Here’s a question – what are the best TikTok video ideas for beginners? If looking to get the strongest possible start on TikTok, how should you kick off your campaign? Most people on TikTok have the same goals in mind. To publish their first viral video, to make money through influencer marketing, and to generally grow their presence.
But if you’re yet to record a video for the first time and have limited social media experience, knowing where to start can be tricky. This counts double on TikTok, which already has more than 1 billion active users worldwide. A figure set to increase to more than 1.5 billion by the end of this year.
Suffice to say, and it takes something special to stand out on this hugely popular social media platform. As for the good news – there’s really no such thing as a ‘bad’ video idea. It depends entirely on who you are targeting and what kind of content they respond most positively to. Record a truly terrible dance video, and some people will find it fantastically hilarious.
Elsewhere, others will write it off as pure garbage, for example. Long story short, what you need to do is start recording as soon as possible and learn as you go. But when it comes to those all-important first videos, what kinds of content should you set your sights on?
10 Killer TikTok Video Ideas for Beginners
The key, as is the case with most things in life, lies in keeping things simple. The biggest mistake you can make on platforms like TikTok is trying too hard. This is a platform where personality and authenticity are everything. Whatever type of content you publish, it needs to be honest and true to who you are.
In terms of subject matter, it’s entirely up to you which way you go. Just be sure to keep the following tips and guidelines close to mind in order to help steer your content in the right direction:
1. Post Content of Genuine Value
First up, it’s important to question the purpose and value of every video you publish. This applies to every type of video across the board, irrespective of content type and target audience. Your job is to ensure that everything you publish holds some kind of value and serves a purpose. A few ways this can be achieved include the following:
Tell Your Story
One of the easiest ways to get started on TikTok is to simply tell your story to your viewers. Introduce yourself, tell them who you are, let them know why you’ve decided to start publishing on TikTok, and so on. On a platform where personality matters most, this can be the perfect way to get things off the ground.
Post Instructional Content
Instructional content and tutorials can be great for generating interest and engagement on TikTok. Any content that benefits the viewer by showing them how to do something (or do something better) is always well received. It also gives you the opportunity to showcase your knowledge, your expertise, and your authority.
Share Inspirational Content
Inspirational content takes a wide variety of forms. Interesting stories from your past, current events and topics of interest, shoutouts to people who inspire you for any reason, and so on. Again, it’s a case of coming up with content that serves a purpose and holds genuine value – something your target audience will genuinely get something positive out of.
Show Your Daily Routine
One of the easiest ways of kick-starting a new TikTok channel is to simply take your viewers through a day in your life. Along with telling them who you are and what you do, show them your daily routine from a first-person perspective. A quick and easy ‘behind the scenes look at the person behind the channel which can be great for boosting engagement.
Funny Content
Of course, TikTok is also the kind of platform where funny content never fails to get the job done. Your job is to figure out what type of content your viewers will find funny and provide them with a steady stream of it. However, you have to tread carefully with humor, as attempts to be funny that failure can result in a counterproductive cringe-fest.
2. Use the Q&A Feature
Interaction and engagement hold the key to a successful campaign on TikTok. The more you embrace the social side of social media, the better. It is therefore essential to ensure you activate the platform’s Q&A feature, as follows:
Step 1: Tap the “Three Horizontal Lines” in the top-right corner on your profile screen.
Step 2: Tap “Creator Tools.”
Step 3: Tap “Q&A.”
Step 4: Tap “Turn on Q&A” at the bottom of the screen.
After which, your viewers will be able to submit their questions, which you can then answer publicly on your page. A great way to generate discussion and motivate two-way communication while giving your target audience the opportunity to learn a little more about you.
3. Create a Duet
The Duet feature on TikTok can also be useful for newcomers to the platform. If you know at least one other person who already has a decent following, use them to your advantage. Duet videos are naturally engaging and entertaining.
They also have a good chance of landing on the For Your Page. By appearing alongside a creator with an established audience, you present yourself to their followers and have a good chance of adding them to your own channel.
4. Do Challenges
Of course, challenge videos have the kind of viral potential that goes beyond almost anything else. Sharing videos of yourself attempting the latest challenges can work wonders. Better yet, why not come up with your own challenges and encourage others to take part? Dream up something completely original, or put your own signature twist on a popular challenge.
5. Dance Videos
Publishing a dance video can also be a great place to start as a TikTok newcomer. Showcase your skills if you have any, or show the world just how terrible you are at dancing. Keep a close eye on the latest trends and see what kinds of dance videos are making waves at the time. Or again, why not have a go at coming up with your own unique dance video?
6. Use Relevant Hashtags
The importance of using relevant hashtags extends to all types of TikTok content across the board. Using trending hashtags where appropriate to do so can be great for channeling traffic to your videos.
As can coming up with your own branded hashtag (or hashtags), which will eventually become synonymous with your content. Hashtags tell TikTok what your videos are about and how to categorize your content. Hence, they need to be used and used strategically.
7. Use Trending Songs
Research has shown that the use of trending songs as the backing track for a TikTok video can significantly boost its impact and appeal. However, this is only the case if the song in question is likely to be well received by your target audience.
Always choose songs and sounds that your audience will appreciate. Avoid the temptation to base your decisions exclusively on what’s trending at the time.
8. Make Connections with Influencers
Contrary to popular belief, it’s never too early to start reaching out to influencers. In fact, you’d be surprised how many established influencers are happy to lend ambitious newcomers a helping hand.
If you can convince just one influencer to recommend or promote your content, you’re golden. Your job is to persuade them to share your work with their own audience of followers, or at least point them in your direction with a kind word or two.
9. Run a contest
Likewise, running a contest can be great for hitting the ground running on TikTok, as can a classic giveaway – anything that gives your target audience the chance of picking up something for nothing.
The caveat is that in order to take part, they need to follow you on TikTok and recommend you to their friends. Greasing the wheels with even a modest incentive can be just the thing for generating interest in a brand new TikTok channel.
10. Go Live
Last up, going live when you’re yet to attract your first followers isn’t advisable. You’ll be broadcasting to no one, so you’re wasting your time. But once you get your first 1,000 followers on board, going live on a regular basis can work wonders.
Hosting TikTok live have been shown to generate more engagement than any comparable pre-recorded post. For the record, TikTok imposes a minimum follower count of 1,000 to enable the ‘Go Live’ feature. You’ll therefore need to work on gaining followers before this becomes an option.
Conclusion
Revisiting an earlier point, keeping things simple holds the key to making things work on TikTok. When you think about it, the most successful viral videos are almost always those that are raw, edited, and unplanned. Building a successful presence on TikTok is all about personality.
Hence, showcasing your personality and authenticity should be a priority – not creating Oscar-worthy clips of limited practical value. Take inspiration from other creators and keep a close eye on the FYP to see what’s making waves at the time. Introduce yourself, let your personality shine, and you’ll soon find your place on TikTok.
