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I’m so frustrated with TikTok — why do some videos blow up and others die instantly?
Posted by on February 19, 2026 at 3:05 amI’m honestly at my wit’s end with TikTok and I don’t know what to do. Some of my videos perform really well, and others… completely flop, and I can’t figure out why. I analyze every single video I post and I still can’t find a pattern.
Last weekend, I posted two videos that did really well: one got 29k views and 9k likes, the other got 6k views and 600 likes. Both were in the same niche — books.
Since then, I’ve been posting one video per day in the same style as those two successful ones. Same niche, same book series, same style of post, same background, same video editing. And… they completely die. They get stuck at 200–300 views, fewer than 30 likes, and just a handful of comments.
I just… don’t get it. Why do some videos succeed and others, basically identical in style, fail completely? Has anyone else experienced this? I need help understanding what I’m missing. -
1 Reply
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Variance. The first couple hundred people that see your video decide the next phase. Sometimes its a good batch, most of the time it isnt.
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The variance thing is real but what helped me was testing way more hooks per day instead of posting one video and hoping. I started using Cliptalk AI to pump out variations faster and the patterns became way more obvious once I had enough data points to actually compare.
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This is normal on TikTok. Small differences in the first 1–3 seconds (hook + retention) can completely change distribution. Even “same style” videos perform differently because the algorithm tests early engagement first. Keep tweaking the hook don’t just repeat what worked.
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TikTok mostly “tests” each video on watch time and completion. So two similar videos can split fast if one hook holds attention longer in the first 1–2 seconds. ([TikTok Newsroom](https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/how-tiktok-recommends-videos-for-you?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
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oh man, i know the struggle. i’ve had some videos blow up and others with the same vibe just flop no matter what. maybe try posting at different times or experimenting with different hashtags? I’ve heard sometimes the algorithm just outta your control. but yeah, frustrating as hell.
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It’s a game. It’s not you, it’s them. They create this frustration in our attempt for you to try to game their algorithm. You’re never gonna win. Get off TikTok.
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The TikTok algorithm is frustrating because it’s designed to test every video with a small audience first, regardless of your past performance. Here’s what I’ve learned after dealing with the same issue:
The initial push matters most. TikTok shows your video to maybe 200-500 people first. If those people watch it through, like it, or share it, the algorithm pushes it to more people. If they scroll past quickly, it dies there.
What likely happened with your successful videos: They hooked viewers in the first 1-2 seconds. The unsuccessful ones probably had a slower start, even if the content was good. TikTok doesn’t care about your production quality or how good the middle/end is if people bounce early.
Some things to test:
– Start with movement or an immediate question in the first frame
– Look at your successful videos – what do they have in common in the first 3 seconds?
– Check your analytics – where are people dropping off on the failed videos?
– Post at different times – your test audience might be different at 2pm vs 8pm
The books niche is actually decent on TikTok but it’s crowded. The algorithm might also be testing whether you’re a one-hit wonder or consistently engaging. Keep posting daily but try varying your hooks while keeping everything else the same.
Also, resist the urge to delete low-performing videos. The algorithm learns from all your content, not just the winners.
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I totally get the frustration! TikTok’s algorithm can be so unpredictable sometimes. Even with similar content, the timing, engagement in the first few minutes, and sometimes even the hashtags can make a huge difference. Maybe try experimenting with posting times or slightly tweaking your videos sometimes it’s the little things that work wonders. Anyone else experienced something similar?
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