Learn how to Use TikTok: A Step-by-Step Information

I used to be a type of Zillennials who prevented getting began on TikTok for so long as potential. It’s not that I don’t love social media — belief me, I do. It simply took me a very long time to simply accept that TikTok, in contrast to Vine, was right here to remain.

Sadly, my opinion has modified, and it has due to this fact taken me double the standard time to put in writing this put up as a result of I’ve needed to spend a lot of it on TikTok, which inherently results in distraction (don’t fear, I received there in the long run).

TikTok had 1.5 billion month-to-month lively customers in 2023 and is anticipated to have 1.8 billion customers by the top of 2024.

For comparability, based on knowledge from a 2024 Kepios examine, TikTok is the 4th largest social media platform by month-to-month lively customers. Fb has greater than 3 billion, YouTube has greater than 2.5 billion, and Instagram has 2 billion.

To state the plain, TikTok is dominating the social media panorama as a gold mine of brief, snackable content material. Whereas that sounds thrilling — how are you going to get began?

I’ve included just a few steps, with images, to stroll you thru organising your profile, filming your first video, including particular results, and utilizing challenges or duets to have interaction with different customers.

You’ll additionally get a crash course on rising your viewers and monitoring analytics to make sure you’re creating content material that reaches and resonates with the fitting folks.

Desk of Contents

Learn how to Use TikTok

The very first thing that originally turned me off from TikTok was that I considered it as a glorified Instagram, besides that I couldn’t even put up flattering images of myself!

So, what was the purpose?

What I’ve discovered over time is that TikTok has many use instances — whether or not you’re a person social media consumer or a enterprise. Under are three examples of how you may make the most of TikTok for work or enjoyable.

1. Seek for recommendation or info on nearly any subject.

Lately, I went to Los Angeles for a Nickelodeon enterprise journey, and I used to be staying in Santa Monica. One morning, I desperately craved an notorious LA breakfast burrito.

I checked Google Maps and was met with an infinite slew of choices close to me. How was I to determine?

I instantly opened TikTok and searched “breakfast burrito santa monica” and was met with dozens of native suggestions sharing their favourite tried-and-tested spots.

After watching 4 TikToks, I settled on Alfalfa, because it had probably the most constructive critiques and was the closest to my resort. Inside 20 minutes, I had a scrumptious Ancho Potato breakfast burrito in hand and a smile on my face.

It is a good instance of how you should use TikTok to rapidly achieve details about a distinct segment subject. I might have searched “best breakfast burrito Santa Monica” on Google, however I’d in all probability have been met with a number of sponsored adverts and conflicting skilled opinions.

Generally, you simply need recommendation from a daily, native particular person whom you may wholeheartedly belief.

2. Sustain with present tendencies.

As a 27-year-old lady, I’m advised I ought to all the time be “in the know.” Nevertheless, I nonetheless discover myself, at occasions, behind on the newest pattern.

Whether or not it’s that viral in a single day Korean face masks or U.S. girls’s rugby participant Ilona Maher’s hilarious Olympics content material, social media permits for a relentless turnover in content material that may make it really feel inconceivable to remain knowledgeable.

Nevertheless, among the finest components about TikTok is how straightforward it’s to find what’s trending. Your “For You Page” (also referred to as FYP) simply analyzes what you’re eager about and targets you with related content material. Whereas this can be worrisome for some folks, it does make it loads simpler to curate the content material you view.

It’s also possible to simply seek for tendencies by title in TikTok when you hear or see one thing talked about that you’re unfamiliar with. This may help you uncover movies that includes or describing the pattern.

3. Create content material to assist develop your following.

Whereas TikTok has many beneficial makes use of merely as a consumer, you may achieve much more alternatives as a creator. I’ll dive extra deeply into this later, however among the finest methods to make use of TikTok is to create content material that may attain your target market and assist develop your following.

Taking part in tendencies and challenges is an effective way to make participating content material, however there are different methods you may make use of, reminiscent of persistently posting and utilizing the proper hashtags and collaborating with different creators or manufacturers.

As an illustration, one in all my favourite recipe developer creators, Justine Doironm, not too long ago posted a greeny tahini egg salad sandwich recipe on TikTok that was a paid partnership with Very important Farms, an organization that ethically sources eggs, butter, and ghee.

Now that you simply’ve learn 3 ways you should use TikTok — past senseless scrolling — you could be able to lastly give the favored social media platform a shot. If that’s the case, learn on for a step-by-step information on organising an account.

Learn how to Set Up Your TikTok Account

1. Obtain the app and enroll.

First, I went to the App Retailer to obtain TikTok (non-Apple customers can go to Google Play). Whereas I have already got a private TikTok, I walked via the motions of organising a brand new take a look at one for this put up.

Whereas I used to be given the choice to immediately enroll with Fb, Gmail, or Twitter, I made a decision to enroll by including a username and password in order that my different accounts wouldn’t be linked.

After confirming my account login info, I used to be dropped at a display screen that instructed me to pick out my pursuits. That is how TikTok can start curating movies.

2. Arrange your profile.

As soon as logged in, I used to be instantly proven a feed of movies that had been curated by my chosen pursuits, I will clarify extra about how this works in step three.

To edit my profile, I tapped the icon within the decrease proper nook of the display screen that appears like an individual’s define,

There, I then tapped the “Edit profile” button, to pick out a profile picture or video. That is additionally the place I might add username and bio info.

If I so selected, I might hyperlink to my Youtube and Instagram pages to indicate off my different social media profiles.

If you happen to’re a enterprise, this could possibly be a useful solution to promote your different visible platforms. Improve your profile to a enterprise account if you wish to market what you are promoting on TikTok.

It is a good concept since 61% of entrepreneurs use TikTok for influencer advertising and marketing initiatives.

To do that, go to your profile and faucet the horizontal strains on the prime proper nook of the display screen. Then faucet Setting and Privateness, faucet Account, and faucet Change to Enterprise Account.

You‘ll have access to TikTok’s full vary of downloadable analytics with a enterprise account. With a private profile, you may solely have in-app entry.

You can not set what you are promoting profile to personal. Nevertheless, I’ve the choice to set my private account to personal. After tapping Settings and Privateness, I’d faucet Privateness and toggle the Personal account tab.

Discovering Movies and Participating with Customers

3. View your video feed.

Now that I’ve arrange my profile, I toggled again to the House tab by clicking the “Home” button within the backside left nook.

Consider this like your X feed, however the place the video is the first content material. Since I’m not following anybody on my new take a look at TikTok, the app sends me random trending movies relatively than any content material created by accounts I comply with.

As I start following and interacting with extra folks, my feed will grow to be extra personalised to my pursuits and the accounts I comply with.

4. Like, remark, or share movies you get pleasure from.

Once I discover a video I like, I can faucet the guts to love it or the speech bubble to touch upon it.

To share the video, I’d press the ahead signal beneath the remark image to see my sharing choices. These symbols are all situated alongside the fitting aspect of the video.

If I like a video and wish to see if the consumer has extra posts I would get pleasure from, I can swipe left to toggle to their profile.

5. Seek for movies.

To entry the app’s search space, I can click on the magnifying glass on the prime proper nook of the display screen. On this tab, I can seek for accounts or movies or have a look at the phrases and names under the search bar to see movies by trending subject.

As an illustration, after I wrote this put up, the Paris 2024 Olympics had been in full swing. Thus, you will note that every one my trending matters are associated to the Olympics.

6. Set up your saved movies with Collections.

As soon as I begin “liking” movies, I’ve the choice to rewatch them below my Saved tab. The Saved tab can get messy rapidly, so I really like to prepare my favourite movies by class — or, as they’re referred to on TikTok, Collections.

To entry Collections, I can click on on the bookmark icon under the remark icon and press “Manage” to begin a set. Afterward, I can title my collections to maintain them so as.

On my private TikTok, I’ve categorized a few of my favourite saved posts by recipes, skincare, books, health, and comedy.

I haven’t completed this, however you can even create a set of your favourite sounds, results, and hashtags, which is useful to drag from for future movies.

7. Comply with customers.

As soon as I wish to begin maintaining with folks on TikTok on my new account — whether or not they be my favourite model, well-liked content material creators, or my finest pal — I can comply with them by urgent the icon with their profile image and a plus signal.

I can particularly search TikTok accounts or folks I wish to comply with within the search bar after which press the “Users” filter.

8. Share your TikTok utilizing TikCode.

Now that I’ve edited all of the settings on my new TikTok, it is time to share it far and large (though it’s additionally completely acceptable to wish to cover behind an nameless TikTok account, too!).

One of many best methods to take action is with a TikCode.

A TikCode is a QR code distinctive to my profile that others can use to entry my profile rapidly. It is a great choice if I run into an adoring fan in one who desires to comply with me (kidding).

To search out my TikCode, I can go to my profile and click on the three horizontal strains within the prime proper nook of the display screen. There, I can click on “My QR code,” which opens my distinctive code.

What I like: Your model’s QR code might be positioned in your merchandise, storefronts, menus, and so on., to make it straightforward for customers to search out what you are promoting TikTok.

Learn how to Publish on TikTok

9. Arrange your shot and pick particular results.

It’s time for me to create my first video! To do that, I can faucet the plus signal tab on the backside middle of my display screen to enter the digital camera.

The app routinely brings me to the Picture setting, however since I wish to make a video, I can toggle between the 15s, 60s, and 10m choices immediately above the shutter button.

As soon as I’ve chosen my most well-liked size, I can look to the highest proper aspect of the display screen to see icons for the next:

• Flip: Flip between the back and front cameras.
• Flash: Choose if I wish to use the flash throughout your shot.
• Timer: I can set an auto-record countdown to movie hands-free.
• Retouch: A filter that may cover blemishes and easy out my pores and skin.
• Filters: This lets me change the colour and aesthetic filters of the digital camera.
• Pace: I can document my video in sluggish movement or velocity it up (which is a good choice for longer movies).
• Voice: I can add a voice impact to the video.

On the backside of the display screen, I can see the Digicam and Template tabs. The digital camera permits me to document a video or take a photograph, and templates supply premade mixtures of music and results to make my video pop.

Sounds and Results

On the highest middle of the digital camera display screen, there’s a music word icon with “Add Sound” subsequent to it. I can faucet this to decide on the music or sound impact I wish to overlay on my video.

On the underside of the digital camera, there may be an Results icon to the left and an Add button to the fitting if I’d relatively use movies I’ve already recorded exterior of the app.

Professional tip: When you’ve got a enterprise account, you may solely have entry to sounds which can be pre-cleared for business use.

Once I faucet the Results button, I can see an enormous lineup of AR filters and different particular results that may increase my face or environment.

That is additionally the place I can pick a video overlay-styled filter right here, just like the Pink Love Pink butterfly impact I added under.

10. Report the video.

Now that I’ve added all my vital results and filters, I’m able to document. To start, I’ll press and maintain the pink document button.

I can document my video unexpectedly, which I love to do after I’m telling one cohesive story, or in items, which is nice after I’m touring and wish to compile a number of pictures right into a compilation video.

If I needed to suit completely different pictures in every video or document it in items, I can maintain the document button for every phase, then let go, and press and maintain it once more after I’m prepared for my subsequent shot.

If I’d relatively not maintain down the document button the whole time, I can arrange a timer earlier than getting into document mode. The timer would give me time to prop up my cellphone and pose in entrance of it earlier than it begins routinely recording.

11. Make ultimate edits and add a caption to the video.

After recording the video, I can nonetheless add a musical overlay, filters, and different major particular results. That is additionally after I can add stickers and textual content overlays on prime of the video.

Once I’m completed, I can press Subsequent, which directs me to a web page just like Instagram’s put up web page, the place I can add a caption, related hashtags, location, hyperlinks, and extra.

That is additionally the place I’d set the video’s privateness, flip feedback on or off, edit the duvet picture, and permit duets or reactions.

If I’m not able to put up but, I can press the Drafts button on the backside left to put it aside for later.

12. Duet with different customers.

Generally, I’ll see a musical put up that I really like a lot, I wish to take part with the one that made it. In spite of everything, I’ve been a educated singer since age 7!

Fortunately, TikTok permits customers to answer with a Duet video. Many customers these days even create movies which can be particularly meant to be duetted.

Duets aren’t only for songs anymore, although. I can duet any sort of video I like if I wish to touch upon it or infuse my very own humor and character into it.

To make use of this former Musical.ly function, I’d discover a video I wish to duet with, press the Share button to see sharing choices, then press the “Duet” choice on the underside row within the middle.

My digital camera display screen will then seem subsequent to the video. I can change the positioning of my digital camera within the duet by clicking completely different templates. From there, I’d press document and sing alongside, dance, touch upon, or mimic the video I’m duetting.

To point out you what a completed product seems like, this is an incredible instance from Gordon Ramsay.

If I put up a video and don’t desire anybody to duet with me, I can faucet the “Duet/React Off” button on the Publish web page earlier than publishing.

Finest for: The Duet function is a wonderful solution to take part in viral challenges, encourage audiences to work together together with your model, accomplice with influencers, or reply questions on your services or products.

13. Take part in a problem.

Like different social media platforms, I sometimes see movies with hashtags for “challenges.”

A problem is when a video put up, firm, or particular person encourages customers to movie themselves doing one thing oddly particular — just like the 12345678 problem.

Contributors then movie themselves doing the motion and hashtag the problem title of their put up captions.

There normally aren’t any winners in a TikTok problem, however hashtagging it might assist me get extra followers or views as folks may discover my video when looking the hashtag.

I additionally assume it’s a straightforward means for manufacturers to indicate they’re culturally related and have a playful aspect, which might be refreshing for customers to see.

Utilizing TikTok Analytics

14. Observe put up insights.

TikTok supplies analytics for creators that may assist me perceive how my content material is acting on the platform with insights reminiscent of video views, follower demographics, likes, and feedback.

This info may help me perceive who my viewers is and accordingly create content material that can goal that viewers and enhance my analytics.

To entry this function on TikTok, I can go to my profile and faucet the horizontal strains on the prime proper nook of the display screen.

There, I click on “TikTok Studio” to entry all of the creator instruments, together with Analytics, Creator Rewards Program, TikTok Store for Sellers, Artist Hub, and extra.

Below Analytics, I can click on the “Get Started” button. Then, faucet “Turn On” to permit TikTok to start monitoring my insights.

Since I haven’t but posted a video on my new take a look at TikTok account, it informs me that I have to put up a minimum of one video earlier than accessing analytics.

Professional tip: You possibly can seek the advice of the TikTok for Enterprise Starter Information, which is a customized information that may assist your model produce the strongest customized content material in your objectives and viewers.

15. Use an exterior analytics instrument.

If I wish to double-check my numbers on a second platform, I might additionally use a instrument exterior of TikTok to trace analytics.

I personally want Sprout Social, which is a strong social media administration instrument that enables customers to automate engagement techniques, plan social publishing, monitor analytics, carry out social listening, develop attain, and handle influencer advertising and marketing campaigns.

Different well-liked instruments embody Socialinsider, Pentos, and Exolyt.

I’d suggest these instruments extra for companies who wish to handle their TikTok posts, campaigns, and influencer methods, relatively than for particular person creators wanting to trace their very own insights.

For creators, TikTok Analytics will probably be the simplest and best choice.

Learn how to Develop Your TikTok Viewers

16. Perceive who your viewers is.

If what you are promoting does any type of advertising and marketing, you already know that probably the most vital components of selling your model is advertising and marketing it to the fitting folks.

The identical goes for TikTok.

In such a crowded market, it’s very important you’re posting content material that resonates together with your viewers and results in larger engagement from them. Which is already extra potential on TikTok, since it is the social platform with the very best engagement at a charge of two.65% per follower depend.

As an illustration, one of many most important kinds of manufacturers I comply with on TikTok are skincare manufacturers, together with Laneige.

Again in 2020, Laneige needed to succeed in Gen Z prospects in a extremely aggressive skincare market. In spite of everything, as of 2024, 43.7% of all TikTok customers are between ages 18-24, and present Gen Z people are between ages 12-27.

The model used a Branded Hashtag Problem on TikTok to construct product consciousness and share its pores and skin hydration values.

The Branded Impact allowed customers to see on TikTok what their pores and skin might appear like earlier than — boring and dry — and after making use of Laneige — radiant and hydrated.

This helped pave the best way for the #ThirstForLife Branded Hashtag Problem marketing campaign, which resulted in 25 million video views throughout 9.5K video submissions, together with this one.

Laneige understood who their target market was and created a filter and problem on TikTok that they knew would enchantment to that Gen Z viewers in a pure means. In spite of everything, there’s nothing I hate greater than dry pores and skin!

17. Accomplice with influencers or celebrities.

An effective way to develop your model’s viewers on TikTok is by collaborating with individuals who have already got an even bigger viewers.

When you’ll probably want to speculate a fairly penny into the collaboration — the precise quantity will rely upon their stage of superstar — it may be an funding price spending.

Returning to my Laneige instance, the model introduced Sydney Sweeney as its official international ambassador in January 2024. Julien Bouzitat, model normal supervisor for Laneige US, defined how influential the partnership was in a press launch:

“An amazing instance of the magnitude of our partnership with Sydney could be our social follower progress. For the reason that first announcement of Sydney as our U.S. ambassador in spring 2022, we skilled a direct 227% surge in TikTok followers and 53% progress in Instagram followers.”

In accordance with the press launch, one behind-the-scenes video of Sydney on a LANEIGE manufacturing set went viral “3 times over, accumulating 72 million views throughout TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. That’s the kind of affect and attain Sydney has.”

18. Collaborate with different manufacturers.

Partnering with different manufacturers is an effective way to become profitable on social media, in addition to develop your following.

You possibly can contemplate partnering with manufacturers inside the similar trade, which might probably make sure you’re concentrating on the fitting viewers whereas constructing a powerful relationship with an in any other case competitor.

Alternatively, you can accomplice with a model in a unique trade and are available collectively for a particular collab services or products that may assist bridge your audiences and produce a surprise-and-delight impact.

Two of my absolute favourite manufacturers not too long ago partnered for a enjoyable summer time collaboration that had the feedback part in buzz.

Fishwife, a woman-owned premium tinned fish model, and Lisa Says Gah, a woman-owned impartial clothes boutique collaborated on a limited-edition tinned fish, Fishwife-inspired t-shirt, nail sticker sheet, and jewellery.

Whereas it might appear unusual how a tinned fish firm and a clothes boutique might presumably come collectively, the feedback included sentiments reminiscent of “The most incredible collab,” “WHAT A COLLABBBB,” and “OBSESSED.”

92% of TikTok customers take motion after watching a video on the platform, which implies there may be loads of actionable worth in creating the fitting content material for the fitting viewers.

TikTok on Lock

As a late bloomer to the platform, I can utterly relate to the intimidation of getting began on TikTok.

Whereas it has many options and instruments that may come throughout as difficult, they really offer you much more alternatives for robust content material creation and reference to customers.

Listed below are a few of my finest ideas and methods for navigating TikTok:

• Use TikTok to construct model consciousness and introduce what you are promoting to customers because of TikTok Store. In spite of everything, 30% of day by day TikTok customers have engaged with TikTok Store, and 71.2% of TikTop Store customers have made a purchase order after viewing a product of their feed.
• Have enjoyable with particular results. There are numerous methods to boost your video, and audiences on TikTok anticipate it. So, mess around and experiment with them.
• Embrace the music. Most movies on the platform have a music or sound impact within the background.
• Movie just a few movies with a number of pictures at completely different angles. It will make the video really feel extra lively and fascinating.
• Be happy to indicate a lighter aspect or a humorousness. Folks come to this platform to be entertained, and comedy can go a good distance.
• Use stylish hashtags and check out a problem video. Then, embody related hashtags in your put up caption so your video reveals up when folks seek for it.
• Do not forget that customers’ consideration spans are brief, and follow a number of shorter movies relatively than a pair longer ones.
• Proceed to look at movies in your FYP and seek for new movies. This may help you see what different manufacturers and creators are doing and spark inspiration in your technique.

Most of all, be open to alter. TikTok is a always evolving platform, and one of the simplest ways to make use of it’s to be keen to comply with the modifications.

That reveals your viewers you’re keen to repeatedly adapt to their pursuits and keep related, which is the perfect factor you may hope for from a enterprise you belief.

Editor’s word: This put up was initially printed in August 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.