Come on, talk practically; you can become a successful creator, especially on TikTok overnight. Every successful creator now would have definitely gone through different stages in their career. Everyone would have started with zero followers and had viral success. You can even check your competitor anonymously using TikTok profile viewer now and then so that you might get some idea into it. Some creators even face struggles, proving that this journey is full of ups and downs.
If you are on TikTok and wondering where you are now in your creator journey, this article is for you. We explained six unavoidable stages of a TikTok content creator’s career and what to expect at each step.
Stage 1: Starting from Scratch
Every TikTok creator’s journey starts here. This is the stage where you have zero followers and no content and are just getting used to the platform. This stage is all about learning new things. Growth will be very slow, but every creator must pass through this phase.
Struggles in the Beginner Stage:
- Your first few videos do not get as many views as you expect.
- You might not be sure what kind of content you want to create.
- Comparing yourself to bigger creators.
What You Should Do in This Stage?
- Experiment with different content styles.
- Post consistently to understand what really works for you.
- Engage with other creators by commenting and duetting their videos.
- Learn how TikTok’s algorithm works.
Stage 2: Finding Your Audience
After consistently posting in the first stage, you will now start seeing some improvements. Say one of your videos gets more likes than usual, or you start getting new followers. This is a sign that you are moving into the next stage. This is an exciting stage because this is where you will start seeing real growth.
What Happens in the Growth Stage?
- You start understanding what type of content works for you.
- Your videos get more views and engagement.
- You attract a small but loyal audience.
- Brands and collaborations may start reaching out.
Challenges in This Stage:
- You will feel the need to post frequently to stay relevant.
- You might struggle with the algorithm.
- Negative comments.
What You Should Do in This Stage?
- Stay consistent with your content.
- Start engaging with your audience.
- Experiment with different content formats.
- Ignore negative comments.
Stage 3: Hitting Viral
Every creator’s dream is to go viral on TikTok. In this stage, you will find one of your videos gets thousands of views, and you get more and more followers. But remember that not every creator stays viral always. So, this stage is about building your success and converting your new followers into a loyal audience.
Challenges in This Stage:
- After a viral hit, creators often struggle to create another successful video.
- Brands start reaching out, but you may not know how to handle collaborations.
What You Should Do in This Stage?
- Engage with your new audience by replying to comments.
- Create similar content to keep up the fame.
- Stay authentic.
Stage 4: Slowing Down of Growth
After hitting viral success, many creators find themselves struggling to create similar content. This is where your growth slows down and your engagement drops. This stage is hard, but staying consistent is what separates long-term creators from those who fade away. In fact, this will be so frustrating as your fame will start fading. But every TikTok creator experiences this at some point.
How to Overcome?
- Analyze your analytics and look at what worked before and what is not working now.
- Experiment with fresh content ideas.
- Engage with your audience and ask them what they would like to see.
- Take a short break if needed.
Stage 5: Turing Content Into Money
Once you have built a strong and loyal audience, you will start looking for ways to monetize your content. This is where you take TikTok seriously. This is the stage at which the TikTok creator becomes a business.
Ways to Monetize as a TikTok Creator:
- TikTok Creator Fund.
- Brand Deals and Sponsorships.
- Selling Your Own Products or Services.
- Affiliate Marketing.
- Live Gifts.
Challenges in This Stage:
- Ignoring brand deals.
- Staying authentic.
- When money is involved, the pressure to perform also increases.
Stage 6: Adapting to Change
Even the biggest TikTok creators eventually hit a point where they need to adapt things. Because trends often change, new creators often come, and audiences expect fresh content. This is when adapting accordingly is necessary. Even the most famous TikTokers constantly change according to trends. Use TikTok Viewer to chek on your competitor based on these criteria.
How to Adapt Yourself as a Creator:
- Explore new content types.
- Start repurposing TikTok content to other social media platforms.
- Collaborate with other creators.
- Stay ahead of trends.
The End Note
The journey of a TikTok creator is not always stable. It is full of ups and downs, from starting with zero followers to reaching viral fame. In between, you have to struggle with creating creative content. And know that every creator goes through these unavoidable stages. So keep creating, stay consistent, and enjoy your TikTok journey!
