If you’re stuck in what I like to call the “200 Views Jail” on TikTok, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. For a while, my videos were barely getting any traction—hovering around 200 views, with the occasional spike to 800. It wasn’t a shadowban or any technical glitch; my strategy just wasn’t hitting the mark.
In this post, I’m going to share how I increased my views by up to 4x by tweaking my approach. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to boost your engagement, these strategies will help you break free from the low view count trap and start gaining real traction on TikTok.
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Recognizing the Problem: What Is "200 Views Jail"?
Before diving into the solutions, it’s essential to understand what the “200 Views Jail” is. It’s a term I use to describe the frustrating plateau many creators experience on TikTok, where their content consistently receives only a few hundred views, despite their efforts.
For me, this phase was particularly tough because I was trying to build a global audience from South Korea, where most people don’t speak English. Posting English content with a location tag in South Korea resulted in limited engagement. My views were stagnant, typically hovering around 200-300, with no significant growth.
Check out this post where I talked about the significance of location and reaching your target audience on TikTok.
Strategy Overhaul: How I 4x My Views
To break free from this cycle and land on the For You page of my target audience, I made two significant changes to my TikTok strategy:
1. Embracing SEO Keywords
One of the most powerful tools for getting consistent reach on TikTok is leveraging SEO keywords. By optimizing your content with relevant keywords, you can ensure it ranks higher in search results and continues to attract views over time.
For instance, I had some content that I uploaded over a year ago that still brings in engagement and followers. This is all thanks to the strategic use of SEO keywords in the video description and within the video itself.
Let me give you an example: when you search for “How to contact Meta” on TikTok, my content is the number one result. That’s the power of SEO on this platform. It’s not just about posting regularly; it’s about ensuring that your content is discoverable long after you’ve hit the ‘Upload’ button.
2. Riding the Wave of TikTok Trends
The second strategy that helped me skyrocket my views was following TikTok trends. Trending content is a foolproof way to increase your visibility on the platform.
Through the TikTok Creative Center, you can browse through different trends like trending hashtags, creators, songs, and viral videos. It also allows you to check how recent a trend has been going around the platform.
Trends are fun and increase engagement, but use them wisely – the trends you follow must be relevant or appealing to your target market. I highly suggest following Later – it is a social media management platform with an up-to-date library of resources on the week’s top TikTok trends and more.
By combining trending topics with SEO optimization, you can significantly enhance your content’s performance. For example, remixing a popular meme and explaining what it’s about helped me capture attention and increase my reach.
Streamlining the Content Creation Process
To efficiently implement these strategies, having a structured process is crucial. Here’s a glimpse into how my team and I approach content creation:
Trending Research
We use tools like TikTok Trends and Later to stay updated on the latest trends. This helps us identify relevant topics that align with our content pillars.
Content Pillar Strategy
We maintain 8 to 12 content pillars, ensuring variety and consistency in our posts. This prevents us from hitting creative roadblocks.
Script Development & Video Production
We focus on creating scripts and videos that capture attention within the first 1-3 seconds. Whenever appropriate, we add subtitles in multiple languages to increase accessibility and reach beyond the English-speaking market. Tools such as DeepL, ChatGPT, and Gemini help for easier translation.
SEO and Hashtags
We write optimized captions and use relevant hashtags are key to improving discoverability. We always include SEO keywords in the description to maximize reach.
Curation and Scheduling
We carefully curate our content to ensure it’s engaging and fresh. Our goal is to avoid repetition and keep our audience interested.
Additional Tips for TikTok Success
Beyond SEO and trends, here are a few more tips that can help you improve your TikTok game:
First Impressions Matter
The first few seconds of your video are crucial. If you don’t hook your audience immediately, you risk losing their attention.
Content Purpose
Always define whether your content is for entertainment, value, or both. Knowing this will help you craft content that resonates with your audience.
Adapting the ELSA Framework
Incorporate storytelling elements into your content. Marley Jaxx’s ELSA Framework (Epiphany, Lesson, Story, Application) is a great way to structure your videos and keep viewers engaged.
- Epiphany – your content hook, the “Aha!” moment to get the audience interested
- Lesson – the takeaway/s from your content
- Storytelling – the flow of your content from start to finish must be engaging, natural, and with a touch or style that is uniquely yours
- Application – the application, or call to action that you want your audience to take
Consistency and Adaptation Are Key
Breaking out of the 200 Views Jail isn’t just about one or two viral videos—it’s about consistent effort and strategic adaptation. By leveraging SEO and jumping on trends, all while refining your content creation process, you can gradually increase your views and build a loyal audience.
I hope you found these tips helpful! Stick around for more insights into social media marketing. Let’s also connect on TikTok and YouTube, where I share more about my journey and how you can succeed in the digital world.
Stay creative and keep experimenting!
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Hyein
I’m an award-winning global marketing expert running HY Marketing in South Korea. We help businesses succeed in South Korea, Japan, and English-speaking markets through social media and Facebook ads.
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