How to Use Sounds on TikTok to Increase Engagement and Visibility
A TikTok video can be considered subpar without sound; adding music, tunes, or any background noise to the recording takes TikTok uploads to the next level. Tunes are so integral to the platform’s user experience that influencers and followers alike can no longer imagine a creation without it.
To go one step further, we can easily say that TikTok sounds have played a pivotal role in shaping things on the app like trends and challenges. Taking downloads from the sound library has woven pop culture into the social media posts so inclusively that the action has even turned some average songs into viral tunes.
This brings us to How to use TikTok sounds to boost engagement? If using a particular song can increase your rankings, promote engagement, and create much-needed visibility, why not use it correctly to reach that super-trendy level? In this blog article, we will talk about all the technicalities related to using songs as a TikTok growth tool. We hope you’ll be confident with navigating sound on TikTok by the end.
Why Are Sounds So Important On The TikTok App?
We’ve already emphasized the weight a trending TikTok sound has on the peak performance of a video, but why are they so important? For one of three reasons:
1. Engagement
2. Creative Expression
3. Emotional Connection
Regarding engagement, users are likelier to watch, like, and share content with resonating TTaudio. For example, a popular song paired with an on-the-rise challenge can quickly gain momentum, leading to influencers and celebrities joining the trend. With the right sound library choice, millions of views can be drawn in quickly.
You’re allotted the freedom to input original sound when it comes to creative expression. Doing so allows you to showcase your personality, a tremendous individualistic reflection on what you want to show your audience. Or, you can hop aboard the typical, trendy route. An excellent example of this would be participating in the “Wipe It Down” challenge, where creators wipe a mirror as if to “clean it.” With each wipe, a transition occurs with the same sound in the background, presenting different outfits and personas.
Regarding emotional connection, you can strategically import TikTok sounds that evoke emotions from your viewers. A song that can enhance a story, ride alongside a message, or heighten a response. Lyrics are so specific nowadays that you can find something that links well with a mental health story, a personal growth message, or a weight loss response. The options are endless if you look at the TikTok sounds library.
How Can You Find Useful Songs on the App?
Follow these four strategies for optimum growth on the TikTok app. Remember, the right TikTok audio is crucial to reaping the best benefits.
1. Browse the For You Page → Looking for relevant, trending sounds that link perfectly with your content? Scroll, scroll, and keep scrolling that FYP. You’ll surely stumble upon something that’ll work with your niche in minutes. Once found, all you have to do is tap on the sound, and it’ll automatically bring up the audio page. Then, tap “Use This Sound” to film your video in real time, or “Add to Favorites” to use it at a later time.
2. Search for Relevant TikTok Sounds → Trends may fall into your lap on the For You Page, but you can beat the race by using the search bar instead. All it takes is a little bit of homework. Start by typing “trending sounds” in the TT search bar. Follow that up with a topic or trend you’re currently eyeing. Then, filter videos to “This Week” to see what current brands and creators are up to. Piggyback off the ideas you like that seem to be picking up speed, and there you have it!
3. Explore the TikTok Sounds Library → The one stop shop for every song,clip, remix, and original sound on the app. Explore the sound library by genre, popularity, or trend when in doubt. Do so by tapping the “+” icon on the home screen and then the “Add a Sound” phrase at the top of the screen. There may not be a popular listing for you to choose from, but you can still create TikTok videos authentically. How? By selecting a sound you particularly like!
4. Bookmark Later’s TikTok Trends Blog → If you’re trying to save time, check out Later’s blog page on the current TT trends. An easy read and it’s published every other week, so you’ll never be out of the loop. Click the link above for the most minimal homework you could ever hope for.
Trimming Tunes: What’s That All About?
How can you correctly add sound to your TikTok videos? You don’t want to go all in, type up a trending option on the search bar, add it to your niche creation, and be required to create 2 minutes and 55 seconds of content, do you? That’s where our next critical topic comes in: Trimming sounds.
The step-by-step guide looks like this:
1. Open the app and tap the “+” button to create your video.
2. From there, press “Add Sound” and scroll until you find the selection you want to input.
3. Once found, tap on the sound before pressing the “Scissors” icon.
4. Immediately swipe left to move as far into the song as you desire, then press “Done” once you’ve located the area you want your video to start with.
5. Next, TikTok will automatically start playing the song where you clipped it in the waveform. You can “trim the song” to your desired length by dragging the slider right or left.
6. Once you’ve selected the portion of the song you want, you can tap “Save.” It will either go to your video for automatic use or to your favorites for later, whichever you prefer to select.
What’s the big deal when it comes to trimming? As we’ve said, you want to leave the whole song playing in your TikTok video. The intro may be too dull; the first verse may not have as much “hype” as you desire. The ability to grasp some of the noise will work in your favor.
Can A Brand Have Access To The Sound Library Like Everyday Users Do?
Locating a popular song on TikTok may be easy if you have an excellent old-fashioned account. However, if you’re a brand trying to expand your reach to new clientele, that “find trending sounds” on your to-do list may not be as straightforwardly achievable. Why? Because owning a business account doesn’t give you the exact technical rights.
Signing up for a business account automatically withdraws your access to significant songs found in the sound library. That’s because potential copyright issues can raise future legal problems, mainly if the significant pop song (example) is used in an ad.
Fear not. Thankfully, if there’s any risk of use, a disclaimer will pop up claiming, “This sound isn’t licensed for commercial use. You can use similar sounds in the following.” If you want to look at it that way, Getting additional options without putting in more effort is a good sign.
For Business Accounts: How to Make Your Songs That Are 100% Authentic
If you want to add sound to your genuine niche videos without potentially breaking copyright laws, you’ll want to create something from the ground up. This can range from song covers to memes and music mashups to viral commentary. If done right, you can go viral relatively quickly.
To create original audio, you can post a video directly from your camera roll, talk while you’re filming in the app, or record a voiceover. Once launched, it’ll be considered an OG noise that other creators can use in their videos.
Additional TikTok Song FAQ You Might Be Interested In
Some less prevalent topics came up in our research on TikTok sounds, and they’d be perfect to discuss briefly in this section. Not an overflow of information, but enough intel to get you answers to the questions you might be asking.
Can TikTok songs help your content go viral?
In short, yes. Adding the proper tune on TikTok to your posting can increase the chances of your video going viral. But the choice selection and creativity continue beyond there. You’ll still need to produce something of value that your target audience can resonate with.
Can the music industry help you locate trending songs?
It can. If you want to find trending sounds, look no further than the modern music industry. Popularity tendencies typically drift on TikTok as well as on the radio and music application platforms. It would be wise to keep an eye on charts like the Billboard Hot 100 and current Spotify gravitations.
If you opt to create original sounds, are you also able to name them something unique?
Yes, by following this quick and easy process:
1. Open the custom video that you want to name.
2. Tap the spinning record icon in the right-hand corner at the bottom of your screen.
3. Click the “Edit” button and rename the title to reflect its authentic nature.
4. Tap “Save.”
Tip: If you use your renamed custom sound on TikTok videos that get ample views, likes, and shares, you’re more likely to expand the song’s reach. The creative sound you worked so hard on could even go viral one day.
If I saved a song, where did it go in my account?
Saving a song to your favorites sounds easy, but what happens when you can’t locate it later? All you have to do to get back to that TT sound is hit the “Favorites” tab when making a post. All your previously saved sounds will immediately appear, and you can choose the best one to pair with your current creation.
If you want a song SO BAD, can you obtain a license?
This may sound like an odd FAQ but believe it or not, many TikTok users ask this out-of-blue question. Some people need that pop culture Taylor Swift song that’s taking the world by surprise... on their TikTok posting.
If that sounds like you, you can apply to license the song for use in your video. Forewarning: The process will get expensive and complicated. Let’s start with the first step, seeking legal advice from your copyright lawyer.
We talked about using a sound; what about blocking a sound?
It is doable - to an extent - and obnoxiously has to happen when you become sick and tired of hearing the same sound repeatedly. What do we mean by “to an extent”? Allow us to elaborate.
There’s no foolproof way to get a noise gone for good. But there is a route you can take to hear less of it. Press and hold the screen until a pop-up menu appears with options like “Save Video,” “Clear Me,” “Not Interested,” and “Playback Speed.” Click on the “Not Interested” specifically. Doing so will show the algorithm you’d like to hear less of that particular video on your feed.
The next time you hear that same sound, repeat the process until it’s booted from your FYP.
Conclusion
Now you know the importance of a good sound on TikTok. You also know where to search for them, how to trim the ones you like best, and all the nitty gritty details in between. Take this information to increase engagement and visibility tenfold. You’ll see a positive difference in just a few weeks, and your views, likes, and shares will credibly increase. Just check out analytics for the proof!