Before you shoot your first clip of your own, it's worth looking over the fence. Other creators in your niche have already tested which topics, sounds and hashtags resonate. You don't have to gather these experiences yourself, but can evaluate them systematically. In this guide, I'll show you step by step how to find competitors on TikTok, analyze their profiles and videos, and derive concrete ideas for your own account from them.
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Key Takeaways
- The Discover page shows you which challenges and hashtags are currently trending.
- A profile with a clear name, a link and a way to contact the creator looks professional and is easier to categorize.
- View counts show you which topics work. A video with a fitting trend hashtag can significantly increase reach.
- Hashtags have their own reach. A hashtag can also be used by people who don't follow the profile at all.
- Trending sounds can be adopted directly and applied to your own videos.
- A recognizable trademark, such as a fixed color or a text style that is always the same, sets you apart from the crowd.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Find Trends via the Discover Page
Open TikTok and tap "Discover" in the bar at the bottom. There you'll find challenges and trending hashtags. Look at which topics are currently gaining momentum, and note down the hashtags that appear in your niche. The Discover page is your starting point because it shows you what TikTok is currently pushing to the front.
Step 2: Find Creators Who Use a Trend
Tap on a trending hashtag, such as the one with the face emoji, and see which profiles show up there regularly. In the video's example, these are Victoria and Serina, who have been serving the trend well for quite some time. Such creators are valuable because they show how a trend is implemented in practice. Make sure to check whether their target audience also matches yours. Not every successful account is relevant to you.
Step 3: Examine the Structure of the Profile
Open the profile and take a close look at what is in the header area. In the example, both creators put their name in the profile, link their Instagram account and provide an email address for business inquiries. This looks credible and at the same time shows you how you could build your own profile. Don't simply copy other people's contact details, but pay attention to the principle: anyone who wants to reach you should find a clear way to do so.
Step 4: Compare the Performance of the Videos
Scroll through the profile's videos and compare the view counts. In this example, most clips range between 84,000 and around 400,000 views. The video with the face emoji reaches about 400,000 views, while a comparable video with weaker hashtags only gets around 100,000. The difference shows you how strongly the choice of hashtags can influence reach. Note down such anomalies, because they tell you more than any theory.
Step 5: Check Hashtags Specifically and Assess Your Own Brand Hashtag
Many creators rely on their own brand hashtag. This can make sense in the long term if you want to be perceived as a market leader in your niche, because then people can find you through that term. Next, tap the magnifying glass, search for the hashtag and look at the total views. In the example, the hashtag has around 48 million views. That's a lot, and it shows that a well-maintained hashtag can develop its own momentum over time.
Step 6: Assess Followers, Likes and Target Audience
Open the follower list and look at which profiles the creator follows themselves. In the example, the profile follows 75 accounts and has 1.5 million followers. Not all of them fit your target audience, so you have to decide for yourself where you belong. Also compare the total number of likes. The profile's 28.6 million likes and the roughly 45 million likes under the hashtag show you: the hashtag is obviously also used by other users. This is an indication that a hashtag can be more than just a profile feature.
Step 7: Actively analyze videos through interactions
You don't have to just watch passively. Use the interaction features to understand the content and to deliberately feed your algorithm. You can like, comment on, and share videos. Comments also reveal what appeals to the audience, which questions remain unanswered, and which tone resonates well. These observations are a valuable source of ideas for your own content.
Step 8: Adopt sounds and trending songs
When you tap on a video's music, you can see which song or sound was used. In the example, it is a version of "Rasputin" that is currently circulating as a trending sound. You can save the sound and use it in your own video. Make sure the sound fits your topic and your mood, otherwise it quickly feels forced. Incidentally, it is always worth returning to the Discover page, because new sounds keep appearing there.
Step 9: Examine your own niche in a targeted way
Enter a keyword from your niche in the search bar, for example "Aktien" (stocks). TikTok then suggests matching users and videos. In the example, they are exclusively content about stocks and making money. This gives you a quick overview of who is already visible in your subject area. Write down at least five profiles that you would like to take a closer look at.
Step 10: Check successful accounts for consistency and trademarks
Take a closer look at a profile, such as that of the creator Marius Kremer with around 11,000 followers. What stands out here is that he always uses the same tool and a recurring text style. Such repetition is no coincidence, but creates recognition. Another example is a channel that consistently uses blue text. This feature makes the account instantly recognizable. Think about which element you could use as your trademark, for example a color, a font, or a fixed intro phrase.
Step 11: Carry out a user and hashtag check
Additionally, search for usernames that contain your niche terms, such as "Aktienfreunde", "Aktienkauf" or "Aktienfans". Look at how these profiles are structured and what content they publish. Then check the relevant hashtags. The terms "Aktien" and "Aktien Tipps" show many views and are therefore relevant. The hashtag "Aktiendepot", on the other hand, only gets around 58,000 views. That is significantly fewer, even though the creator in the example is active under this very term. A hashtag with little reach is therefore no guarantee of visibility. Combine broad and specific hashtags so that you both gain reach and get found in a targeted way.
Summary – TikTok competitor analysis: How to find successful trends and hashtags
Competitor analysis on TikTok follows a clear process: You start on the Discover page, find creators who successfully serve trends, and check their profiles, videos, and hashtags. The point is not simply to copy content, but to recognize patterns. Which hashtags bring reach, which sounds are currently popular, and which trademark makes a profile stand out? If you answer these questions regularly, you develop a feel for what works in your niche and can plan your own videos more precisely.
FAQ
How do I find current trends on TikTok?Tap "Discover" at the bottom, where you will find challenges and popular hashtags.
How can I tell whether a hashtag is relevant?Tap on the hashtag and check the total views. The more views and the more videos behind it, the greater the reach.
Do I have to create my own hashtag?A custom brand hashtag can make sense if you want to be visible in your niche in the long term. However, it should fit your profile and be used regularly.
Can I use sounds from other people's videos?You can use sounds via a video's music information. Make sure the sound fits your topic and does not make your video seem out of place.
How do I find competitors in my niche?Enter a keyword from your niche in the search, for example "Aktien", and check the suggested users and videos.
What does a trademark mean on TikTok?A trademark is a recurring element such as a color, a text style, or a fixed structure that makes your profile instantly recognizable.
