Willow’s Diary

10 Things I’ve Learned About

Succeeding on TikTok

I don’t think anyone talks enough about how confusing TikTok can feel when you’re actually trying to grow. One week you feel like you’ve cracked it, the next week your views dip and you’re wondering if the week before was just simply luck .

I’ve spent a long time on TikTok not just posting, but watching patterns , looking for what works, what doesn’t, and what people think works but really doesn’t. So this isn’t a guide written from a pedestal. It’s more like notes I wish I’d kept when I started because girl … I wish I had me now but back then !

Here are ten things I’ve learned the hard way about trying to succeed on TikTok

1. Trying to Do Everything Just Confuses Everyone

When I first started, I posted whatever I felt like in the moment. Some of it did extremely well ( the biggest being over 1M views ! ) But most didn’t of it didn’t, but nothing really stuck ; from the makeup transitions , the sketches and characters …. I could go on .

Once I focused on one clear direction, everything got easier. TikTok finally understood what my account was about, and so did my audience.

I allowed Tiktock to see me ! And not some over animated version of me , I mean the real me !

Clarity changes everything.

2. TikTok Isn’t Just Scrolling Anymore

At some point I realised people weren’t just watching my videos , they were finding them through search.

TikTok is basically a search engine now. People type in questions like “how to grow on TikTok” and expect real answers.

Once I started saying exactly what my videos were about out loud, using clear on-screen text and honest captions (when i remembered ) my reach made a lot more sense.

3. The First Two Seconds Decide Your Fate

This one still humbles me….

I’ve filmed videos I loved that flopped because the opening wasn’t strong enough. On TikTok, you don’t get warm-up time. If the first line doesn’t make someone stop scrolling, they’re gone.

Now I always ask myself: why would someone stay for this?

And do I sometimes still post them ? … that’s a question I’m not prepared to answer

4. Perfection Slowed Me Down

I used to overthink everything from lighting, wording, angles. And honestly? It held me back.

The videos that performed best were often the ones I almost didn’t post like the one I filmed in TK max that went viral !

TikTok prefers real over polished. Showing up consistently mattered far more than making everything perfect.

5. People Follow the Person, Not the Strategy

This was a big lesson.

The more I let my personality come through it was obvious my opinions, my tone, my humour meant that more people stayed. TikTok growth isn’t just about content ideas or well structured dances ! . It’s about connection.

Once people recognise you, they come back… even if you want them too or not .

6. Engagement Doesn’t Just “Happen”

I used to hope people would comment. Now I actually invite them to.

Asking questions, encouraging responses, even just saying “go watch my latest vid “ whilst live makes a massive difference. TikTok watches how people interact with your videos and uses that to decide how far they go.

Silence tells the algorithm nothing!!

7. Analytics Took the Guesswork Away

I avoided analytics at first because they felt intimidating. But once I started looking at them properly, everything clicked.

When something worked, it wasn’t random. The watch time, saves, and shares were trying to tell me something. Repeating what works isn’t boring it’s respectful of your audience and makes it easier for you to!

8. Trends Aren’t the Point

I used to feel pressure to jump on every trend. Now I’m much pickier.

If something doesn’t fit my voice or my niche, I leave it. Building authority and trust has done far more for my TikTok growth than copying what everyone else is doing.

Because we all know that even you !(the reader ) scrolls faster after seeing three of the same vid in a row .

9. Treating TikTok Seriously Changed the Results

When I stopped treating TikTok like a side thought and started treating it like something that mattered, everything shifted.

Planning content even if it’s messy(and ends up in drafts ), filming in batches, and setting real goals make growth feel calmer and more predictable. Structure will give you freedom instead of pressure.

10. The Quiet live Periods Are Part of It

This might be the hardest one.

There are times when live views drop for no obvious reason. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. The creators who succeed are the ones who keep pushing anyway.

TikTok rewards consistency over time, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to succeed on TikTok live and feeling overwhelmed, you’re not broken …you’re learning.

You don’t need to be louder, trendier, or more perfect. You just need to be clear, consistent, and human. Everything else builds from there.

I’m still learning too. But that’s kind of the point.

My team grow with me and we all help each other out even if I I’m a manager ❤️✨

Lots of love - willowsinnr