TikTok’s search algorithm is designed to surface the most relevant and engaging video content for users. Unlike platforms like Instagram that easily allow photo slideshows, TikTok is focused on short-form entertaining videos. This means slideshow posts don’t rank high in TikTok’s search results. There are a few key reasons slideshows struggle to gain traction:
TikTok Focuses on Video
As a short-form video platform, TikTok is optimized for video content. The algorithm prioritizes videos that keep viewers engaged and entertained. Slideshows made up of still images simply don’t fit the fast-paced, video-first nature of TikTok. The app makes it easy for users to upload or record high-quality videos up to 3 minutes long. But there isn’t an equally seamless way to create image slideshows. So there is far more video content, which edges out slideshows in search rankings.
Slideshows Are Less Engaging
Even creative and well-made image slideshows tend to be less engaging than videos on TikTok. Videos bring content to life through motion, music, effects, and other interactive elements. Viewers expect to see entertaining, eye-catching videos that give them a reason to stop scrolling. Still images in a slideshow format often can’t capture and hold viewer attention in the same way. This means slideshows receive lower engagement in the form of likes, comments, and shares compared to videos. And TikTok’s algorithm favors content that gets engagement.
No Native Slideshow Format or Features
Unlike Instagram and Facebook which have built-in slideshow features, the TikTok app does not natively support creating image slideshows. Users have to get creative and find third-party workarounds to make slideshows, usually by screen recording a slideshow created in another app. This extra effort means fewer users are likely to make slideshow posts in the first place. And the type of slideshows that can be screen recorded in this way end up lower quality than natively created slideshows. This makes them even less engaging and discoverable for viewers.
Slideshows Are Harder to Create and Post
Without native slideshow features, putting together a polished slideshow post on TikTok requires extra steps. Users first need to build the slideshow in a separate editing app and then screen record it to upload to TikTok. The multi-step process creates more friction versus just opening the TikTok app and recording a quick video. So there are fewer slideshow creators posting this format to begin with. Even when slideshows do get posted, the extra effort often results in a less than stellar end product in terms of pacing, transitions, and overall quality.
Short Watch Time for Most Viewers
TikTok is designed for quick entertainment on the go. The majority of viewing sessions last less than 5 minutes as users briefly scroll during spare moments of downtime. Image slideshows don’t deliver value quickly the way short, punchy videos do. Even creative slideshows require more time to convey information or tell a story through a series of still images. This makes slideshows less compatible with the dip-in, short watch time behavior of most TikTok users. Videos that immediately capture attention thrive better.
No Captions on Slideshows
One key factor in TikTok’s search algorithm is text content. Videos with descriptive captions and hashtags tend to perform better as this text helps make the content more discoverable. But slideshow posts don’t support captions in the same way standard video posts do. The only text slideshow creators can include is in the slides themselves. This makes it harder for slideshows to contain relevant search terms and metadata to get found by users searching keywords and hashtags.
Challenging for Algorithm to Process
TikTok’s powerful recommendation algorithm uses advanced computer vision technology to analyze and understand video content. The algorithm looks at details like objects, scenes, sounds, and actions in a video to determine the subject matter. This allows it to deliver each user with a personalized, engaging feed catered to their interests. But when it comes to slideshows, the algorithm has a harder time analyzing and categorizing a series of still images lacking motion and sound. So slideshows may fail to get picked up by the algorithm in general search and recommendations
Unpredictable Screen Recording Quality
When sharing a slideshow on TikTok, the video viewer sees is only as good as the screen recording. Many users don’t have proper screen recording tools or techniques to ensure the slideshow translates well into a video file. Issues like low resolution, poor cropping, lighting glare on the device screen, and jerky pans across slides result in low quality videos. Even amazing slideshow content falls flat if not properly recorded. This makes the final video less engaging for the TikTok audience, so reach and views suffer.
Limited Video Editing After Screen Recording
One advantage of natively created TikTok videos is the ability to edit, remix, and enhance with filters, effects, and text on the platform itself. But once a slideshow is screen recorded into a standard video, users lose the robust TikTok editing tools. The only editing possible is trimming the start and end. So slideshow creators have very limited options to further optimize or enhance their content after recording. This also contributes to lower quality videos that fail to gain traction.
No Sound from Slideshows
Sound is incredibly important on TikTok. Music, voiceovers, and other sounds help videos make an instant emotional connection with viewers. They also aid with discovery via the recommendations algorithm listening for sounds. But slideshows made outside of TikTok lack integrated sound that gets picked up when screen recording the video. Creators have to add music as a separate step which few bother doing. So many slideshows have no sound at all. This makes them much more forgettable and skippable for the TikTok audience.
Struggle to Tell Stories or Convey Value
One key to success on TikTok is delivering maximum value within the short video time constraints. This often involves quickly teaching something new, telling a compelling story, or entertaining through comedy or spectacle. Simple slideshows struggle to build the same value. Still images alone rarely educate, spark laughter, convey useful information, or hook someone into an engaging story or journey the same way short video content does on the platform. That makes it harder for slideshows to gain a following.
Can’t Take Advantage of Interactive Features
TikTok has rolled out interactive video features like polls, quizzes, and promps to further engage viewers. These types of interactive videos tend to perform very well as they get higher engagement. But slideshow formats can’t take advantage of the same interactive features. So they miss out on these engagement and algorithm boosting opportunities.
How to Increase Visibility of Slideshows
While slideshows are unlikely to take the TikTok world by storm, creators who are set on using the format do have some options to help improve their visibility and performance:
- Use eye-catching visuals and sleek transitions to better hold viewer attention
- Add music, voiceovers, or other sounds to make slideshows less silent and dull
- Keep slideshows concise focusing only on the very best images
- Use on-screen text to include relevant keywords and hashtags
- Leverage trending audios or effects related to your content
- Promote your slideshows across other social platforms to drive traffic back to TikTok
- Follow other successful TikTok slideshow creators for inspiration and ideas
At the end of the day, slideshows are simply not an ideal fit for TikTok’s fast-paced viral video culture. Creators wanting to maximize their impact should strongly consider adapting their content into short-form, entertaining videos tailor-made for the TikTok audience and algorithm. But with enough effort and creativity, it is possible for well-executed slideshows to find some limited success on the platform.
