If you’ve been thinking of jumping on the TikTok bandwagon for a while, now’s the time to get on board. Stick around.
We’ll help you download the app and create your first video with this step-by-step guide…
What is TikTok?
Officially launched in 2016, TikTok is yet another trending social media app, available for Android and Apple devices.
The platform sees users sharing short-form video content with followers. TikTok has a huge library of music and sound bytes you can add to your videos. Like all the best social platforms, once you have an account, you can follow, like, comment, share, and create your own content.
TikTok is wildly popular in the app stores, boasting over a billion downloads before the end of 2020. It’s rated the Top Free App in Google Play and the Top Entertainment App in the Apple store.
If you’re ready to download it, search for TikTok in the app store of your choice or click one of these links.
Download: TikTok for Apple | Android (Free)
Before You Post: Create an Account
You won’t be able to post a video to TikTok without an account, so that’s the first order of business once you’ve downloaded the app.
When you first open the app, it will prompt you to create an account. Choose which information you’d like to use to log in (phone, email, Facebook, Apple, Google, or Twitter).
Follow the instructions to enter your information, choose your interests, and decide whether or not you want to receive notifications. TikTok will send you a code by text or email to validate your account, instead of creating a password.
Then you’ll be ready to start exploring. From makeup tutorials to cooking, to parents embarrassing their kids and short-form comedy, there is something for everyone to enjoy. All you have to do is swipe up to scroll down through random videos the app chooses for you.
Getting Started: How to Use TikTok
As you watch a video, you’ll see icons listed down the right side. At the top is the profile picture of the person you are watching. If you like the video, click on the picture or swipe left on the video and click Follow. Under the Follow button, you can scroll down to see more of that person’s videos.
Click the heart-shaped icon to “like” a video, the speech button to comment, and the arrow to share. Hit the album icon at the bottom if you like the video’s background music. There, you’ll see more videos playing the same song.
At the bottom of your screen, you’ll see more icons to help you navigate the app. Press Home to go back to the videos TikTok is recommending for you, based on your interests. If you click Discover, you can type in the search bar to find relevant videos, and filter based on popularity, background sounds, or hashtags used.
Go to your Inbox to find all of your messages and notifications, and Me to find and edit your profile. Click Edit Profile to change your name, update your photo, or add a bio. You can also connect to your Instagram and YouTube accounts here.
How to Make a TikTok Video
Creating a video in TikTok is super simple. This TikTok tutorial shows you how, in just seven easy steps.
1. Tap Create Your TikTok Video
To start adding a video to TikTok, tap the plus icon at the bottom of the app screen.
This opens the video creation menu.
2. Choose Your TikTok Video Length
The next step is to set the length of your video. Videos used to be limited to 15 seconds, but the app now also now has 60-second video recording and TikTok might add longer videos in the future.
Select 60s or 15s to determine the length of your video.
3. Record or Upload a TikTok Video
Hit the big red Record button to capture your video directly through the app and release to stop recording. You can stitch together multiple clips for your video, so you can press the red button again to resume recording from where you left off.
When you’re finished recording, click the red checkmark to save
You can also select the right Upload button to choose videos from your phone’s gallery if you have pre-recorded videos you would like to use instead.
4. Add Music or Sounds to Your TikTok Video
Select the Sounds tab at the top of your screen to explore the app’s huge music selection. Here, you can choose from the list or select More to find something you love.
5. Add Special Effects to Your TikTok Video
The Effects tab lets you add visual effects, as well as transitions and time effects like slow motion.
When you have added the desired effects to your clip, tap Save to return to the editing window.
6. Add a Description
Once you have added all the effects, edits, and clips you want for your video, you can move onto the description and posting.
Tap Next on your video to head over to the description page. Here you can add text to describe your video, as well as add hashtags or tag friends.
Hit Select Cover if you’d like to display a different thumbnail from your video and remember to Save.
Until this point, you can go back to previous pages to edit your clip by adding effects, filters, and more. But this brings us to the final step…
7. Share your video with the world
Make sure you’re happy with your video and its sharing settings.
You can select who can watch your video, whether comments are allowed, and whether others can use your video in a Duet or Stitch.
You can also choose whether to automatically share the video to your other social accounts too.
When ready, select Post to share your video on TikTok. It’s that simple.
TikTok will notify you when your video is finished uploading and it makes it easy for you to share in your messages or other social platforms.
If you select the Me tab, you’ll be able to see all your videos below your profile picture and bio.
Why Use TikTok?
Posting videos on TikTok can be something you do for personal entertainment or business. Since you can post about anything, it’s an opportunity for people to express themselves and show off their creativity to others. Of course, you can upload your TikTok micro-videos to all your other platforms and they are often posted on Facebook and Instagram stories.
Influencers are using the app to engage, inspire, and build their audiences. Businesses are also getting creative with TikTok to interact with their customers, show off their products and services, and build brand awareness.
Now, Go Create Videos on TikTok!
What will you do with TikTok? Now that you know a little more about the app and how to create your own videos, find something fun to film and give it a try.
