What Are TikTok Slideshows?
A TikTok slideshow is a video format on the social media platform that allows users to showcase multiple photos or video clips in a slideshow-style presentation (source: https://www.alphr.com/tiktok-how-to-make-slideshow/). Users can add transitions and music to create a dynamic, engaging slideshow video.
To make a TikTok slideshow, users select the “Slideshow” option when creating a new video post. They can then add up to 10 photos or video clips which will display in sequence. There are options to adjust the duration of each slide, add text overlays, filters, and more. The slideshow is set to music or another audio track selected by the user.
Popular types of TikTok slideshows include travel adventures, glow-ups/transformations, photo journeys, outfit changes, recipe tutorials, and life milestones. The slideshow format allows users to showcase multiple photos in a compressed, visually appealing video that captures viewers’ attention on the app.
History and Origins
TikTok slideshows first emerged as a popular format in late 2020 and early 2021. Some of the earliest viral slideshow videos were created by users like @ryan.michael and @montanatucker. These influencers helped popularize the slideshow format by using it to showcase photo compilations, life updates, recipes, and other viral content.
One of the first massively viral TikTok slideshows was this “photo dump” video created by @ryan.michael in January 2021. It quickly amassed over 4 million likes. Other early pioneers of the TikTok slideshow like @montanatucker helped cement slideshows as a popular format for recipe tutorials, clothing hauls, visual diaries, and more.
By late 2021, TikTok slideshows had become one of the platform’s most ubiquitous video formats. Their intuitive, visual format helped make them ideal for quickly telling stories and creatively showcasing content across a wide range of topics.
Creating a TikTok Slideshow
Making a slideshow on TikTok is a straightforward process that allows you to combine photos and videos with transitions and music. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a TikTok slideshow:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the “+” icon to start a new video.
- Tap “Templates” at the bottom and select “Slideshow” from the options.
- Tap “Add Slides” and choose up to 10 photos or videos from your camera roll to include in the slideshow.
- Customize each slide by tapping on it. You can trim the length of videos or apply filters and text.
- Tap “Transitions” to choose slide transition effects like wipe, spin, or zoom.
- Add music by tapping the music note icon. You can use songs from TikTok’s music library or upload your own audio.
- Adjust the timing of slides and transitions so they match the beats in the music.
- Tap “Post” when you are done editing to publish your slideshow on TikTok.
Tips for creating an engaging TikTok slideshow include using high-quality photos and videos, choosing music that matches the mood, keeping transitions simple, and using text sparingly to highlight key points. Play around with filters, stickers, effects to make your slideshow visually appealing. Keep videos short at 5-15 seconds for optimal engagement. For more editing options, use the TikTok mobile apps rather than the web editor.
Popular Topics and Themes
Some of the most common topics for TikTok slideshows include:
- Funny memes and relatable content – Slideshows with funny memes or relatable jokes tend to go viral quickly, as they are easy to digest and share. People enjoy laughing at memes they can relate to.
- Life milestones – Whether it’s childhood photos, graduation photos, wedding photos, or other major life events, slideshows highlighting these moments resonate as they tell a story.
- Travel guides – Slideshows can provide tips and visuals of popular travel destinations. These are popular as they inspire viewers to travel.
- Beauty/Fashion trends – Tutorials and product reviews on the latest beauty and fashion trends make for engaging slideshows.
- Nostalgic throwbacks – Slideshows featuring nostalgic photos, songs, toys, and pop culture from past decades capitalize on viewers’ nostalgia.
These types of slideshows work well on TikTok because they appeal to emotions and tap into what’s trending. The short video format and scrolling slideshow effect keeps viewers engaged. Ultimately, slideshows that elicit an emotional reaction or provide entertainment tend to gain more traction.
Viral Examples
TikTok slideshows often go viral when they tap into popular themes and trends. Some recent viral examples include:
The user @joancov created a summer-themed slideshow showcasing pool parties, beaches, sunsets, and other warm weather activities. Their soothing music and visuals captured the essence of summer fun and freedom. It quickly amassed over 7 million views and 700,000 likes (source).
@xoxo.zyniee produced a slideshow set to the viral ‘Oh No’ song by Kreepa which has been used in over 500,000 TikToks. Their clever use of the meme audio and transitions between food pictures helped this video gain over 3 million views (source).
These examples show how slideshows about relatable topics like seasons and memes can capture the TikTok audience’s attention. Factors driving engagement include hitting trending sounds, aesthetically pleasing visuals, smooth transitions, and creative concepts.
Benefits and Drawbacks
There are several benefits to creating slideshows for TikTok.
One major pro is that slideshows allow creators to fit more information and visuals into a short video. TikTok’s videos are limited to 3 minutes, so slideshows are an effective way to showcase detail and variety in a compact format [1].
Slideshows also lend themselves well to listicles and tutorials, allowing creators to break down concepts step-by-step. The slides make information highly scannable and consumable for viewers.
Additionally, slideshows stand out visually on the TikTok feed. The frequent scene and text changes can better capture viewer attention compared to static videos. This helps content travel well on TikTok’s FYP (For You Page) algorithm.
However, slideshows also have some drawbacks to consider.
The format’s quickly changing slides can come across as frenetic or overwhelming. Viewers may struggle to fully comprehend the information at the fast pace.
It can also be challenging for creators to coordinate slides, visuals, text, effects, and audio all in the span of 60 seconds. Slideshows take more production effort compared to traditional TikTok videos.
Lastly, slideshows may not suit all topics. They work best for listicles, comparisons, tutorials, etc. Slideshows are less ideal for storytelling, comedy, or other narrative videos.
[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/pros-cons-tiktok-examining-good-bad-sara-james-forkel
Best Practices
Here are some expert tips for creating standout TikTok slideshows and optimizing them for the platform:
Use good lighting and invest in lighting equipment if needed. Proper lighting makes a big difference in video quality. According to #CSUsocial, natural light works best when available.
Keep videos short, between 10-30 seconds. TikTok’s algorithm favors shorter videos that get straight to the point.
Add captions and text overlays to highlight key points and make your video more engaging.
Use trending sounds and songs. This helps videos get noticed in TikTok’s discovery feeds.
Be creative and show off your personality! TikTok is a platform that rewards originality.
Optimize hashtags and captions for discovery. Include relevant challenges or trending hashtags.
Use transitions between slides to keep the pacing dynamic. The slideshow format lends itself well to creative transitions.
Film horizontally. TikTok slideshows display better in landscape orientation than portrait.
Check analytics to see which slides perform best. Tweak future videos based on these insights.
Alternatives on TikTok
Besides slideshows, there are other popular video formats used on TikTok:
Short-form video – These are typically 15 seconds to 1 minute long videos showcasing dances, comedy sketches, challenges, and more. Short-form videos make up the bulk of TikTok content.
Stitch – A stitched video combines your own video clip with someone else’s TikTok video, allowing you to react to it. Stitches are a great way to put your own spin on trending content.
Duets – Duets allow you to record your TikTok video alongside someone else’s, with the two videos playing side-by-side. Duets are popular for dance trends, song covers, reaction videos, and collaborations.
Green screen/composite – These effects allow you to integrate custom backgrounds, graphics, and visuals into your TikTok video for more dynamic visual storytelling.
The choice between a TikTok slideshow or another format depends on your specific purpose and creative direction. Slideshows are best for showcasing multiple photos or conveying a narrative. Short-form video works for almost any concept. Stitches and duets leverage other creators’ content. Green screen provides more visual freedom.
Future of Slideshows
Slideshows on TikTok are likely to continue evolving as creators find new ways to engage their audiences. According to social media experts, some predictions for the future of TikTok slideshows include:
More interactive elements – Some creators are already experimenting with adding polls, questions, and calls-to-action in their slideshows to make them more engaging. This trend is expected to grow (future slideshow|TikTok Search).
Longer slideshows – As users get accustomed to the format, creators may start experimenting with longer slideshows, up to a minute or two in length (The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 3: Posting Only Slideshows …).
New slide layouts and animations – TikTok may add more options for slide layouts, transitions, and animations to keep the format fresh. Users are also getting more creative with visuals and effects in slideshows.
Integration with music and sounds – Music and sounds already play a big role in slideshows. But creators may find more ways to sync slides with beats, lyrics, and viral sounds.
While the future is uncertain, it’s likely slideshows on TikTok will continue to evolve as both creators and the platform seek new ways to maximize the engaging storytelling potential of this format.
Key Takeaways
TikTok slideshows allow creators to share visual stories and information in an engaging video format. They are a popular and versatile creative tool on the platform. While slideshows date back decades, they’ve taken on new popularity in recent years as TikTok’s short-form video style lends itself well to snappy, visually compelling slideshows.
For creators hoping to make effective slideshows, it’s important to use eye-catching visuals, concise text, smooth transitions and a cohesive narrative. The best slideshows provide value to viewers by teaching something new or telling an interesting story. Viral examples often use humor, surprising facts or emotional storytelling. Slideshows work best when focused on a specific theme and tailored for TikTok’s short attention spans.
Looking ahead, expect slideshows to evolve further with TikTok’s upcoming features like longer videos. While other social apps offer slideshows, TikTok’s playful and youthful community has embraced the format in new creative ways. For both viewers and creators, TikTok slideshows distill complex ideas into snackable, visually engaging videos perfect for the platform.
