How to Tell a Story on TikTok

Storytelling is huge on social media. Telling a compelling story draws people in and makes them stick around for more. TikTok is one of the best storytelling platforms in 2024. Thousands of content creators captivate audiences every day with all kinds of stories.

These stories include brand, personal, and creative stories. So, whether you are a content creator, business, or influencer with a story to tell, TikTok gives you more than enough space to do so.

The trick is to tell a story that people want to listen to. TikTok can only provide you with a platform and the necessary features. It cannot tell your story for you.

The following guide will show you how to create a story for a TikTok audience and inspire them to follow your account.

Why Storytelling Matters on TikTok

TikTok is all about engagement. If you want to keep your followers engaged, storytelling is one of the easiest ways. This is because stories create an emotional response. They also create a bond between the content creator and their audience. Whether you want to entertain your followers, promote a product, or expand education, a good story can:

• Increase engagement

  Stories tend to evoke curiosity. When viewers become curious about a video, they are more likely to watch it to the end. They will also likely watch the video more than once.

• Boost relatability

  TikTok users, especially Gen Z, want to follow content creators they can relate to. Using stories to convey personal anecdotes or real-life experiences makes you more human to your followers. It also makes you more approachable, which will also improve engagement.

• Inspire action

  Stories with clear messages inspire engagement and can lead to more sales.

What Does TikTok Content Creation Look Like in 2024?

Before you can create stories that will appeal to your followers, you must know what type of content they want to see. It is also important to note that shorter videos are usually better, especially regarding shorter attention spans.

TikTok allows videos up to 10 minutes long, but unless your content is extremely good, people will likely not want to spend that much time watching a single video. If you want to cater to short attention spans, 15-60-second videos are best.

Moreover, you should use the latest trending challenges, sounds, and hashtags whenever possible. Doing this increases your discoverability and improves your chances of landing on the For You page.

In 2024, you should also prioritize mobile-first videos. The vast majority of TikTok users scroll through videos using their phones. This means your videos must be optimized for vertical viewing. Do not forget about text overlays and voiceovers.

Crafting the Structure of Your Story

Now that you know your story's elements, you can put together the structure. This is easier if you picture your story as a short movie with a beginning, middle, and end.

The most important part of your story is the hook. Your hook must be evident within the first three seconds. You will likely lose your audience if you do not hook them in three seconds.

Hooks take different forms, including statements, questions, and visuals. You can use any of these depending on the story you want to tell.

Story Build-Up

When you have the hook down, you can work on the context of your story. Ideally, you want to focus on the most interesting parts. For instance, if your hook concerns a personal conflict or challenge, you must highlight this quickly after the first three seconds.

If your hook introduces a product, the next step is to demonstrate how the product will solve your audience’s problems.

Resolution

With the beginning and middle parts done, all that is left to do is craft the ending. Depending on your story, you can end with an unexpected twist or a punchline.

For instance, if you tell a story about adopting a dog, you can end with a visual of your dog sleeping peacefully in their new bed. It may also be the first bed they have ever had, which you can emphasize with your last text layover.

This emotional resolution to a story will put a smile on your followers' faces. If they are animal lovers, they will also likely follow your account for similar videos.

The resolution to your stories should always be heartfelt, surprising, or a big reveal. This is how you keep your audience coming back for more.

Use TikTok’s Features to Tell Better Stories

The idea for a story should always come from you, not from ChatGPT or other people’s videos. Taking inspiration is fine, but stories always do better when completely authentic.

When you have a story concept in mind, you can use TikTok’s various features to tell your story in the most engaging way.

For instance, you want your story videos to be accessible. This means adding captions and text overlays so people can watch without sound. You should also add readable fonts that impress the message of your story.

You can use green screen effects to create a unique background. You can also explore filters that enhance your visuals. Trending audio is a must to add an emotional punch to your video.

A voiceover is also a good idea if you want your story to have a more personal touch.

Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Good stories will pique your followers’ interest and draw more viewers. But, you must interact with your audience if you want them to stay.

You must also post regularly so your followers have something new to look forward to every day or week.

Use story formats that work with your audience. This may include personal transformation videos or stories about how a product changed your life.

Storytelling Is About More Than Creativity

TikTok storytelling is about connecting with your audience. You want your success or transformation to become theirs. You also want them to share their stories with you. By structuring your story correctly and using TikTok’s features, you can create compelling content that people will not scroll past.

So, start formatting those story hooks and get your stories on TikTok for your audience to experience.