Hey everyone!
Let's talk about the importance of visuals and why it's important to show, don't tell! ✨

While you may have heard that saying before regarding films, this same message can be applied to your TikTok videos. An example I love using is Khabe Lame (https://www.tiktok.com/@khaby.lame?lang=en) who is currently the #1 TikTok Creator in the world!
What makes his content so special? It's the fact that across any language, viewers can understand his videos. His comedy and entertainment are non-verbal and very easy to understand.

Now you may be asking "what if my content requires me to speak?" well, this is where subtitles are VERY important. Consider someone scrolling across TikTok without audio. Maybe they're bored during a meeting (don't do this), maybe they're in a public space and didn't bring their earphones, or maybe they just don't want the audio too loud. The fact that they can now read your content, instead of being forced to listen in order to understand, goes a VERY long way. If they're in a situation where they need to listen in order to understand your video, they may just swipe off of it 👎

Already doing that? How about body language, facial expressions, and overall onscreen visuals? Is your body language translating the tone of the topic accurately? Are you smiling or frowning at the right times? And are you showing what's relevant onscreen at the same time? These all make such a massive difference! While many may be stiff when they first start making TikToks, try loosening your shoulders a bit and exaggerating your movements and facial expressions a bit more. Sometimes your smile may feel big, but onscreen, it may be just slight. Go bigger, exaggerate, be more animated and see if it changes the energy of the video at all. These things may be the changes that can capture an audience!

As practice,

I recommend everyone to go to their page and watch 3 of their own TikToks with NO audio 👀

Do you feel the same energy? Can it be understood?

And for those who reach or want to reach a global audience, ask yourself; "Do they need to know English to fully enjoy my video?" If so, you may want to make your dialogue much more simple and/or show more visuals to get the idea across without relying on being verbal.

So the next time you create a video, review the visuals. Test your video out without any audio. Try exaggerating your expressions. Consider how your video can be enjoyed regardless of language and audio!