Types of TikTok Videos To Diversify Your Content

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Carolyn Howell

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2024

TikTok 101
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In less than a decade, TikTok has completely reshaped the social media landscape and become a leader in creative technologies. TikTok has come a long way from its early years of entertaining lip-sync and dance videos. These days, users spend an average of 89 minutes per day exploring various types of TikTok videos. 

Are you still searching for your style and identity as a content creator? Try your hand at these popular types of video content on TikTok!

A creator sets up their video camera on the ground in the middle of an empty street.

Different Types of TikTok Videos

Much like the diversification of its user base, TikTok has also expanded its repertoire of video content. The platform continues to be widely popular among young adults, but its diverse content caters to all age groups. 

Different types of TikTok videos exist for all ages and interests, creating a smorgasbord of communities and sub-cultures. 

For creators and brands, the eclectic assortment of users on the platform also presents a medley of creative opportunities. Let’s explore some of the most popular types of TikTok videos to make for your community. You’ll find at least one that perfectly matches your voice and identity. 

Most Popular Types of TikTok Videos

The most popular types of TikTok videos generate tons of views and engagement. They often feature topics relevant to their target audience’s interests, and their style makes them more compelling. Let’s take a look at each one.

Speaking to the Audience 

This type of video simulates a casual conversation, except it’s one-way. The creator simply talks about a specific topic and directly addresses the audience through the camera. 

The talk doesn’t have to be polished, but you must ensure it flows smoothly. It should also be short and to the point, or you’ll lose your viewers’ interest. Keep your “monologue” within 60 to 90 minutes. 

They may talk while doing other stuff, lying down, or walking. The speaker may also opt for a more formal setup, which is not required. These days, you’ll see many influencers engaging in a sort of monologue while doing their skincare routine, makeup, or hobby. And they don’t necessarily talk about what they’re doing at the moment but about something else entirely. 

This type of video is ideal if you want to share helpful information or tell a story. If it’s an informational talk, the topic usually falls within your area of expertise. If you want to tell a story, it’s typically anecdotal. 

Again, make sure your talk is compelling enough for viewers to want to listen to. You can talk about easy hacks or top ten tips, or share a personal experience that’s funny or interesting.

For this type of content, it helps to add text/captions for enhanced accessibility. You can add text only to highlight major talking points or use captions all throughout. 

A woman sits in front of a laptop while she speaks to her audience in a TikTok video.

Trending Sounds 

The traditional TikTok dancing and lip-synching videos continue to be popular among users and creators alike. They remain a TikTok staple because they’re a straightforward and bite-sized piece of entertainment. 

This type of video content typically features a trending sound, e.g., a song or sound clip. You can perform a short dance routine, lip-sync a clip from a movie, or recreate a scene featuring a popular soundtrack. Make sure any sound you use comes from TikTok’s Commercial Music Library

These videos are easy to produce, and you can make them regularly, i.e., weekly or monthly, as part of your repertoire. 

The sound doesn’t have to be a massively viral one with hundreds of thousands or millions of views. If a celebrity has done it, it’s highly unlikely that your version will get a lot of visibility. But you can still have a go at it if you just want to entertain your own followers. 

If your goal is to reach a new audience, however, try a popular sound that has a lower popularity percentage. You’ll have better luck getting more exposure when you’re not on an overcrowded stage and competing with big names. 

How-To Videos

TikTok is the perfect platform for tutorial videos. As it now allows videos of up to ten minutes, you’ll have plenty of time to create a how-to on just about anything. If you’re an expert on a subject, even better! But you can also make a tutorial video on something you learned yourself. 

You can do a cooking how-to video featuring a family recipe. Share a product demo — it can be your product or something you bought and loved. Do a dance or workout tutorial or something related to arts and crafts.

A woman performs dumbbell workouts for a TikTok video.

Recommendation Video

Have you read a good book recently or visited a spectacular restaurant or destination? You may have discovered a new favorite eyeshadow palette or an amazing life hack. These examples are perfect content for a recommendation video!

This is another easy-to-make content that doesn’t require much planning or creative execution. Share your recommendation as you would normally do it with family and friends. TikTok users are always looking for useful information like these! 

What Type of TikTok Videos Go Viral?

What type of TikTok videos go viral? These are usually videos that entertain or surprise viewers. Check out the most viewed videos on TikTok, and you’ll see that they have great entertainment value in common.

On TikTok, everybody has an equal opportunity to achieve viral status with a single original video. You don’t need a massive follower base to rake in the numbers to go viral. With an inspired video idea, proper optimization, and a bit of luck, you can have your 15 seconds of fame on the platform! 

Here are the most common types of videos on TikTok with the highest likelihood of going viral:

  1. TikTok challenges. TikTok did not give birth to video challenges, but it elevated these videos to notoriety. You’ll find tons of branded or hashtag challenges on the platform. All you have to do is pick one to participate in. It’s always better to join a challenge that’s just starting to gain traction. You can also create your own to help build brand awareness. 
  2. Videos around trending hashtags. Trending hashtags offer amazing content creation opportunities. Identify popular hashtags in any niche/industry and location through the TikTok Creative Center. You can also use Creator Search Insights to identify top searches in your industry and the hashtags that go with them. When creating content around these hot tags, don’t forget to combine generic and specific keywords to magnify your exposure further. 
  3. AI-generated content (AIGC). AI-generated content is big on TikTok right now, so it’s the perfect time to hop on the bandwagon. The platform recently released TikTok Symphony, an integrated solution for creating AIGC. Check it out and start creating stunning AIGC with the highest potential to go viral. 

A woman pours a bucket of ice on a man while a small crowd cheers and takes videos with their phones.

TikTok Video Categories FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about video categories on TikTok.

What types of videos do you usually find on TikTok?

In addition to dance and lip-sync videos, challenges and tutorials are among the most popular on the platform. Among all categories, entertaining and funny videos consistently get high views and engagement. 

What types of TikToks are most likely to go viral?

Videos with lots of humor have a high potential to go viral quickly. After all, most TikTok users go on the platform to be entertained. Content-wise, no specific topic is more likely to go viral than others. 

What TikTok video has the most number of views so far?

Zach King’s Harry Potter-inspired, flying-on-a-broomstick video is the most viewed TikTok video of all time. To date, it has raked in 2.3 billion views. 

The King of short-form video special effects continue to rule TikTok by “Bringing a little more wonder into the world, 15 seconds at a time.”

A man takes a video of a woman making funny faces at the camera.

Find a Video Style That Suits Your Identity and Target Audience

Many popular videos begin with a niche following. A video with a big and lasting impact often first gains momentum among its niche audience. If you have big dreams of going viral, find a video style that suits your identity and target audience. 

Remember that TikTok users highly value authenticity. While you’re aiming for popularity, you should not compromise your identity as a brand/creator. Your videos should always reflect your voice and values if you want your community to help propel it to viral status. 

One thing you’ll always have going for you is TikTok’s algorithm — if you know how to play your cards right. In addition to staying authentic, you need to develop a content strategy that prioritizes your niche audience’s preferences. 

You must also learn how to make the algorithm work in your favor through content optimization. 

You can put minimum effort into your video and see it skyrocket into fame. Or you may spend weeks planning and creating a visually stunning piece of content only to watch it flop. Try different types of TikTok videos and see which ones deliver your desired results. 

Identify what works and keep at it. And don’t lose your focused audience targeting. If you need expert help connecting with interested viewers, sign up for a High Social plan! High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology instantly doubles your audience-targeting power. 

Start growing your TikTok today

TikTok 101