Beginner Guide

TikTok Stories Explained: How to Make the Most of 24 Hours

Mastering the emerging features is the best way to stay at the forefront of social media. Being an early adopter, you get an edge over your competition when the facility is rolled out. TikTok is quietly rolling out and expanding TikTok Stories – short, fragmented videos that serve as TikTok’s answer to the popular story features on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Since this feature is not highly publicized, there is untapped potential for marketers taking advantage of Stories. With short-form videos becoming 2.5 times more engaging to viewers, TikTok Stories is another tool in your arsenal.

a graph that reads "The most engaging type of in-feed social content." The most popular content type is short-form video with 66%.  The results are from the 2022 Sprout Social Index™.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about TikTok’s new story feature.

What are Tiktok Stories?

Tiktok Stories are video segments lasting 15 seconds. They remain visible for 24 hours after posting, much like the story features of other platforms. Your story will be shown as a post in the feed with the story tag in the top left corner. Every story you publish within a 24-hour period will appear as a section in that Story post, so if you need a little more than 15 seconds to get your message across, you can break it up.

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How do TikTok Stories work?

TikTok Stories go live on your profile in your standard feed. There’s a blue “Story” icon in the top left corner to separate them. If a viewer navigates to your page and you have a story up, your profile picture will be encircled in a blue clickable ring that will take them directly to your story. Your followers will see your TikTok story in their For You page the same way they watch your regular videos. When it comes to conversations, the options are similar to traditional TikTok posts. Viewers can like, comment and share your story just as they would with a standard Feed post.

how to post tiktok story

If you want to try your hand at TikTok Stories, then look no further. We’ll show you how to make one from start to finish.

Navigate to TikTok Story Creator Screen

Click on the plus icon in the Tiktok app. You can film the stories seamlessly, so there’s no need to film ahead of time. Swipe along the bottom bar for stories. If it isn’t, remember that TikTok Stories are relatively new and may not be available in your region yet. You can also try updating your app.

Screenshot of where to start posting TikTok stories from the app

choose your time frame

Click on the timer icon on the left sidebar. You can drag the bar to set your time limit between one and 15 seconds. You can also decide between a three second or a 10 second countdown at this stage.

Screenshot of how to set TikTok story time limit and countdown of recordings

create your content

TikTok Stories has all the effects, filters and transitions that a normal in-feed post would have, so get creative / Once you’ve filmed your video, you’ll have access to video resizing, stickers, effects and more. There will be options to add, or add filters. voice over. You can also edit the sound for your TikTok story.

Screenshot of stickers that can be added to TikTok Stories

post your tiktok story

Click the “Next” button. From that screen, you can tag people, add captions, hashtags, locations, mentions or video credits, edit your privacy settings, and choose a cover for your post. Click the “Post” button and you are on your way.

Screenshot of posting a Tiktok story from the app
Screenshot of finalizing and posting a TikTok story

how to delete tiktok stories

Your TikTok story will remain for 24 hours, but if it seems a bit long or you don’t like how your video came out, you can delete it at any time. Navigate to your profile and click on Story. Press the three dot button at the bottom of the sidebar. Swipe down to the very end of the bottom list of options until you see a Delete option. Click it and your story will be deleted.

Screenshot of how to delete tiktok story

Building community with TikTok Stories

Of course, social media is all about building an audience. TikTok Stories offers a new way to increase engagement and build community among your fanbase. Since the Story Panel will only display stories from accounts users are following, this feature provides a way to build relationships with users who are already interested in your content.

The strategy you apply to traditional TikTok content (especially if you’re aiming for widespread awareness) doesn’t necessarily translate into TikTok stories. The following are some ideas to encourage interaction with this new format:

  • Publish exclusive content they can’t find anywhere else
  • offer promo code
  • conduct a Q&A
  • Give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your daily activities
  • make announcements
  • Offer Tricks, Hacks & Tips

Be prepared for emerging features

The more social media matures, the more we will see platforms get creative with new features so that brands and creators can connect with their audiences. Getting acquainted with them early is the best way to prevent your social marketing from stagnating. Plus, platforms prioritize content from accounts that use the full spectrum of their features. Implementing TikTok Stories in your content strategy is a win all around.

Just getting started with TikTok or looking to expand your presence on the app? Find out more about the latest TikTok trends that marketers should pay attention to.

Post TikTok Stories Explained: How To Make The Most Of 24 Hours Sprout appeared first on Social.

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