That seems like a tough goal to achieve nowadays—and I’m talking about both my Hive and TikTok journeys.
Although both are social platforms, I feel follower counts impact growth differently. On Hive, having a good number of followers may lead to more views and potentially higher rewards. However, it still depends on the content you post. Curators determine rewards based on the quality and perceived value of the content.
On TikTok, however, follower count, in my opinion, is king. A large following opens up your account to more attention, viewership, and multiple monetization opportunities. That’s why gaining followers on TikTok is so challenging—people recognize their value. The first three seconds of a video are crucial for grabbing viewers' attention. The algorithm evaluates the initial engagement from the first 300 viewers: Did they like it? Did they watch the whole video or skip it? Did they share or repost it? If the response is positive, the algorithm promotes the content to a broader audience, increasing its chances of going viral or showing up more on users' For You Pages (FYP).
The 3-Second Hook
What’s it about? I came across this concept in almost every TikTok tutorial and insight I researched. It’s clearly an essential element. Without a strong hook, your content might be overlooked or fail to engage viewers. It's a critical piece of the puzzle for gaining traction on TikTok.
I’m still in the process of figuring it out for myself. There are plenty of tutorials out there, but they don’t always align with the type of content I create. So, I’m taking my time. I want to develop a compelling 3-second hook that feels authentic—not just a copy of what others are doing. I’m not sure if that’s the right approach, but it feels more satisfying. If it turns out to be the wrong path, I’ll pivot. But if it works, I’ll consider it a true accomplishment.
Mastering the 3-second hook is no easy feat, but it's a challenge worth embracing for meaningful growth. Whether it's Hive or TikTok, staying authentic while learning what works is key to building lasting engagement. I may still be figuring things out, but every step forward feels like progress—and that’s what keeps me going.
