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How Kat’s Low-Follower TikToks Rack Up a Million Views Weekly Using Aspirational Slideshows

PLUS: I read Mary Meeker's 340 Slide AI Deck—Here Are the Top Takeaways

How Kat’s Low-Follower TikToks Rack Up a Million Views Weekly Using Aspirational Slideshows

Kat, the creator behind @katmoneybudget, has just 30,000 followers on TikTok.

Kat - Money & Budget

But her videos pull over a million views every single week. It’s not a fluke, and it’s not about being early. Her content follows a repeatable format that taps into trust, relatability, and transparent financial storytelling.

Her Hooks Are Designed to Stop the Scroll

Every slideshow starts with a short, ultra-clear text hook. No clickbait. No fluff. Just a specific statement of what the video is about.

  • “My financial goals. Mid year review.”

  • “5 money traps you should avoid in your 20s while you are saving for your first $100k”

  • “How much I saved in Q1 Jan-March 2025”

Each hook is written in first person. That detail matters—it signals transparency and pulls people in. And there’s always a number, date, or percent.

This kind of specificity cuts through the noise and makes the viewer stop.

The Selfie Is Doing More Work Than It Looks Like

The first image is always a selfie. But it’s not random—it’s a calculated mix of trust signals.

  • She’s usually indoors, in a bright, clean space.

  • Her expression is relaxed, confident, casual.

  • The image looks like it came straight from an iPhone.

  • The background—often a modern apartment—subtly signals success.

These choices make her relatable, competent, and aspirational all at once. It’s not about looking perfect. It’s about looking like someone who has her life together—just enough for people to believe what she’s saying.

Every Slide Is the Content—No Fluff, No Cutaways

Kat’s slides don’t waste space. Each one is either showing a personal goal, a budget breakdown, or a money insight. They’re tightly focused.

  • One slide: her rent, groceries, savings percentages.

  • Another: monthly progress toward a savings goal.

  • Next: her updated 2024 plan, now that it’s June.

There are no transition slides, branding, or filler. Every frame has useful information. And the rhythm of the slideshow keeps people engaged—because they’re swiping to get the next tip, not waiting through filler.

Kat Slides

She Uses Listicles Because They Work

Most of her videos follow a listicle structure. It’s not random. Listicles make content easier to watch, easier to create, and easier to repeat.

  • “3 financial goals for Q2”

  • “My 5 biggest expenses in May”

  • “4 things I stopped buying to save money”

It gives structure. Viewers know what they’re getting. And she doesn’t have to reinvent the format every time. New topic, same frame. That consistency builds loyalty—people know what to expect from her.

Every Slide Has a Number, Year, or Percent

There’s one more detail that makes the content feel trustworthy. Each slide includes real numbers.

  • “Rent: $1,350 (54% of income)”

  • “Goal: $10,000 in savings by 2026”

  • “Groceries: $320 this month”

These small bits of data do a lot of work. They create specificity, which builds credibility. Viewers aren’t just getting tips—they’re seeing real numbers from someone who lives what she posts. It makes people stay. It makes them trust.

Despite huge traction on TikTok, her Instagram has just 176 followers. That’s not a problem. Her format isn’t built for Instagram.

She’s just optimizing for where the format performs best. It’s TikTok-native content, built for a feed that thrives on short, visual storytelling.

Kat’s success doesn’t come from follower count. It comes from structure.

Kat's repeatable playbook:

  1. Start with a clear hook: short, first-person, includes a number or goal.

  2. Use a casual selfie that feels trustworthy but confident.

  3. Structure the slideshow as a short listicle (3–5 slides).

  4. Fill every slide with one useful, specific insight.

  5. Ground each point in data: percentages, years, dollar amounts.

No fancy editing. No gimmicks. Just clear storytelling, real goals, and consistent visuals.

Hat Tip to Matt Welter for the insight.

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