Learning how to make a TikTok video for the first time can be a daunting prospect. If special effects and video editing aren’t normally your thing, the initial learning curve may cause concern. But what’s important to remember is how TikTok has been engineered to make it as easy as possible to record and post videos.
Even with no prior knowledge or experience whatsoever, anyone can start recording and broadcasting on TikTok in minutes. This is something more people and businesses really should be doing right now. TikTok currently has an active audience of more than one billion users worldwide.
Incredibly, it’s estimated that around 13.4% of all adults on the entire planet use TikTok. That’s a pretty huge audience to reach, engage and influence with your video content. All you need to do is record your video content in a way that resonates with your target audience.
Far from the technicalities, it’s the creative side of creating quality content on TikTok that demands the most attention. Recording and sharing videos is a breeze – coming up with something people will want to watch another matter entirely. As is posting content with real viral potential, which often holds the key to making it big on TikTok.
In this guide, we’ll be covering the basics of how to make a TikTok video for the first time while presenting a few essential tips and tricks for getting more out of every video you publish.
How to Make a TikTok Video?
Starting out with the basics, the fundamentals of putting a TikTok video together really couldn’t be easier. There are really just ten things you need to do to share your first TikTok video, as outlined in brief below:
Step 1: Log into your account and tap the “+ Symbol” at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: You’ll now be able to choose between “Uploading Videos” and “Photos” directly from your phone or “Shooting a New Video” from scratch using your phone’s camera.
Step 3: Assuming you want to shoot a new video, simply tap the “Record” button at the bottom of the screen to start recording your clip.
Step 4: When you’re finished shooting, press the “Same Button” again to stop recording.
Step 5: Keep in mind that the standard maximum video duration is “Set to 15 Seconds,” after which it will stop recording automatically.
Step 6: If you want to shoot longer videos, you can switch to camera mode or choose templates for more options.
Step 7: After you have finished shooting your video, you can hit the “Checkmark” to complete the process.
Step 8: The next step is to add audio clips by choosing the “Add Sound” option and playing with the various special effects and filters TikTok provides. None of which are mandatory but are fun to experiment with.
Step 9: When your video is complete, you will be able to watch it again before publishing it.
Step 10: You can then “Post” your completed video on TikTok, complete with a description including relevant hashtags to ensure it is discovered by the right people.
That’s really all there is to it – a process that takes just seconds to get to grips with. Again, you can experiment with the platform’s filters and special effects all you like, but doing so really isn’t necessary when getting started with the basics.
How to Make a TikTok Dance Video?
Technically speaking, making a TikTok dance video follows the same basic principles as making any other video. You’ll need to set your phone up on an appropriate flat surface or tripod, but the rest is fairly straightforward. Here are the steps involved in shooting your first viral TikTok dance video:
Step 1: Log into your account and tap the “+ Symbol” at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Choose the “Add Sound” option to “Select the Audio” you need for your clip.
Step 3: Press the “Red Checkmark” to add audio to your video.
Step 4: Position your phone appropriately and prepare your dance space.
Step 5: Use the timer option at the right of the screen to choose between a “3 or 10-Second Countdown.”
Step 6: Press the “Start Shooting” button.
Step 7: When the countdown reaches zero, the recording begins automatically, and you can start dancing.
Step 8: Add your chosen special effects, filters, stickers, and text, then press “Next.”
Step 9: When prompted, add a caption including a selection of relevant hashtags to make your video discoverable.
Step 10: Press the “Post” button, and your dance video will be live on the platform.
It’s worth remembering that when shooting dance videos, polished perfection isn’t everything. In fact, some of the best-performing videos on TikTok are those depicting complete failures. Don’t be afraid to share videos that don’t exactly depict you and your best. TikTok is, after all, a platform where authenticity and honesty are everything.
How to Make a TikTok with Multiple Videos?
There’s also the option of creating a video that consists of multiple shorter clips. A process that is just as easy as making standard videos as outlined above, with no prior knowledge or experience necessary. Here’s how to make a TikTok with multiple videos:
Step 1: Log into your account and tap the “+ Symbol” at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: If you want to combine several clips that are already on your device, press the “Upload” button and select them accordingly.
Step 3: If you want to shoot multiple videos directly, simply keep hitting the “Record” button again after recording each clip via your device’s camera.
Step 4: Once you have “Selected All the Clips” you want to include in your video, you can press “Next.”
Step 5: Choose the “Auto Sync” feature to synchronize the audio across your videos, or make the adjustments manually if preferred.
Step 6: After pressing “Next” once again, you’ll be able to preview your video and enhance it with special effects, sounds, stickers, and so on.
Step 7: When happy with the whole thing, tap “Next” once again and enter a caption for your video, including relevant hashtags.
Step 8: Press the “Post” button, and your video will go live.
Videos that feature multiple clips can pave the way for creativity on an entirely higher level. Don’t be afraid to experiment, as you will always be able to preview your content before allowing it to go live.
8 Tips to Make the Perfect TikTok Video
Admittedly, the header above is a little misleading. The reason is that there is no such thing as a perfect TikTok video. It depends entirely on who you are targeting and what you are targeting them with. Though in all cases, there’s always room for improvement.
Your goal should be to put together videos that consistently hit home with your target audience. Original content that has genuine value and serves a purpose of some kind. Other than this, these are the eight things you need to do to ensure your videos gain maximum traction:
1. Do Short Videos
First up, it’s been apparent for some time that short videos are the preferred option on TikTok. This is the kind of platform people head to with instant gratification in mind. Your job is to entertain, inspire, amuse, educate or amaze them as quickly as possible.
A TikTok video that gets the job done within a few seconds is always more engaging than a similar video that’s unnecessarily long. If there’s anything you can do to get your message across quicker, do it. The shorter the video, the greater its viral potential.
2. Use Trending Music or Songs
Trending music and songs can be great for boosting engagement and appeal. That said, it’s essential to only ever add music to your videos that your target audience will appreciate. Getting on board with every trend simply for the sake of it is a bad idea.
The right musical backing track to a video on TikTok can make all the difference. It’s therefore up to you to work out what your target audience would like to hear and give it to them. If a current trend doesn’t die with the tastes of your target audience, don’t use it.
3. Use Right Hashtags
As already touched upon, hashtags play an essential role in helping people find your content. It’s the hashtags you use that tell TikTok algorithm what your content is about and who to recommend it to. You, therefore, need to ensure that each and every hashtag you use is of genuine relevance to your content.
Don’t make the mistake of overusing hashtags or using irrelevant hashtags simply because they are trending. Include hashtags in your descriptions that make it as easy as possible for TikTok to categorize your content and present it to the right people.
4. Tell Your Story
Storytelling can be surprisingly impactful and engaging on platforms like TikTok. This is where you take the time to share a story of some kind with your target audience. Something that happened to you on the way to work, a thought you had about someone from your past, a person you met who inspired you – it really can be anything at all.
Stories give you the opportunity to showcase your personality and demonstrate your authenticity. Both of which are guaranteed to help steer your TikTok campaign in a more profitable direction.
5. Do Multi-Part Videos
Creating a short series of videos that feed one into the next can also be hugely engaging. You leave them wanting more at the end of your first video, continue with a second video a little later, and continue accordingly. The more anticipation you can build ahead of each subsequent post, the better.
Of course, this is only effective if you manage to hook their attention with your first video. Not to mention every subsequent video you publish. But if you pull it off, it can be a great way of pulling in a ton of views for several videos in a row.
6. Use a Strong Call to Action
One of the most effective ways of encouraging people to take action on TikTok is to simply tell them what to do—looking to get more followers on board? Ask everyone who views your videos to sign up. Want your videos to go viral? Tell them to share your videos with their own fans and followers.
It’s the little things like these that often make the biggest difference. Rather than expecting them to do these things naturally, it simply makes sense to ask them to do so. Don’t underestimate the power of a strong CTA – it really can make all the difference in the world.
7. Publish Controversial Content
For the record, we’re not talking about anything that might get you kicked off TikTok. We’re simply talking about the kind of content that gets people talking. Controversy takes so many forms – a divisive news story, asking for opinions on a weird new fashion trend, or simply asking people to share their favorite pizza toppings.
The stirring debate can be great for getting more eyes on your videos and generating more comments. Both of which can work wonders for your visibility and exposure on TikTok.
8. Showcase Your Skills
Last up, TikTok is engineered to showcase and recommend the content of genuine value. Hence, tutorials, instructional content, and how-to videos almost always perform well. If there’s something you’re good at, take every opportunity to showcase your skills.
More importantly, make an effort to share your knowledge and skills on editing TikTok videos with your target audience. Teach them how to do something, or show them how to do something they can already do better. Great for boosting your authority and credibility while at the same time catching the eye of the TikTok algorithm.
Conclusion
Learning how to make a TikTok video for the first time is easier than you might think. The technicalities of the whole thing are practically non-existent, and the TikTok app guides you through the process step by step. All of this is great news, given how coming up with ideas for quality content isn’t nearly as straightforward.
TikTok is a platform where raw, unedited, and authentic footage is always best. Something that means you’ll have more time to focus on what matters most – engaging your target audience.
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