As a makeup artist, you probably dream of going viral on TikTok. I mean, who doesn’t want to be the next Mikayla Nogueira? TikTok is the perfect platform to share your skills and talent with the world! In this article, we’ll provide some tips and tricks on how to go viral on TikTok as an MUA. Plus, we’ll also discuss ways to get more followers, properly use hashtags, and more.
Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a social media superstar!
It’s not hard to see why so many makeup artists and other creatives flock to TikTok. On the platform, it’s easy to showcase your skills and connect with like-minded people. Plus, being featured on the “For You” page can mean a huge influx of followers and likes! As a result, your makeup career can go from a 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye!
Making Money on TikTok
There are also financial perks to making it big if you live in the following countries:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Spain
Tiktokers living in these countries qualify for what’s known as the “Creator Fund“. This fund pays qualifying creators every month based on how many views and interactions their videos receive. In order to qualify for the Creator Fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 or older
- Have more than 10,000 followers
- Have at least 100,000 views over the last 30 days
How Much Money Can You Make from the Creator Fund?
It depends on how popular you are. Generally speaking, the top 1% of Tiktokers (in terms of views and interactions) will receive a larger amount than those who have less followers and fewer views. That said, generally speaking, the average Tiktoker makes about $500 a month from the Creator Fund.
FUN FACT: Here’s what the 7 highest-earning TikTokers are making!
Other Ways To Make Money
But what about if you live in a country that doesn’t qualify for the Creator Fund? Are you SOL in terms of your earning potential?
Not at all! Just look at Canadian hairstylist and TikTok star, Kris Collins, as a prime example. She has over 47 million followers and has managed to to make quite a living off of her videos. She does this by working with brands and creating sponsored content.
This is because, on top of the Creator Fund, there are other ways you can leverage TikTok to earn an income…
1 – Sponsorships & Affiliate Links
Reaching a certain level of popularity on TikTok can open the doors to sponsored content opportunities. This involves having brands pay you to promote their products or services, either through video endorsements or affiliate links in your profile’s bio.
2 – Selling Your Own Products
Whether it’s makeup tutorials, digital downloads, classes, ebooks, etc., you can use TikTok to promote and sell your own products. This is a great way to leverage your following in order to build a sustainable income stream.
3 – Crowdfunding & Donations
4 – Coaching Services
If you consider yourself an expert in makeup artistry, why not offer your services as a coach? You can use TikTok to promote the coaching services that you offer and monetize your skills. Furthermore, you can even take it a step further by using your TikTok platform to guide viewers to your business website and other social media pages!
5 – Live Events
Finally, you can use TikTok to promote live events that you are hosting. This could be anything from a meet and greet, product launch, or makeup tutorial session.
Who is The Best Makeup Artist on TikTok?
This is subjective, to be honest. But, if we had to pick one makeup artist that is really killing it on TikTok right now, then our vote would go to Charli D’Amelio. She has over 103 million followers and she even recently collaborated with Urban Decay for a special makeup collection!
Of course, there are plenty of other TikTokers of note, too. Literally any of the following MUAs could also easily contend for the top spot:
DID YOU KNOW: QC Makeup Academy is now on TikTok? It’s true! And we’d sure be grateful if you gave us a follow!
How To Go Viral on TikTok as a Makeup Artist
Before we go any further, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a “for-sure” kind of guide… After all, if there was one clear way to go viral, literally everyone would be a macro-influencer! In reality, the best way to stand out and achieve success on TikTok is by being creative, consistent and patient.
(And, yes, sometimes a little luck does play its part, too!)
Rather, what we’re providing to you is a set of tips and advice that you can use as a makeup artist on TikTok in order to increase your chances of going viral. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Step 1: Understand Your Audience
As with any social media platform, it’s important to understand who your target audience is. For instance, are you aiming for teenage girls, brides, young adults, or something else entirely? Knowing this will help you create content that resonates with them.
Step 2: Leverage Trends
TikTok LOVES trends! It’s the algorithm’s blood and bones! Chances are, if you want to go viral, you’ll need to incorporate trending topics or challenges into your videos. And the good news is that as a makeup artist, you already have access to plenty of creative ideas from which to draw inspiration.
Step 3: Quality Content Is Key
As always, it’s important to create content of high quality. This means investing in decent equipment and makeup. However, don’t forget that high-quality content doesn’t necessarily mean expensive! Even if you don’t have the budget to buy a fancy camera or pricey products, there are plenty of affordable options out there.
Step 4: Put Your Spin On It
It’s also important to remember that even if you are using trending topics, it’s important to put your own twist on the video. This is what will help you stand out from the crowd and potentially make your content go viral!
Step 5: Use Hashtags
Don’t forget to use hashtags in order to increase visibility! All you need to do is pick several relevant keywords associated with your content and add them to your post. This will help you reach a wider audience and increase the chances of going viral.
Relevant Hashtags
As a makeup artist on TikTok, it’s critical that you make use of hashtags that are relevant to your content. Here are some examples of trending makeup hashtags on TikTok:
- #MakeupTutorial
- #EyebrowTutorial
- #ContourTutorial
- #EyeshadowTutorial
- #Beauty
- #MakeupArtist
- #MUA
- #MakeupLover
- #Skincare
- #MakeupAddict
- #HudaBeauty
- #KBeauty
- #BeautyHacks
- #MakeUpLooks
- #BeautyBlogger
- #Cosmetics
Trending Hashtags
On the other hand, you may have also noticed a trend where people suddenly use seemingly random hashtags – but those hashtags have a TON of popularity. This happens when a popular challenge or topic is currently viral and people are jumping on the bandwagon!
Importantly, these hashtags may have little to nothing to do with the beauty world. All the same, it’s worth it to experiment with these and add them to your video. You never know… You may just be able to capitalize on the moment of high popularity and increase your chances of your video(s) going viral!
Step #6: Jump On Trending Sounds
Another key tip is to make sure you jump on the right trend sound. Just like tags and challenges, sounds tend to go viral quickly. As such, if you can incorporate a trending sound into your video, you may be able to capitalize on the surge of popularity while it’s still fresh!
Step #7: Duet and/or Stitch Videos
Duets and Stitch videos are a great way to increase your reach and engagement!
A duet is when you create a video alongside another person’s content (usually by standing on the left or right side of the frame) – this then shows up as “your version” of that video in your followers’ feeds.
On the other hand, a stitch is when you combine two videos from different people into one. This would mean that the original video would first play for a few seconds, before changing to your video. It’s like a double feature!
Firstly, these can be great for collaborations. Secondly, it’s also a great way for posting content that’s new to your followers (but still leverages the popularity of someone else’s content). Just make sure to add something of value to your Duets and Stitches. Otherwise, your followers may be put off by the constant reposting.
Step 8: Post Regularly and Consistently
Another critical way to go viral on TikTok is to post regularly and consistently. This will ensure your followers don’t forget about you. Plus, it keeps the algorithm happy and it increases the chances of making it onto the For You Page – which is essential for TikTok stardom.
If you need help posting on a consistent basis, you may want to consider using a social media scheduling tool like Hootsuite or Buffer. This will help you plan and manage your content efficiently!
Step 9: Share Everywhere
You should also make sure that you share your video everywhere – especially on other social media platforms. This will not only help you reach more people, but it can also help to strengthen your online presence and build relationships with an even wider audience!
Step #10: Use TikTok to Network
It’s also a good idea to use TikTok as an opportunity to network and collaborate with other makeup artists. This will help you build meaningful relationships and increase the reach of your content!
How?
You can do this by engaging with other people’s content, searching for influencers to work with, and even creating your own challenges or collaborations. Plus, when existing influencers learn about you, they may be inclined to give you a shout-out on their own videos, collaborate with you, and/or help you reach a wider audience!
Step #11: Make Sure Your Brand is Consistent
Finally, we need to talk about your brand. Basically, it’s important to make sure that your content is consistent with your brand image. This will ensure that you have a recognizable and memorable presence on TikTok.
So, when creating videos, make sure you stick to elements like:
- The same filter (or no filter at all)
- Similar angles and shot types
- The same sound(s)/music(s) if you want to build an association between you and that sound
- A signature intro/outro
- Character recognition (if you create sketch content)
- Consistent text/titles on your video thumbnails, etc.
By keeping your brand consistent, you not only build credibility and trust with your followers – you also make it easier for people to recognize you as a professional makeup artist!
PRO TIP: Need more help with your branding? This Beginner’s Guide breaks down everything you need to know!
How to Go Viral on TikTok Overnight
Going viral on TikTok is no easy feat! It requires a lot of work, dedication and patience. For this reason, we don’t recommend going into things with the expectation that you’ll hit stardom overnight. Yes, while it can happen, it’s not guaranteed – and it certainly won’t happen if you don’t put in the effort.
But if you stay consistent, keep experimenting with new ideas, and follow the tips we mentioned above, you’ll eventually start to see results. Just make sure to stick to your authentic self and enjoy the process – it’s all part of the journey!
How to Go Viral on TikTok with No Followers
This leads us to the next question: Can you legitimately go viral on TikTok if you have little to no followers?
The answer is YES!
While having a large following does certainly help, you don’t actually need to have a massive following in order to go viral. After all, even the biggest TikTokers all had to start somewhere. In fact, there have been plenty of people who went viral with a tiny following… Only to have their follower count BLOW UP as a result of their video going viral!
The key here is to focus on the quality of your content instead of the quantity of followers you have. If you can create something valuable and entertaining enough, it’ll eventually reach a large audience no matter what! So, just keep creating and don’t give up!
How To Get TikTok Followers
Now, what if one of your goals is to build a massive follower count?
In that case, the best thing you can do – again – is to stay consistent and make sure your content is engaging. That said, here are a few additional tips you can use to help grow your following:
- Figure out what kind of content works for the platform
- Optimize for TikTok’s algorithm
- Engage with other users in order to get your content seen
- Partner with influencers or brands
- Post regularly and stick to a schedule
- Experiment with new ideas/styles
- Use hashtags and trends strategically
By following these tips, you should be able to start gaining TikTok followers in no time! Plus, don’t forget that growing your follower count is a long-term strategy and should never be rushed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lastly, let’s wrap things up by addressing a few frequently asked questions about going viral on TikTok:
Q: How long does it take to go viral on TikTok?
A: It depends on a few factors, such as the quality of your content and how often you post. That said, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks or months before a video goes viral.
Q: Do you need expensive equipment to go viral?
A: Not necessarily. There are tons of viral TikTokers who use nothing more than their phone or a webcam to film themselves. While having fancy cameras and editing software certainly helps, the most important factor is creating content that resonates with your audience.
With that in mind, just remember that if you do start to go viral, you may want to invest in fancier equipment. After all, the quality of your videos should always reflect the level of success you’re aiming for!
Q: How often should you post on TikTok to go viral?
A: Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. The best thing to do is experiment and see what works for you. That said, it’s generally recommended to post at least once a day in order to maximize your chances of success.
Q: How do you track your progress on TikTok?
A: TikTok makes it easy to track your progress by providing analytics for each of your videos, such as how many views and likes you’ve received. Additionally, you can check out the “Discover” page which shows who’s following you, what kind of content they like, and other insights into their behavior.
Q: How many views does it take to go viral on TikTok?
A: Again, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Generally speaking though, you should aim for at least a few thousand views on a video in order to have a chance of going viral. Keep in mind though, even if you don’t get that many views, it’s still possible to go viral. So, don’t let it discourage you!
Q: How many likes does it take on a video for it to go viral?
A: Here’s the thing – likes are important, but they aren’t the only factor that determines if a video goes viral or not. So, while having a lot of likes certainly helps, it’s not necessarily an indication that your video will become viral.
Q: How do you do a TikTok makeup video?
A: Doing a makeup video on TikTok is pretty straightforward. First, pick the makeup look you’d like to create and then make sure you have everything you need to do the look. Next, take a few clips of yourself doing your makeup and add any music or effects (if desired). Finally, post the video and make sure to use relevant hashtags in order to get your content seen.
If you need some pointers for editing your TikTok videos, here are some resources you’ll probably find useful:
Q: Does going viral on TikTok really work?
A: Absolutely! There are countless TikTokers who have gone from having zero followers to millions in the span of a few weeks or months just by creating a few viral videos. So, if you’re willing to put in the work and show patience, you can definitely go viral on TikTok.
Q: Will getting certified as a makeup artist help you go viral on TikTok?
A: Yes, it can definitely help! Having a certification in makeup artistry can show that you have expertise and knowledge in the topic. Additionally, having a certification can give you credibility, which can help to attract more followers on TikTok.
Think of it this way: if you don’t actually know what you’re talking about, you’re more likely to demonstrate poor form and/or teach improper techniques. In turn, if you happen to go viral, it could be for entirely the wrong reason… And we know you don’t want that!
To ensure that you don’t run into this problem, make sure that if you’re demonstrating a makeup look or giving advice, you have the necessary qualifications to do so. The best way to achieve this level of expertise? Take a makeup certification course, such as any of the self-paced, online ones offered at QC Makeup Academy!
Become a fully trained and internationally-certified MUA in as little as 2 short months! Check out QC Makeup Academy’s full list of online training programs and enroll today!
Conclusion
Going viral on TikTok is achievable if you have the right strategies. From creating engaging and shareable content, to leveraging analytics and understanding your audience – having a plan in place will help increase your chances of success. Additionally, getting certified as a makeup artist can also help to attract more followers and showcase your expertise in the topic!
So, what are you waiting for? With some hard work and dedication, you can become the next viral makeup artist on TikTok!
Good luck!
