TikTok: what it is and how it works. The guide to make the most of it

How to use TikTok

The best way to learn more about the app, its user base, and the type of content that engages your audience is to start producing your own posts on a personal or business account.

However, if you are a marketer who has never used a niche social platform before, TikTok it can be quite difficult to navigate. We, too, had a hard time figuring out how it worked when we first logged in last year.

To help you use TikTok best of all, we've put together a quick guide to show you how.

Here is a list of instructions that will walk you through setting up yours Profile, filming your first video, with the addition special effects and using challenges o duets to interact with other users.

Configure your account

1. Download the app and register.

2. Set up your profile.

Once logged in, you will immediately be taken to the video feeds. We'll show you how this works in step three. But first tap the icon on the bottom right that looks like the Profile of a person to see and edit yours Profile.

Search for videos and engage with users

3. View video feed,

Now that you've set up your profile, tap back to the first tab showing your video feed.

4. Like, comment or share the videos you like.

When you find a video you like, you can tap the heart to put like or the comic for comment on it. To share the video, press the forward sign below the comment symbol to view the sharing options. These symbols are all found on the right side of the video.

If you really like a video and want to see if the user has more posts you'll like, swipe left to go to their profile.

5. Close video.

Tap on the second tab or magnifying glass to enter the search area of ​​the app. In this tab, you can search for accounts or videos, or you can look below the search bar to see videos by trending topic.

6. Follow users via video, search and TikCode.

If you want to keep up with a great video creator, you can follow them by pressing the icon that includes their profile picture and a plus sign above the heart button on their video.

If you already know an account TikTok or a person you want to follow, you can search for them in the search bar and then press the filter “users“. You can also find them by scanning theirs tikcode. This can be useful for brands or people who want to promote their channel TikTok on other websites or in the physical world. It can also be great if you meet a friend in person who wants to add you.

To find your tikcode, go to your profile and tap the four squares icon in the top right.

To scan another tikcode, go to the search tab and tap the square scan button next to the search bar.

When the scan screen opens, press and hold on tikcode you want to scan. The scanning process will start immediately, so you don't need to press any other buttons. Within seconds of the scan completing, you will be sent to that person's profile. If you have one screenshot of a code, you can also press “Photo” in the top corner of the scan page to upload and scan the code.

How to post on TikTok

7. Set up your shot and choose special effects.

Tap the middle tab to enter camera mode. To face the camera in the right direction, tap the Flip icon in the top right. On the right side of the screen, you'll also see icons for the following:

• Speed: allows you to record video in slow motion or fast motion.
• Beauty: an AR filter capable of hiding imperfections and smoothing the skin.
• filters: allows you to change the camera's color filter.
• Timer: allows you to set a countdown for automatic recording if you want to film hands-free.
• Veloce

Music and effects

At the top center of the camera screen, you'll also see music notes with "Add a sound" next to them. Tap this to choose the music overlay or sound effect you want to work with.

At the bottom of the camera, you'll also see an Effects icon to the right and an upload button to the left, in case you want to record your videos outside of the app.

When you tap the Effects button, you'll see a variety of AR filters and other special effects that can augment your face or your surroundings. You can also choose a video overlay style filter here.

In the black bar below the camera, you can set the time limit for your video or tap Photo template to create a photo slideshow instead of a video.

8. Record the video.

When you're ready, press and hold the red record button. You can record your video all at once or in chunks.

If you want to put several shots into each video or record it in chunks, simply hold down the record button for each segment, then release it, then hold it again when you're ready for your next shot.

Don't want to hold down the record button all the time? Before entering recording mode, you can also use the timer to give yourself enough time to hold your phone and pose in front of it before the automatic recording begins.

9. Make final edits and add a caption to the video.

After you finish recording your video, you'll still be able to add a music overlay, filters, and other basic special effects. You can also add stickers and text overlays to the top of the video.

If you're not ready to publish yet, hit the Drafts button in the bottom left to save it for later.

10. Duets with other users.

See a music post you love? Want to join the person who made it? TikTok lets you reply with a video of Duet. To use this previous function Musical.ly, find a video you want to duet with, hit the Share button to see the sharing options, then hit the “Duet” option in the bottom center row.

The camera screen will appear next to the video. From there, you can press record and sing along, dance, or do whatever you want to the music.

To show you what a finished product looks like, here's a great example:

If you write a post and don't want anyone to duet with you, you can tap the "Duet / React Off” on your Post page before posting it.

11. Join a challenge.

Some tips for TikTok

Yup, TikTok it might seem like a pretty strange platform right now, but it could be a great tool for engaging younger audiences. It's only a year old, and it's also a great place for video experimentation.

For your first video shoot, here are some tips to help you create unique and engaging posts:

Want to know more about the backstory of TikTok and what could it mean for brands? Check out this post. If you are interested in discovering other emerging platforms, we also have this great guide for you.