Creators are discovering that TikTok playlists increase app engagement.
TikTok released the playlists feature in 2021 and it has proven to be an incredible way to categorize and showcase your best videos.
But, like all great things, it has a catch. TikTok playlists are only available to certain creators.
If you are one of the lucky few, this article will walk you through the benefits they offer and how to put together a TikTok playlist for yourself.
What is a TikTok playlist?
TikTok playlists (also known as creator playlists) is a feature that allows creators to organize their videos into playlists. This allows viewers to easily consume content that is similar to content they have already enjoyed, a series or a story.
Playlists are located on your profile above your regularly posted or pinned videos (as shown in the photo below).
Source: jera.bean on TikTok
TikTok playlists are very similar to IGTV series. If you have experience with IGTV series, then TikTok playlists won’t be a problem.
Why create a TikTok playlist?
You always want to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for people to consume your content. After all, ease of consumption plus an interesting or funny video is a recipe for viral distribution.
TikTok playlists make watching your videos much easier. Plus, playlists make it intuitive to “overeat” your feed, so to speak. If you liked the video in the playlist, it will be next on the list.
One of the biggest benefits of the TikTok playlist feature is for series or episodic content creators.
A series on TikTok is what it looks like – a series of videos designed to be watched one after the other. Often they will be accompanied by a guiding narrative.
A TikTok series could end up like a mini-TV show, with episodes stemming from it, leaving people to think about what’s next. For your series, using a cliffhanger-style approach can keep your audience coming back for more.
TikTok playlists make it easy for viewers to find the next episode of a series. This is especially helpful if they found it on their For You page. If someone watches a video on their FYP and then goes to your page to watch the next episode, it may be hidden under other content.
The TikTok series has many advantages, in particular:
- Viewers are actively checking your page for the next release.
- It’s an easy win for creating content that’s already resonating.
Brands can use playlists to post product guides or explanations. In this way, brands can ensure that people watch the tutorial videos in the correct order. Once you put these tutorial videos on your TikTok playlist, people will have no trouble finding and accessing them.
Here are some more easy wins when it comes to TikTok content.
How to get playlist feature in TikTok
The TikTok playlist feature is not available to everyone. Only selected creators can add TikTok playlists to their profiles.
You’ll know if you’re in a club if you have the ability to create playlists in the Videos tab of your profile.
Wondering how to get playlists on TikTok when you’re not in a club? Unfortunately there is no workaround. You will most likely have to wait for TikTok to roll out playlists to everyone.
But don’t despair. Knowing TikTok, if this feature proves to be a winning one, it will soon become available to more and more creators. Then you can go back to this article and create your own TikTok playlists!
How to make a playlist on TikTok
If you have access to Creator playlists, it’s pretty easy to create one. There are two ways to do this:
- Create a TikTok playlist from your profile
- Create a TikTok playlist directly from a video
How to make a TikTok playlist from your profile
First, open the app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
On the Videos tab, click Sort Videos by Playlists if this is your first playlist. Or, if you’ve already created one, click the plus icon next to an existing playlist.
You will be prompted to name your playlist and then select a video.
How to create a TikTok playlist directly from a video
Navigate to the video you want to use in your playlist – remember, these must be public videos. Then tap the three-dot icon that appears on the right, or tap and hold on the video.
Click Add to Playlist and click Create Playlist.
You will then be asked to name your playlist and add more videos.
You can also add the video directly to TikTok playlists when you post it. Once you’ve created your video, the “Add to playlist”option will appear on the publishing screen. Select the playlist you want to add your video to and publish it as usual.