Decide What Kind of Content to Make
Some of the most popular types of content on TikTok include comedy, dance/choreography, lifestyle vlogging, POV-style videos, cooking/recipes, and more. Before starting your channel, decide what you’re most passionate about and skilled at creating. Knowing your niche will help attract an audience who will enjoy your style of content.
Comedy and comedy skits are very popular on TikTok, with creators like Addison Rae building huge audiences from funny lip-syncing or acting videos. You don’t need professional equipment to make funny DIY comedy bits. If you’re naturally funny and charismatic on camera, consider comedy content.
Dance videos and choreography are massively popular as well. Dances that go viral on TikTok due to catchy beats, memorable moves and influencers spreading them through duets can result in millions of views. If you love dancing and performing, create some original choreography or put your own spin on trending dances.
Lifestyle vlogging entails showing your real life as a content creator through daily vlogs, fashion and beauty content, advice videos and more. This is great if you have an engaging personality people enjoy following. Nail your brand by connecting with viewers.
When deciding your niche, research your competition but put your own personal twist on popular content styles you truly enjoy creating. This passion will show through in your videos.
Get Inspiration from Top Creators
When starting out as a TikTok creator, it can be incredibly helpful to study the tactics and styles of top performers in your niche. This gives you an idea of what types of content resonates with viewers, as well as how to optimize your videos for maximum engagement.
For example, some of the most popular comedy niches on TikTok include relatable everyday humor, meme sketches, and wholesome family content. Top creators in these spaces like Ella Watches TV, Khabane Lame, and the Barrymore family showcase original comedic ideas with mass appeal.
You can browse top hashtags and sounds within your niche to find standout creators making high-quality videos. Study their editing, captions, and content formats for inspiration. But don’t simply copy them – put your own creative spin on trending content types and styles.
Researching competitors helps provide an overview of a niche’s landscape. You can identify gaps in content types and themes that your channel could potentially fill. The goal is to learn from successful creators while also developing your own brand and style.
Learn How TikTok Works
TikTok is a social media platform focused on short-form videos, usually set to music or other sounds. The key aspects of TikTok include:
– Short Videos: Videos on TikTok are limited to 60 seconds for most users. This encourages creators to get right to the point and make entertaining, captivating content. The short length allows videos to be made and consumed quickly.
– Music and Sounds: Most TikTok videos feature a music track or other sound that complements the visuals. Users can choose from a vast library of songs and sounds to enhance their videos. Lip syncing and dancing to music is very popular.
– Trends: TikTok heavily leverages trends and challenges that users recreate or put their own spin on. Using trending sounds and hashtags can help videos get more views. Creating a unique take on a popular trend is a great way to grow an audience.
Understanding this short-form, music-centric, trend-driven video style is key to creating content optimized for TikTok. Studying videos from top creators on the platform provides inspiration on how to make engaging TikToks.
Set Up Your TikTok Account
Creating a TikTok account is easy and only takes a few minutes. Start by downloading the TikTok app from the App Store or Google Play. Once installed, open the app and tap on the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Select your preferred sign-up method – you can use your phone number, email, Facebook, or other accounts.
https://support.tiktok.com/en/getting-started/creating-an-account
Next, personalize your profile by adding a profile photo, bio, and username. Choose a memorable but simple username – this is how fans will find your account. Add a fun, creative bio that gives viewers a sense of your personality and content type. Pick a colorful, vibrant profile picture that represents your brand. These profile details let new viewers quickly learn about you and your channel when first visiting your profile.
Create Quality Content
One of the most important aspects of creating content on TikTok is to ensure your videos are high-quality. Here are some tips for getting better video quality:
Lighting – Make sure you have adequate lighting when filming. Natural lighting near a window works best. Avoid having the light source behind you, as that will make you look too dark on camera. Investing in some inexpensive artificial lighting can help improve your video quality.
Editing – Use editing apps like InShot or CapCut to trim your videos, add text, filters, effects and music. Good editing elevates your content. Hook the viewer in the first few seconds with an attention-grabbing intro.
Retake as needed – Don’t be afraid to film multiple takes and re-record sections until you nail the perfect shot. Piecing together the best parts of several takes can really improve the final result.
Stabilize your shots – Shaky footage doesn’t look professional. Use a tripod, set your camera on a steady surface, or invest in equipment like a gimbal to keep your shots smooth and stable.
Be mindful of aspect ratio – TikTok videos are vertical, so hold your phone vertically when filming. Make sure your subject is centered and fills most of the frame.
Check your settings – Go into your camera settings and make sure you’re filming at the highest resolution possible. This will prevent pixelated footage.
With good lighting, editing and attention to quality, your TikTok videos will stand out and engage viewers.
Use Trending Sounds and Hashtags
One of the best ways to get more views and exposure on TikTok is to leverage trending sounds and hashtags. TikTok’s algorithm tends to push videos using viral sounds and hashtags to more For You pages. Researching what is currently popular can help your content be seen by more users.
Check sites like Tokchart, Tokboard, and TikTok’s Trend Discovery to find the top trending sounds and songs. You can sort by genre like hip hop or pop to find relevant tracks. Using a trending sound, even in a creative remix, taps into that viral interest.
Similarly, look up popular hashtags like #foryou, #fyp, and niche hashtags related to your content. Include a mix of broad and specific hashtags so your video surfaces for more potential viewers. Strategically using trends and hashtags gives your content the maximum chance of getting onto the coveted For You page.
Engage With Your Audience
Interacting with your audience is crucial for building a loyal following and increasing engagement on TikTok. Make sure to respond to comments frequently. Replying to comments shows viewers that you care about them. It also keeps the conversation going and can lead to more engagement. According to Adobe, responding to comments is one of the top ways to boost engagement on the platform.
Going live regularly is another great strategy for engaging your audience in real time. Livestreams allow you to have candid interactions with viewers. You can answer questions, take requests, and give your fans a behind-the-scenes look. Keyhole recommends using niche hashtags during livestreams to help attract your target demographic. The more you engage with viewers directly, the more likely they’ll be to watch your future videos and support your channel.
Post Consistently
To gain a loyal following on TikTok, it’s important to post consistently. Most experts recommend posting at least one video per day, especially when you’re just starting out. This helps the TikTok algorithm pick up on your account activity and start recommending your videos to more users.
Posting daily keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more. It also gives you more opportunities to create viral content. You’ll improve your video creation skills with each post. Even if some videos don’t perform as well, consistency is key. As your following grows, you can assess whether to adjust your posting frequency.
Try to get into a regular posting schedule, like first thing in the morning or during peak evening hours. Use TikTok analytics to see when your followers are most active. Schedule posts in advance if needed so you don’t miss a day. But make sure content remains relevant and timely. Staying consistent takes dedication, but it’s essential for TikTok success.
Analyze Your Performance
Once you start posting content, it’s important to analyze how your videos are performing using TikTok analytics. This will help you understand what types of content resonate most with your audience. Some key metrics to analyze include:
Views – This shows how many times your video has been watched. Pay attention to which videos get the most views. This can help you identify popular topics to create more content around.
Likes – The number of likes indicates how much your audience enjoys your content. Look at like to view ratio to see how engaging your videos are. Aim for at least a 10% like rate.
Comments – Comments demonstrate how much your viewers are interacting with your content. Review comments to see specific feedback and ideas for future videos.
Shares – High shares mean your content is hitting the mark and your audience wants to spread the word. Share numbers contribute to a video’s overall distribution.
Check your TikTok analytics regularly to stay on top of how your videos are performing. Look for trends and themes that you can capitalize on in your content strategy. Pay attention to top videos so you can recreate that success.
Collaborate With Other Creators
Collaborating with other popular creators is a great way to cross-promote your content and reach new audiences. Consider doing duets or stitching videos with other creators in your niche. This allows you to leverage their existing audience while also exposing your content to their followers. When reaching out, make sure to connect with creators who share a similar style and vibe. Discuss potential ideas beforehand and give them credit in your captions. Successful collaborations on TikTok include Chipotle duetting with popular food influencers like @wthetrend and @emilymariko (1).
You can also participate in larger collab challenges like #duetthis that encourage community engagement. Use relevant hashtags so your content surfaces alongside others participating. Collabs are most effective when they feel natural rather than forced. Focus on creators you genuinely connect with. Produce fun, creative content together that provides value for both audiences.
