Why Aren’t My TikToks Getting Views?

Why aren’t my TikToks getting views?

Your reach on TikTok comes down to your account’s authority; The better your ranking, the bigger the chances that TikTok will show your videos to more users on the app. 

But what can hurt your account’s authority on the platform and what is the explanation behind the ‘no views on TikTok’ issues that many creators face? 

In this article, we’ll explain what are the most common reasons why you’re getting virtually (or not) no views on TikTok.

Let’s dive in.

Why Are My TikTok Videos Not Getting Views?

There are several reasons why TikTok might be de-prioritising the videos coming out of your accounts.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that creators make, which usually result in low viewership:

Inappropriate/Sensitive content 

To tackle the zero TikTok views problem, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the platform’s rules, especially if you’re just starting out as a creator on the app. 

That’s because TikTok can heavily restrict accounts that violate its TOS (Terms of Service). 

The platform is strict on bringing down any content that promotes:

• Bullying and harassment
•  Hate speech
•  Endangerment
• Pornography
• Discrimination based on ethnicity, race, origin, religion, or gender
• Misinformation
•  Dangerous acts
• Suicide and self-harm
•  Spam and fake engagement
• Violent or graphic content
• Illegal activities
• Intellectual property infringement

Your video might be pulled down even if it contains fake blood, arms, weapons, and anything else that TikTok believes might upset the general audience.

TikTok allows users to appeal any restrictions but if they stick, your authority ranking will likely plummet and you might end up on the receiving end of a suspension. 

Did you know? TikTok does not allow people that are younger than 13 to create accounts on the app. If you misclicked when creating your account, here’s how to change your age on TikTok.

Your content isn’t exciting to the viewers 

If a TikTok video is not getting views, then chances are it isn’t doing a good enough job to keep viewers watching until the end and prompt engagement (likes, comments, and reposts).

TikTok’s algorithm puts content in front of viewers that are most likely to be interested in that type of content and if they don’t engage with it, then the app won’t show it to more people. 

Videos that have a lot of views, usually get plenty of likes, and more importantly, a considerable amount of comments and shares. If a video starts a discussion in the comment section and is prompting users to comment, then it’s unlikely to get low viewership. 

One of the reasons why ‘more comments’ usually equals ‘more views’, on top of high engagement, is that when users comment, the video loops in the background, which increases its completion rate. 

New account 

If you’re starting a new account on TikTok, simply posting good videos is not enough to boost your authority rank on the platform. 

Newly created accounts now undergo a number of checks that help TikTok determine whether they’re genuine and one of the best ways to show TikTok that your account is not a fake is to spend some time interacting and connecting with other users there. 

If you’re a content creator, then you should find other creators in your niche and interact with their content. You can use this time to study the competition, see what works in your niche, and find trends that you can use to your advantage. 

You should also create a compelling bio and use it to share relevant information about you or your business. (Here are 60 TikTok bio ideas you can use to make your account stand out). 

Finally, you should add a profile picture as well.

Your TikToks are too short 

If your TikTok is not getting any views, then your videos might be too short.

TikTok’s algorithm rewards videos that are watched until the end, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that a snappy, 2-second clip would do better than a longer one. 

That’s because TikTok wants creators on the platform to focus on videos that retain viewers’ attention (completion rate), but are unique and of high quality.

To prevent users from taking advantage of ‘hacks’, TikTok said it would not promote videos that have little to no value or are too short. 

The ideal video length varies, as TikTok introduces new updates and changes to the algorithm. According to WIRED, the optimal recommended length in 2021 was between 21 and 34 seconds.

Although TikTok allows users to upload videos of up to 10 minutes, research has shown that most users don’t typically watch videos longer than 60 seconds on the app. 

Uploading too many videos at a time

The more you post, the more likely you are to grow.

This is true for most video-focused social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

But, posting too many videos within a short time frame might flag your account as a fake. This can also happen if you bulk-follow other accounts (Here’s how many people you can follow on TikTok).

There’s also a good chance that only some of your videos will reach your target audience, which means the rest of your TikToks will not be getting any views.

However, that doesn’t apply if you’re uploading too many videos all at once.

The best way to go around it is to post regularly and consistently, but at times when your followers and target audience are most likely to see your video on their For You page. 

Posting at the wrong time 

Since TikTok’s algorithm chooses which videos to post on the For You page based on completion rate and engagement, you must do everything in your power to make sure TikTok puts your videos in front of your target audience. 

When that doesn’t happen, even if you push out high-quality content, your view count may be lower than expected.

To take some of the guesswork out of the equation, you can head over to the ‘Analytics’ section in your account and see when most of your followers are online and active on TikTok.

If you want to reach as many people as possible, here are the best times to post on TikTok.

Not following the trend 

On TikTok, trends are all the rage.

For example, one of the most popular trends in the UK during the first lockdown was the #blindinglights, with NHS workers dancing to the song with their loved ones.

Trending songs on TikTok function like hashtags; When you create a post with a particular song, the algorithm will feature your video to users who have already watched or liked a video with the same song.  

If your aim is to create viral content, then you might want to jump in on some of the trends on the app; However, keep in mind that they should work in your niche. 

If the video is not in your niche and it’s not original (to some extent), then it’s unlikely to do well, even if it follows a trend or any trending audio.

Needless to say, not getting views on TikTok is rarely a consequence of not following trends. However, they can help you get more exposure. 

You are shadowbanned 

A ‘shadowban’ on TikTok is the unofficial name for what happens when the app temporarily restricts an account’s exposure on the app.

This means videos from that account are not shown on the For You page, which is where most TikTok users spend the majority of their time on the app, and they stop appearing in the hashtag section as well.

Typically, users who believe they’ve been shadowbanned say that their posts are harder to find and that similar videos do worse than in the past.

Although TikTok has never used the term ‘shadowbanning’, the app has suggested that they can restrict content that goes against the rules on the platform. 

It can also happen when content is inadvertently flagged by censors.

For instance, back in 2020, activists claims that TikTok was censoring the Black Lives Matter movements because posts that contained the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter or #GeorgeFloyd  received very little to no views. In response, TikTok issues a lengthy statement, blaming the mix up on a glitch.

If you believe that your account was unfairly shadowbanned, you can reach out to TikTok’s customer support. 

Your best bet is to remove any flagged content on your account and re-install the app to clear the cache and update the app.

Copied content 

It is against TikTok’s intellectual property policy to post content that violates someone else’s trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights.

Even if the person who’s the legal owner of the content gives you consent to use it in your videos, TikTok prefers (and pays!) when content creators publish their own content. (Here’s how much you can earn on TikTok with 1 million views.)

This means that while it’s acceptable to post commentaries or reactions, accounts that are built entirely on copied content do not get the same treatment as those that post original content.

TikTok is reviewing your video 

If someone reports your content, then TikTok can temporarily reduce your reach and stop showing your content to other users on the app until it completes its review.

During the review process, TikTok’s moderators will analyze the content to see if it goes against community guidelines. If it does, TikTok will take appropriate action against that account. 

They can mute the video, remove it, or suspend your account entirely, depending on the severity of the violations. 

If TikTok removes your video, you can appeal the decision; TikTok will bring back your video if it was taken down by mistake.

Change in TikTok’s algorithm 

As with most social media apps, TikTok occasionally makes changes to its algorithm to keep users on the app and ensure that it prioritizes originality and creativity. 

For example, last year, the app introduced an update to help users see more diverse content and prevent the recommendation system from getting too stagnant. 

As a creator, you’ll need to stay up to date with the latest changes so that your content follows the rules of the platform and best practices.

To make sure your app is up-to-date, here’s how to update your TikTok.

Too much competition in your niche 

A competitive niche can be the reason why your TikTok videos have no views. 

Joining a platform that has thousands of creators and millions of users can be challenging and finding your way to the top in a niche that’s already too saturated can be difficult, if not impossible. 

The main reason is that users who are interested in that type of content already have a source where they can find what they’re looking for. If you don’t have anything unique to offer, then you’re unlikely to make it on TikTok. 

That’s why targeting a niche where the competition is scarce is more likely to get you the viewership you’re aiming for. 

Content without description 

Descriptions play a vital role on TikTok– it’s one of the things that TikTok’s algorithm looks at to determine who to show it to and whether it should end up on the For You page. 

You only have around 150 characters to describe your content (or add commentary) and relevant hashtags. 

For now, it’s best to stick to 1-2 hashtags in the descriptions so your videos can reach more users on the app.

Creating generic content

Generic content is confusing to the algorithm and generally uninteresting to your followers.

While it is recommended to join trends on the app from time to time, creating an account that’s solely based on what’s popular, without targeting a specific niche, can make it hard for TikTok to know who to show your content to.

If your videos are shown to an audience that’s not interested in what you’re offering, then you’ll get a low completion rate and engagement, and the algorithm will stop pushing them on the For You page. (You can check whether your videos were shown there in the Analytics tab in the app.)

Targeting a customer base with specific needs will make it easier for you to come up with content, give them a reason to revisit your account on the app, and get brand deals on TikTok.

Not posting regularly 

On social media, consistency is key.

Ideally, content creators should be posting at least once a day to keep viewers engaged and have TikTok push their videos on the For You page. 

Naturally, taking a break from posting, from time to time, won’t hurt your success on the platform. However, if you want to grow there, you will have to commit to a schedule.

What Counts As Views On TikTok?

On TikTok, a view counts the very second the video starts to play. 

If the video loops or a viewer comes back to the video to watch it more than once, Tiktok records all of these are new views and will add them to the total count. 

Bottom Line

When it comes to viewership, TikTok can be a rewarding platform. The algorithm pushes videos from creators to the For You page and based on the response there, it shows it to more people or stops promoting it altogether. 

If you’re wondering ‘Why aren’t my TikToks getting views?’, then that can be one of the reasons– the audience that watches them does not engage with your videos. But, there are plenty of other reasons why you’re seeing a low viewership. In most cases, it comes down to your account’s authority on the app.