Warming Up a New or Dead Account

Whether you just created your account or you're reviving one that's been dormant, warming it up properly is crucial for training the algorithm to understand exactly which readers you want to reach.

Why Warming Up Matters

As we learned in the algorithm basics, TikTok is a matchmaker trying to connect your content with the right audience. But first, it needs to understand who you are and what type of content you create. Every action during warmup (what you watch, like, comment on, and follow) teaches the algorithm about your niche. Skip this step, and TikTok won't know that you're a BookTok creator targeting specific readers.

Think of warming up as strategic market research that pays dividends forever. While you're training the algorithm, you're also:

  • Discovering what BookTok content resonates in your specific genre
  • Identifying your ideal readers and understanding their preferences
  • Learning the current trends, language, and interests of your target readers
  • Building genuine connections within your niche before you start creating
  • Understanding which books, tropes, and topics generate the most engagement in your space

This isn't busywork. It's the foundation that determines whether your future content reaches 50 views or 50,000 views.

The Warm-Up Plan

The warm-up typically takes 3-7 days, though we recommend a full week to be safe. The key is consistency in your daily activities, not which specific day you do them.

Daily Warm-Up Activities

Essential Daily Tasks (15-30 minutes):

1. Strategic Watching

  • Search and watch videos with hashtags specific to your genre:
    • #BookTok + #[YourGenre]Books + #[YourSubgenre]
    • #[YourTrope]Books (e.g., #EnemiestoLovers, #FoundFamily)
  • Let videos play to completion (crucial for algorithm training)
  • Focus exclusively on your niche - no general content

2. Targeted Following

  • Follow 5-10 highly targeted accounts daily:
    • Book reviewers and bookish creators in your genre
    • Genre-specific reading communities and book clubs
    • Fellow authors in your genre (think networking and cross-promotion opportunities!)
    • BookTubers and bookstagrammers who've moved to TikTok
  • Like ONLY content in your specific genre/niche

3. Authentic Engagement

  • Leave thoughtful comments that add value through:
    • Humor: "Not me ugly crying in public over that plot twist 😭"
    • Insights: "The way the author uses weather to mirror the MC's emotions >>>"
    • Encouragement: "Your reviews always help me find my next 5-star read!"
    • Questions: "Is the spice level more ACOTAR or Fourth Wing?"
    • Book recs when relevant: "If you loved this, [similar book] has the same vibes!"
  • Comment on fresh posts (within first hour) for better visibility

4. Strategic Saving

  • When you see content that resonates (trending audio, effective formats, great hooks), save it immediately to organized collections:
    • "Content Ideas - [Your Genre]"
    • "Trending Audio - [Your Genre]" (for sounds that work well with book content)
    • "Video Formats to Try" (POV styles, text overlays, transitions)
    • "[Your Genre] TBR"
    • "BookTok Trends to Try"

TikTok's bookmark feature and collections are explained clearly in this YouTube video by Trevor Nace (note: this creator isn't affiliated with our guide):

5. Community Building

  • Join conversations in your niche:
    • Debate character choices
    • Share unpopular opinions about popular books
    • Recommend lesser-known books when relevant
  • Use the Q&A feature on others' videos to ask book-related questions

Signs Your Warm-Up is Working

After 3-7 days, you should see these indicators that the algorithm understands your niche:

Algorithm Training Success:

  • Your For You Page shows 80%+ book content in your specific genre/subgenre
  • BookTok creators in your niche appear in suggested follows
  • Search suggestions automatically include your genre terms
  • "Following" feed shows mostly book content from accounts you've followed
  • You recognize usernames and faces in your niche (you're seeing the same community repeatedly)

Community Recognition:

  • Book creators start following you back
  • Your comments on videos get likes and replies from other readers
  • You're tagged in book recommendation requests in your genre
  • Your profile gets consistent daily visits from organic discovery

Staying Algorithm-Aligned

Even after your initial warmup period, dedicate 5-10 minutes daily to engaging with content in your niche. This ongoing engagement keeps the algorithm focused on your target audience and provides constant inspiration for new hooks and content ideas.

Common Warm-Up Mistakes

Being Too Broad: Liking fantasy, romance, AND thriller content during warm-up confuses the algorithm. Pick one primary genre and stick to it.

Following Everyone Back: When authors follow you during warm-up, don't automatically follow back unless they also read and create content in your specific genre.

Engaging with General BookTok: Avoid broad #BookTok content. Focus on your specific niche hashtags to train the algorithm precisely.

Rushing the Process: While some accounts warm up in 3 days, others need a full week or more. Don't start posting content until your For You Page consistently shows your genre.

Reviving a Dead Account

If your account has been inactive for 3+ months or your engagement has flatlined, you need a slightly different approach:

The Resurrection Protocol

  1. Audit Your History: Check if your past content aligns with BookTok
  2. Archive Non-Book Content: Hide (don't delete) videos that aren't book-related
  3. Update for BookTok: New bio with genre/tropes, author photo, clear username
  4. Follow the New Account Protocol: The algorithm needs to relearn who you are

Should You Start Over?

Consider a new account if:

  • Inactive for 6+ months with under 1,000 followers
  • Your engagement rate dropped below 2% (likes, comments, saves divided by views)
  • Previous content was completely unrelated to books (e.g., fitness, cooking)
  • You've changed genres dramatically (went from romance author to horror)
  • Multiple videos were flagged or removed

Keep your existing account if:

  • You have 1,000+ engaged followers
  • Some videos performed well (10K+ views)
  • Your content was book-adjacent (writing tips, author life)
  • You're in the same genre, just refocusing

Remember: A properly warmed account is the foundation of everything that follows. Skip this step, and you'll be fighting the algorithm instead of working with it.

With your account warmed and ready, we now dive into the very core of your content: the hook. It's the element that makes readers stop scrolling. From there, we'll explore the formats authors are using in 2025 to turn those hooks into engaging, viral posts.

Up next

Module 3: Content That Converts

Master the video formats, strategies, and tactics that get authors discovered and convert viewers into readers.

Warming Up a New or Dead Account - BookTok Guide