Breaking news: TikTok recently jumped on the bandwagon and launched TikTok Stories - a new way for users to connect with their community. Just like many similar platforms, users can upload stories that will expire after 24 hours - however, there is a slight twist. Want to know more? Continue reading to learn all about TikTok stories.
What Are TikTok Stories?
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ll know that Stories isn’t exactly a new concept. Since Snapchat first introduced stories in 2013, we’ve seen many platforms create their version of Stories - such as Instagram and YouTube shorts. Much like these other platforms, TikTok Stories are videos or photos that disappear after 24 hours.
So what makes TikTok Stories different from other platforms? The main difference is that users can publicly comment on Stories — similar to how they engage with regular TikTok content. TikTok Stories will show comments on the story itself rather than a private list of story replies. This is a game-changer for brands and creators on the app as it opens the door for more engagement and two-way conversations.
How Do I Get TikTok Stories?
Since TikTok Stories is still in the pilot phase, they have announces that stories will be coming to more accounts in some time.If you don’t have access yet, don’t fret! Chances are they’ll be available on your account very soon.
How to Create a TikTok Story
To share a TikTok Stories post, follow these simple steps:
- Tap the camera button as you would to create a regular TikTok. You can either record videos on the spot or upload photos and videos from your camera roll.
- Customize your content with tools such as sounds, effects, text, or stickers.
- Instead of tapping the red “Next” button to go write your caption, tap the “Post to Story” button. That’s it!
How to Watch a TikTok Story
If you see a blue ring around a users profile picture, this signifies they have posted a story, you can then click their profile picture to view their story.
TikTok Stories: Initial Thoughts
TikTok’s move into stories is interesting, considering it recently extended the length of feed videos to 10 minutes. With each update, it’s clear to us that TikTok is competing with Instagram and YouTube and they aspire to become a one stop shop for short form and long form video content.
Like any new feature, there is always and adjustment phase. Watching and engaging with TikTok Stories is different from what we’re accustomed to. TikTok is known for scrolling up and down, whereas Stories require scrolling across. So, it’s too soon to say whether this new feature will do favours for them, or die hard and fast. That said, it’s worth experimenting with!
With the feature being so new, there's no rules to using TikTok Stories, so this is your opportunity to branch out from the regular content you post on your feed. The conversational style allows you to connect with your community in a more intimate way, and they can also interact with each other in the comments. And, like most stories, TikTok Stories expiring after 24 hours, there’s a level of exclusivity too — if they miss them, they miss them. Being one of the first to adopt a new feature can help you test to see what works, develop a strong strategy, and level up your content.
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