Six Video Ideas That You Can Post on TikTok
Tired of just scrolling through TikTok and ready to join the fun? Even if you know you want to start creating content and posting to the platform, you may not have any idea of where to start, especially if the videos you love the most seem a little too advanced for a beginner like you. Here are a few ways to ease into creating TikTok videos so you too can have a chance at viral fame.
First things first: You should know what type of content is generally posted to TikTok (and what kind of content won’t perform very well there). Cute, funny, and informative content does well, as does creative content, particularly dancing. But ad-centric copy that pushes brands too hard in an obvious way won’t do well on the platform.
These six videos are easy to put together so that you can get posting in no time. Consider these six themes when planning your first-ever videos.
Animals and Pets
If you have an adorable, hilarious, or endearingly cranky pet, your content basically creates itself. TikTok viewers love — and we mean love — animal videos, and you don’t have to go out of your way to capture one. Keep an eye on your pet as it’s about to do something endearing or laugh-out-loud funny (chances are you know your pet well enough to determine when a moment like that is coming). Some people have entire feeds devoted to their pet and nothing else — and many of those accounts have equally devoted followings.
This video (with 16 million likes) is a perfect example — it couldn’t be simpler, yet it’s so adorable you can’t help but watch more than once (or twice).
The Everyday
Few things are as relatable as the humdrum parts of life. By highlighting those seemingly dull happenings, you can connect with others who go, “Wow, that happens to me, too!” Plus, you really don’t have to do anything special to create this type of content. Just roll the camera when nothing out of the ordinary happens, and come up with a caption that will catch the interest of whoever’s scrolling by.
In this video, which has one million likes, the creator jokingly compares what it’s like before and after coffee, which is something that most coffee lovers can undoubtedly relate to.
Lip-Syncing to Songs
If you want to be a TikTok traditionalist, create a lip-sync video set to a song. Go as basic or as advanced as you like: simply lip-sync while looking at the camera or reenact a scene from the music video, complete with props and outfit changes.
Insider tip: Lip-syncing isn’t nearly as easy as it looks, which is why you should start with a song instead of something like a stand-up comedy bit or a movie monologue. It’s harder to notice if you’re slightly off when you’re singing and bopping along to a song than when you’re lip-syncing straight words.
This lip-sync video has an extra element to it, making ones in the same vein go viral — not only is the person “singing” actually lip-syncing, but the other people in the video always react like they didn’t realize their pal had a phenomenal voice. It’s no wonder it has 63K views.
Quarantine Life
Right now, nothing is more relevant than the pandemic and quarantining. If you’ve found some way to enjoy or survive through the quarantine, film it and post it on TikTok. First, you’ll join the rest of the world in a shared and unifying experience, which immediately makes your content more relatable. Second, you may inspire someone else to think outside-the-box when it comes to their own quarantine experience.
In this video, which has the hashtags #lifeathome and #quarantine, the creator quickly teaches you how to make banana bread from far-too-ripe bananas.
Social Media Challenges and Trending Hashtags
Social media challenges tend to go viral (that’s how you hear about them, after all), and they’re usually pretty easy to try yourself. Plus, you’ll be able to jump onboard a trending hashtag, which automatically means more eyes on your content — not a bad way to kick off your time as a TikTok creator. There are also trending hashtags that don’t really have a challenge element involved, making them even easier to create content for.
Here’s an example of an #imbusyrightnow video challenge — Vinny Guadagnino calls the rest of the Jersey Shore crew one by one, and when each person answers, he says, “I’m busy right now, can I call you back?”
Workouts
Not ready to post a dancing video? Have no interest in learning choreography? An easy alternative is creating a workout video. All you have to do is set the camera up somewhere where it’ll capture you and your workout area, then copy someone else’s workout that they posted to their feed (and don’t forget to give them a shout-out).
Or, create your own, like in the video below. While this creator always does wild stunts, you don’t have to go so far out there — any type of workout will do because you’ll probably have viewers at all fitness levels.
Final Thoughts
There are a ton of other types of videos to start creating once you’re more used to TikTok and all of its editing features. For example, makeover videos, which usually have at least one clean and creative splice, are super-popular, but you’ll need more experience before you can get that cut just right. The same thing for tutorials — it takes practice to time a video just right and demonstrates what you’re doing so others can follow along.
Start slow and small — you’ll adjust to the platform, learn how to create and edit videos, and figure out what you do (and don’t) like to create. Before long, you’ll hone in on your niche and be posting pro-level videos.
Brian Meert is the CEO of AdvertiseMint, a Hollywood-based digital advertising agency that specializes in helping successful companies advertise on Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Tiktok. AdvertiseMint has managed millions of dollars in digital ad spends in entertainment, fashion, finance, and software industries. Brian is the author of the best selling, The Complete Guide to Facebook Advertising, a member of the Forbes Agency Council, and a thought leader and speaker.
