What is TikTok, how does it work and how to gain followers?

Just like the format of Stories that Snapchat exploded in the middle of the decade that is ending this year, TikTok also had a dizzying growth in the number of users. The app is especially popular with teenagers and young adults. But what is TikTok and how does the app work?

That is the purpose of this article. After all, it is not uncommon for new social media or apps to appear and become extremely popular overnight, as is the case with Houseparty.

Next, we'll show you what TikTok is, how it works, what types of content it contains and the main tips to increase your follower base and who knows how to make money with TikTok.

Now, join us for the next few paragraphs!

What is TikTok?

Developed by a pair of Chinese entrepreneurs, TikTok started its life as Musical.ly in 2014. In 2017 Musical.ly was acquired by the company Bytedance, which already had an application and a similar audience: TikTok!

While TikTok was extremely popular in Asia, Musical.ly already had a wider reach in the West. In the final half of 2018, ByteDance decided that it was more interesting to merge the two applications into one. In this merger, the name Musical.ly ceases to exist, giving way only to the TikTok that we know today.

From there, all users and their respective content and followers migrated to the application. This made it one of the most popular social networks in the world.

In a nutshell, we can answer what TikTok is by referring to it as an application for musical dubbing. That is, you can dub famous songs, giving your own interpretation.

Currently, this is just one of the possibilities of the new app. It is also possible to create short videos, whether with comic, educational content or just as if it were a vlog.

To make you aware of the popularity of TikTok, the application currently has (on 03/27/2020) about 1.1 billion downloads in the app for Android or iOS. Next, we'll show you in more detail what types of content you can create with the app.

What can I post on TikTok?

Unlike Instagram's versatility, which allows for various content formats, TikTok is a medium focused on short videos. They can have different formats, as you can see in the list below.

• Dubbed music videos: this functionality came from the late Musical.ly. You can select songs from the collection – which has practically every success of pop music – and give your own interpretation, dubbing it. Voiceovers can be up to 15 seconds;

• Videos up to 60 seconds: it is undeniable that the format of Stories was essential to define what TikTok is. Unlike what we see on Instagram, however, to start creating content just open the app and record videos;

• Adverts: relatively recent, there is already the possibility for brands or influencers to invest in ads to reach the different audiences that access TikTok. However, this type of announcement is still being tested in the United States and Europe;

• Invite users: you can invite your friends on TikTok to participate in your video, making it possible to create content in pairs.

Taking advantage of the fact that we mentioned audiences, check below which type of audience is most present on TikTok.

Tip: see this complete guide on how to use TikTok and get to know all its tools!

Which audience usually access TikTok?

Before revealing this information, it is worth mentioning that we do not want to discourage those who are not part of the audience that is majority in the app. On the contrary, by knowing which audience is present, you can adapt your content to reach it.

As we already mentioned, teenagers and young adults are the majority in TikTok. It is estimated that 66% of users are under 30 years old. It is also estimated that 66% of the app’s audience is made up of women.

5 tips to gain followers on TikTok

Now that you have a sense of what TikTok is and how it works, here are some of our tips for gaining followers.

1. Consider the audience and choose your niche

It was not for nothing that we showed who the audience is most present on TikTok. However, this does not mean that you must necessarily create content for women under 30.

Doing this in a “generic” way can give the impression that your content was created without purpose. Regardless of the social media you intend to use, it is essential to define a niche and find out what type of content attracts the attention of this portion of the public.

2. Publish consistently

This tip is for any social networks you are considering working with. To be relevant, you need to appear frequently. How to do this?

Posting content consistently. One way to achieve this is to create a content calendar and plan what you will post daily.

On the other hand, remember to remain strategic in your content. If you post anything for the sole purpose of maintaining consistency, your audience will notice and gradually stop connecting to your content.

3. Appear in the videos!

This advice can seem terrifying to those who are shy or who are more used to publishing content where they don't appear.

TikTok is very popular with young audiences for its more authentic approach, without too much production. The objective is precisely to escape the conventional posts that brands and companies usually apply to networks. And also from his parents, who have already occupied Facebook and Instagram.

Therefore, its content must reflect the needs of this audience. Appearing in the video and betting on content with authenticity is a better way to make your brand grow on TikTok.

Another interesting tip is to add captions to TikTok videos. Not everyone uses the app with the volume turned on, so subtitles can make it easier to understand.

4. Study about hashtags!

Like the most used hashtags on Instagram, the terms accompanied by the iconic “tic-tac-toe” symbol are also used for searches on Tik Tok. They are used in a similar way to other social media.

In other words, you should study which are the most used TikTok hashtags by the audience you want to reach. That way, you can insert them in the content you publish, increasing your chances of receiving followers.

5. Use Stim to increase your interactions!

A tool also available for Instagram, Stim Social makes it possible to automate your interactions on Tik Tok. That is, after knowing the hashtags most used by your niche in the app, you can configure Stim to automatically search and enjoy other content also published with these hashtags.

By doing this, these users will be notified of your like and may end up knowing your content. In this way, they increase your chances of receiving new followers, accelerating your growth.

To get to know Stim Social, the tool offers new users 5 days of FREE tests.

Want to know how to participate? Just click on the link and register now!