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- SiMPL #002: How I Started a TikTok News Channel Using AI and Got Over 1 Million Views in Less Than a Month
SiMPL #002: How I Started a TikTok News Channel Using AI and Got Over 1 Million Views in Less Than a Month
(and Why I Didn’t Like It)
Joel Barsallo
September 08, 2024
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First things first—why?
Why did I start this TikTok channel? Well, it was an experiment, plain and simple.
One thing I’ve learned in my 40 years on this planet is that experience usually means learning about something you didn’t know… right after you needed to know it. Missing out because you didn’t have that key piece of info? Yeah, it stings. It’s like falling out of a tree or trying to pet your grandmother’s parrot—nothing teaches faster than a twisted ankle or a bitten finger, right?
Over the last five years, I’ve worked with people from different generations. One thing I’ve done well is helping them find answers. Sometimes, I have the answer; other times, I go learn and come back with it. For me, the goal is not to have all the answers but to help people learn how to find them.
Now, I’m a bookworm and a knowledge junkie—I love connecting dots. After helping younger people, I’d often hear, “Why don’t you start a TikTok channel and explain this? People would love it.” After hearing this a dozen times, it stuck.
I missed the chance to do it during big events in Panama—the copper mine conflict and the 2024 elections. True to my definition of “experience,” I started learning about it after I needed it. Better late than never, right?
So, I decided to just start. I mentioned this mindset in my previous newsletter—it’s all about taking the leap. I had never used TikTok before, just watched the videos people sent me. But I had seen AI-produced content and got curious. I found this great article on Medium here, and before I knew it, I was down the YouTube rabbit hole, learning from others.
The experiment began. I created a Gmail account and went straight to TikTok. From there, I tested different AI tools to make faceless videos, eventually landing on InVideo.io (more on that later).
Choosing a Topic:
I went with something fresh: Venezuela’s election. People were calling it a coup, and I thought, “Wait, what?” I created a super-detailed script analyzing the situation—a deep dive into geopolitics, coups vs. revolutions, and more. Then I tested it with friends and family… and lost them. 😅
So, I went simpler: multiple short videos, spoon-feeding the info. The first few videos got around 200 views, and I slowly got the hang of the tools and the scriptwriting process.
And then—BOOM!
As I got better, views climbed to 500k! I went viral! I thought I’d cracked the code… but nope. I tried the same pattern, and it flopped—just a few thousand views here and there.
Still, I kept experimenting. Some videos hit 100k, 200k views. One thing became clear: be persistent and flexible.
Here’s How I Did It (And What I’d Recommend):
If you’re thinking about starting something new—whether it’s TikTok, a blog, or something else—these are the steps that worked for me. They helped me navigate the ups and downs, and I’m confident they can help you too.
✅ Step 1: Jump In
I started by opening a TikTok account. There’s no better way to learn than by doing. Just like learning to swim—you can’t fully grasp it until you’re in the water. | Lesson: Don’t overthink it. Sometimes, the best way to start is to dive in and figure things out as you go. |
✅ Step 2: Set a Clear Goal
I decided on news-focused, informative, and engaging content. I began with a specific idea and refined it over time, paying attention to what resonated with my audience. | Lesson: Define your purpose, but be flexible. Start with a clear goal, but be open to tweaking based on feedback. |
✅ Step 3: Learn from the Best
I studied successful TikTokers, even if their content was different. I observed how they used music, hooks, visuals, and colors. | Lesson: Don’t reinvent the wheel. There’s always something to learn from others, no matter how different their style is. |
✅ Step 4: Iterate and Improve
Trial and error was key. I went from 30 views to 500k! Every iteration taught me something new, and I applied those lessons. | Lesson: Growth is a process. Keep refining your content, learn from each post, and your efforts will pay off over time. |
✅ Step 5: Stay Flexible and Keep Learning
After hitting 500k views, I realized I couldn’t get comfortable. What worked once didn’t always work again, so I kept learning and adapting. | Lesson: Success isn’t static. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and never stop learning. |
Now, this is SiMPL, so I’m here to make your life easier. Here’s my toolkit for creating successful TikTok posts:
• A Hook: You’ve got seconds to grab attention! Plan your hook carefully. Try something like, “What?? 1 Million Views in 1 Month!” Need more ideas? Check out this blog for killer TikTok and Instagram hooks.
• Compelling Post Cover: Your post cover should be visually appealing and have a catchy title. I used Canva for this—it’s simple to use, and after a few tries, I was rolling. Here’s the link.
• For the Videos: I used InVideo AI—it analyzes your script and helps you create a video you can edit in-platform. It’s super easy! Check it out here.
• Use Captions: Captions boosted my views from thousands to hundreds of thousands. Seriously, it’s worth the effort.
• Duration Matters: Videos shorter than a minute got more views than longer ones, especially for my news content.
• Different Content, Different Reach: I tested two hot topics at the same time: the Venezuelan election and the Ukraine-Russia war. Both did well, but the Venezuelan topic pulled in more views and comments.
Why I Didn’t Like It:
Now, after all that excitement and success, you’d think I’d be hooked, right? But here’s the truth: I didn’t fall in love with TikTok. Sure, the engagement was great, and the followers were rolling in, but something didn’t click for me.
One thing that’s clear, though—this was a good wake-up call. Writing all those scripts made me realize that was the part I enjoyed the most. That’s how the idea for SiMPL started taking shape in my head.
Maybe it’s the overwhelming flood of content on TikTok, or maybe it’s because I’m old school and prefer my news in written form or through long-form YouTube videos. Either way, TikTok just didn’t feel like the right fit for me.
Don’t get me wrong, the platform works, and it’s a powerful tool. But for now, I’m stepping back from the TikTok grind and focusing on what I truly enjoy—simplifying complex topics in a way that makes sense. That’s how SiMPL was born.
And that’s how I did it.
That’s how I hit over a million views on TikTok in less than a month. Consistency is key, and if you stick with it, you’ll reach your goals too.
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SiMPL’s Weekly World Wrap-Up (Sep2-Sep7/24)
Nvidia’s $10 Billion Slide Hits CEO Jensen Huang—Ouch!: t’s not every day you lose $10 billion… unless you’re Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang. Thanks to a major selloff in tech stocks, Huang’s fortune took a $9.8 billion nosedive on Tuesday, dropping him from 14th to 16th on the Forbes Billionaires list. Nvidia’s stock tanked by 9.5%, and the hits kept coming after-hours. But hey, Huang’s still got $94.6 billion in the bank, so don’t feel too bad for him. 😅. Here is the article I liked best!  Gif by NVIDIA-GeForce on Giphy | Hvaldimir the Russian Spy Whale Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances: the famous beluga whale suspected of being a Russian spy, was found dead over the weekend. This beloved whale, who gained international fame after being discovered in Norway in 2019 wearing a harness labeled “Equipment St. Petersburg,” had captured hearts with his friendly interactions and viral moments. Animal rights groups are now raising concerns about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Hvaldimir’s story, from alleged spy to social media sensation, has come to a tragic end. Read the full story here. |
Musk and Trump: The Dynamic Duo to ‘Fix’ Government Efficiency? Elon Musk is back in the spotlight, but this time for his political side hustle. Donald Trump announced that if he wins the November election, Musk will head a “government efficiency commission.” The goal? To cut down on fraud and waste in the federal government within six months. Musk confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that he’s ready to serve—no pay, no title, no recognition needed. Will this dynamic duo actually fix government efficiency or is this just another episode of “The Apprentice: Politics Edition?” more on this here.
NASA found what?: NASA has just made a groundbreaking discovery that sounds straight out of science fiction—a planet-wide electric field, as fundamental as gravity and magnetism. This force, known as the ambipolar electric field, has been quietly influencing our atmosphere for over 60 years, but we’ve only just confirmed its existence. Think of it as a subtle conveyor belt, lifting particles from our atmosphere into space and possibly shaping our planet’s evolution in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Want to know more about this cosmic revelation?Dive into the full story here. | Well, Elon Musk is at it again. After sparking a social media brawl with Nicolás Maduro in early August (resulting in X being banned from Venezuela for 10 days), Musk has now managed to get himself banned from Brazil. Why? He refused to appoint a legal representative for his company, claiming he didn’t want to risk any employee getting sued or jailed by a “corrupt judge” he’s dubbed Alexandre de Voldemort. 🤯
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That’s it for this week! Hope you enjoyed this edition of the newsletter. If you did, please subscribe and share it with a friend who might like it too. See you next week!