The app is installed, you’ve been looking around, and then suddenly you see a TikTok video you’d like to imitate. But now what? You’ve never made a TikTok video before and will be blown away with all the possibilities the app offers. Don’t panic! In this blog, learn how to best create TikTok videos.
How does TikTok work?
No photos or long texts…on TikTok it’s all about video content! These videos vary from funny skits and cool dances to informative videos about the housing market. There are videos for every audience on TikTok. The same goes for the length of the videos, you will encounter both 15-second videos and 1.5-minute videos. TikTok determines what you see on your screen by using an algorithm. Here they take into account your interests, which videos you watch all the way through or which users you follow.
As a TikTok user, you can choose to just watch videos, save them and follow your favorite creators (that’s what the video creators are called on this platform). But you can also share your own video content on this platform. This is how you build an online reputation and get more and more followers and people seeing your videos.
Making a TikTok video is how you do it!
Once you’ve downloaded the TikTok app and created a profile, you can get started on your first video. Using this handy step-by-step plan, you’ll have your video online in no time. Still can’t figure it out? Then there are also plenty of YouTube videos where they explain it to you with visuals.
Step 1. Think about what you want to make
The first step is to think about what kind of video you want to create. For example, have you seen a fun video you want to imitate? Or heard a nice sound in someone else that you do like? A good plan is half the battle on TikTok! Make sure you know what you want to do before proceeding to the next steps.
Want to record a video with a particular sound of a video? Then click on the bar where you see the sound. This one is at the bottom of the video and has a music note in front of it. When you click on this, you will see a list of users who have also made a video with this sound. Now click use sound, and proceed to step 2.
Have your own idea for a fun sound, no concept yet or just want to use your own sound? Then you can proceed directly to step 2.
Step 2. Getting started with the video itself
There are two ways to make TikTok videos. You can choose to film yourself in the app itself, or use videos you already have in your camera roll.
For either choice, at least, you must first open the TikTok Create screen. When you have chosen a sound in step 1 you are already here. When you use your own sound you need to press the plus sign, which you will see at the bottom of your home screen.
Are you going to start filming in the app itself? Then you can press the red button. You can also add effects by pressing the filter button at the top right and place a sound under the video.
Want to create a TikTok video with videos you already have in your camera roll? Then click upload to the right of the red button. Here you can select the videos you want to upload on TikTok.
You can also create a TikTok video using photos from your camera roll. This is the same as uploading videos, and so you have to do it by clicking upload. Again, you can add another sound under the video.
Step 3. Time to edit
Now that you have added your video or photos or created your own video in TikTok itself, the fun part can begin; editing. While editing, you can add text (useful when you are hard of hearing or want to add comments), shorten clips and add additional effects.
To see what is possible, you actually have to experiment yourself. Try out some buttons and see what cool TikToks you can make yourself. Don’t like your end result? Then you can easily click back and your video will be “bare” again. That way you can see for yourself what the most fun effects are!
Step 4. TikTok video upload
Now that your video is all done, it’s time to upload it. When you’re ready, click the red next button, found at the bottom right of your screen. You will now be redirected to the next page.
You can now add a nice description to your video, add hashtags, tag friends and possibly add a link. You will also find some privacy options; determine who can see your videos and whether users can comment on your video. Finally, you can select a cover, which is the image users see when they click on your account.
Do you think your video is completely finished now? Then you can post it now. Again, this red button can be found at the bottom of your screen. Let the views pour in!
Supporting apps for TikTok videos
Instead of creating videos directly in the TikTok app, there are other apps you can choose to create or edit eye-catching TikToks with. Often you can use more (or different) effects, cut and paste better and make better quality videos as a result. Some of the most well-known apps for this purpose we have listed for you. But first, we’ll discuss the video format associated with TikTok videos.
TikTok Video format
There are some important points to know when getting started creating TikTok videos outside the app. First, vertical videos are preferred. With horizontal images, a lot is cut away, or you see the video itself very small. Second, it’s important to know that the perfect image size for TikTok videos is 1080 x 920. This way, the entire screen is utilized during the playback of your video, and you keep viewers’ attention longer.
Finally, it’s important to pay attention to the format of the video file. It should be a maximum of 287.6 MB (on Apple) or 72 MB (on Android).
Canva
Although Canva is primarily used by Social Media Managers to easily create posts for Instagram and Facebook with, Canva has recently added a TikTok option. The nice thing about this app is that by default there are already several TikTok templates that you can adopt like this. In this way, you are not only inspired, but also made it very easy. You can further add text, stickers and other animations in this app to take your videos to the next level.
Canva is a free app that you can use on both Android and Apple by logging in with your email address. Some templates, stickers or fonts did require a Canva Pro account. For this option, you pay €12 per month.
CapCut
CapCut is currently the most popular mobile editor for TikTok videos. This is not very surprising since the app was released by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. This way you not only have easy access to the entire TikTok music library, but they also show the most popular trends of the moment.
This app is also free to use, but you will get a watermark at the end of your video. So you will have to remove these again via another website (Google yourself on CapCut logo removal).
Actiondirect
Are you a skater, snowboarder or dealing with other high action images? Then Actiondirect is the right app for you. The video effects in this app are made specifically for action; think slow-motion feature and smooth transitions.
Other than that, this app has little special features. So it is purely focused on making videos with sports footage. Actiondirect is currently free for everyone to download and use.
Note that if you use apps like Canva, CapCut or Actiondirect and add all your effects and text here, you can no longer do this in TikTok itself. Because you “skip” these features on the app, your videos may be less likely to show up on the For You page. TikTok, of course, prefers to push videos created and edited with the app itself.
As you’ve read, there are many different ways to create a TikTok video. What do you prefer to do? Do you create your videos in TikTok yourself or do you get to work with one of the editing apps?
Learn more about TikTok in this complete TikTok guide for beginners! Try our secret tools!
