Introduction:
TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms. It is ranked as the 13th most visited website, which is why it attracts a huge audience. Are you looking to become a successful TikToker or want to learn the basics of this platform? This article aims to tell you all about the basics of TikTok. This guide covers everything from TikTok’s history and app navigation to its advertising features, TikTok Shop, and earning opportunities. After knowing these basics of TikTok, you’ll be able to work properly on TikTok.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is among the most popular social media platforms. It has over one billion monthly active users globally. It has left behind other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Skype, Snapchat, Twitter, etc. People use TikTok for various purposes and find it very beneficial to them. It was made to create lip-sync videos. After some time, users could share creative and funny short videos for entertainment. Over time, it has evolved into a versatile platform catering to influencers, marketers, educators, and entertainers. Today, it is a platform for influencers, marketers, educators, entertainers, and beyond.
There is huge traffic on this platform. People create unique, quality, and engaging content to easily go viral on it and monetize their efforts. The algorithm of TikTok works to show an endless stream of videos in the “For You” feed according to the user’s interests. Now, people have no time to watch lengthy videos, but TikTok has short videos. TikTok has the highest user engagement rate compared to other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
It became very popular in a few days. It became the most downloaded app in the USA. Mostly, teenagers use it for entertainment and to have some fun. As of July 2024 Statista reports the countries with the most TikTok users, Indonesia had around 157.6 million users, the USA had around 120.5 million, and Brazil had almost 105.3 million users. Statista also reports figures of TikTok global users by gender women were approximately 45.2% and men were around 54.8%.
There are some differences between TikTok with other social media apps. For instance, here you can’t find long videos as YouTube has. While privacy does not differ from Instagram and Facebook. The vertical short videos get more engagement than all other social media apps.
Basics of TikTok History:
The history of TikTok is fascinating and worth exploring. A Chinese Company Byte Dance purchased an app named Musical.ly and then renamed it TikTok. People on Musical.ly were transferred to TikTok. In the beginning, people used it to create lip-sync videos. Lip-sync videos involve creators syncing their lip movements to pre-recorded music or audio tracks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns left people confined to their homes, turning TikTok into a popular source of entertainment. At that time, TikTok provided them a great source of spending time with its short video content. These videos include the funniest videos at most.
Later, it brought advancements and allowed users to create different types of short videos that include topics like crafty or educational, etc. Creators are now able to edit their videos within the TikTok app. Many features were added to it including video editing features like filters, transitions, stickers, etc. The creator does not need to go for another app and then export that edited video to TikTok.
Navigating TikTok App:
Using TikTok Without an Account
Before starting to navigate the app, let me tell you a good thing about TikTok. You can use it even if you don’t make an account. Without an account (profile), you can still watch videos but can’t upload any. To upload a video, you will need to make an account, and then you can upload TikToks as much as you want and get followers. Moreover, this article explains how you can earn.
Exploring TikTok Feeds
When you have downloaded the TikTok app, it’s time to explore it. Open the app, and you will see two feeds at the top named “Following” and “For You”. The Following feed contains videos uploaded by friends or the popular creators you follow, while For You has videos that are becoming popular and viral. It shows videos you watch, like, and show interest in. In the For You feed, TikTok keeps showing you videos related to your interests.
Like other social media apps, you can like, comment, share, or download any video. It also allows you to open the profile of the creator, watch that creator’s videos, and follow them. The videos in both feeds appear in vertical format, and you can watch a single video again and again if you want. Scroll up to watch other videos.
Refining Your Feed
You can like any video by clicking on the heart icon. You can also comment or share the video. The For You feed is an unending stream of videos, and people spend an average of 1 hour on it. Some people cannot make their feed best for them. You should watch only those videos whose similar ones you want to see. The algorithm will show more videos that you search for, like, or interact with. You can hard-click and select “Not Interested” on a video you don’t want to appear again.
Tabs at the Bottom of TikTok
There are five tabs at the bottom: Home, Discover, Create, Inbox, and Profile. The Home tab contains the feeds you watch. You can search for friends, videos with tags, and music using the Discover option.
The Plus icon is for creating new videos. Here, you are given many options to upload a video and features to edit it. TikTok provides libraries for transformations, stickers, music, text, effects, etc. You can use these to make your video more engaging and attractive.
Basics of TikTok Ads:
TikTok Ads allow businesses to achieve goals like increasing product sales, website traffic, or brand visibility. The TikTok ads are of most significance as there is huge traffic on TikTok already. TikTok integrates ads seamlessly into the feed, resembling regular videos. TikTok’s high engagement rate ensures that people watch ads and are convinced to take the actions the ads encourage. Moreover, if the business’s target audience is Gen Z and Gen Alpha, TikTok must be the first choice. One of the trending hashtags on TikTok is ‘#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt‘ which has 13 Million Posts. There is a huge chance that people will buy the product they see on TikTok. The ads are shown on TikTok in a format similar to regular videos in the feed.
Most businesses use TikTok ads to promote their products online and it benefits them the most. Nowadays, businesses spend more on TikTok. There are different types of ads available on this platform and their costs vary. If you want to run free ads you will need to be popular and introduce your products in your videos and it can also work as ads do. TikTok for Business helps you the most to grow your brand target Gen Z and increase sales of products and more purposes.
Basics of TikTok Shop:
Additionally, TikTok has an e-commerce tool that allows users to buy products within the app. TikTok Shop enables users to sell handmade or creative products directly through the app. The sellers upload videos to tell about the products they sell and the buyers watch these videos and can buy them within the TikTok app. Buyers can also add products to their cart and then buy them easily. Sellers can also come live on TikTok and create campaigns to promote their products.
Earn from TikTok:
Once you understand TikTok, you can explore various ways to earn from the platform. There is no one way to start earning from TikTok. Successful people on TikTok use many ways to earn. Here are some of the most effective ways to generate income from TikTok:
- TikTok Creator Marketplace: Join it and get rewards if you are eligible.
- Virtual Gifts: Go LIVE and get virtual gifts from the people who donate you.
- TikTok Ads: Fulfil the requirements and become eligible for the TikTok Ads. You’ll get valuable income.
- Affiliate Content: Make content to promote other’s products and get commission. You add their links in bio and more.
- Grow your brand: Showcase your brand and generate more revenue with the help of followers.
- Personal Shout-outs: Offer personalized shout-outs for a fee to your followers.
- Grow and sell channel: If you have tricks to grow and monetize channel, start this business now. Just get a valuable number of followers and views, then sell it to startups who need it.
- And More: Many other methods exist, but this article cannot cover them all.
In a Nutshell:
TikTok is not just a video-sharing app but a huge platform for businesses. TikTok is the first choice if businesses want to address Gen Z or Gen Alpha. People are more likely to buy what they see on TikTok. TikTok Shop empowers users to make purchases directly within the app. TikTok displays paid promotions, called TikTok Ads, to users in a format similar to regular feed videos. There are many ways to earn from TikTok and you can use them to generate a valuable income for you. You can be the next TikTok star, you have got the basics of TikTok, just follow the guidelines and you will certainly win money on TikTok. Tell us in the comments whether you like to know more about TikTok Ads and TikTok Marketing or not.
