Exactly what is TikTok, and how does it function, is not made clear. Have you ever, despite not being a TikTok user, come across a video posted there? There’s a good chance you’ve seen a TikTok lip dub go viral, or at least seen Instagram or Twitter screenshots of such videos.
Explain TikTok to me.
TikTok is a social media platform for sharing and watching short, vertical videos (anywhere from a few seconds to ten minutes in length).
Can you explain how TikTok functions?
TikTok is a video-sharing app where users can edit and enhance their creations with a variety of tools, such as filters, stickers, and music, before sending them out to their followers. After a video has been shared, viewers have the option to like, comment, download, and spread the video further. The TikTok algorithm recommends content for you to watch based on what you like, and you can find it in one of three feeds: the Friends tab, the Following feed, or the For You page.
By providing users with a variety of tools that are constantly improved, TikTok simplifies the process of creating video content.
Make videos
TikTok allows its users to create videos either by recording them inside the app or by uploading videos created in other ways. The video recorder has an adjustable recording time limit of up to 10 minutes.
Play some tunes
TikTok is based primarily around music videos. To further expand their horizons, users can also search for videos that feature a specific song by clicking on the track’s link. Including a well-known song in your video will boost its potential for going viral.
Three, use duets to collaborate on content creation
Duet, one of TikTok’s many features, encourages users to interact with one another and the platform as a whole.
Toss in some post-production touches
With a few clicks, users can apply various filters and effects to their videos. Make your videos more interesting by customising them with stickers, emojis, text, transitions, GIFs, and time effects.
Online broadcast
Live video broadcasting is also available within TikTok. This functionality, however, is reserved for a select group of users with at least a thousand followers.
Who exactly uses TikTok?
TikTok has traditionally attracted a younger demographic (47% of US users are between the ages of 10 and 29), but it is increasingly appealing to those in their 30s and 40s as well (20% of US users are in this age range). Because of this, it is an excellent platform from which to reach a sizable audience.
What makes TikTok such a hit?
Up until the past few years, few people had even heard of the app TikTok. Since then, it has become ubiquitous, launched the careers of new celebrities, and become the go-to platform for favourite celebrities and brands to create viral moments.
Inspiring widespread interest
TikTok’s discovery engine is a key feature that keeps users coming back for more. It’s not uncommon for trends to begin on TikTok before spreading to other platforms and eventually mainstream culture.
If you want your content to go viral on TikTok, you should focus on the following features.
A Sound from the App Called TikTok
Sound is an integral part of the TikTok experience, so much so that videos with sound do 2.2 times better than those without. People can add music and sound effects to their videos by choosing them from TikTok’s library or by capturing them from other videos.
Hashtags
Hashtags play a significant role in viral movements and competitions. If you use the right ones, you can significantly increase your exposure.
They’re also useful for tracking down your people on the service. The hashtag #BookTok is perfect for this purpose. Find videos about reading lists, bookstores, and more by using this hashtag.
Hardware and software designed for group work
With TikTok, you can easily stay in touch with your friends and acquaintances. That is supported by their recent decision to switch from the Discover feed to a Friends Only feed.
Collaboration is an integral part of their video making tools. When you use TikTok’s stitching feature, for instance, you can annotate and react to previously-existing clips, even viral ones. TikTok user and science communicator Hank Green frequently resorts to this method when he is asked questions or needs to explain the technical background of his videos.
Challenges
Competitions are issued by both users and brands in an effort to elicit more participation from the target audience. These competitions are also a fantastic way to entice people who aren’t already on the platform to sign up.
In a video format
TikTok, in a nutshell, provides the content that users crave: short, entertaining videos. Short-form video is the most engaging content, according to 66% of consumers.
After TikTok made the format popular, other services followed suit by introducing their own short video feeds, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. This section will be brief and sweet, as is fitting.
Concluding Remarks: Have you considered TikTok?
With the right approach, marketing on TikTok can be incredibly effective. The app has a large and varied community of users and brands, ranging from B2C to B2B and even nonprofits, despite common belief to the contrary.
Research is essential for any company thinking about launching a campaign on TikTok. Check to see if the people you’re targeting — either your established fan base or potential new customers — are already using the platform. Next, make a quick strategy for content iteration and testing.