How to Get on the FYP: A TikTok Guide

Makenzi
July 27, 2022
How to get on the FYP: person recording a TikTok dance using her phone

To get more views on TikTok, you need to know how to get on the FYP. These five tips can help you make sure you set up each video for success.

As of 2020, there were an estimated 106,000 creators on TikTok — and that number is likely way higher today. 

The TikTok app offers so many opportunities for influencers to create the content they love and even make a living doing it, provided you can get enough traction on TikTok. 

If you’re spinning your wheels trying to get traction on TikTok, learn what the FYP is, why it matters, and how to get on the FYP.

What Is the FYP?

How to get on the FYP: person recording herself doing a TikTok dance

FYP stands for “For You Page.” This is the first page TikTok users see when they open the app. 

The TikTok For You Page is a scrollable feed of video after video. TikTok’s algorithm is only active on the FYP and functions like a curated recommendation engine for every user.

According to TikTok, the purpose of the FYP is to “enable connection and discovery.” The platform is keeping mum on the exact numbers, but it does admit that most users spend their time on the FYP. To determine which videos show in a user’s FYP, TikTok looks at factors like: 

  • User interactions: These are weighed the most heavily and include likes, comments, and completion rates.
  • Video information: This includes captions, sounds, and hashtags that tell TikTok what the video is about.
  • User settings: A user’s language, country, and device type can affect the types of content they see in their FYP.

TikTok users check out their FYP to find trending content and viral videos, but the FYP is also a big benefit to creators, too. When you learn how to get on the FYP, you can score juicy benefits like: 

  • Highlighting undiscovered content: The TikTok algorithm doesn’t reward creators for past success or huge followings — you’ve got to bring it every time. But this is good news for TikTok creators with smaller followings. Unlike Instagram Reels or Facebook, you have a chance of going viral every time you post, regardless of your current follower count.
  • Reaching more people: Since most TikTokkers are checking out content on the FYP, you have a better shot at reaching new followers if you score a feature here.
  • Going viral: If you create a smash-hit piece of content, it’s much more likely to go viral if it pops up on users’ FYP.

How to Go Viral on TikTok: Learn How to Get on the FYP

Woman checking her phone

If you score a feature on the FYP, that’s TikTok gold. Of course, TikTok virality is an art, but you can do several things to increase your odds of going viral — and it all starts by gaining a feature on the For You Page. Learn how to get on the FYP by following these five hacks.

1. Use Trending Hashtags and Audio

Jumping on TikTok trends is key to getting more views — two ways to do this are through popular hashtags and audio.

With trending hashtags, you tell the platform what your content is about. This helps TikTok not only rank your content, but determine which users would be interested in watching your stuff. Every creator is different, but #FYP is the most-used hashtag with over 23 trillion total watches. You can also use other trending hashtags like #foryoupage, #foryou, #duet, #trending, or #tiktokchallenge

If you want more relevant hashtags for your account, tap the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of TikTok to access the Discover page. This will show trending hashtags so you can pick and choose which options best fit your video content. 

And don’t forget to add trending audio or trending songs to your TikTok videos, too. Users search for sound clips just like they do hashtags, so trending sounds are a clever way to land on the FYP by demand alone. 

While important, hashtags and audio are just two pieces of the puzzle to going viral on TikTok. Trends come and go, so you’ll still need to put in plenty of work to get on the FYP.

2. Create A-plus Content

If you want to succeed on TikTok, all you need to do is make great content. Easy, right? 

Well, not really. TikTok users watch 1 billion videos every day on the platform, so that means you’ve got lots of competition. There’s no holy grail for TikTok virality, but if you follow these best practices to create better TikToks, you’ll come closer to snagging a feature on the FYP: 

  • Film high-quality videos: Your phone probably takes high-quality videos already, but you can use an external mic or ring light to really zhuzh things up.
  • Edit before you post content: TikTok’s built-in video editor does a lot, so you probably don’t need editing software. But if you want to do cool green screen effects that TikTok can’t handle, consider downloading a video editor app for more firepower.
  • Create different types of content: Sure, your followers like consistency, but novelty is good, too. Try making new content like lip-syncing or doing your own spin on the latest trends or memes.
  • Get to know your followers: Get to know your target audience so you can churn out relevant content that they love. Set up a TikTok Business Account and you’ll unearth a treasure trove of data about your followers and engagement data. And not to toot our own horn, but you can also use a tool like Hype to compile follower data in a CRM (it’s also great for nurturing leads outside of TikTok, just FYI). 
  • Post at the right time: Daily posts are a must on TikTok because they increase your chances of getting on the FYP. The best times to post on TikTok are 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern.
  • End with a strong CTA: What do you want people to do next? Add one call to action (CTA) per video telling viewers to visit your profile, follow you, or leave a comment — the CTA should be something they can easily take action on.

3. Film Short Videos

If you’re learning how to get on the FYP, the best way to do that is to boost your video completion rates. This is when viewers watch the entire video from beginning to end. 

The best way to get people to watch your entire TikTok (and boost your chances of appearing on the FYP) is to film shorter videos. Top-performing TikToks are seven to 15 seconds long, tops. Even though TikTok allows 10-minute-long videos now, it’s best to keep your message brief.

4. Add Captions

You want TikTok users to watch your content all the way through, and the best way to do that is to add captions to your content. And yes, this works: 91% of videos with captions are watched all the way through.

You only have 300 characters, though, so keep your captions nice and short. If you’re doing a longer video, you can always use captions like “Wait for it” or “Watch until the end” to boost completion rates.

5. Be Social

TikTok is still a social media platform, and that means you’ve got to engage with other folks to get your name out there. You can boost your chances of showing up on the FYP by organically engaging with more users. That might mean: 

  • Collaborating with other creators: Find other creators in your niche and collaborate with them. This generates more attention and increases your odds of landing on the For You Page.
  • Replying to comments: Remember, user behavior and interaction count for a lot on TikTok. Encourage comments on your videos by saying, “Leave a comment to let me know what you think” and then respond to those comments.
  • Reacting to other videos: Find trending videos in your niche and respond to them either with a comment or a Stitch. As long as you credit the OG creator, you can even try your own version of their video, which can increase your chances of getting on the FYP by following a proven formula.

Get on the Front Page of TikTok

Most TikTok users spend their time on the For You Page, so if you want more traction, learn how to get on the TikTok FYP, stat. With an FYP feature, you’ll make a name for yourself (even if you’re a small content creator), reach more people, and increase your odds of going viral. 

Remember to:

  • Use trending hashtags and sounds
  • Create awesome content every time
  • Keep your videos short
  • Add captions
  • Socialize with other creators

Getting on the FYP is both an art and a science, but following these five tricks can increase your chances of getting on the FYP and becoming a TikTok celebrity in no time.