Have you heard of TikTok for the first time and would like to create an account, or are you curious about all the possibilities on this social media platform? Then you have come to the right place on this page! In this TikTok tutorial for beginners, we will explain to you what is possible, how to create your own videos and all kinds of other things that are covered on this platform.
What is possible on TikTok?
TikTok is a short video content platform. This means that you cannot view and/or create photos or long texts, but only short videos on the platform. Therefore, the length of one video is no longer than 2 minutes. This is what makes TikTok such a unique app; within minutes you have seen dozens of videos with all kinds of different topics.
In the paragraphs below, we’ll tell you what all you can do on the TikTok app.
Tap Tok video viewing
Most users on TikTok are on the platform to watch entertaining videos and relax for a while. Exactly which TikTok videos you get to see depends on the TikTok algorithm. This algorithm determines, based on your interests and which videos you respond to, which videos you are likely to like as well.
On TikTok, there are very many different types of videos. So you have funny dances, informative videos about fitness, but also ‘booktok’ is popular there; videos in which people talk about their favorite books. So there are plenty of types of videos to choose from!
TikTok video recording
In addition to being able to watch videos, you can also choose to create your own. Using music and sounds available on the platform, you can easily create the funniest and funniest TikTok videos yourself. You can share these with your TikTok friends, keep them to yourself or share them with global users.
Follow, like and comment
Does a particular video make you really laugh and want to see more from this creator? Then, with a TikTok account, you can decide to follow that person. This way, you get to see all the TikTok videos that this person shares and you are not dependent on the TikTok algorithm.
You can also choose to only like or comment on the video in question. This is how you let the creator of the video know what you thought of it. This benefits the video and the creator’s account; the more people who comment or like their video, the more the TikTok algorithm shows the video to other users.
Livestreaming
On TikTok, in addition to normal videos as a user, you will also encounter livestreams. Here you can click and watch your favorite TikTokkers live.
Once you achieve 1,000 followers on your account, you may also use the TikTok livestream feature yourself. You can then engage directly with your followers or other users on the platform. During this livestream, you can do whatever you want; for example, you can make yourself up, chat, play music or pack live orders.
During the livestream, viewers may send you virtual gifts. You can then convert these virtual gifts into diamonds at the end of the livestream, which you can cash out via PayPal. Conversely, as a user, you can also send virtual gifts to your favorite TikTokkers when they are live. To do this, you just need to load up coins first, which involves transferring money to the platform itself to use for virtual gifts.
Duets
See a really cool video you’d like to emulate, or respond to? A TikTok duet allows you to post your video next to another user’s video on TikTok. So in this way, a duet contains two videos on a split screen, playing simultaneously.
Please note that to use the duet feature, you must have a public account. Here we will go into more detail later in this blog.
TikTok manual for beginners
So, as you read, there is plenty to do on the TikTok app. But what do you actually do where? We’ll take you through the key features in the TikTok app and explain the screens in front of you and how to create a video. But first, it’s important that you create a TikTok account!
How do you create a TikTok account?
To take advantage of all the features in the TikTok app at all, you must first create an account. With the help of this roadmap, that should be no problem at all:
Step 1. Download the TikTok app from the App store or Play store
Step 2. Open the app and choose how you want to create your TikTok account. This can be done using your Facebook or Google data, as well as an email address or phone number.
Step 3. Now enter your date of birth. TikTok uses this information to verify that you are at least 13 years old and may use the app.
Step 4. Your account is now ready to use! Enter your name, a nice profile picture and bio and you can start uploading videos.
Different types of TikTok accounts
On TikTok, you can choose to create a personal or business account. Business accounts are public profiles through which brands and companies use TikTok’s marketing tools to build greater reach and brand awareness. Personal accounts are used by individuals who would like to become TikTok influencers, or use it purely for personal purposes.
In addition, you have several privacy choices when creating a TikTok account:
- A public account: anyone can see your profile, access it and send you a private message.
- A private account: you are findable, but people must ask permission to follow your account.
Navigating on TikTok
Once you create an account and open the app, you have two menus at the top of the home screen.
- The For You page: this is where all the popular videos that the TikTok algorithm thinks you will find interesting appear.
- The following page: only videos from accounts you follow appear here.
This way, you can easily switch between different types of content.
How do I make a TikTok video?
To get started with your first TikTok video, press the white plus sign in the bottom center of your screen. You now begin recording a video immediately. Would you rather use one of the videos or photos from your camera roll? Then click the upload button to the right of the red large button.
Now you can get started creating your video. There are several functions while recording videos:
- Flip: This lets you rotate your camera. You have the option of filming yourself (and seeing at the same time) or filming the other direction.
- Speed: film in slow-motion for a change or choose to speed up the recorded image.
- Beauty: through the AR filter, all the blemishes on your head are removed.
- Filters: choose different color filters with which to enhance your video.
- Timer: put your phone somewhere else and record hands-free videos.
- Flash: decide if you prefer your flash on or off while recording the video.
In addition to these options, you can also choose to paste certain effects or sounds under your video. The effects button, which you see at the top left of the screen, has extremely many options. So you can get the head of a tiger, add three eyes to your head or pick other too-crazy filters.
After you’ve created your video, it’s time to edit it. For example, you can choose to add another text to your video or cut out certain parts of your video. Are you completely satisfied with the final result? Then it’s time to post the video. In this last screen, you still have the option to tag a description, certain hashtags or people in the video.
Also, in this last screen, you can control who gets to see your TikTok video. Is this video meant only for your TikTok friends, only for yourself or for the whole world? And maybe you also want to post the video directly to your Facebook, or send it via WhatsApp?
Want a more detailed explanation of how to make a good TikTok video? We recently wrote a blog about it, “How to make the best TikTok videos.
Going viral on TikTok
People often talk about “going viral or viral” on TikTok. This means that a video catches the attention of lots of people. It is shared more often than usual and gets more comments and likes than you could have ever imagined. For this reason, “going viral” also has no minimum number of views or likes; some claim to have gone viral with more than 1,000 views, where others are only satisfied with a ton of views.
To go viral yourself, your TikTok account needs some time and you need to upload quality videos. Check out these tips!
There are plenty of options in the TikTok app! Take your time, read this TikTok beginner’s guide carefully and explore for yourself. Was this TikTok guide for beginners useful to you? Try our secret tools! Or Check out one of our other informative blogs about the TikTok platform. For example, choose this blog, in which we discuss how to go viral on TikTok!
