I usually start by scrolling through TikTok’s For You Page and seeing what kinds of openings grab my attention — like trending questions, “POV” text, or shocking/funny statements. I save the ones that make me stop watching. Then, when I create, I test different hooks by posting variations — for example, one video might start with “POV: You forgot your slides” and another with “This free AI tool makes school 100x easier.” I compare watch time and engagement to see which one performs better, then double down on the style that works.

I once made a short TikTok using a trending sound where I showed a quick before-and-after photo edit. It wasn’t branded, but because it matched the trend and was easy to relate to, it got over 10k views in just a few days. That experience taught me how small creative tweaks and timing with trends can really boost reach.

I worked on a campaign where we used trending sounds on TikTok to showcase a product in fun, quick clips. By mixing the product demo with relatable humor, the videos started getting more shares. One video reached over 50k views, which boosted engagement and brought in new followers. It showed me how important timing and trend adaptation are for success.