The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 5: Posting Only 15 Second Videos for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 5: Posting Only 15 Second Videos for a Week

I’m on a roll conducting TikTok experiments and recently completed my fifth. I’m hoping to learn a few tips and tricks for what the algorithm prioritizes so that I can share my knowledge with others. Is a higher posting frequency truly necessary? Do shorter videos perform better than longer videos? Those are just a few of the questions I’ve been trying to answer. In my latest experiment, I posted videos that were only 15 seconds or less to see what would happen.

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 4: Posting Only 60 Second Videos for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 4: Posting Only 60 Second Videos for a Week

For a few months now, I’ve been conducting experiments to learn about TikTok’s algorithm. I plan to continue these experiments for as long as I can, despite the looming threat of (another) potential TikTok ban. My goal is to learn how to create content that will be served to just the people you’re hoping will see it. I’m testing several different tactics and sharing my findings.

Lately I’ve seen competing theories about video length. Some folks claim that the algorithm is boosting longer form content and we should all pivot to that; others assert that video completion is the most important metric, so shorter videos work best. I tried posting only 60 second videos for a week to see what would happen.

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 2: I Posted on TikTok 5x a Day for a Week. Here's What I Learned.

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 2: I Posted on TikTok 5x a Day for a Week. Here's What I Learned.

TikTok’s algorithm continues to amaze users with its uncanny ability to recommend content that feels perfectly tailored to your interests. Everyone’s FYP is a different experience. So how do you get your videos to land on more people’s FYPs? I’ve embarked on a series of experiments to find out!

I often see other social media professionals recommend posting 5-7x per day on TikTok in order to grow your account. That cadence seemed aggressive and unsustainable to me, but I decided to give it a try for one week. You probably have a lot of questions about how it went, so let’s dive in!

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TikTok Glossary: 36 Terms to Know

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TikTok Glossary: 36 Terms to Know

One of the most fun (and let’s be honest, sometimes challenging) parts of working in social media is that the industry is constantly changing. New apps take off and there’s always more to learn. A few years ago, I wrote a social media glossary that explained 50 different terms. With TikTok continuing to dominate the social media landscape lately, I thought it was high time to explain 36 TikTok terms, from basic tools within the platform to unusual abbreviations and slang you may encounter on TikTok.

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Learnings from My Most Popular TikToks of 2022

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Learnings from My Most Popular TikToks of 2022

I started off 2022 with an experiment: I set a goal to post on TikTok 3 times a day for 3 months and see what happened. It was challenging, fascinating, and fun! Afterwards, I kept posting twice a day on TikTok. That consistency has helped me continue to grow. I’ve gone from 1,500 followers in mid-April to 3,400 at the time of writing this post. It’s not monumental growth, but it’s steady! Today on the blog, I want to share reflections on some of my most popular TikToks (any that received 10k views or more) and what I’ve learned along the way.

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15 Things Not to Do on TikTok

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15 Things Not to Do on TikTok

I’ve been writing about TikTok a lot lately on this business blog. The social media landscape seems especially uncertain and chaotic lately, with Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter creating issues and instability and Facebook and Instagram feeling dead to many. Meanwhile, TikTok is continuing to keep their users highly engaged every day. Even though it’s been around for awhile now, there’s still tremendous potential on this platform. As a continuation of my “Things Not to Do” series (catch up on the Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook versions of this post), today I’m sharing 15 things not to do on TikTok.

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6 Lessons from Duolingo TikTok Strategist Zaria Parvez

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6 Lessons from Duolingo TikTok Strategist Zaria Parvez

Last week, I was lucky enough to see Zaria Parvez, Duolingo’s TikTok strategist, give a fantastic keynote at AAF Greater Rochester’s R/AD Week. If you’ve seen the infamous unhinged owl on Duolingo’s TikTok account, you’ve likely either laughed, been shocked, or a little bit of both. Some may assume this is a chaotic and ill-advised approach to social media, but it’s actually incredibly thoughtful and strategic. Duolingo takes calculated risks with their brand on TikTok, delicately balancing their intentions with the impact they anticipate a bold move can have. Here are some key lessons I took away from Zaria’s keynote.

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7 Types of Videos to Make on TikTok

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7 Types of Videos to Make on TikTok

Though TikTok has been rising in popularity for years, a stubborn misconception sticks around: it’s just a platform for teens to make dance videos. I’m here to tell you that’s 100% false. Dancing is a small sliver of the abundance of content available on this innovative app that’s changed the way we share online and has Meta quaking in their boots.

The average TikTok user spends 89 minutes per day on the app. If you want to be part of those 89 minutes, then you’d better get creating! Here are 7 types of videos to make on TikTok.

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15 Tips to Get More Comfortable on Camera

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15 Tips to Get More Comfortable on Camera

As TikTok’s popularity continues to rise and Instagram keeps pushing Reels, it's becoming increasingly important for brands to be willing to show their face on camera in videos. Whether you’re a small business owner or a nonprofit marketing manager, showing up on camera can be a great way to connect with your audience.

But…it’s hard! It can be uncomfortable and awkward to film yourself and put it on the internet. If you’re looking to get more comfortable on camera so you can film TikToks and Reels, these tips are for you.

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