TikTok has been taking the world by storm. It’s been a paradise for those in need of shorter forms of entertainment, and it’s been a great platform especially for creatives and content-creators. For TikTok’s outsiders though, it may be considered a silly or even strange app, but trust me when I say that TikTok can be anything you make of it– you just have to let your creativity loose.
But what is TikTok, exactly?
Well, to put it simply, TikTok is a social networking platform that focuses on short-form videos– so, nope, you’re not going to be seeing hour-long ASMR videos here!
The TikTok app includes video-editing filters and features that even a total video-editing beginner can get the hang of. Being a social media platform at the core of it, the TikTok app also allows you to interact with other videos via commenting, or even by allowing you to use other people’s audio as well as videos in the form of duets and video responses!
The massive flexibility of TikTok and its ease of use– not to mention its extremely wide reach– has made it so popular over the years. In fact, many people have been using TikTok for their content: from celebrities and artists, to cosplayers and even news sites… the list goes on.
So how can you get started with creating TikTok content? Here are a few quick tips to get your TikTok account rolling with good content and awesome followers.
Create an interesting TikTok profile picture
Most people can end up a bit stumped when brainstorming about some TikTok profile picture ideas. The pressure to keep your profile picture interesting on TikTok, or on any other platform, is quite huge, considering that it’s the face you’re using when you’re interacting with others.
Now, your profile picture should embody the kind of person you want to be seen as, or more importantly: the kind of content you want to show and create. If you’re an artist, maybe the best profile picture would be your best work of art. If you plan to make a TikTok for a fandom, then you might want to use a photo of the person or form of media you are making content of.
Another good idea is to use the best photo you have of yourself, and maybe edit the background a bit– a flat color is perfect– to give it some contrast. A lot of content creators on TikTok use their own faces to differentiate themselves from others, so if your face is going to be seen on your videos a lot, it may be best to work those facial angles.
Choosing the right location and background
Now, this one is a bit tricky, and is also very dependent on the kind of content you want to create.
If your purpose is to simply deliver a message with your videos, maybe a flat background will do just fine. A lot of creators on a budget use a long roll of paper mounted behind them. There are also a lot of cheap versions of projector screens you can use as backdrops.
Your living room or bedroom may be a good backdrop for the more laidback types of content.
TikTok also makes it super easy for beginner TikTokers to get started without any appealing backgrounds nearby, or for those who find it difficult to think of any good TikTok room ideas. TikTok has a Green Screen feature that anyone can use for their videos, so do check that out if none of the above backgrounds are accessible to you!
The only thing you’ll need is a well-lit room and voila! You can now start recording quality TikTok videos.
Generating ideas for your TikTok videos
Brainstorming for those awesome TikTok content ideas can be a daunting thought at first, but once you get to scroll through TikTok and get the hang of the medium, the ideas will flow more easily.
While getting inspiration from other TikTokers and their own gimmicks, a good tip would be to list some observations you make while watching them.
Ask yourself questions like “what makes their content worth watching?” or “what makes their content unique to them?” or maybe also “how did they unify all their content/niche to gain that many followers?”
Another great way to let your creativity run wild is listing your ideas in order to generate a topic– remember to keep your mind free of judgment or negations while doing this, no matter how wild or crazy you think your ideas may be.
That way, your ideas are as raw as possible. Remember, refinement and polish come later.
Of course, apart from doing all these decision-making and brainstorming exercises, you have to determine what kind of content you’re leaning towards recording.
Do you want to paint? Do you want to dance? Do you want to create funny videos?
This will help you focus on the kinds of examples you want to observe on TikTok. For example, you can gain TikTok painting ideas by looking through painting content. You can then try to find a niche that you think isn’t being done yet in the painting community. Or alternatively, you can join some painting trends!
Preparing to create your TikTok content
Okay, so you have your unifying concept, and you have a list of video ideas. It’s time to do some prep work for bringing your TikTok content ideas to life!
The technical things you must consider when making videos are the noise level in your location of choice, the lighting, and the editing and post-editing you have to do to create that perfect video.
Inviting friends or relatives to help you out is one good way to speed up the process of content preparation.
Creating a simple storyboard for your videos can help you determine the direction and waste little to no time once you’re editing your videos.
Preparing the location in advance will also help you cut down time.
Creating your TikTok content
Finally, it’s creation time.
Now is the time to shoot, act out, and voice out everything you need for your content to come alive. Remember that most of the time, it’s going to take a couple of takes before you get your videos down perfectly.
And sometimes, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
What will matter in the end is your consistency in posting content, that you’re learning how to streamline your content creation processes as you create more, and that you’re learning how to make your content more entertaining based on interactions and statistics.
Tips for sharing your TikTok content with the world
Of course, sharing your creations on TikTok is just the first step into the world of sharing your videos to the rest of the world. If you want more people to see your work, there are some extra steps you need to do.
For one thing, you have to utilize hashtags in your posts. Research into which hashtags are most popular in your niche.
It’s also good to know who the popular accounts are in your niche so you can tag them or join their challenges. The more you interact with popular accounts, the more likely you are to have your content seen by other people.
You might wonder how to see your favorites on TikTok, or how to find favorited videos on TikTok? For starters, the TikTok algorithm tends to show you already popular videos on your feed.
Check out the number under the hearts on the right portion of your screen. That’s the number of favorites it has. Some favorites even reach millions, so make sure to check those ones out.
Some Youtube videos actually list out viral TikTok videos as well, so make sure to check those out too.
Of course, if you have other social media accounts– especially ones with a huge following already– then it would be great for you to post about your TikTok videos there too!
Examples of unique ways to show TikTok content
Lots of creators have found their niches (or their community!) on TikTok, to the point that they’ve mastered the art of capitalizing on them to gain a lot of favorites and followers.
An example of a niche creator would be @writewordsmakemagic. Their concept is simple: they create artistic ambigrams of words, and to top it all off, they also take requests from commenters! They’ve got the perfect mix of art, awe, and engagement, that it’s always nice to come across them while scrolling through TikTok. They’re not the only ones doing these kinds of videos, but their style and their engagement helps differentiate them from the rest.
Another example is @texasbeeworks, who makes informative TikTok videos about her line of work: professional beekeeping. It’s extremely unique, which makes it very entertaining and worth watching. The cherry on top is that we learn more about bees as we watch.
Finally, I think one of the best examples of popularity via niche capitalization is the famous Khaby Lame. This Senegalese-born Italian has become the epitome of fame on TikTok this year (2021) due to his viral videos where he points his palms mockingly to overcomplicated hack videos (like those widespread 5-minute hacks), which he then simplifies by doing it the expectedly normal way.
Yeah… that explanation was definitely complicated, so watching his videos on his verified TikTok handle, @khaby.lame, might help make the point better.
Well, we’ve reached the end of the line here. I hope these tips and suggestions help you find your place in the world of TikTok. Did you gain any video ideas while reading through? Let me know in the comments!
I know you’re excited to create your first few videos on TikTok, so I’ll leave you here. Now get going and keep that creativity flowing!
— Sean