What’s the Greatest TikTok Size?

In early 2013, the web was captivated by six-second clips they’d come to know as Vines. Whereas these movies have been fleeting, they informed a complete story and entertained audiences in a number of seconds. At this time, Vine isn’t any extra, and TikTok dominates the short-term video area.

However whereas Vines had a hard and fast size – six and a half seconds to be actual – there’s way more wiggle room relating to TikTok lengths, which may be complicated when attempting to determine the optimum size on your movies.

Just lately, whereas filming a TikTok video for considered one of our Buffer articles, I puzzled in regards to the supreme size. Ought to I be fast and snappy or go into element and make the TikTok a bit longer? This led me to the concept for this text, the place I’ll deal with the query of the appropriate size for a TikTok. Let’s get began!

To determine the most effective size on your TikTok, it is advisable take into account a number of issues, together with the app’s algorithm, understanding consumer preferences, and factoring in the kind of content material you’re creating.

What video lengths carry out the most effective on TikTok?

TikTok has by no means publicly come out about which video lengths carry out the most effective. Nonetheless, we will make a fairly correct guess primarily based on information and analysis.

In mid-2021, inside information from TikTok that was given to creators mentioned the optimum TikTok size was 11 to 17 seconds. Nonetheless, by the top of that 12 months, that quantity had elevated to 24 to 31 seconds. In line with Wired, a TikTok survey additionally discovered that customers felt movies longer than one minute have been disturbing. All of this means that shorter movies carry out greatest with the TikTok group, nevertheless, the platform has lately been pushing for longer movies for various causes.

The truth is, whereas consumer consideration spans are shorter now, TikTok needs longer movies to assist promote extra promoting income (that is partially why Vine shut down – it couldn’t maintain its enterprise mannequin) therefore their latest transfer to permit as much as 10 minute-long TikToks in early 2022. So through the years, TikTok video lengths have elevated: from 7 seconds → 15 seconds → 3 minutes → 10 minutes.

With this being mentioned, the consensus continues to be that shorter movies carry out higher on TikTok. Not solely is the platform nonetheless recognized for short-form content material, however you don’t need folks to be scrolling previous your movies with out ending them, which means it’s in all probability greatest to stay to shorter TikToks.

Social media is continually altering, nevertheless. And since there’s a monetary incentive for TikTok to enterprise into long-form content material, there’s a lifelike probability that the app’s algorithm could choose longer movies within the close to future – so keep versatile.

What video size fits your TikTok content material the most effective?

We’ve already established that shorter movies carry out greatest on TikTok – however this doesn’t essentially imply that longer movies don’t have a spot on the app. The size of your TikTok will rely upon the message you need to convey.

Whereas it’s greatest to not drag a video on for too lengthy, you additionally don’t need to minimize your self off earlier than you possibly can successfully get to the purpose. After I was filming this TikTok on AI writing instruments for an article I wrote on our weblog, I needed to present an correct abstract of the article, and the video turned out to be over 1 minute. We nonetheless acquired good engagement on TikTok and our Instagram, the place we cross-posted the video as a Reel. Had I shortened the size of the video, I don’t assume it could have been as efficient.

However even longer movies can carry out nicely, too. This TikTok from Jess Hunt, founding father of make-up model Refy, lasts for over six minutes. Jess tells a narrative time on how she based her firm. The TikTok acquired over one million views, over 100,000 likes, and 342 feedback.

Equally, if you wish to spotlight a product, speak about your organization tradition, or share a narrative time  video, you in all probability are going to wish to make a little bit of an extended video, and that’s completely OK! Longer TikToks may get nice engagement, so don’t really feel like your TikToks all the time should be bite-sized.

The significance of including a hook to your TikTok

By now, you’ve in all probability realized that there is no such thing as a magic quantity relating to TikTok lengths. Nonetheless, one factor we will say for certain is that TikToks that open with a powerful hook throughout their first three seconds are likely to carry out the most effective.

Particularly, analysis straight from TikTok says, “over 63% of all movies with the very best click-through fee (CTR) spotlight their key message or product throughout the first three seconds.” This implies you need to begin your TikTok off sturdy and rapidly introduce the subject or thesis.

This TikTok by content material creator Naomi Burtt is 46 seconds however opens with a hook rapidly – “That is my Chipotle hack.” Its acquired over a million views.

Right here, content material creator Kevin – also called the CEO of Chai – has a right away product hook. The TikTok opens with a clip of Emma Chamberlain highlighting her chai poweder combine. Within the video, Kevin critiques the product and talks in regards to the chai for one and a half minutes. Word that even at an extended legnth the TikTok carried out nicely and garnered over 180,000 likes.

We lately went viral on TikTok with a enjoyable video our social media supervisor Mitra made about distant work. Whereas the video is brief – solely 5 seconds – the visible hook is rapid as the very first thing folks see is the textual content, “POV: You’re a distant employee vibing at Goal in the midst of the work day.”

A very good hook will captivate the viewers’s consideration straight away, which means these customers might be extra prone to end your video as a substitute of simply scrolling previous it. That is necessary as a result of the TikTok algorithm will ding you if customers aren’t participating together with your video and watching it in its entirety.

Whereas shorter TikToks could also be your greatest wager, exploring with and diversifying your content material is an effective technique, too. On this part, we’ll go over how these small companies create each brief and lengthy TikToks.

Buffer’s TikToks

On our TikTok, we cowl varied subjects, together with social media administration, distant work, and the 4-day work week.

Right here, Mitra shared a humorous and relatable TikTok about social media managers, which lasted solely 5 seconds. The video acquired over 270,000 views, 3500 likes, and 32 feedback.

On this TikTok, Tom Redman, a former Director of Product at Buffer, filmed a TikTok a few job opening. Within the video, which lasts 46 seconds, Tom opens with Buffer’s advantages and goes into extra element in regards to the job. This TikTok acquired practically 300,000 views, over 17,000 feedback, and 550 feedback.

Saie’s TikToks

It is a enjoyable and informal TikTok by clear make-up model Saie, which lasts solely 5 seconds. Right here, Saie talks a few trending matter – the Sephora sale – and highlights their blushes within the caption. This video acquired practically 7,000 views and near 200 likes.

This TikTok however is extra instructional and lasts for over two minutes. Saie’s Ceo, Laney, provides customers her greatest advertising and marketing ideas. The video acquired over 11,000 views, 700 likes, and 60 feedback.

Foton Pearled Candle’s TikToks

Foton Pearled Candle has a thriving TikTok which showcases useful ideas and methods for customers who buy their merchandise. This TikTok on candle security lasted solely 9 seconds and acquired over 27,000 views, practically 1,000 likes, and 10 feedback.

Alternatively, This TikTok explaining the advantages of pearled candles is a bit longer at 26 seconds and acquired over one million views, 130,000 likes, and 257 feedback.

The consensus right here is that each lengthy and brief TikToks have their place, and each appear to carry out nicely.

Instagram’s arduous push to Reels final 12 months was a direct results of its competitors with TikTok, so it’s no marvel the 2 mediums really feel very comparable. In actual fact, it’s widespread for creators to cross-post their TikToks straight onto Instagram Reels and we even advocate doing so for extra visibility in your posts.

On this regard, quite a lot of content material that performs nicely on TikTok can carry out nicely on Reels and vice-versa. However there’s one key distinction. At the moment, Reels can solely be as much as one minute lengthy, whereas TikToks may be for much longer at ten minutes. This implies Reels are extra fast-paced than TikToks, and so they additionally are typically extra polished, whereas TikToks can have a extra off-the-cuff really feel to them.

Hopefully, you’ve discovered this text useful! As a substitute of focusing solely in your TikTok size, keep in mind you must produce high quality content material on TikTok, too. So long as you’re making TikToks that customers discover entertaining, insightful, and academic, your movies ought to carry out nicely.

In case you’re eager about rising your TikTok presence, we have you coated! We’ve written about TikTok greatest practices, methods to achieve extra TikTok followers, and the most effective time to put up on TikTok.

Get began with Buffer at no cost and schedule your TikToks at the moment!