As an ‘04 baby, I’ve never experienced life without the internet. While that fact will make some of you feel old or even sorry for me, it’s made me a lifelong expert on internet culture. And TikTok is no exception, in fact, it’s where all the young, relevant people are nowadays (which is why you should be on there too). So I’ve curated a list of TikTok do’s and don’ts, so that you or your brand doesn’t become a TikTok flop.
TikTok Do’s:
- Add captions to your videos. Gen Z have the attention span of a hungry toddler, so to make your videos stand out: short, snappy, and brightly coloured captions are a must!
- Use CapCut meme templates. These are trendy, funny and can be injected with your personality or related back to your brand. It’s a great way to subtly advertise your brand in a casual way.
- Have a story-line. Whether this is for one TikTok or branches out over multiple, people’s attention is captured and held by a story. Introducing a problem (even if it’s hating your own headshots) and showing the journey to the solution, is what extends view time on your videos.
TikTok Don’ts:
- Never use the crying laughing emoji. It’s millennial, it’s cringe, and should only be used sarcastically (for experts only). Some viable alternatives to show laughter are: the skull emoji, the loudly crying face emoji or even the classic HAHAHJAHJHAHA. Pro tip: if you use an Android, don’t even think about using emojis.
- You shouldn’t post images in a video format, you should instead post them as carousel images. Why? Carousel images can be swiped through at the viewer's own pace, and Gen Z likes to swipe through quickly. Plus images in a video format give most of us the ick, so either post as a TikTok carousel or leave your pics on insta.
- Stay away from cringe filters. Filters should only be used to make you look more ugly and to support funny text overlays. If you’re using a filter to smooth out your wrinkles, you’re too old to be on the app. Overly filtered TikToks come across as disingenuous. The crustier you look, the better!
You’re welcome for my (a certified Gen Z’s) list of TikTok do’s, and TikTok don’ts. It’s not often that I do charity work for the boomers, so PLEASE stick to my list. You won’t regret it!
