In a nutshell
- TikTok videos could get zero views because of a violation of community guidelines and copyright infringement
- New accounts normally get fewer views
- Create relevant content to gain more viewership on your videos
TikTok has become a huge platform for content creation, with 1.5 billion users, 1 billion monthly active users and 2.6 billion downloads around the world. The platform’s also a great place for creators. Compared to other short-form video hosting platforms, it’s much easier to rack up views on your TikToks, thanks to the platform’s algorithm. Within the first hour, your video could have a few views on it and be well on its way to becoming a viral hit. However, that’s not always the case. Since you’re reading this article, you’re likely wondering why your TikTok isn’t getting views, even after a few hours. Let’s take a look at why this might be.
In this article, we will highlight the various reasons why your TikTok video — or videos — aren’t showing any views. We will also tell you how you can solve these issues.
How long does it take for TikTok videos to get views?
You may have concluded that it just takes time for your video to get views. The truth is there are numerous contributing factors to TikTok videos getting views. Sometimes a newly posted video gets hundreds or even thousands of views right after posting. Sometimes, videos get no views, even after two hours of posting them. So, while it’s possible your video may not have been picked up by the algorithm yet, it’s possible there could be another reason why your video isn’t getting views, especially if your average is well above zero.
Why are your videos not getting views?
A lot of factors could contribute to zero views on TikTok. It could be your account is new. It’s also possible you violated community guidelines or you used copyrighted material. Let’s discuss.
Your account is new and is not getting any traction
As more and more people make accounts, TikTok has to make sure these accounts are legit, specifically targeting spam accounts. We understand that it’s frustrating to see the videos you worked hard for not getting any traction, but that’s only for the meantime. While you’re establishing your legitimacy as a brand and as a content creator, make sure you are:
- Posting engaging content
- Sticking to your niche so the algorithm can pick up your videos
- Posting during peak hours
- Using relevant hashtags
- Engaging with other users
While these aren’t guarantees, they will increase your chances of getting more views.
Your video is under review for violating community guidelines
TikTok has a set of community guidelines that it expects all its users to follow. TikTok may delete videos and/or ban accounts that have the following:
- Exploitation of minors
- Depiction of dangerous acts
- Self-harm
- Adult nudity and sexual activities
- Bullying and harassment
- Slurs
- Incitement to violence
- Misinformation
- Graphic content
If you violate its community guidelines, TikTok also reduces the discoverability of your videos, tagging them as ineligible for the For You page. If you believe that your content did not violate these guidelines, you can make an appeal to TikTok so they can bring your videos back up and gain more views.
Your video includes copyrighted material
TikTok doesn’t tolerate stolen content; may that be other creators’ videos, music and more copyrighted media. You can duet or stitch a video, but reposting original content to your own account without the permission of the owner will get you penalized. Always recheck if the music you used is copyrighted and licensed in the TikTok library.
It’s also possible you’re following fair use, but your video has still being flagged for copyright infringement. TikTok is protected by Fair Use, so in some cases, you can use copyrighted works. However, deciding whether or not the material used was under the protection of fair use is still on a case-to-case basis. For instance, in the legal battle between the Kleins of h3h3Productions and Matt Hoss, the judge sided with the Kleins for their use of Hoss’ content in their reaction videos.
Reminders to content creators:
- Do not use trademarked content without permission or if it’s not protected under fair use
- If you are not directly affiliated with a brand, don’t post advertisements for a product that uses said brand’s trademark product photos
- Do not film in historical sites where you might need permission to film on if you don’t have permission.
You set your account or videos as private
It happens; some of us forget that we set our accounts private. This might be why you’re not getting views; no one can see your videos. Always recheck the video settings before you post a video by clicking the privacy settings and choosing Everyone as the audience.
The video may not be grabbing people’s attention
Some videos perform really well and get millions of views; some don’t. It’s possible your video is just not appealing to most audiences; that’s why it’s not getting any traction.
So, how do you crack into people’s For You Page? Here’s how:
Tip 1: Stick to your brand’s niche
Continue creating relevant content on the niche you chose. Don’t confuse TikTok’s algorithm by creating videos in different niches. This will push you further away from people’s For You Page who are looking for more content like yours.
Tip 2: Make use of trends
Trends help content creators and brands gain more traction. For instance, skincare brand Dermalogica UK gained 1.8M views after jumping into the latest TikTok trend called “boat trend” with the caption: “when my boss wants to spend £5k on a shoot for our new holiday skincare kits but I tell her the boat trend will get more views.” By jumping into the trend, the video was put in front of those interested in content following the trend.
Just keep creating
Getting views on TikTok can be difficult. If your videos aren’t getting views, found out why. Once you know why, follow the guidelines above to start getting eyes on your videos. We always emphasize the importance of creativity and authenticity. So, keep on creating creative and original content and slowly build your audience on TikTok.