Posting consistently is paramount, whether you’re hoping to make money on TikTok or you simply want to build your own cosy little following – but some types of content perform better than others. Here are seven tried-and-tested ideas for engaging TikTok videos.
Tutorials provide value for your current audience while attracting new TikTok followers. Consider what people are searching for and whether they’re asking for any specific tips in the comments section under videos, and then see whether you can fill the gap.
Our example is a relatively long makeup masterclass, but you could also produce something shorter (like this 45-second full makeup tutorial) or focus on one element (like this winged eyeliner lesson). Use tags to enhance discoverability and tell people exactly what you’re offering.
A behind-the-scenes look at your creative process builds trust and relatability with your audience by exposing the challenges that go into making something that may appear deceptively simple, all while offering a handy how-to for anyone following in your footsteps.
Notice how UGC creator Sydney Nicole adds another camera to demo her filming process while using a voiceover for added clarity and extra tips.
Life hacks are essentially tips to simplify life’s little difficulties. Opt for general hacks applicable to nearly everyone (as in the example above) or produce something more specialised (such as this video of gym hacks).
You could also recreate viral hacks to see if they actually work. To find material, simply search for hacks related to your niche. FootDocDana, for example, created a Duet reacting to a splinter-removal hack.
Storytimes grab people’s attention, allowing creators to talk directly to their audience without having to stick within their niche or create anything too polished. These low-key videos can feel quite intimate, like you’re talking to a friend.
“Hook your audience in the first five seconds of your video,” advises TikTok’s Creator Academy. NatalieAnn, for example, starts with, “This is the craziest story I have ever heard,” and a caption reading “Horror Hookup Story.” It’s hard not to be intrigued.
“Viewers ask questions to learn more about a creator and dive deeper into content, and creators answer audience questions to connect directly with their communities,” a page in TikTok’s Newsroom explains.
Skim your comments for frequently asked questions, speak about queries you often get in real life, or request questions directly. (Try responding to comments with video replies using the TikTok Q&A feature.) Answer several questions related to your niche, as Jaden Young does in our example, or answer one general question, as Noelle Zoeller does here.
These popular vlog-style TikToks edit together footage taken throughout a typical day, and then add a voiceover to provide context.
Our example shows Twitch streamer Nemo giving a casual look at her life that makes viewers feel like they’re getting to know the real person behind the content. The same approach works for A-list celebrities. Here’s Netflix’s A day in the life of Millie Bobby Brown on set of #TheElectricState.
Example: Unfortunately I do love…
Jumping on trends is a great way to get the TikTok algorithm on your side, and TikTok’s Creator Centre shows the latest trends for you to make your own. Many are simple dances to a trending song, such as the Chicken Banana Song or Blinding Lights, while others can be adapted easily around different niches.
Check out Pilates instructor Em.Krzus joining the Unfortunately I Do Love… trend in our example. Alongside more personal guilty pleasures like a good Netflix binge and overpriced matcha lattes, she includes several related to her content, such as counting slowly and “telling clients to hydrate while I run off caffeine.”
Change the tone
Take a content idea that’s already popular, and then embellish it with something new or come at it with a different tone.
Take those day-in-the-life videos. Most give an intimate look into a life that seems quite desirable, and the tone is fairly laid back to indicate that you’re seeing behind the scenes. In contrast, Maybetamsin uses one to parody the “girlboss” trend with such insights as “I have business meetings for breakfast and a glass of water for lunch.” Justsarebear also takes a comedic angle by cataloguing the various trials in the day of a mum’s life.
Combine concepts
If trends start to feel worn out or don’t fit with the overall feel of your account, try combining concepts into something better suited to your content.
For her day-in-the-life video, Orim goes through what she eats each day as a vegan. Then there’s the bobble-head trend, which sees users position one video or image of their body below a larger image or video of their head. Social media manager SillBill Social recommends using that trend to showcase the classic “outfit dump” carousel of outfits.
Get creative with editing
Sometimes unique packaging can make familiar content feel distinct. In the world of TikTok, that approach is all about editing.
There’s a tonne of scope and plenty of editing tutorials to help you along. Some creative editing pointers from Statusphere, a TikTok platform guiding creators, include:
- Using a simple split-and-cut edit for clothing videos to create the illusion that you’re literally throwing clothes onto yourself.
- Doing a three video stacked collage to show three parts of the same process at once.
- Adding emojis as overlays for each activity in a day-in-the-life video.
It’s all about keeping things fresh, so experiment and be bold – then stick with what works best for you.