In order to gauge how well they are doing, social media influencers frequently check several data. After all, without analysing your stats, you have no idea if your material is having the desired effect. To provide one example, while being ratioed on Twitter may make it appear that you can receive a lot of comments, it actually means that your content is proving controversial, which could get you in trouble.
Your likes and your followers are the two most important metrics to track on TikTok. While the number of views a video receives is significant, the number of likes and follows is a better indicator of the video’s success and its potential for long-term growth. It’s reasonable to wonder whether or not the number of likes you receive on TikTok is more significant than the number of people who actually follow you. Do you need to prioritise one over the other, or are they both equally vital?
Why do people enjoy using TikTok?
Finding out what kinds of content do well on TikTok is the first step. There will be a little heart icon next to your video when you share it. The number of likes the video has earned will be displayed next to this icon. Obviously, you want your videos to have as many likes as possible, since this indicates that people are enjoying and finding value in the stuff you’re putting out there.
How about the people that follow you?
There’s not much of a need to explain what a TikTok follower is. These are viewers who enjoyed your videos enough to subscribe to your channel and receive updates whenever you post something new. Gaining as many subscribers as possible is also important, as this metric indicates how many viewers are anticipating the next video you provide.
To what extent, then, do likes on TikTok compare to follows?
Everything hinges on your intended use of TikTok. You need loyal fans and subscribers to succeed as a social media influencer. But, likes might come from people who aren’t yet followers, and a video’s high number of likes is indicative of its popularity.
Unfortunately, there is no simple way to prioritise likes or followers on TikTok. It may sound like an excuse, but the truth is that there is no simple solution. People may suspect your account is mostly dependent on bots for its follower count if, for instance, it has many followers but few likes. On the other hand, it doesn’t look good if you have a lot of likes but no followers, as this indicates that you are unable to convert your content’s temporary popularity into a dedicated fan base. It may also raise suspicions that you are using a TikTok bot to artificially boost your video’s popularity.
At what point should I make an effort to gain additional followers?
Followers are the lifeblood of every TikTok influencer or brand. You can’t really call yourself an influencer if you don’t have a dedicated following that will listen to what you have to say, and without followers, you’re not really “influencing” anybody.
If you want to make it on TikTok for the long haul, you need also be actively seeking new followers. You don’t need followers if your goal is simply to upload a handful of movies and then stop, or if you’re only utilising the platform to experiment with your creativity. But if you want to keep your name out there, you’ll have to gain fans.
When is the best time to seek approval?
Likes and followers on TikTok are mutually beneficial, it’s true. People will be more likely to follow you if they see that your videos, or even just one of them, have a high number of likes. Similarly, if you have a large number of followers, it’s likely due to the quality of your content.
A decent strategy for getting more likes, though, is to create films that adhere to the For You algorithm and capitalise on current trends. Because the algorithm will suggest your material to those who aren’t presently following you, you’re more likely to gain likes than followers. Even if becoming an influencer isn’t your ultimate goal, you should still try to increase your TikTok popularity by gaining more likes from other users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re debating between TikTok likes and TikTok followers, you shouldn’t prioritise either one. Both of these indicators have been called “vanity metrics” by some, who argue that they do not give a true picture of your TikTok popularity. Although we disagree with this viewpoint — there is, after all, a solid reason why many TikTok influencers have high counts of both — it is possible to become preoccupied with minutiae to the detriment of your focus on creating material of high quality. Make quality videos, and you’ll see an increase in your follower count and number of likes, which will boost your TikTok popularity.