Most TikTok advice is garbage. "Post consistently" and "find your niche" isn't a strategy — it's a motivational poster. Here's what actually works when you combine AI tools with an understanding of the algorithm.
Step 1: Generate Hooks That Stop the Scroll
The first 1-2 seconds of your video determine everything. If people don't stop scrolling, nothing else matters. AI is absurdly good at generating hooks because it can pattern-match against what's already working.
The formula I use: Curiosity Gap + Pattern Interrupt
Feed an AI tool like Claude a prompt like this:
"Generate 10 TikTok hooks for a video about [topic]. Each hook should create a curiosity gap — make the viewer NEED to know what comes next. Use pattern interrupts: unexpected statements, contradictions, or something that sounds wrong but is actually true."
Example outputs:
- "This free AI tool is so powerful it should probably be illegal"
- "I replaced my $2,000/month employee with a $20 AI tool"
- "Stop using ChatGPT for this — there's something 10x better"
These work because they create an information gap your brain wants to close.
Step 2: Write Scripts That Hold Attention
TikTok's algorithm tracks watch time. A 60-second video watched to 100% beats a 15-second video watched to 100%. But only if people actually stay.
I use AI to write scripts with a structure I call Hook → Proof → Stack → Payoff:
- Hook (0-2s): The attention-grabber
- Proof (2-10s): Show credibility or results immediately
- Stack (10-45s): Deliver value in rapid chunks, each one a mini-hook
- Payoff (last 5s): The big reveal, CTA, or twist
Each "stack" item should make the viewer think "wait, there's MORE?" That's what drives completion rate.
Step 3: Optimize Captions and Hashtags
Captions aren't just descriptions — they're a second hook. The best TikTok captions either add context that makes you watch again or create controversy that drives comments.
I prompt AI to generate 5 caption options for each video, optimizing for:
- Comment bait: "Am I wrong?" or "Most people don't know #3"
- Save bait: "Save this for later" (saves are weighted heavily)
- Share bait: "Send this to someone who needs it"
For hashtags, use a mix: 2-3 broad (#AI, #tech), 2-3 niche (#aitools, #aihacks), and 1-2 trending. AI can research which hashtags are gaining momentum in your niche.
Step 4: Time Your Posts
Posting time matters less than people think, but it's still a factor. I use AI to analyze my analytics and find the windows where my audience is most active. For the AI/tech niche, these tend to be:
- Weekdays: 7-9 AM, 12-1 PM, 7-9 PM
- Weekends: 10 AM - 12 PM, 8-10 PM
But your audience might be different. Let the data decide.
Step 5: Iterate Based on What Hits
This is where most creators fail. They post, check views, feel bad, and change nothing. Instead, feed your analytics to AI and ask it to find patterns:
"Here are my last 20 TikToks with their view counts and completion rates. What patterns do you see in my top performers vs. underperformers? What should I do more of?"
AI will catch patterns you'd miss: maybe your face-to-camera videos outperform slideshows 3:1. Maybe videos under 30 seconds tank. Maybe your Tuesday posts always flop.
The Real Secret
AI doesn't replace creativity — it amplifies it. The creators who'll win are the ones who use AI for the tedious stuff (hooks, hashtags, analytics) and spend their freed-up time on the stuff AI can't do: being genuinely interesting, having real opinions, and connecting with their audience like a human.
The tools are free. The strategy is here. The only variable is whether you actually do it.