I used to be a kind of Zillennials who prevented getting began on TikTok for so long as potential. It’s not that I don’t love social media — belief me, I do. It simply took me a very long time to simply accept that TikTok, not like Vine, was right here to remain.
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Sadly, my opinion has modified, and it has subsequently taken me double the same old time to jot down this submit as a result of I’ve needed to spend a lot of it on TikTok, which inherently results in distraction (don’t fear, I received there in the long run).
TikTok had 1.5 billion monthly active users in 2023 and is anticipated to have 1.8 billion customers by the tip of 2024.
For comparability, in accordance with information from a 2024 Kepios study, TikTok is the 4th largest social media platform by month-to-month lively customers. Fb has greater than 3 billion, YouTube has greater than 2.5 billion, and Instagram has 2 billion.
To state the plain, TikTok is dominating the social media panorama as a gold mine of quick, snackable content material. Whereas that sounds thrilling — how are you going to get began?
I’ve included a couple of steps, with pictures, to stroll you thru establishing your profile, filming your first video, including particular results, and utilizing challenges or duets to have interaction with different customers.
You’ll additionally get a crash course on rising your viewers and monitoring analytics to make sure you’re creating content material that reaches and resonates with the proper folks.
Desk of Contents
The right way to Use TikTok
The very first thing that originally turned me off from TikTok was that I considered it as a glorified Instagram, besides that I couldn’t even submit flattering pictures of myself!
So, what was the purpose?
What I’ve discovered over time is that TikTok has many use instances — whether or not you might be a person social media person or a enterprise. Beneath are three examples of the way you’ll be able to make the most of TikTok for work or enjoyable.
1. Seek for recommendation or info on nearly any subject.
Just lately, I went to Los Angeles for a Nickelodeon enterprise journey, and I used to be staying in Santa Monica. One morning, I desperately craved an notorious LA breakfast burrito.
I checked Google Maps and was met with an countless slew of choices close to me. How was I to determine?
I instantly opened TikTok and searched “breakfast burrito santa monica” and was met with dozens of native suggestions sharing their favourite tried-and-tested spots.
After watching 4 TikToks, I settled on Alfalfa, because it had probably the most optimistic opinions and was the closest to my resort. Inside 20 minutes, I had a scrumptious Ancho Potato breakfast burrito in hand and a smile on my face.
It is a good instance of how you should utilize TikTok to rapidly achieve details about a distinct segment subject. I might have searched “greatest breakfast burrito Santa Monica” on Google, however I’d most likely have been met with a number of sponsored advertisements and conflicting skilled opinions.
Generally, you simply need recommendation from a daily, native particular person whom you’ll be able to wholeheartedly belief.
2. Sustain with present developments.
As a 27-year-old girl, I’m informed I ought to at all times be “within the know.” Nonetheless, I nonetheless discover myself, at instances, behind on the newest development.
Whether or not it’s that viral overnight Korean face mask or U.S. ladies’s rugby participant Ilona Maher’s hilarious Olympics content, social media permits for a continuing turnover in content material that may make it really feel not possible to remain knowledgeable.
Nonetheless, among the finest elements about TikTok is how straightforward it’s to find what’s trending. Your “For You Web page” (often known as FYP) simply analyzes what you’re all in favour of and targets you with related content material. Whereas this can be worrisome for some folks, it does make it loads simpler to curate the content material you view.
It’s also possible to simply seek for developments by identify in TikTok should you hear or see one thing talked about that you’re unfamiliar with. This may help you uncover movies that includes or describing the development.
3. Create content material to assist develop your following.
Whereas TikTok has many beneficial makes use of merely as a person, you’ll be able to achieve much more alternatives as a creator. I’ll dive extra deeply into this later, however among the finest methods to make use of TikTok is to create content material that may attain your audience and assist develop your following.
Taking part in developments and challenges is a good way to make participating content material, however there are different methods you’ll be able to make use of, corresponding to constantly posting and utilizing the right hashtags and collaborating with different creators or manufacturers.
As an example, certainly one of my favourite recipe developer creators, Justine Doironm, lately posted a greeny tahini egg salad sandwich recipe on TikTok that was a paid partnership with Important Farms, an organization that ethically sources eggs, butter, and ghee.
Now that you simply’ve learn 3 ways you should utilize TikTok — past senseless scrolling — chances are you’ll be able to lastly give the favored social media platform a shot. In that case, learn on for a step-by-step information on establishing an account.
The right way to Set Up Your TikTok Account
1. Obtain the app and join.
First, I went to the App Retailer to obtain TikTok (non-Apple customers can go to Google Play). Whereas I have already got a private TikTok, I walked via the motions of establishing a brand new take a look at one for this submit.
Whereas I used to be given the choice to immediately join with Fb, Gmail, or Twitter, I made a decision to enroll by including a username and password in order that my different accounts wouldn’t be related.
After confirming my account login info, I used to be delivered to a display screen that instructed me to pick my pursuits. That is how TikTok can start curating movies.
2. Arrange your profile.
As soon as logged in, I used to be instantly proven a feed of movies that had been curated by my chosen pursuits, I am going to clarify extra about how this works in step three.
To edit my profile, I tapped the icon within the decrease proper nook of the display screen that appears like an individual’s define,
There, I then tapped the “Edit profile” button, to pick a profile picture or video. That is additionally the place I might add username and bio info.
If I so selected, I might hyperlink to my Youtube and Instagram pages to point out off my different social media profiles.
For those who’re a enterprise, this may very well be a useful technique to promote your different visible platforms. Improve your profile to a enterprise account if you wish to market your small business on TikTok.
It is a sensible concept since 61% of marketers use TikTok for influencer advertising initiatives.
To do that, go to your profile and faucet the horizontal strains on the prime proper nook of the display screen. Then faucet Setting and Privateness, faucet Account, and faucet Swap to Enterprise Account.
You‘ll have entry to TikTok’s full vary of downloadable analytics with a enterprise account. With a private profile, you may solely have in-app entry.
You can’t set your small business profile to non-public. Nonetheless, I’ve the choice to set my private account to non-public. After tapping Settings and Privateness, I’d faucet Privateness and toggle the Non-public account tab.
Discovering Movies and Partaking with Customers
3. View your video feed.
Now that I’ve arrange my profile, I toggled again to the Dwelling tab by clicking the “Dwelling” button within the backside left nook.
Consider this like your X feed, however the place the video is the first content material. Since I’m not following anybody on my new take a look at TikTok, the app sends me random trending movies quite than any content material created by accounts I observe.
As I start following and interacting with extra folks, my feed will turn into extra customized to my pursuits and the accounts I observe.
4. Like, remark, or share movies you take pleasure in.
Once I discover a video I like, I can faucet the guts to love it or the speech bubble to touch upon it.
To share the video, I’d press the ahead signal beneath the remark image to see my sharing choices. These symbols are all positioned alongside the proper facet of the video.
If I like a video and wish to see if the person has extra posts I’d take pleasure in, I can swipe left to toggle to their profile.
5. Seek for movies.
To entry the app’s search space, I can click on the magnifying glass on the prime proper nook of the display screen. On this tab, I can seek for accounts or movies or take a look at the phrases and names under the search bar to see movies by trending subject.
As an example, after I wrote this submit, the Paris 2024 Olympics had been in full swing. Thus, you will note that every one my trending subjects are associated to the Olympics.
6. Set up your saved movies with Collections.
As soon as I begin “liking” movies, I’ve the choice to rewatch them below my Saved tab. The Saved tab can get messy rapidly, so I like to prepare my favourite movies by class — or, as they’re referred to on TikTok, Collections.
To entry Collections, I can click on on the bookmark icon under the remark icon and press “Handle” to start out a set. Afterward, I can identify my collections to maintain them so as.
On my private TikTok, I’ve categorized a few of my favourite saved posts by recipes, skincare, books, health, and comedy.
I haven’t executed this, however you too can create a set of your favourite sounds, results, and hashtags, which is useful to tug from for future movies.
7. Observe customers.
As soon as I wish to begin maintaining with folks on TikTok on my new account — whether or not they be my favourite model, common content material creators, or my greatest buddy — I can observe them by urgent the icon with their profile image and a plus signal.
I can particularly search TikTok accounts or folks I wish to observe within the search bar after which press the “Customers” filter.
8. Share your TikTok utilizing TikCode.
Now that I’ve edited all of the settings on my new TikTok, it is time to share it far and extensive (though it’s additionally completely acceptable to wish to cover behind an nameless TikTok account, too!).
One of many best methods to take action is with a TikCode.
A TikCode is a QR code distinctive to my profile that others can use to entry my profile rapidly. It is a perfect possibility if I run into an adoring fan in one that desires to observe me (kidding).
To search out my TikCode, I can go to my profile and click on the three horizontal strains within the prime proper nook of the display screen. There, I can click on “My QR code,” which opens my distinctive code.
What I like: Your model’s QR code could be positioned in your merchandise, storefronts, menus, and many others., to make it straightforward for customers to search out your small business TikTok.
The right way to Put up on TikTok
9. Arrange your shot and select particular results.
It’s time for me to create my first video! To do that, I can faucet the plus signal tab on the backside middle of my display screen to enter the digital camera.
The app mechanically brings me to the Photograph setting, however since I wish to make a video, I can toggle between the 15s, 60s, and 10m choices immediately above the shutter button.
As soon as I’ve chosen my most well-liked size, I can look to the highest proper facet of the display screen to see icons for the next:
- Flip: Flip between the back and front cameras.
- Flash: Choose if I wish to use the flash throughout your shot.
- Timer: I can set an auto-record countdown to movie hands-free.
- Retouch: A filter that may cover blemishes and clean out my pores and skin.
- Filters: This lets me change the colour and aesthetic filters of the digital camera.
- Velocity: I can document my video in sluggish movement or velocity it up (which is a good possibility for longer movies).
- Voice: I can add a voice impact to the video.
On the backside of the display screen, I can see the Digicam and Template tabs. The digital camera permits me to document a video or take a photograph, and templates supply premade mixtures of music and results to make my video pop.
Sounds and Results
On the highest middle of the digital camera display screen, there’s a music be aware icon with “Add Sound” subsequent to it. I can faucet this to decide on the music or sound impact I wish to overlay on my video.
On the underside of the digital camera, there may be an Results icon to the left and an Add button to the proper if I’d quite use movies I’ve already recorded outdoors of the app.
Professional tip: When you have a enterprise account, you may solely have entry to sounds which are pre-cleared for industrial use.
Once I faucet the Results button, I can see a large lineup of AR filters and different particular results that may increase my face or environment.
That is additionally the place I can select a video overlay-styled filter right here, just like the Pink Love Pink butterfly impact I added under.
10. Report the video.
Now that I’ve added all my vital results and filters, I’m able to document. To start, I’ll press and maintain the purple document button.
I can document my video abruptly, which I love to do after I’m telling one cohesive story, or in items, which is nice after I’m touring and wish to compile a number of photographs right into a compilation video.
If I wished to suit completely different photographs in every video or document it in items, I can maintain the document button for every section, then let go, and press and maintain it once more after I’m prepared for my subsequent shot.
If I’d quite not maintain down the document button your complete time, I can arrange a timer earlier than getting into document mode. The timer would give me time to prop up my cellphone and pose in entrance of it earlier than it begins mechanically recording.
11. Make last edits and add a caption to the video.
After recording the video, I can nonetheless add a musical overlay, filters, and different major particular results. That is additionally after I can add stickers and textual content overlays on prime of the video.
Once I’m executed, I can press Subsequent, which directs me to a web page much like Instagram’s submit web page, the place I can add a caption, relevant hashtags, location, hyperlinks, and extra.
That is additionally the place I’d set the video’s privateness, flip feedback on or off, edit the quilt picture, and permit duets or reactions.
If I’m not able to submit but, I can press the Drafts button on the backside left to put it aside for later.
12. Duet with different customers.
Generally, I’ll see a musical submit that I like a lot, I wish to take part with the one that made it. In any case, I’ve been a educated singer since age 7!
Fortunately, TikTok permits customers to answer with a Duet video. Many customers these days even create movies which are particularly meant to be duetted.
Duets aren’t only for songs anymore, although. I can duet any kind of video I like if I wish to touch upon it or infuse my very own humor and character into it.
To make use of this former Musical.ly function, I’d discover a video I wish to duet with, press the Share button to see sharing choices, then press the “Duet” possibility on the underside row within the middle.
My digital camera display screen will then seem subsequent to the video. I can change the positioning of my digital camera within the duet by clicking completely different templates. From there, I’d press document and sing alongside, dance, touch upon, or mimic the video I’m duetting.
To point out you what a completed product seems like, here is an amazing instance from Gordon Ramsay.
If I submit a video and don’t need anybody to duet with me, I can faucet the “Duet/React Off” button on the Put up web page earlier than publishing.
Finest for: The Duet function is a superb technique to take part in viral challenges, encourage audiences to work together together with your model, accomplice with influencers, or reply questions on your services or products.
13. Take part in a problem.
Like different social media platforms, I sometimes see movies with hashtags for “challenges.”
A problem is when a video submit, firm, or particular person encourages customers to movie themselves doing one thing oddly particular — just like the 12345678 challenge.
Contributors then movie themselves doing the motion and hashtag the problem identify of their submit captions.
There often are not any winners in a TikTok problem, however hashtagging it might assist me get extra followers or views as folks may discover my video when looking out the hashtag.
I additionally assume it’s a simple manner for manufacturers to point out they’re culturally related and have a playful facet, which could be refreshing for customers to see.
Utilizing TikTok Analytics
14. Monitor submit insights.
TikTok gives analytics for creators that may assist me perceive how my content material is acting on the platform with insights corresponding to video views, follower demographics, likes, and feedback.
This info may help me perceive who my viewers is and accordingly create content material that can goal that viewers and enhance my analytics.
To entry this function on TikTok, I can go to my profile and faucet the horizontal strains on the prime proper nook of the display screen.
There, I click on “TikTok Studio” to entry all of the creator instruments, together with Analytics, Creator Rewards Program, TikTok Store for Sellers, Artist Hub, and extra.
Underneath Analytics, I can click on the “Get Began” button. Then, faucet “Flip On” to permit TikTok to start monitoring my insights.
Since I haven’t but posted a video on my new take a look at TikTok account, it informs me that I have to submit a minimum of one video earlier than accessing analytics.
Professional tip: You possibly can seek the advice of the TikTok for Business Starter Guide, which is a personalised information that may assist your model produce the strongest customized content material in your targets and viewers.
15. Use an exterior analytics instrument.
If I wish to double-check my numbers on a second platform, I might additionally use a instrument outdoors of TikTok to trace analytics.
I personally favor Sprout Social, which is a robust social media administration instrument that permits customers to automate engagement ways, plan social publishing, observe analytics, carry out social listening, broaden attain, and handle influencer advertising campaigns.
Different common instruments embrace Socialinsider, Pentos, and Exolyt.
I’d advocate these instruments extra for companies who wish to handle their TikTok posts, campaigns, and influencer methods, quite than for particular person creators wanting to trace their very own insights.
For creators, TikTok Analytics will possible be the simplest and best choice.
The right way to Develop Your TikTok Viewers
16. Perceive who your viewers is.
If your small business does any type of advertising, you already know that one of the vital essential elements of promoting your model is advertising it to the proper folks.
The identical goes for TikTok.
In such a crowded market, it’s very important you’re posting content material that resonates together with your viewers and results in greater engagement from them. Which is already extra potential on TikTok, since it is the social platform with the best engagement at a rate of 2.65% per follower rely.
As an example, one of many most important varieties of manufacturers I observe on TikTok are skincare manufacturers, together with Laneige.
Again in 2020, Laneige wanted to reach Gen Z customers in a extremely aggressive skincare market. In any case, as of 2024, 43.7% of all TikTok users are between ages 18-24, and present Gen Z people are between ages 12-27.
The model used a Branded Hashtag Problem on TikTok to construct product consciousness and share its pores and skin hydration values.
The Branded Impact allowed customers to see on TikTok what their pores and skin might seem like earlier than — boring and dry — and after making use of Laneige — radiant and hydrated.
This helped pave the best way for the #ThirstForLife Branded Hashtag Problem marketing campaign, which resulted in 25 million video views throughout 9.5K video submissions, together with this one.
Laneige understood who their audience was and created a filter and problem on TikTok that they knew would attraction to that Gen Z viewers in a pure manner. In any case, there’s nothing I hate greater than dry pores and skin!
17. Accomplice with influencers or celebrities.
A good way to develop your model’s viewers on TikTok is by collaborating with individuals who have already got an even bigger viewers.
Whilst you’ll possible want to speculate a reasonably penny into the collaboration — the precise quantity will depend upon their degree of movie star — it may be an funding price spending.
Returning to my Laneige instance, the model announced Sydney Sweeney as its official global ambassador in January 2024. Julien Bouzitat, model common supervisor for Laneige US, defined how influential the partnership was in a press release:
“An awesome instance of the magnitude of our partnership with Sydney could be our social follower progress. Because the first announcement of Sydney as our U.S. ambassador in spring 2022, we skilled an instantaneous 227% surge in TikTok followers and 53% progress in Instagram followers.”
Based on the press launch, one behind-the-scenes video of Sydney on a LANEIGE manufacturing set went viral “3 times over, accumulating 72 million views throughout TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. That’s the kind of affect and attain Sydney has.”
18. Collaborate with different manufacturers.
Partnering with different manufacturers is a good way to make money on social media, in addition to develop your following.
You could possibly contemplate partnering with manufacturers throughout the identical business, which might possible make sure you’re focusing on the proper viewers whereas constructing a powerful relationship with an in any other case competitor.
Alternatively, you could possibly accomplice with a model in a special business and are available collectively for a particular collab services or products that may assist bridge your audiences and produce a surprise-and-delight impact.
Two of my absolute favourite manufacturers lately partnered for a fun summer collaboration that had the feedback part in buzz.
Fishwife, a woman-owned premium tinned fish model, and Lisa Says Gah, a woman-owned unbiased clothes boutique collaborated on a limited-edition tinned fish, Fishwife-inspired t-shirt, nail sticker sheet, and jewellery.
Whereas it might appear unusual how a tinned fish firm and a clothes boutique might presumably come collectively, the feedback included sentiments corresponding to “Essentially the most unbelievable collab,” “WHAT A COLLABBBB,” and “OBSESSED.”
92% of TikTok users take motion after watching a video on the platform, which implies there may be a number of actionable worth in creating the proper content material for the proper viewers.
TikTok on Lock
As a late bloomer to the platform, I can utterly relate to the intimidation of getting began on TikTok.
Whereas it has many options and instruments that may come throughout as sophisticated, they really offer you much more alternatives for sturdy content material creation and reference to customers.
Listed below are a few of my greatest ideas and methods for navigating TikTok:
- Use TikTok to construct model consciousness and introduce your small business to customers due to TikTok Shop. In any case, 30% of daily TikTok users have engaged with TikTok Store, and 71.2% of TikTop Store customers have made a purchase order after viewing a product of their feed.
- Have enjoyable with particular results. There are a lot of methods to boost your video, and audiences on TikTok count on it. So, mess around and experiment with them.
- Embrace the music. Most movies on the platform have a music or sound impact within the background.
- Movie a couple of movies with a number of photographs at completely different angles. This can make the video really feel extra lively and fascinating.
- Be happy to point out a lighter facet or a humorousness. Folks come to this platform to be entertained, and comedy can go a great distance.
- Use fashionable hashtags and check out a problem video. Then, embrace related hashtags in your submit caption so your video exhibits up when folks seek for it.
- Do not forget that customers’ consideration spans are quick, and persist with a number of shorter movies quite than a pair longer ones.
- Proceed to look at movies in your FYP and seek for new movies. This may help you see what different manufacturers and creators are doing and spark inspiration in your technique.
Most of all, be open to alter. TikTok is a consistently evolving platform, and the easiest way to make use of it’s to be prepared to observe the modifications.
That exhibits your viewers you’re prepared to repeatedly adapt to their pursuits and keep related, which is the most effective factor you’ll be able to hope for from a enterprise you belief.
Editor’s be aware: This submit was initially printed in August 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
