Why Do Your TikTok Views Start Strong and Then Die?
Every time you post on TikTok it feels like you are going to get popular right? You post and within minutes you get hundreds of views and then it suddenly stops. So you post again and the same thing happens over and over. It makes you wonder: Does the algorithm hate me? Or Am I shadowbanned?
These are good questions. I will break down why TikTok Likes & Views start off strong and then stop. What is happening behind the scenes and how to make sure your videos do not get stuck at 200 views.
How the TikTok Algorithm Works
The TikTok algorithm operates in two phases:
- The Testing Phase
- The Traffic Phase
When you first publish a video TikTok assigns it to a sample audience of about 200 people. The algorithm does its best to match your content with the right viewers but its not always accurate especially if you are a new creator.
If your video performs well in this test phase it moves to the traffic phase where TikTok starts pushing it to more people. This is when trending videos are born. However if your content fails in the test phase it gets buried never to be seen again.
Why Do Some Videos Perform & Others Don’t?
The key difference between a popular video and one stuck at 200 views lies in performance metrics. TikTok measures:
- Swipeaway rate: Are people scrolling past your video quickly?
- Watch time: How much of the video are people watching?
Your content is competing with other creators in your niche. TikTok compares how well your video performs against similar ones. If your video keeps people engaged longer than others it moves forward. If not it stops being pushed out.
The Checkpoint System
Even if your video passes the test phase TikTok continues to assess its performance at various checkpoints:
- 200 views
- 500 views
- 1000 views
- 10000 views
- 1 million views
Each time the algorithm checks whether engagement is still strong. If watch time drops or people start swiping away your video stops gettingTikTok views.
7 Strategies to Keep Your Views Growing
Stick to One Niche
Posting about one topic consistently helps TikTok understand what your content is about and match it with the right audience. If you talk about too many different things the algorithm will not know who to show your videos to.
Research Successful Content
Look at top creators in your niche. What kind of videos are they making? Study their content, analyze what makes it engaging and identify any patterns in their successful videos. If someone usually gets 2000 TikTok views but has a video that hit 100000 analyze why. Was it the topic, the format, the hook or the editing style? Take inspiration from their approach and recreate your version of that content while adding your unique touch to stand out.
Increase Posting Frequency
Post 1 to 3 times a day. The more you post, the more you learn about what works and what does not. However do not sacrifice quality for quantity. Research your topics before posting to ensure they align with what your audience wants. Experiment with different formats, styles and trends to see what gets the most engagement. Posting consistently while maintaining high quality will help you stay relevant in the TikTok algorithm and increase your chances of reaching a larger audience.
Timing Matters But Not Posting Time
The time of day you post does not matter as much as the relevance of your content. Is your video related to current trends? Look for popular content from the last week and create your version while the trend is still hot.
Use Trends to Your Advantage
Trends can be a shortcut to popularity. Use trending sounds formats and hooks to boost your reach. Pay attention to what is trending in your niche and incorporate it into your content.
Stop the Scroll
The first 3 seconds of your video are crucial. Use text overlays, attention grabbing hooks and visually engaging elements to keep people watching. Consider starting with a bold statement, a surprising fact or a question that sparks curiosity. Quick cuts, vibrant visuals and captions can further enhance engagement, making viewers more likely to stay until the end.
Focus on Retention
Once you have hooked viewers you need to keep them watching. Cut out fluff and keep your videos concise and engaging. If your content drags people will swipe away. The shorter your video the easier it is to maintain high watch time and go popular. However if your content requires more time to deliver value, make sure every second counts by keeping the pacing tight and eliminating unnecessary pauses. Hook them in, deliver value and leave them wanting more.
Are You Shadowbanned?
Shadowbanning is real but most people are not actually shadow banned they just are not making content that performs well in the test phase. However here are some things that can get your account flagged:
- Posting the same video on multiple accounts
- Violating TikTok terms of service
- Spamming too many posts in one day
- Deleting underperforming videos as this hurts your account
If your TikTok views have completely dropped to zero check your video analytics. If it says ‘ineligible for the For You feed’ you may have violated TikTok guidelines.
Nutshell
Most of the time low TikTok views are not because of shadowbanning but because your content is not winning in the test phase. If you focus on engagement research, successful content and improve your watch time your videos will start reaching more people.
Follow these strategies, test what works and keep refining your content. The algorithm rewards persistence and quality videos. Now go create and watch your views grow!
