn’t just a formality. It’s the hook that pulls people in. Therefore, think beyond the typical “hello.” 

Viewers will swipe past if you fail to capture their attention in the first few seconds. In the rush of quick clips and fast-changing scenes, only the clever, the curious, and the bold can make someone stop.

So, how can you craft an engaging intro? 

• Ask a thought-provoking question.
• Share a surprising fact.
• Drop a sound that stirs emotion.

In these crucial first few seconds, you need to spark curiosity, establish a connection, and promise value.

Ensure High-Quality Videos

Trending videos are always high-quality footage. This does not necessarily mean optimal quality in terms of using professional gear and equipment, but also in filming high-definition videos. 

To create high-quality content, ensure your videos adhere to the following TikTok video best practices. Actually, these requirements are recommended by the TikTok platform itself.

• Does your content fit the full-screen 9:16 aspect ratio? 
• Is your video well-lit? 
• If you have a physical product, is it easy to see in detail? 
• Is your video resolution equal to or greater than 720p? 
• Does your video adhere to TikTok’s specs and safe zones? 
• Be mindful of how long a TikTok video should be, as shorter, focused clips often perform better(21-34 seconds is considered the best length for TikTok videos )

Pro Tip: Remember not to sacrifice quality for quantity. Optimize your videos by employing professional video editing software during post-production for that extra finesse.

4. Authenticity

If you are chasing quick views and trending sounds at the expense of authentic engagement, then you are in the wrong place. Don’t get caught in the cycle of creating “viral” content, often gimmicky or off-brand, just to hit the next big number. Instead, build a genuine community around your content.

Want your videos to feel real, not rehearsed? Here’s how to make a good TikTok video while maintaining authenticity:

• Speak naturally, not from a script
• Share the “why” behind your content
• Respond to comments like a real person
• Stay consistent with your values
• Use your own tone and visual style
• Go live to connect in real time and build trust
• Use storytelling or reference a real-life moment for brand endorsement

Interesting Fact: According to 2024 statistics, live streaming is the third most popular type of video content. Therefore, it has become the top choice for content strategies focused on building authenticity and real interaction. 

5. Don’t Ignore the Music

Pair your TikTok videos with trending and relevant soundtracks to amplify their visibility on the platform. When creating a good TikTok video, the sound matters just as much as the visuals. In fact, playing background music in your videos gets an average of 98.31% more views than those without. 

Find trending songs by region in the TikTok Creative Center. It has a massive library of songs and sounds to accompany your videos.

However, sounds can shift in context quickly. If you’re running a business account on TikTok, take a moment to check that a trending sound still matches your values. 

Additionally, try using the TikTok Symphony Assistant for content creation. This platform-native AI tool finds trending sounds, music, and themes that fit your specific creative needs.

Be Careful: As per TikTok policy, you can use music on TikTok only for personal, non-commercial purposes unless you have special permissions. Music use is generally limited to short clips (up to one minute) and cannot be edited, altered, or used as stand-alone audio.

6. Engage with Your Audience

Once you’ve created premium-quality content, the next step is to engage with the audience. The algorithm doesn’t just look at view counts. It heavily rewards engagement, likes, comments, shares, and watch time. If you have a large follower count from a viral hit but those followers aren’t actually engaging with your content, your future videos may tank.

Make it a habit to respond to comments (especially in the first hours after posting when TikTok’s algorithm is watching engagement closely). Even a simple answer to a question in the comments can turn a passive scroller into an active fan.

In TikTok terms: you post engaging content → viewers like, comment, and share → the algorithm amplifies your content → new viewers discover you → repeat.

7. Use Hashtags

One of the most critical elements of the TikTok algorithm is the use of trending hashtags. If you open your TikTok app and tap the Discover tab at the bottom, you’ll easily find the best # to use on TikTok videos.

Moreover, look for the best # for TikTok videos that top creators in your niche are using, and use them as a starting point for experimentation. To test them, choose 2-3 hashtags and test them on a few posts to see which ones are getting more reach on the For You Page.

Pro Tip: Add location-specific geotags to your videos. This will improve your reach to nearby audiences who are more likely to connect with your content.

8. Let Collaboration Drive Growth

Collaborate with other TikTok influencers to make trending TikTok videos. Partnerships signal to the algorithm that your account is active and genuine.

• Creator-to-Creator Collaboration:
  Duets let creators appear side by side to react or build on each other’s videos, while Stitches allow you to clip another creator’s content into your own. Both formats can be used for reactions, tutorials, or discussions. This helps creators reach new audiences and spark engagement.
• Creator-to-Brand Collaboration:
  When a creator collaborates with a brand and turns a product feature into a ]tutorial or show behind the scenes, the audience sees value, not marketing. Authenticity drives conversions faster than any tagline ever could.

Choose collaborators who align with your voice and values. Let your personality lead, not the product. Show how the brand fits into your daily life, solves a problem, or excites you.

Pro Tip: The TikTok Creator Marketplace features thousands of creators across a range of price points. Filter your search by content topic, follower count, location, and more to find the perfect collaborators to tell your story.

9. Don’t Copy Popular Videos

Recreating trending videos is actually a smart strategy. However, to create the best content for TikTok, incorporate a touch of creativity. In this way, you will stand out from the thousands of other versions available on TikTok.

Here are a few ways to add creativity when recreating popular TikTok videos:

• Change the context: Use the same trend but apply it to a different theme (e.g., your niche, job, or hobby).
• Add your personality: Include your humour, reactions, or storytelling style.
• Use creative editing: Try unique transitions, filters, or text overlays to make it visually different.

It’s a strategic way to stay relevant while building your recognition. By consistently recreating trends with your unique touch, you position yourself as a creative voice rather than just another participant. Over time, this approach helps strengthen your identity and establish credibility within your niche. 

Read More: The #1 Mistake TikTok Influencers Make—and How to Fix It in 2025

10. Video SEO

Video SEO improves the discoverability of your video on both TikTok and Google. Since Google is now indexing TikTok videos, your content can appear in search results, reach audiences beyond the app, and attract new viewers who might not have discovered you otherwise. As a result, your chances of going viral and growing your following increase significantly.

So, how can you optimize your video content? Start using trending keywords in your TikTok captions. You can find trending keywords by region and industry in the TikTok Creative Center.

However, captions are not the only place for keywords. TikTok can also detect them from your voiceovers and text overlays.

In short, use trending keywords across captions, voiceovers, and text overlays. This makes it easier for the TikTok algorithm and search engines to understand your content and match it with people actively searching for it.

11. Use Data and Feedback

Pay attention to your TikTok analytics and your audience’s feedback. Monitor which videos get the most engagement. Is it when you do unboxing or tell stories? Which video sparked the most comments or shares?

Scheduling content around particular times can significantly improve interaction. Note if there are times of day or days of the week when your fans are most active (TikTok analytics will show you).

Consistently reviewing these insights will help you understand what truly resonates with your audience. By aligning your posting schedule and content style with their behavior, you can strengthen engagement, build loyalty, and ensure your future videos perform even better.

Pro Tip: TikTok’s built-in analytics are a start, but you can use platforms like Analisa and Exolyt to track your follower growth and engagement rates and identify your top-performing content.

12. Live Stream in Real-Time on TikTok

Going live on TikTok can be a paradigm shift for your account. In fact, it’s one of the best TikTok tips for creating trending videos, as it allows you to engage with your audience in real time. This interaction makes TikTok’s algorithm prioritize your content and present it to more users. 

To ensure your livestream achieves high watch time, stream through a professional platform like OneStream Live. OneStream’s Studio is a browser-based live studio that lets you stream in HD, invite guests, and use multiple camera angles for a professional touch.

For engagement, you can enhance your stream with tools like live chat overlays, on-screen comments, and custom branding (logos, backgrounds, and tickers), giving your broadcast a unique visual identity. It essentially turns your computer into a full-scale production studio that keeps viewers hooked for longer.

Pro Tip: You can repurpose key reactions, jaw-dropping “aha!” moments, or punchy one-liners into 30–60-second vertical clips and repost them on TikTok. Be sure to caption everything, since most social videos autoplay on mute by default.