How to Use TikTok: A Step-by-Step Guide

By pbump@hubspot.com (Pamela Bump)

Did you know TikTok is the most engaging social media app, with an average user session of almost 11 minutes? Now add to the mix a staggering 1.4 billion monthly users.

To state the obvious, TikTok is dominating the social media landscape, becoming a gold mine of short, snackable content. While that sounds exciting – how can you get started?

Here are a few steps — with photos — to walk you through setting up your profile, filming your first video, adding special effects, and using challenges or duets to engage with other users.

How to Use TikTok

Setting Up Your Account

Finding Videos and Engaging with Users

How to Post on TikTok

A Few TikTok Takeaways

Setting Up Your Account

1. Download the app and sign up.

Go to the App Store or Google Play and download TikTok. When you open it, TikTok makes it easy to sign up.

You can instantly sign up with Facebook, Gmail, or Twitter or add a standard username and password if you don’t want any of those accounts connected.

2. Set up your profile.

Once logged in, you’ll instantly be brought to the feed of videos. I’ll show you how it works in step three. But first, tap the icon in the lower right that looks like a person’s outline to see and edit your profile.

Once you enter your profile, tap the Edit Profile button, then select a profile photo or video. You should also add your username and bio information. You can link your Youtube and Instagram pages to show off your other social media profiles.

If you’re a business, this could be a helpful way to advertise your other visual platforms.

Upgrade your profile to a business account if you want to market your business on TikTok. To do this, go to your profile and tap the horizontal lines at the top right corner of the screen.

The three horizonal lines are outlined in red; How to Use TikTok Then tap Setting and Privacy, tap Account, and tap Switch to Business Account. You’ll have access to TikTok’s full range of downloadable analytics with a business account. With a personal profile, you’ll only have in-app access.

You cannot set your business profile to private. However, you can set your personal account to private. After tapping Settings and Privacy, tap Privacy, and toggle the private tab.

Screenshot of TikTok's Privacy tab; How to Use TikTok