TikTok isn't just big—it's where over 1 billion people come to discover something new every day. That's a massive opportunity for creators, but there's a dirty little secret nobody talks about: coming up with fresh TikTok video ideas is brutally hard. The blank screen stares back at you, your creative well runs dry, and suddenly you're watching cat videos instead of making content. Whether you've just created your account and are facing that terrifying first post, or you're a few videos in and hitting a creative wall, we've got your back.

In this article, we'll break down what actually makes TikTok videos gain traction (beyond the usual generic advice), share 16 specific video ideas you can film today, and provide practical tips that might just help your content cut through the noise. No guarantees of viral fame—but definitely enough to get you unstuck and creating again.

What Makes TikTok Videos Go Viral?

Video content that performs well on TikTok has one or more of the following traits:

Creating Relatable TikTok Content

With relatable content, your audience feels seen and heard because they've been where you are. Sometimes being relatable means being yourself and hoping it connects with others like you. Other times, it means highlighting a universal experience in a fresh way. Relatable content builds connections that keep your audience coming back. In a recent Nielsen study, 84% of TikTok users said they find content on the app that resonates with them. If your videos lack relatability, viewers are likely to keep scrolling.

Inspirational TikTok Video Ideas

Inspirational content isn’t just about motivational quotes—it can be authentic storytelling that showcases achievements, challenges overcome, and how to get there. Inspirational content is memorable, sparks excitement, and motivates action. It makes people feel hopeful and encouraged. In the same Nielsen study, 31% of TikTok users said uplifting content was among the top three reasons they love the app.

Educational TikTok Content That Performs Well

Educational content provides value by teaching viewers something new through FAQs, how-tos, tutorials, recipes, guides, and lists. TikTok is increasingly used as a search engine, with users looking for recommendations on dining, beauty, finance, and more.

Creating short-form educational content optimized for search gives you a better chance of standing out than competing on traditional search engines. Share your knowledge and interests—you might provide exactly what someone is searching for.

Entertainment-Focused TikTok Videos

Entertaining content instantly grabs attention and evokes joy, amusement, or intrigue. This can be achieved through storytelling, humor, dramatizing relatable experiences, or even singing and dancing—elements that helped TikTok rise to fame.

How the TikTok Algorithm Identifies Viral Content

When content is relatable, inspirational, educational, or entertaining, it becomes highly shareable. As viewers watch the full video, comment, like, and share, TikTok’s algorithm recognizes the engagement and suggests it to more people, increasing its chances of going viral.

For TikTok to push your video to the For You Page (FYP) — that's the app's home screen, personalized to each user — it ranks your video based on a combination of factors. Those include:

• User interactions: These include likes, follows, shares, and average video watch times.
• Video information: These are the captions, sounds, hashtags, and text you have on your videos.
• Device and account settings: Language settings, device type, and country settings have a lower weight on your video ranking, but they still play a role.

So when thinking of TikTok video ideas, ask yourself how you can incorporate these factors to improve your content performance. Let's look at video ideas that tend to perform well and how you can make them work for you.

Leveraging TikTok's Platform-Specific Features

TikTok offers unique features that can enhance your video content. One such feature is the Green Screen effect, which allows users to overlay their videos on different backgrounds, adding depth and creativity. To use this, select the effect from the effects tab and integrate it into your video.

• Green Screen Effects: Enhance storytelling by changing backgrounds.
• Text-to-Speech (TTS): Add narration without a personal voiceover.

These features can make videos more engaging and visually appealing. Explore more TikTok features.

16 Proven TikTok Video Ideas with Examples

1. Create an ASMR TikTok Video

ASMR videos became a popular trend on YouTube because viewers were drawn to the deeply relaxing feeling they got from the sounds and visuals of seemingly mundane tasks. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response which is the soothing, almost calming sensation you feel while listening to certain sounds. Pumping water from a spray bottle, light tapping on a counter, and crinkling a wrapper are just some of the sounds that induce this relaxing feeling.

On TikTok, the ASMR hashtag has over 500 billion views, with content spanning various niches. It may seem unexpected to create an ASMR video for a niche like landscaping, but browsing the hashtag shows a wide range of ASMR content, from organizing and packaging to morning routines and product restocking. If your work involves soothing sounds, consider turning it into an ASMR video.

How to make it work

• Choose the type of ASMR video that would best appeal to your niche and audience.
• Plan the scenes you want to record and consider which sounds you'll capture.
• Emphasize the sound while filming. For example, if you're placing a glass on a counter, that sound should be the primary focus and nothing else.
• The audio is the star of the show. You'll want to make sure there's no background noise and use EQ and compression to make the sound really shine.

2. Stitch a Popular TikTok Video

Stitching other creators’ videos is a great way to generate new content while giving credit to the original video. When you stitch a video, a short clip from the original creator plays first, followed by your content. To find videos to stitch, type 'stitch with' in the search bar or select any video where the creator has enabled stitching.

When you duet a video, both clips play side by side, allowing for real-time interaction or collaboration. Many creators have built entire followings by dueting viral content and adding their unique perspective.

• Try a popular hack, then stitch the video and show your result at the end, whether it worked or not. This is how accounts like Khaby Lame shot to fame. He stitched videos and tried "hacks" that defied common sense, like cutting your shirt when it gets stuck in a car door, and showed the logical way of achieving the same results without saying a word.
• You can add a different perspective to the original video. Ask yourself how you can improve the original video. Do you have an opposing view? Did the video exclude important information? Can you add facts to dispel or strengthen the point made? You can likely find a good "angle" from personal experience, common consensus, or other people's objections in the original video's comments.
• Choose videos that are going viral to piggyback on their popularity, provided the video is relevant to your niche.

3. Create a Duet Video on TikTok

When you duet with a video, both videos play side by side simultaneously. It's a brilliant way to interact or collaborate with other content creators. These features are what make TikTok such a great community-building app. Some creators have built their entire following by dueting other people's content and adding their creative takes.

How to make it work

• Add your humorous narrative to the video. Accounts like Shabaz Says, in the example above, have become famous for adding their own comedic narratives to different videos using duets.
• Film your reaction to a video on a topic that would interest your audience.

4. Join Popular TikTok Challenges

While dancing on video and posting it on the internet can feel intimidating, don't let that stop you. Even if you're a business account, you can have your team try a challenge to show your team spirit and culture.

Alternatively, use a trending TikTok sound to participate in a dance challenge or create a unique, non-dance video that still leverages the trending audio. This strategy can help your content reach a wider audience.

How to make it work

• Find a challenge and make it relevant to you and your niche. To find recent challenges, go to the Discover page.
• TikTok also recommends popular challenges on the For You page. Click "use the sound" to create your video.

5. Follow Trending TikTok Content Ideas

TikTok trends are created using a specific sound and video theme. For example, you can use a trending sound and then create a scenario for your video that fits the trend sound. You can discover new trends on the discover page and For You pages. In turn, your use of a trending sound will make your video show up under that sound as it trends. Trends are an easy way to create video skits, which require little to no editing and usually perform well in terms of views.

How to make it work

• As with challenges, pick a trend relevant to your brand or niche.
• First, observe the trends and see what strikes you. In the above example, the #RaisedBy trend urges creators to show off flattering photos of the people who raised them.
• Decide how you'll customize the trend to your content and what images or content you'll use.
• Click "use the sound" to create your video.

6. Film a GRWM (Get Ready With Me) Video

‘Get Ready With Me’ (GRWM) videos originated on YouTube but have become widely popular on TikTok. These videos are engaging because they allow creators to add their own spin, from preparing for work or school to getting ready for a special event.

How to make it work

• Make it authentic. If your getting ready process is more chaotic than aesthetic, film it that way. It may be more relatable to people who experience the same chaos than the overdone aesthetic routine.
• Share helpful tips or products. Whether you have a creative way to help you get out of bed in the morning or reduce fatigue, share that in your GRWM process visually or narratively.
• Use creativity when filming. If you're not talking through your GRWM video, your footage needs to tell the story in a captivating way. For this to work, try filming from different angles and editing to combine the shots using smooth transitions.
• If your video doesn't have narration, you'll want to choose a sound that works for your video, whether it's ASMR sounds from your getting ready process or a trending song. Make this decision before you film to coordinate the footage.
• GRWM videos are a chance for you to let your audience into your life. Share interesting facts about yourself through storytelling.
• Try the opposite, “get unready with me.” Follow the same process but show what you do after a long day instead.

7. Create a Day-in-the-Life TikTok Vlog

'Day in the life' videos, with over 9 billion views, offer a glimpse into different lifestyles in bite-sized formats. Whether you're a nurse, business owner, or student, these videos allow you to showcase your daily routine in a way that resonates with viewers.

How to make it work

• While it may be tempting to show a glamorized version of your life, stick to filming realistic scenes that accurately depict your day. That will make your content more relatable.
• Write a script beforehand so you don't forget key points to mention and the editing process is easier.
• Create a captivating video title that will attract people who identify with you or aspire to be like you, along with those who are just curious.

8. Share Your Creative Process on TikTok

If you're an artist, you can show a high-speed version of yourself creating an art piece from start to finish. Some artists have amassed huge audiences by showing many hours of their work compressed into 60-second videos. If you have a small business, sharing your creative process can show potential customers the effort and love that goes into creating your products.

How to make it work

• If your process is relatively short, you can click the “Speed” feature on the right of the TikTok camera window and choose the speed you'd like, then film your video that way.
• For a longer video, film your process, then import your footage into Descript. There, you can click the Track Inspector to adjust the playback speed. Click and drag to the right to speed it up.

9. Film Behind-the-Scenes TikTok Content

What does it take to create your content? Whether you're a podcaster, a video creator, or any other kind of creative, your audience will likely be fascinated by a behind-the-scenes look at your content. Show a blooper reel, film your setup process, or talk about your gear. Behind-the-scenes videos can also serve as tutorials for others who can use your same process to create their content.

How to make it work

• If you're a video creator, you'll need to set up at least two cameras: one to do the actual filming and the other to film yourself filming the content. If you're not a video creator, just the one camera will do.
• Show the final product. It can be a separate video you link to in the comments, but bonus points if you can fit everything in one video.

10. Create Instagram vs. Reality TikTok Videos

Instagram is known for its aesthetics. Only the perfect shot gets uploaded. But what about everything outside of the frame? Or what it took to achieve that shot? From editing and meticulously choosing the right angles, Instagram can be very different from reality. But most people crave that reality.

This is why Instagram vs. Reality videos are becoming so popular. These are pictures that won't make it on the 'gram, from models showing what they look like in everyday life without makeup and filters to creators showing the “less aesthetic” side of popular travel destinations. But what Instagram misses, TikTok will eat up — it's a platform about authenticity, after all. So show your reality and how it differs from what everyone thinks.

How to make it work

• What is something that looks deceptively easy but is actually pretty challenging to put together? It could be a beautiful family portrait that took hours because your toddlers kept wandering into a nearby mud puddle. It could be the clean, organized image of your house that took forever to clean because it usually looks like a tornado zone.
• Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. Authenticity wins on TikTok.

11. Show a Transformation in Your TikTok

Whether you're repurposing a thrifted piece of clothing or making over your entire home, a good transformation video is just satisfying to watch. Home projects show people what's possible even with a small budget. You can flip anything and show your process from start to finish. The leading videos under this search have tens of thousands of views, showing that people love watching a good before and after.

Transformation videos aren't just limited to DIY. It can be about how you achieved clear skin, switched careers, or other exciting milestones.

12. Share Helpful Tips in Short TikTok Videos

With trends coming and going on social media, sometimes the spread of misinformation can be inevitable. If you're a professional and see popular trends that people are doing wrong, share helpful and accurate tips for achieving the same result. If you've recently discovered a life-changing tip, share the information. From makeup to skincare, home organization, and plant care, there are plenty of ideas for helpful tips that viewers will appreciate.

How to make it work

• Mine your comments section for your most asked-about topics and create a list of helpful tips related to that topic. For example, do most people ask how you got your clear skin or crystal-clear audio quality? Create a video with your trusted tips.

13. Create Q&A or FAQ TikTok Videos

If you've posted videos before, you'll likely receive questions in the comment section—these can be turned into built-in video ideas. If you're short on TikTok questions, you can source them from other social media platforms, such as Instagram’s question feature in Stories.

14. Test a Life Hack on TikTok

Some life hack videos can give people an “aha” moment. They're like cheat codes to help people gain small wins. If you know good life hacks, create videos about them and share them with your audience. Better yet, if you've seen a life hack, you can make a video to test whether it works or if it was all just elaborate clickbait.

Most searches on TikTok are for "life hacks that work," meaning people don't want to waste their time trying those that don't. Your videos testing life hacks could become popular in these searches.

How to make it work

• List the life hacks that have helped you (as always, make sure they're relevant to your niche)
• Share what you learned during the process or any better alternatives you use.
• Share any mistakes to avoid.

15. Use Trending Sounds in Your TikTok Videos

Using popular sounds can increase your video’s discoverability and improve the chances of going viral. You can save sounds from other videos by clicking 'Add to Favorites' or 'Use this sound.'

How to make it work

• Match the sound to a relatable personal experience and write this as the caption or video title.

16. Create Educational Tutorials with Original Audio

It's easier than ever to learn anything, thanks in no small part to online tutorials. A video tutorial shows a simple step-by-step guide on how to do a particular task. By typing “tutorial” in the search bar, you can immediately see which tutorials most people are searching for based on TikTok's recommendations. You can add your subject or expertise after the word "tutorial" and TikTok will show all the videos in that category.

How to make it work

• Look at the top 10 best-performing videos and think of what you can do differently.
• Read the comments to see if any questions were left unanswered that you could answer with your tutorial.
• Plan your video by writing a script and creating a storyboard.
• If you don't want to show your face, add your voiceover to narrate the process.

TikTok Trends for 2025

As TikTok continues to evolve, trends for 2025 are expected to include increased use of AR effects and interactive videos. AR effects will allow for more immersive content, while interactive videos will enable creators to engage directly with viewers.

• AR Effects: Enhance videos with augmented reality.
• Interactive Videos: Boost engagement through live streaming.

These trends provide new opportunities for creative expression and audience interaction. Explore future trends.

How to Make Your TikTok Videos Go Viral

Create Attention-Grabbing TikTok Hooks

A hook captures your audience's attention within the first few seconds. Your hook could be relaying a problem your audience might be facing and how you could help them solve it or a cliffhanger that makes them want to hear the story you're about to tell them. A good hook convinces people that the video is worth watching.

Using Text Overlays in TikTok Videos

Text on videos — whether a single line or subtitles — can help viewers decide if they want to stop scrolling and watch your video. Subtitles cater to people who want to watch without sound, along with users who are deaf or hard of hearing. Captions also improve the SEO of the content, as audiences might be searching for specific phrases mentioned in the video.

To add captions or subtitles, you can use TikTok's caption button or import your video to Descript to create fancy animated captions.

Effective Hashtag Strategies for TikTok

Using hashtags lets TikTok's algorithm know the type of content you're posting so it can get it in front of the right people. For example, if you're posting keto recipes, use the hashtag #ketorecipes, and your video will reach people following or interested in that hashtag. When in doubt, use hashtags with fewer videos attached. That way, your content can easily rank higher for the term than it would with high-competition hashtags connected to billions of videos.

Maintain a Consistent TikTok Posting Schedule

When people follow your account on TikTok, they hope to see more of your content. In return, it's good to be consistent in your posting schedule. The best way to be consistent is to batch-create content and use TikTok's scheduling tool to schedule your videos ahead of time. Try using one day a week to plan a week's worth of videos, another day to film, and another day to edit.

Best Times to Post Videos on TikTok

Finding the best time to post on TikTok isn't easy. One option is to look at your best-performing videos and see what time you posted them. Otherwise, try to post your videos at a time when most people in your audience are awake and will likely see and engage with your videos. Even if you find the perfect time, it could change. TikTok users are fickle! Still, posting at 10 p.m. might be less effective in reaching the right people than posting at lunchtime.

How to Engage with Your TikTok Audience

Audience interaction impacts how the TikTok algorithm distributes your content. Encourage engagement by asking questions in captions or fostering an active community that regularly comments and likes your videos. Once your content gains traction, respond to comments, like replies, and show appreciation—this builds stronger connections with your audience.

TikTok Video Quality: Lighting, Audio, and Editing

TikTok is an app where you can get away with being scrappy, but quality still counts: your audio needs to be clear, lighting needs to be intentional, and editing needs to be captivating. Make sure to use the correct audio levels for the platform and that no background noise or music overpowers your voice. You should also use good lighting. That can be anything from natural light from a window to studio-quality lighting, as long as you know how it serves the purpose of your video. Finally, practice editing. Most viral videos that keep you captivated follow basic editing principles that you can easily learn.

The best TikTok video ideas show your authentic self while sharing valuable information. When considering what video ideas to try, always consider your audience's preferences, why they follow you, your niche, and the message you want to convey. Ask yourself what you can do to make your videos stand out, and always focus on creating quality content.

FAQs

What is a good video to post on TikTok?

A good TikTok video should be engaging, relatable, or educational. Consider creating dance videos, tutorials, or ASMR sessions. Ensure your content is visually appealing and aligns with current trends. Learn more about good TikTok content.

How to make a catchy TikTok video?

To make a catchy TikTok video, use trending sounds and include text overlays. Ensure your video has a clear structure with a hook to engage viewers. Encourage interaction by engaging with your audience through comments. Discover tips for catchy videos.