TikTok 101
If you are new to TikTok, this breaks down the basics of the TikTok user experience. This is only a primer for those who don’t yet know what you can do in the app.
Your profile (“Me” along the bottom of the app menu). In addition to showing your content, you can include an 80 character bio, links to YouTube and Instagram, and a website link. Many people will use a Linktree and this best to do when working with artists. Links to Apple Music and Spotify are common, as are website, merchandise or additional social media sites. Your profile image can be either a video or photo.
The Home button is your feed of content that TikTok delivers to you. It’s split into the “For You” page and the “Following” page.
The For You Page (FYP) delivers new content to you every time you load the app. This is generally based on what types of videos and creators you interact with. It can include content from creators that you follow.
The Following page is only content from creators that you follow on TikTok.
Swiping left or right will switch between the Following and For You Page.
The inbox is where you see your interactions from others. These are divided into several categories. You can see all activity (default) but as you get more followers, you might adjust this for comments or mentions.
Flip Camera - Select the front or rear facing camera
Recording Speed - Adjustments can be made from 0.3x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 3x
Beauty Mode - smooths out skin tones
Filters - 40+ lens filters available
Timer (3 sec or 10 sec) - sets the time before recording begins. Selected audio is also previewed until you start the timer (if prerecorded audio is being used)
Flash - on/off
Effects also allow you to modify your video. There are dozens of these and certain effects will trend within the TikTok community. A green screen background is common allowing you to upload a photo for your background, bling adds shimmer and sparkles to videos, earthquake provides a shaking effect or face zoom is used to isolate one person on camera.
To record, simply tap the red circle at the bottom center. You may also upload prerecorded video from your camera roll. You also have the ability to adjust the speed of recording from 0.3x to 3x. There are many types of content that will use varying recording speeds.
When creating content, you have 4 options:
15 Seconds
60 Seconds
Templates (for photo content)
Live (for live streaming)
Sounds are the prerecorded music and audio files available in the app. Recommended sounds tend to be popular at that time and will appear first. Additional playlists for selecting music to be used in a content creator’s video appear at the bottom. You can also search for songs/sounds.