Navigating TikTok
It’s official, Tiktok is here to stay. In fact, it is the seventh most-used social media platform globally. With 1 billion active global users, it’s no longer a fad but a social media phenomenon. As marketers, it’s essential to consider this platform and hop on board. If you are new to the video-sharing platform, we have put together a how-to guide for navigating TikTok.
What is Tik Tok?
TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform service owned by Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts a variety of short-form user videos from genres like dance, comedy, and education with durations from 15 to three minutes long. Along with this fun, quickly shot edited videos, what sets TikTok apart is its finely tuned algorithm.
The TikToks for you page (home page) delivers an endless stream of content that adapts to what the user enjoys watching, catering to their interest and short attention span. This social media platform has such a hold on the Gen Z market that it has turned into a marketing powerhouse. Songs have gone viral, dances have gone wild, stars have been born, and trends have spread like wildfire.
How to Navigate
When you first log into the app, you will immediately see video content. However, the five icons across the bottom of your screen help offer some structure and comfort to the user experience. Starting from left to right:
Home
Tap on this icon on the bottom-left of your screen, and you’ll be able to watch a stream of TikTok content from other users.
Discover
This page will share trending hashtags that you can explore, but it’s also the spot where you can search for specific content.
Create
Are you ready to share your first TikTok? The create button is the plus sign at the bottom of the screen. The camera will open, revealing a red record button. Before you start recording, you can add a song, dance, or lip-sync. If you want to film something at the moment, you can skip ahead and start recording without a musical track and add the music later. Like Snapchat, TikTok has an array of AR effects that can be used in videos, such as changing the color of your eyes or hair.
Inbox
Here, you’ll find notifications about new followers, likes, comments, mentions, etc. Tap the all activity menu at the top to filter by specific notification type.
Profile
This is your personal profile where you can view the videos that you have posted for others to see.
You’re Ready to Go
Now you should be ready to explore TikTok and all that it offers. Stay current with all the latest TikTok challenges and what’s trending in today’s market. Turn up your volume and go forth. If you would like to utilize TikTok in your business plan, contact one of our social media experts today at 334.446.6149.
Posted: Sep 09, 2022