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How to Make a TikTok Video: Easy Beginners Guide to TikTok

Everything you need to know how to make a TikTok Video with a few easy steps. Learn how to make TikTok videos with pictures, music & multiple videos.
Kendall Breitman
Social Media & Community Expert
Last Updated:
December 26, 2023
11
min
Reviewed by
Ortal Hadad

It’s no wonder you want to jump on the TikTok bandwagon! TikTok’s user base is surpassing many other social media platforms and is a great place to create an audience.

That said, if you’re new to the platform, you may want to learn a few tips on how to make a TikTok video first. Luckily it’s easy and you can create content straight on the platform, or through a more dedicated recording software. We’ll show you how! 

Follow this easy step-by-step guide to help you on your way to TikTok success, regardless of whether you're sharing your first video or your hundredth.

5 TikTok video styles

The best TikTok videos are unique and creative! TikTok provides users with access to a range of content creation tools and features. This allows video creators to customize content and produce highly original videos.

While every TikTok video is unique, there are a few themes and video styles that reappear time and time again. 

1. Challenge videos

Social media challenges are always popular. Hopping on TikTok challenges is a great way to stay on trend. Challenges come in all forms, so there’s bound to be something to suit you and your account. 

2. Dancing videos

You can never go wrong with a fun dance video on TikTok! On TikTok, new dance trends and routines pop up regularly, with fun steps to follow along with and apply to your topic or niche.   

3. Lip-sync videos

Lip-sync singalong videos are a TikTok staple. Whether you’re singing along to a popular song or recreating a spoken audio clip, lip-sync TikToks are a great way to add fun, engaging content to your account. 

4. Collaboration videos

Also common are collaborations videos. On TikTok, it’s possible to create new videos that respond to content produced by other creators. This is an excellent way to build community and grow your TikTok audience.

5. TikTok live videos

TikTok live videos are another great feature. Using the live feature, you can broadcast live content to your TikTok audience, communicating directly with viewers in real time and generating more interest in your content. 

TikTok video creation process: Step-by-step

The TikTok video creation process is easy once you learn the basics. Whether you're filming your first TikTok video or are an experienced creator, follow these simple steps to stay on track.

Step 1. Editing your TikTok account

Before you can start perfecting your TikTok account, you'll need to download the app from Google Play or the iStore. Then you can open the TikTok app on your mobile device and start exploring. To start editing your account details, navigate to your profile, using the tabs at the bottom of your screen.

TikTok allows you to choose from several account types. In most non-commercial cases, a creator account is the best choice, allowing you access to analytics data while also being able to use a wide range of audio clips and effects.

You can add details to your TikTok account to help with branding and recognisability. Set your TikTok username, and add a bio that explains who you are and what kinds of videos you create. Add a profile picture or video, list your preferred pronouns, and link your followers to your website or another social media platform, like an Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter account.

Step 2. Shooting your TikTok video

You can start creating new TikTok videos directly within the app! All you need to do is navigate to the dark plus icon located at the bottom center of your screen.

From the TikTok post screen, you can film fresh content, upload photos, and videos, and apply special effects. You can also add text, add sounds, add voice over, and more. TikTok has a range of in-built editing tools that are great for content creation, especially if you're working on shorter videos.

Working on your videos within the TikTok app is a great way to limit confusion and keep your content all in one place. This will also make it easy to share your content when your video is complete!

Step 3. Posting your viral TikTok

When you're ready to share your TikTok creativity with the world, you can add videos to your stories temporarily or give them a permanent place on your TikTok account.

To post your TikTok videos, simply finalize your edits and follow the next buttons until you arrive at the posting screen. Here, you'll be able to set a cover image for your video and add a detailed caption, along with your hashtags.

Once your TikTok videos upload and share, you're free to sit back, relax, and watch them climb in popularity. If you find yourself with some time to kill, try engaging with other TikTok content to boost your account's activity and increase your chances of going viral.

How to you make a TikTok video

The steps you take to make TikTok videos will vary depending on what kind of video you're working on.

Step 1: To start recording new content, visit the film screen by tapping on the plus Create icon at the bottom center of your screen.

Step 2: Next, choose the front- or back-facing TikTok camera with the Flip button, and select any desired filters or special effects for your video. Choose your sounds too!

Step 3: Tap the red button to record. Start filming! On TikTok, there's no rush, so you can re-record content until you're happy with the results.

Making a TikTok video through the app's recorder.

Step 4: When you've finished filming content, select Add sound to add background music or audio. You can also use the right sidebar for Effects, Voiceover, text overlays, and more.

Select the Stickers button to add polls, questions, and other items viewers can engage with!

Step 5: When you're happy with your video, select Next, fill in your video description and follow the other prompts before clicking on Post to publish your new TikTok video.

How to make a TikTok video with pictures

Many popular TikTok creators upload videos that showcase a compilation of still images, usually accompanied by songs or another soundtrack. This is a great way to share a video photography portfolio or even just some snaps from your latest island getaway. 

Instead of clicking the red button to record, you'll need to upload images from your device's camera roll to your TikTok account.

Step 1: Click the Upload icon at the bottom right of the video creation screen. You can also slide to the Photo option by the recording button to take a photo directly on the app. 

Step 2: Select as many images as you like from your phone's camera roll!

Step 3: When you've chosen the images you want to include, click Next to progress to the editor tool.

Step 4: Select Add sound at the top of your screen to choose your video's audio. Add any filters, stickers, text, or effects.

Step 5: When your photo video is complete, click  Next, choose a cover image, write a brief caption, and post to TikTok!

How to make a TikTok video with music

Good music is one of the TikTok essentials! A great backing track can make all the difference when it comes to determining your content's quality and popularity. Adding music allows you to produce engaging, easy-to-watch clips.

Step 1: Using the TikTok creation tool, create or upload your new TikTok content.

Step 2: Navigate to the Add sound bar at the top of the filming screen.

Step 3: Search to find your desired song or audio sound. You can use the Recommended tab or you can view your saved audio under Favorites

Choose something that matches the tone and vibe of your video.

Adding music to a TikTok video.

Step 4: Use the trimming tool, indicated by the scissors icon, to trim and edit your TikTok audio and align it with your video.

Step 5: Once you're happy with your content, write a caption and hit share!

How to make a TikTok with multiple videos

It's also possible to create a TikTok video using multiple clips. In editing, you can bring content together to produce one long video. You can record all videos within the app or import them from your device's camera roll.

Step 1: Open TikTok and click on the plus button to create a new video. 

Step 2: Select the Upload tool to import videos from your device. Select Next when you’ve made your selection.

Step 3: Trim your videos with the Adjust clips tool until you've achieved your desired video length and composition.

Here you can also long-press on a clip to reorder it in your video sequence.

Step 4: Add any required sounds or audio effects, then press Next to write a caption and hit Post!

How to make a TikTok video using Riverside Clips

While TikTok has plenty of in-app editing tools and features, using an external editor can be a great way to upscale your content and improve video quality. This also gives you the freedom to work with one recording which you can repurpose for different platforms. 

Let’s say you post to YouTube, but you also want to share snippets of that same content on TikTok. Instead of needing to record everything anew from TikTok, use a platform like Riverside! 

With Riverside's Ai Magic clips, you can turn any long-form content into short, shareable videos with a quick click. You won’t lose your original long-form video, and you can even change the dimensions to match TikTok’s requirements. All you have to do is record as usual, press the magic button, and our Ai tool will generate TikTok videos for you. You can even caption your videos, and customize them as you wish.

See how easy it is for yourself! Sign up and follow this guide to create your own!

To get started with Riverside Clips, follow these quick steps:

Step 1: Open a Riverside studio and start recording your content.

Step 2: Stop recording, and allow your tracks to complete uploading. 

Step 3: Select 'View recordings' and then click on ‘Generate clips’ under the clips tab. Now, let Ai do the work and generate your shareable short videos.

Step 4:  Once your clips are ready, you can hover over them and click ‘Edit’ to preview and adjust them as you see fit. 

Step 5: In the editor, you can customize your video or you can add captions.

Step 7: When your video is set, export your clip and get ready to share it to TikTok!

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How to make TikTok videos go viral

All TikTok creators know the value of creating viral content! When videos go viral on social media, they can reach all new audiences, helping to maximize impact and generating new fans along the way. You might even become a small-scale celebrity!

There's no one way to achieve viral status on TikTok. So much of the process is reliant on timing and luck! However, there are some things you can do to improve your viral chances.

1. Be authentic 

It's important to let your personality shine on TikTok. TikTok users look for authenticity. Be yourself, and produce content that you love. Odds are that someone else will love it too!

2. Jump on trends 

Stay consistent with the trends. TikTok is home to plenty of popular content. Hopping on trends, especially when they're still new, is a great way to boost traffic to your account and build reach opportunities. You can find what's trending on the trends screen.

3. Get smart with captions 

Be clever with hashtags and captions. TikTok's in-built search engines look for details in your captions and hashtags to effectively categorize your content. Choosing highly relevant and popular keywords can help make your videos more searchable and easier to find.

4. Know your analytics 

TikTok's metrics, insights, and analytics data can help you improve your understanding of your audience. You can use analytics to identify the best posting times and check post-performance to see what content types are popular before you make a new video.

5. Engage every day 

Like many other social media platforms, TikTok relies on a high level of engagement. Staying engaged with other accounts can help you better understand the content demands of the TikTok app. It can also help with algorithm performance to improve success!

TikTok video FAQs

Still unsure about the TikTok video creation process? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked TikTok questions.

Is it hard to make a TikTok video?

Making a TikTok is easy! With the right tools, the content creation process is quick, easy, and efficient, meaning that you can produce new content regularly. If you're a little uncertain about how to create new TikTok content, revisit this article to guide you through the process.

How do I make a self TikTok video?

Using the TikTok app on your mobile device, it is possible to self-film for TikTok! Use the flip icon at the top right of your screen to choose between the front and back camera for filming. Alternatively, use the timer feature slightly further down. This will start the countdown, allowing you to get into place and self-film from a distance.

How do I add my own sound to TikTok?

Using existing TikTok audio tracks has many benefits, but sometimes, your video might need a unique soundtrack or voiceover in order to communicate clearly. When creating content in TikTok, use the voiceover icon on the right of your screen to speak over a filmed video.

Making great TikTok content is easy! Next time you need to film, edit and post a new TikTok, don't be afraid to try your hand at all the app's amazing features. Record video, add sound and share content with a worldwide audience.

If you still find yourself feeling unsure of TikTok processes, revisit this step-by-step guide to remind yourself of the content creation basics. Happy filming!

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