TikTok Influencer Starter Kit: Choose a Niche You Can Post in for 30 Videos

Your goal in this chapter is not to pick a “perfect” niche. It’s to pick a niche you can reliably post in for 30 videos without running out of ideas or drifting into random content. A sustainable niche has clear boundaries (what you post), a clear viewer (who it’s for), and a repeatable way to deliver value (how you post).

1) Niche Triangle Exercise (Skill/Interest × Audience Problem × Repeatable Format)

Use the niche triangle to avoid choosing something that’s only “what I like” or only “what gets views.” You need all three corners:

• Skill/interest: what you can talk about weekly without forcing it.
• Audience problem: a specific frustration, goal, or confusion your viewer has.
• Repeatable format: a content structure you can repeat (so you’re not inventing a new style every time).

Step-by-step: Fill the triangle

1. List 10 skills/interests you can explain to a friend (even if you’re not an expert). Examples: meal prep, budgeting, skincare, Excel, language learning, gym routines, thrift styling, studying, home organization, gaming tips.

2. For each, write 3 audience problems that show up in real life. Use prompts: “They don’t know how to…”, “They keep messing up…”, “They feel overwhelmed by…”.

3. Pick 1–2 repeatable formats you’d enjoy making 30 times. Examples: “3 mistakes + fix,” “before/after,” “step-by-step demo,” “myth vs fact,” “tools I use,” “one concept in 20 seconds,” “react to a comment,” “mini checklist.”

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4. Combine into 3 niche candidates using this formula: [Skill/interest] for [specific viewer] who struggles with [problem], using [format].

Examples of niche triangle combinations

Rule: if you can’t imagine 10 videos immediately from the niche candidate, it’s too broad (“fitness”) or too vague (“lifestyle”). Tighten the viewer and the problem.

2) Audience Definition: One-Sentence Viewer Statement + 3 Pain Points

When your audience is clear, your content ideas become obvious. You’re not posting “what you feel like”; you’re answering the same person’s questions repeatedly from different angles.

Step-by-step: Write your viewer statement

Use this template:

I make videos for [specific type of person] who wants [goal] but struggles with [main obstacle].

Examples:

• I make videos for first-year college students who want to eat healthier but struggle with time, budget, and cooking confidence.
• I make videos for new office employees who want to look competent in Excel but struggle with knowing the right shortcuts and formulas.
• I make videos for beginner gym-goers who want to build strength but struggle with form, consistency, and intimidation.

Step-by-step: Identify 3 pain points (specific, not generic)

Write three pain points that show up as questions, mistakes, or emotional friction. Avoid vague items like “lack motivation.” Make them concrete.

• Pain point 1 (confusion): “I don’t know what to do first / what matters.”
• Pain point 2 (mistakes): “I keep doing X wrong and don’t know why it’s not working.”
• Pain point 3 (friction): “I can’t stick with it because of time, cost, or embarrassment.”

Example (beginner gym niche):

• Confusion: “Which exercises should I start with for full-body strength?”
• Mistakes: “My squat hurts my knees—what am I doing wrong?”
• Friction: “I only have 20 minutes—what’s the minimum effective workout?”

These pain points become your content engine: each pain point can generate 10+ videos.

3) Content Pillars: Define 3–5 Pillars With Guardrails (What Belongs / Doesn’t Belong)

Content pillars are your posting boundaries. They prevent random posting and help viewers understand what they’ll get from you. Each pillar is a category of videos you can repeat weekly.

Step-by-step: Create your pillars

1. Pick 3–5 pillars that directly solve your audience pain points.

2. Name each pillar in plain language (so you can quickly tag ideas).

3. Add guardrails: what belongs and what doesn’t belong.

4. Assign 2–3 repeatable formats per pillar (so you can produce faster).

Example pillar set (Excel for office newbies)

Guardrail checklist (use this before posting)

• Viewer fit: Would my one-sentence viewer care about this today?
• Pillar fit: Which pillar is it? If none, it’s likely random.
• Problem fit: Which pain point does it solve?
• Format fit: Can I deliver it in a repeatable structure?

If a video fails two or more checks, save it for later or post it elsewhere. Consistency beats variety early on.

4) Differentiation: Choose an Angle + Use a Positioning Sentence Template

Many creators can cover the same niche. Your differentiation is the angle: the style and promise that makes your videos feel distinct and predictable. Pick one primary angle and one secondary angle (optional) so you don’t sound like everyone else.

Angle menu (choose 1 primary)

• Beginner-friendly: assume zero knowledge, define terms, slower pacing.
• Fast hacks: quick wins, shortcuts, “do this today” tips.
• Detailed breakdowns: deeper explanations, step-by-step, why it works.
• Humor: relatable skits, exaggerations, “POV” scenarios.
• Myths & mistakes: debunking, “you’re doing X wrong,” common misconceptions.

Step-by-step: Pick your angle intentionally

1. Match angle to your personality and production style. If you hate acting, don’t pick humor as primary.

2. Match angle to audience pain. If they’re overwhelmed, beginner-friendly or checklists work well. If they’re impatient, fast hacks work well.

3. Write 5 hooks in your chosen angle to test if it feels natural.

Hook examples by angle (same topic: “meal prep”):

• Beginner-friendly: “If you’ve never meal prepped before, start with this 2-container system.”
• Fast hacks: “Meal prep in 12 minutes: one pan, three meals.”
• Detailed breakdowns: “Here’s why your chicken gets dry—and the exact fix.”
• Humor: “POV: It’s Wednesday and your ‘meal prep’ is vibes and cereal.”
• Myths & mistakes: “Stop meal prepping like this—it’s why you quit by week two.”

Positioning sentence template (use this to stay consistent)

I help [specific viewer] get [specific result] without [common frustration], using [your angle + repeatable format].

Examples:

• I help busy college students eat healthier without spending a lot, using beginner-friendly 5-ingredient meal builds.
• I help office newbies get faster in Excel without memorizing everything, using 20-second shortcut demos.
• I help beginner lifters build strength without feeling lost, using myth-busting form fixes and simple routines.

5) Validation Without Guesswork: Use TikTok Search, Top Creators, and Comments to Build 30 Topics

You don’t validate a niche by “thinking hard.” You validate by observing what people already search for, what performs, and what questions keep showing up. Your job is to turn that evidence into a 30-video beginner topic list.

A) TikTok search suggestions (demand signals)

In TikTok search, type your niche keyword and look at autocomplete suggestions. These suggestions are real phrases people search.

Step-by-step

1. Type: [niche keyword] (example: excel).

2. Write down 10–20 autocomplete phrases (example: “excel for beginners,” “excel shortcuts,” “excel if formula,” “excel tips,” “excel vlookup”).

3. Turn each phrase into 1–3 beginner video titles.

Example transformations:

• Search suggestion: “excel shortcuts” → Video ideas: “5 shortcuts I use daily,” “The shortcut that fixes messy columns,” “Stop using your mouse for this.”
• Search suggestion: “excel for beginners” → Video ideas: “Excel basics in 60 seconds,” “3 things to learn first,” “Common beginner mistake: merged cells.”

B) Top creators (format and gap signals)

Find 5–10 creators in your niche and study them for patterns, not for copying. You’re looking for: what formats repeat, what topics get saved/shared, and what’s missing for your specific viewer.

Step-by-step

1. Search your niche and open the top posts.

2. Tap into 5 creators and scroll their top-performing videos.

3. For each creator, note:

   • Top 3 recurring topics
   • Top 2 recurring formats
   • What they assume the viewer already knows

4. Write 5 “gap ideas” where you can be different (usually more beginner-friendly, more specific, or more structured).

Example gap ideas (if creators are advanced):

• “Explain it like I’m new” versions of popular topics
• “Start here” series: first 7 days, first 5 tools, first 3 habits
• Templates/checklists for absolute beginners

C) Comment questions (content handed to you)

Comments reveal confusion and objections. These are perfect video prompts because they’re already phrased as questions.

Step-by-step

1. Open 20 high-performing videos in your niche.

2. Scan comments and copy questions into a notes doc.

3. Group questions into your pillars.

4. Turn each question into a video with a direct promise in the first sentence.

Question → video hook examples:

• Comment: “What if I don’t have time?” → “If you only have 15 minutes, do this version.”
• Comment: “Does this work for beginners?” → “Yes—here’s the beginner version and what to skip.”
• Comment: “What do I do if I mess up?” → “If you already did X, here’s how to fix it in 2 steps.”

D) Turn findings into a list of 30 beginner topics (a simple system)

Use this method to generate 30 topics quickly and keep them within your guardrails.

Step-by-step: The 30-topic builder

1. Choose 3–5 pillars.

2. For each pillar, create 6–10 topics using search suggestions + comment questions.

3. Make every topic beginner-scoped by adding one of these constraints:

   • “in 60 seconds”
   • “first step”
   • “common mistake”
   • “minimum effective”
   • “start here”
   • “3-step checklist”

4. Write topics as working titles (not vague ideas). A good title implies the promise.

30-topic example list (template you can copy)

Replace bracketed text with your niche specifics.

Pillar 1: [Basics / Start Here] (6 topics) 1) Start here: the first 3 things to learn about [topic] 2) The #1 mistake beginners make with [topic] 3) What to do in your first week of [topic] 4) The simplest setup for [topic] (no extra gear) 5) 5 terms in [topic] you’ll hear everywhere (explained simply) 6) If you feel overwhelmed by [topic], do this 2-step reset Pillar 2: [Quick Wins / Hacks] (6 topics) 7) The fastest way to get a win in [topic] today 8) Do this, not that: [common wrong approach] 9) 3 shortcuts that save time in [topic] 10) The “lazy” method that still works for [topic] 11) One tool/app/item that makes [topic] easier 12) My 20-second checklist before I [do the task] Pillar 3: [Mistakes & Fixes] (6 topics) 13) Why [problem] keeps happening (and the fix) 14) If you already messed up [thing], here’s how to recover 15) Stop doing [mistake]—do this instead 16) The hidden reason [tip] isn’t working for you 17) 3 signs you’re doing [task] wrong 18) Beginner troubleshooting: what to check first Pillar 4: [Step-by-step Demos] (6 topics) 19) Watch me do [task] step-by-step (beginner version) 20) The easiest way to [result] in 3 steps 21) A simple routine for [goal] (under 20 minutes) 22) How to choose [tool/product] without overthinking 23) Build a basic [plan/template] with me 24) The minimum you need for [result] Pillar 5: [Myths / FAQs] (6 topics) 25) Myth: you need [common belief] to start—here’s the truth 26) FAQ: “Do I need [thing]?” 27) FAQ: “How often should I [do task]?” 28) Myth vs fact: [controversial claim] 29) What I’d do if I started [topic] from zero today 30) Answering your question: [most common comment question]

Now map your 30 topics back to your pillars. If any topic doesn’t fit a pillar or doesn’t serve your viewer statement, remove it. This is how you keep your niche sustainable and your posting consistent from video 1 to video 30.