Our agency took on a new marketing project and we knew we needed to tap into TikTok's massive user base to drive traffic to the brand new website. So we built a TikTok account from zero and got to work. This is the honest log of what we did, what we used and what the numbers looked like, expanded from my LinkedIn updates at the time (update one, update two).
Why did we bet on TikTok?
As a full-stack digital agency, our services cover everything from PPC and SEO to website design. Staying ahead in a landscape that changes this fast meant expanding into platforms like TikTok. By adding TikTok strategies to our suite of services, we help clients tap into a massive user base and use the platform's potential for brand growth and awareness, the same way we approach social media for our mortgage clients.
How do you start a TikTok account from zero?
We had chosen one of the most competitive niches out there, and the account was completely fresh: no followers, no history, no help from the algorithm. In the first 28 days the account received 23,148 video views. For a brand new account in a difficult niche, that is an excellent start.
From week three we ramped up video production to keep the momentum, testing new ideas constantly and using data analytics to track what resonated. One of the keys was staying on top of trends and joining viral challenges that aligned with the brand's messaging. We were also proactive with the audience: responding to comments and building a community around the new brand.
What tools did we actually use?
The whole setup was deliberately lean and fast:
- Content first: compelling videos that grab attention, built around what was trending.
- AI tools: Jasper.ai and OpenAI to generate ideas and optimize the content.
- A new phone and SIM card specifically for the US market.
- A VPN to access TikTok from various locations, so restrictions would not limit the reach.
- AI voice-over and editing tools to lift the production value of the videos.
- CapCut for producing part of the videos, because we wanted something fast.
- Descript for the subtitles.
- Photoshop for the first frames of each video, so the brand stayed aligned.
- WordPress for a simple, clean website and Stripe to accept payments.
- A custom script to engage with new followers automatically.
What happened after two weeks of ramping up?
The next update almost did not need words: 800K video views in just two weeks, closing in on one million with a fresh account. That came from consistent posting of 1 to 2 videos per day, with some videos hitting an impressive 300K views.
Watching trends let us create content that stayed relevant and engaging for the target audience. And the community work paid off: answering comments taught us what the followers actually wanted, which fed straight back into the content.
What difference did AI make?
At that point we had been using AI for a little over a year, and it had been a game changer for the agency. With tools like Jasper.ai and OpenAI we could generate ideas quickly and optimize content for maximum engagement, which made it much easier to capitalize on viral moments. It is the same reason we keep testing new AI channels, like ads inside ChatGPT, and why we treat search in the AI era as a moving target.
Big companies are often tone deaf here because they cannot pivot quickly enough, and even when they can, their cost of production is high and that level of polish is simply not needed anymore. One honest caveat from our experience: AI works best when you have a team of talented designers, developers and video editors at hand to implement and execute. The tools generate; people ship. If you want us to apply the same playbook to your brand, talk to us.
Frequently asked questions
How many views did the new TikTok account get?
The brand new account received 23,148 video views in its first 28 days, in one of the most competitive niches we could have chosen. After we ramped up production, the account reached 800K views in just two weeks, with individual videos hitting 300K views, closing in on one million overall.
What AI tools were part of the workflow?
Jasper.ai and OpenAI generated ideas and optimized the content, AI voice-over tools raised the production value, and Descript handled the subtitles. AI had been part of our workflow for over a year at that point, but it works best paired with a real team of designers, developers and video editors who implement and execute.
How often did the account post?
Consistently, 1 to 2 videos per day. That rhythm, combined with watching trends and joining viral challenges that aligned with the brand's messaging, is what produced videos reaching 300K views. We also used data analytics constantly to track which ideas resonated with the audience and doubled down on those.
Why the separate phone, US SIM card and VPN?
The project targeted the US market, so we invested in a new phone and SIM card specifically for it. The VPN let us access TikTok from various locations, which helped bypass restrictions that might have limited how many people saw the content. Small setup details, but they protected the account's reach.
Founder & CEO of RB Creative Digital. Nearly two decades in SEO and digital marketing for mortgage, aviation and AI-first companies, with clients in the UK, US and Romania. His work has been featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur and HuffPost.
LinkedIn · All articles by Radu
Edited and designed by Marius Stefan · Reviewed by Cristina Gabriela
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