TikTok is a popular short-form video social media app that allows users to create and share 15 to 60 second videos. Since launching in 2016, TikTok has grown to over 1 billion monthly active users globally, with over 125 million monthly active users in the United States as of early 2023 (Source). TikTok’s algorithmically powered For You page shows users personalized video recommendations based on their interests and engagement. Given TikTok’s massive popularity and reach, scheduling videos strategically is key for creators and brands to maximize viewership.
TikTok has some built-in scheduling options that allow users to plan when their videos will be posted. Creators can use scheduling to make sure content goes live at optimal times when their target audience is most engaged on the app. Scheduling also allows for planning a consistent posting cadence, rather than having to manually post videos each time. However, TikTok’s native scheduling options are fairly basic. Many users turn to third-party tools for more robust TikTok scheduling features to plan and organize their content pipeline.
Why Schedule TikTok Videos?
Scheduling TikTok videos in advance can provide several benefits for content creators and brands looking to effectively use the platform. Here are some of the main reasons to utilize TikTok scheduling:
Reach your audience when they are most active – With a TikTok scheduler, you can easily plan and queue content for the optimal times when your target audience is likely to be on TikTok. This helps maximize views and engagement on your posts (Social Bee, 2023).
Manage large accounts more efficiently – For profiles with a high volume of daily content, scheduling tools allow you to create and organize a large library of videos in advance. This saves time and makes it easier to maintain consistency (SocialBu, 2024).
Plan your content calendar – A scheduler lets you map out your TikTok content calendar weeks or months in advance. This way you can develop a smart long-term strategy for captivating content that converts (Social Champ, 2023).
Where to Find TikTok Scheduling
There are two main ways to schedule TikTok videos – directly in the TikTok app using the native scheduling tool, or by using a third-party scheduling and social media management platform.
Scheduling in the TikTok App
TikTok has a built-in scheduling tool that allows you to schedule videos and posts up to 6 months in advance. To access it, create your TikTok video then click “Next” instead of “Post.” You’ll see the option to schedule your video for a future date and time. This is the easiest way to schedule TikTok videos directly on the platform.
Third-Party Scheduling Tools
There are also many third-party social media management platforms that allow TikTok scheduling, such as Buffer, SocialBee, and SocialPilot. These tools provide analytics, allow you to manage multiple accounts, schedule in bulk, and give you more flexibility over TikTok scheduling.
Third party tools connect to your TikTok account using the official TikTok API. Popular features include the ability to reuse top-performing content, schedule based on optimal posting times, and collaborate across teams. They provide robust analytics to refine your scheduling strategy.
Scheduling in the TikTok App
TikTok has built-in scheduling capabilities directly in the mobile app that allow you to plan and schedule videos up to 10 days in advance. To access the scheduling feature:
1. Open the latest version of the TikTok app on your mobile device and go to the upload screen to create a new video post.
2. After creating your video, add any text, effects, sounds etc. Then tap “Next” to go to the posting screen.
3. Before posting, tap the calendar icon in the bottom left corner. This will open the scheduling options.
4. Use the date and time pickers to choose when you want your video to be posted. You can schedule it up to 10 days in advance.
5. Confirm your scheduled date and time, then tap “Schedule” to queue the post.
The TikTok scheduling feature makes it easy to plan and stagger your video content in advance from your mobile device. Just tap the calendar icon before posting to access the built-in scheduling options.
Third-Party Scheduling Tools
Many people utilize third-party social media management platforms like Later, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social to schedule TikTok videos and posts. These tools provide robust scheduling options beyond what’s available natively in the TikTok app. Some key benefits of using third-party TikTok scheduling tools include:
Sophisticated scheduling options – Schedule multiple posts in advance with specific dates and times using calendar views and bulk uploading. Tools like Later and Sprout Social provide robust scheduling for both single and multiple TikTok accounts.
In-depth analytics – View detailed analytics on your scheduled posts and published content to determine optimal posting times, top performing content, target audiences, and more. Analytics can help refine your TikTok strategy over time.
Account and workflow management – Manage multiple social accounts and collaborate with teams. Features like approval workflows and post queues enable managing larger TikTok accounts efficiently.
Automation capabilities – Some tools like Hootsuite let you set up rules to auto-reply to comments, follow/unfollow users, and repost content. This saves time for managing larger audiences.
Third-party TikTok schedulers provide versatility for those managing multiple accounts or wanting more powerful scheduling and analytics. However, they often require paid subscriptions depending on features needed. But for prolific TikTok creators, the time savings and analytics can make the investment worthwhile.
Tips for Successful Scheduling
When it comes to scheduling TikTok videos, there are some best practices you can follow to maximize performance:
Optimal Posting Times
According to TikTok, the peak viewing times are between 5-11 PM. Scheduling videos to go live during these high-traffic hours can help increase engagement. Many TikTok experts recommend posting 1-2 times per day during peak hours for the best results. You can experiment with posting times to see what works best for your audience.
Scheduling Cadence Best Practices
While daily posting is common on TikTok, you don’t need to schedule videos every single day to see growth. Aim for a regular cadence like posting 3-5 times per week. This gives you time to create high-quality videos while still maintaining audience interest. Just be sure not to go more than 2-3 days without posting new content.
Managing Drafts
The TikTok scheduling tool allows you to store up to 100 draft videos at once. Stay on top of your drafts so they don’t expire before being posted. Delete old drafts you no longer plan to use. And spread out posting of your drafts over time rather than scheduling them all at once.
Analytics to Refine Scheduling
TikTok provides robust analytics that creators can use to optimize their scheduling strategy and boost engagement. Key metrics to track include:
- Audience geography – This shows where your followers are located, so you can schedule videos when they are most likely to be online. Check the Followers tab in TikTok Analytics. (Source)
- Peak viewing times – The best times for you to post will depend on when your audience is most active on TikTok. Check the Followers tab for hourly and daily graphs. (Source)
- LIVES analytics – If you do livestreams, check stats like viewership, comments, shares and more to refine live scheduling. Access this in LIVE Center. (Source)
- Content performance – Analyze engagement metrics for individual videos to determine what topics and formats resonate most with your audience. (Source)
Consistently monitoring analytics can help creators maximize the impact of their scheduled TikTok content.
Scheduling for Different Account Types
TikTok offers different scheduling options and capabilities based on the type of account you have. Here’s an overview of how scheduling works for personal vs. business accounts, as well as larger vs. smaller accounts.
Personal vs. Business Accounts
Personal TikTok accounts have limited native scheduling capabilities – you can only schedule videos up to 10 days in advance using TikTok’s built-in scheduling tool. Business accounts, however, can schedule videos up to 6 months in advance natively within the TikTok app.
For personal accounts wanting to schedule farther out, third-party scheduling tools like Planable, Loomly, and OneUp allow you to schedule TikTok videos months in advance. These tools sync with your personal TikTok account and allow more flexibility.
Large vs. Small Accounts
Larger TikTok accounts with more resources may want to use paid scheduling tools that offer robust analytics, save drafts, provide notifications, and more. Smaller accounts can benefit from free tools like Planable that still offer core scheduling features.
When first starting out scheduling, it’s generally recommended to begin slowly – only schedule 1-2 videos per day maximum. As your account grows and you better understand your audience, you can scale up scheduling more posts in advance.[1]
Common Scheduling Mistakes
When scheduling TikTok videos, it’s easy to make mistakes that hurt your performance. Two key mistakes to avoid are scheduling too far in advance and not optimizing for timezones.
Scheduling videos more than a few days in advance can backfire. Trends move quickly on TikTok, so videos may seem irrelevant or outdated if posted too early. As Sprout Social advises, schedule no more than 3 days out for the best results.
It’s also crucial to consider your target audience’s timezones. As HubSpot notes, videos may get low engagement if posted at 3am local time. Study analytics to find peak viewing times, and schedule around when your audience is most active.
By avoiding these scheduling pitfalls, you can set your TikTok videos up for maximum visibility and engagement.
Conclusion
Scheduling TikTok videos allows you to plan and optimize your content strategy. By using the built-in TikTok scheduling tools or third-party apps, you can stagger your video releases for maximum visibility. Scheduling works well when first starting out on TikTok, as it lets you build up a queue of content. For established creators, scheduling maintains a consistent flow of videos to keep audience engagement high.
The key benefits of scheduling your TikTok videos include:
- Posting when your audience is most active
- Maintaining a regular content schedule
- Saving time by batch recording/scheduling videos
- Testing different posting times
- Optimizing video analytics with strategic timing
By leveraging TikTok’s built-in and third-party scheduling options, creators can plan their video strategy for optimal performance. Scheduling for consistency helps build an engaged audience over time.
