TikTok recommends posting 1– 4 times a day for the best results. But when you’re struggling to come up with ideas that are actually good, even posting once can feel impossible.
The key to consistency isn’t just discipline, however. It’s having a steady flow of creative ideas that makes posting easier and more rewarding. When you know what to post, it’s easier to stay consistent. And when your content performs well, you feel more motivated to keep going. It’s a cycle — but it all starts with having fresh, engaging ideas at your fingertips.
To help you break out of the creative rut and stay on track, we’ve put together 20 TikTok video ideas and examples to spark inspiration, boost consistency, and make posting feel effortless. And who knows? Some of these ideas may even help you go viral!
20 TikTok video ideas to help you go viral
You may know how to create a TikTok video, but might have trouble coming up with creative ideas! Here are some fun content formats that can help you grow your audience — and maybe even unlock unprecedented reach for your brand.
Of course, there’s no guaranteed formula. TikTok’s algorithm is unpredictable, and many viral moments happen spontaneously (it’s kind of part of the charm, is it not?). But with the right approach, you can increase your visibility drastically.
Stitch videos
1. Ryanair
Industry: Travel
2. Chipotle
Industry: Fast food
A stitch video is a TikTok format where you take a clip from someone else’s video and add your own spin to it. Maybe you react to what they said, give your take on the topic, or even try out a hack they shared.
It works so well because you’re tapping into a video that’s already getting attention. If the original clip starts trending, your stitch has a good chance of riding that wave — especially if you bring something new or interesting to the conversation. Don’t stitch without adding some additional value to the original content (more information, more context, your opinion, etc.), even if that value is simply creative humor, like the two above.
Some more reasons why stitch videos perform well:
- Viewers already have a connection to the original video and are more inclined to comment, like, and share your stitch. That early burst of engagement signals to TikTok’s algorithm that your content is worth promoting to a broader audience.
- Stitching is inherently participatory. When you add your take to a trending clip, you join an ongoing conversation and help fuel it. This can encourage others to stitch, duet, or respond, creating a chain reaction that boosts virality.

Stay consistent:
Ensure the original clip has some relevance to your brand (if not, there is some shock value that may be good or bad) and always offer a unique perspective that adds value.
ASMR videos
3. Sephora
Industry: Beauty and fashion
4. Pampers
Industry: Consumer goods
You may have come across a TikTok video where the creator speaks in a low, relaxing voice. Or one where they don't speak, but every other sound made is amplified. This is known as ASMR.
ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It's the tingling sensation you might feel on your scalp or down your neck when you hear something soothing, like whispering or gentle tapping. ASMR videos are designed to trigger this feeling, which is why they work well for relaxation and why this content is enjoyable.
Some more reasons why these types of video content perform well:
- It often drives repeat engagement from viewers who find it relaxing.
- The ASMR community is vibrant and active. Viewers often interact in comments and share their experiences, which helps spread the content further.
- ASMR videos have high shareability potential, which helps to boost their reach organically.

Invest in high-quality audio:
ASMR is all about sound, so a good microphone can make or break your video. Use a binaural or 3D microphone to create an immersive experience that makes viewers feel like they're right there with you. Also, keep background noise to a minimum — crisp, clean sounds are key to triggering that perfect ASMR sensation.
TikTok challenges
5. Chipotle
Industry: Fast food
6. Duolingo
Industry: Educational technology
Challenges are a huge part of TikTok culture — and one of the easiest ways to go viral if the challenge is compelling enough. For example, you may have heard of or even participated in the #savagelove or Chipotle’s #guacdance challenge.
TikTok challenges can happen naturally or be brand-driven. An organic challenge starts when one creator does something cool, and others jump in, creating a ripple effect. On the other hand, branded challenges are kicked off by companies, often with a custom hashtag, to promote a product or campaign.
One thing is clear: jumping on a challenge can help you trend for a few reasons:
- It exposes your company to a wide audience, especially when you use the challenge hashtag.
- TikTok may feature your content in its trending tab or directly in users’ For You pages, increasing your visibility.
- As more users hop on the challenge, TikTok tends to push the videos further — amplifying reach and engagement.

Create the best challenges for social media:
Only join challenges that align with your values. Don't hop on random challenges solely for the sake of trending on social media platforms. If you choose a challenge that you don’t understand the meaning of, it may do more harm than good.
Get Ready With Me videos
7. Glossier
Industry: Beauty
8. Fenty Beauty
Industry: Beauty
A "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) video on TikTok is simply you hanging out with your audience while getting ready for something — whether it’s work, a night out, or just running errands. It is a fun and casual way for brands to connect with their audience by showing a product in action — without making it feel like an ad.
Why this type of video performs well:
- It feels real and relatable — like a friend giving a recommendation.
- It encourages engagement — users love to comment on choices and routines.
- It shows your product in a natural setting, making it more appealing.

Plan your story out:
Instead of just saying, "Here’s our new product," tie it into a story. For example, a beauty brand could have a creator say, "I need my makeup to last all night — let’s see if this setting spray can handle it."
A Day in the Life videos
9. Briannabuckley x Microsoft
Industry: Technology
10. New York University
Industry: Higher Education
Day-in-the-life videos give your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your business, pulling back the curtain on what really goes on. Usually, an employee takes the lead (though sometimes you’ll see customers doing so, too!) to share an unfiltered glimpse into daily life at your company.
It’s a great way to showcase the hard work that goes into creating and delivering top-notch products. And it also helps you build a stronger, more authentic connection with your audience.
Day-in-my-life videos perform well because they feel real, relatable, and binge-worthy. They tap into a mix of curiosity, storytelling, and TikTok’s algorithm to keep users watching and sharing.
Specifically, these videos:
- Encourage engagement — especially comments — as followers ask questions and share their routines.
- Tend to have longer watch times — signaling to TikTok that the audience finds the content valuable.

Be authentic:
Make it personal. Feature real employees, daily challenges, or unexpected moments. The more authentic, the more likely users will connect and share.
Duets
11. Glamzilla x Huda Beauty
Industry: Makeup
12. Vessi
Industry: Retail Apparel
A TikTok Duet is a way to create a side-by-side video with someone else’s content. You record your video while the original plays next to it. People use it for reactions, collaborations, or just adding something funny to an existing clip.
“How’s a duet different from a stitch?” Good question! Duets play both videos at the same time, like a split-screen conversation. A Stitch, on the other hand, lets you take a short clip from someone’s video and then add your part after it.
So, use Duet if you want to interact with a video in real-time, and use Stitch if you just need a snippet of the original to create your own take.
Why duets can help you perform well on TikTok:
- When you duet a popular video, you instantly tap into an existing audience. Users who loved the original are more likely to see and engage with your Duet.
- If a duet is funny, dramatic, or clever, users share it with friends. The more shares a video gets, the more the algorithm pushes it to others.
- Duets often become content chains where users add new videos, extending visibility.

Build your hook:
Make sure your duet adds something valuable — whether it’s a reaction, commentary, or a creative twist. Hook followers within the first few seconds to keep them engaged.
Live streams
13. Bossupcosmetics
Industry: Beauty, E-commerce
14. Appalachian Standard
Industry: Agriculture and food
TikTok Live allows brands to connect with their audience in real time. Instead of posting a video and hoping people engage, you’re having an actual, active conversation — answering questions, showing off a product, or just vibing with your community. This strengthens your relationship with your audience, often translating into tangible benefits like increased sales and conversions.
In fact, live streams are on the rise in terms of video trends this year! You can even go live with other creators or brands.
Here’s how going live on TikTok can help your content go viral and boost your profile:
- TikTok promotes live streams on the For You page, notifications, and even in followers' feeds. This means you’re reaching people beyond your existing audience!
- TikTok tracks how long people stay on your content. Since live streams keep followers watching longer, this signals to TikTok that your content is valuable, which can boost your future videos.
- Viral moments from a TikTok live can be clipped, reposted, and shared, giving you extra exposure. Got to love content repurposing!

Keep these things in mind for your live:
Your TikTok Live should be relaxed and conversational, as if you’re chatting with a friend. Keep the energy up, use interactive features like polls or Q&A, and remember to respond to comments in real time to build a connection. Be attentive to your live audience.
Comment video replies
15. Heinz
Industry: Food and beverage
16. Softee
Industry:
This type of video is based on a comment someone shared on your previous TikTok content. It keeps the conversation going and extends the lifespan of the original video as more people tend to check it out to get a full context of your response.
In general, it’s good practice to read your comments on TikTok, because you can learn what your audience is interested in, curious about, or worrying about.
Some reasons this type of video tends to perform well:
- It rides the wave of popularity from your original video. People who engage with the first video are also likely to interact with the new one, which boosts organic reach and engagement.
- TikTok prioritizes content that generates discussions, shares, and repeat views. Videos responding to comments often spark debates, leading to more engagement and visibility.
- Many trending comment-response videos are humorous, snarky, or even controversial, which makes them more likely to be shared and discussed.

Stay concise:
Make sure your response is quick, precise, and on point—TikTok is all about fast content. Add a bit of flair to make it engaging, like using fun text overlays, reactions, or humor.
Tutorials/Demos
17. Linktree
Industry: Social media
18. Google
Industry: Technology
TikTok is built for bite-sized content. Tutorial videos tap into this, which is why they perform well on this social media platform.
You can create tutorials for pretty much anything — from feature explainers to tool hacks. What matters most is that the audience feels like they’ve learned something new and practical in the shortest time. After all, you’re likely helping them solve a problem and showing them exactly how.
Tutorials trend on TikTok because they’re optimized for shareability. If one person finds the information you shared valuable, they’ll likely reshare it to people in their network — on and off the social media platform.
Some other reasons this type of video performs well:
- TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes videos with high watch time and completion rates. A well-paced tutorial keeps followers hooked until the end, so they don’t miss a step. Some people re-watch to follow along, boosting engagement even more.
- You can combine tutorials with trending sounds or challenges to boost your visibility chances further.
- Tutorials often lead to organic interactions, especially comments. You can create video responses to these comments, leading to a content and engagement loop.

Create a compelling hook:
Start with a catchy hook to grab attention within the first few seconds, then dive straight into the tutorial. Keep it short, simple, and valuable.
Lip syncing
19. The Washington Post
Industry: News publishing
20. Michael’s Craft Store
Industry: Arts and crafts
Lip syncing is a simple yet effective way to include TikTok trending sounds. You can combine it with other content formats — like tutorials — to make your video both educational and fun.
Lip syncs are trendy because they typically use trending sounds. They are also more likely to appear on users’ For You pages, gaining mass exposure.
Here are more reasons for their virality:
- The simplicity and humor of lip-syncs make them perfect for a re-share, duets, and stitches, all of which increase visibility and engagement.
- Users will likely recreate lip-syncs, making them trend.
- There is actually a lot of flexibility with lip syncs. You can make an audio or music clip relevant to your company in so many different ways. Let your creativity shine here.

Don’t forget your audio or music clip!
Pick a popular or trending sound to capitalize on current trends, maximize visibility, and make sure the audio or music clip makes sense for the story or moment you’re portraying. Remember to use trending hashtags to boost your reach.
Why should you post on TikTok as a brand?
While TikTok remains a core social media platform for setting and amplifying pop culture trends, its influence is far beyond that.
With around 2 billion users globally, the clock app has become a primary channel for driving awareness, reaching new markets, and converting loyalty into revenue — no matter your niche or business size.
Even in light of its recent uncertainty, here’s why it’s worth investing in your presence on TikTok:
1. Massive reach
TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users. There is a good chance that a handful of these users make up your target audience — so if you share content on this social media platform, you’ll get your company in front of them.
2. Relevance-first algorithm
Unlike other social media platforms that rely heavily on follower count and past engagement, TikTok’s algorithm focuses on content relevance. This means that even smaller brands and new accounts can reach thousands — or even millions — of viewers if their content resonates. You don’t need a massive following to make an impact.
3. TikTok drives actual sales and conversions
It’s not just about company awareness; TikTok is also a powerful sales channel. With features like TikTok Shop, in-app product links, and seamless integrations with e-commerce platforms, brands can instantly turn viewers into buyers.
For example, the hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has racked up billions of views, proving how influential this social media platform is in driving purchase decisions. And about 55% of TikTok users make impulse purchases after discovering a new product or service on the platform.
How to make a TikTok video go viral?
As we mentioned earlier, there’s no tried-and-true formula for going viral on TikTok. The algorithm is ever-changing, so you must be willing to experiment with different ideas until you find what works for you.
That said, there are specific steps to follow to increase your chances:
Step 1: Hook viewers in the first few seconds
People scroll fast, so grab attention immediately. Use a strong opening—this could be a surprising statement, a bold visual, or a relatable moment.
Step 2: Keep it short and engaging
TikTok prioritizes videos with high watch time and replays. The shorter and more engaging your video is, the more likely people will watch it to the end (or even rewatch it).
Step 3: Jump on trends (but make them your own)
Using trending sounds, effects, and challenges increases discoverability. Just make sure to add your unique spin so it stands out.
Step 4: Use captions and on-screen text
Many people watch without sound, so captions help keep them engaged. Plus, on-screen text can reinforce key messages.
Step 5: Encourage interaction
Ask questions, use “duet” and “stitch” features, or create content that invites comments and shares. Engagement signals tell TikTok’s algorithm your video is worth pushing out.
Step 6: Leverage hashtags (but be smart about it)
Use a mix of trending and niche hashtags to reach both broad and targeted audiences. Avoid generic ones like #fyp — TikTok favors more specific tags.
Step 7: Timing matters
Wondering what the best time to post on TikTok is? Post when your audience is most active — typically evenings and weekends. Check your analytics to see if you have a business account.
How to create a great TikTok video
Creating a great TikTok video definitely requires a bit more than simply taking out your phone and hopping on a trend. You’ll need some creativity, technical precision, and a lot of audience awareness. Here are some steps and tips on how to create a great one:
- Shoot in the right dimensions: Use TikTok’s recommended 9:16 aspect ratio (1080x1920 pixels) for vertical videos. This way, you’re ensuring your content fills the screen and avoids black bars. It’s a much more immersive experience that way.
- Start with a strong hook: Capture attention ASAP, meaning the first few seconds of your video. You can use humor, ask a question to spark curiosity or present an intriguing visual to stop viewers from scrolling.
- Keep it short and sweet: Yes, TikTok allows up to 10-minute videos, but shorter clips still perform better because people watch a larger percentage of the video itself. Editing your video tightly helps you maintain viewer interest.
- Add captions, sounds, and/or creative effects: Take advantage of what’s available on the social media platform to make your video more dynamic. Captions boost accessibility and engagement. Trending sounds boost discoverability. Creative effects like filters, transitions, or green screens enhance storytelling and keep things interesting.
- Be clear and focused: Center key elements in the frame and avoid cluttered backgrounds. If you want to emphasize something, put it on the screen and make it visible. People need to follow your story. Clear visuals make your message more impactful.
Great TikToks come in all different shapes and sizes, but if you work to optimize your chance of someone stopping from scrolling and retaining that viewer for as long as possible, you’ve done your job. So, make sure to follow these tips the next time you create content!
Don’t obsess over virality
A performing moment can bring a quick surge of views, but if your content doesn’t connect with the right audience, it won’t lead to long-term success. Instead of chasing hits, focus on creating valuable, engaging content that your audience actually enjoys.
When you consistently deliver content that resonates, you build a loyal following. One that not only watches but also trusts and supports your brand. And that’s what really matters — an engaged audience that helps you reach meaningful business goals, not just fleeting internet fame.
Enjoyed reading this? Check out these customizable PlayPlay TikTok video templates to help you create engaging content quickly.
Got more questions about videos that go viral on TikTok? We’ve answered them here.
TikTok video ideas FAQs
TikTok videos that go viral are typically creative, authentic, and engaging. They often feature trends, challenges, or relatable humor with catchy music, high energy, and clear visuals. These videos also tap into popular hashtags and emotions or share unique content.
You should post on TikTok 1-4 times a day to maintain consistency on the platform. Some creators also recommend posting 5-7 times per week. Quality still trumps quantity, however, at the end of the day.
Here are some content format tips for performing posts:
- Stitch videos
- ASMR content
- TikTok challenges
- Get Ready With Me videos
- A Day in My Life videos
- Duets
- Live Streams
- Lip Syncs
- Tutorials
- Comment video replies
Here are some tips on how to increase the chances of your video trending on TikTok.
- Stay Up-to-Date: Watch the For You page for trending sounds, challenges, and formats. Also, research what people are searching for on TikTok as well.
- Use Trending Sounds: Incorporate popular audio or music clips to boost visibility.
- Keep It Short and Engaging: Grab attention in the first few seconds and keep it snappy.
- Follow Challenges and Trends: Put your unique spin on trending challenges.
- Use Relevant Hashtags: Add trending and niche hashtags to reach the right audience.
- Be Authentic: Show personality, humor, or behind-the-scenes moments.
- Edit Smartly: Use fast cuts, captions, and effects to make your video visually appealing. PlayPlay can help you with your professional TikTok video editing process in minutes.
- Engage with Others: Comment, duet, and stitch trending content to boost interaction.
Brittany Du Bois
Content Marketing Manager, North America
Brittany has been living and breathing content in its many forms for over seven years in tech, media, education, and the health & wellness space. At PlayPlay, she leads content marketing efforts to drive value and, of course, some good ol' brand love.