With billions of users worldwide, TikTok has become a powerful force, shaping trends, buying habits, and even politics. It’s where culture thrives — and where brands have a golden opportunity to make their mark.
While it’s primarily known as a video platform, TikTok sounds play a massive role in sparking engagement and fueling top trends. From catchy songs to witty monologues, the sounds you use can make or break your content.
Leveraging popular TikTok sounds isn’t just about hopping on the latest bandwagon; it’s about connecting with your audience in a way that’s relatable and meaningful. Whether you’re looking to grow your audience or boost engagement, understanding how to find, use, and even create your own sounds is essential for staying relevant and thriving on TikTok.
Why TikTok Sounds Matter
TikTok sounds aren’t just background noise. They play a crucial role in grabbing your audience’s attention and setting the tone and mood of your videos. Whether it’s a popular tune for a dance challenge or a dramatic soundbite for a skit, sounds evoke emotions and inspire connections with your audience, both of which are key to building rapport and driving your engagement rate on TikTok.
Sounds are also the driving force behind most viral moments. Think of it as a domino effect: one catchy audio sparks a trend, which inspires countless users to put their own spin on it and leads to a ripple effect across the platform.
Take the “Wildest Dreams” slow zoom trend, for instance. Consisting of users dramatically lipsyncing to the Taylor Swift track while using the slow zoom effect, the trend went so viral that it caught the attention of Taylor herself, prompting her to release “Taylor’s Version” of the song and make her own TikTok with the sound. All that from a simple use of a sound in a TikTok.
For businesses, hopping on trending sounds can boost your visibility and align your brand with the latest cultural movements. When you use a popular sound, you tap into a vast audience already engaging with that audio. It’s like joining a conversation that’s in full swing, increasing the likelihood that your video will be seen and shared, boosting the reach of your brand.
What Makes a TikTok Sound Go Viral
So how exactly can you determine whether a sound is worth using? While there’s no foolproof formula for predicting virality, certain metrics can shed light on a sound’s popularity.
One easy metric is usage. When creators across the platform incorporate a particular sound into their content, it signifies its cultural relevance and potential for virality and exposure.
Clicking on a sound will reveal more information about it, including how many TikToks have used it, who the original creator of the sound is, and how the most popular posts are using it.
The number of views a TikTok with a particular sound gets can also indicate that sound’s reach and resonance with users. Additionally, likes and shares provide deeper insights into audience engagement and the likelihood of a sound gaining traction.
For businesses, understanding why a sound is popular is just as important as recognizing its popularity. When you come across a trending sound, take the time to identify the elements that resonate with users. Maybe it’s just a catchy song that’s climbing the charts. Or, perhaps the sound is used in a specific way that feeds into an inside joke or meme. Knowing the why behind the what will allow you to leverage trending sounds effectively.
How To Find and Use Sounds on TikTok
Keeping your eye (or ear) out for trending sounds is crucial for staying relevant and increasing TikTok engagement. Here’s how to find and use the hottest sounds in 2024.
TikTok’s Official Sound Library
Start by exploring TikTok’s sound library. Navigate to your camera in the app (the “+” symbol) and tap “Add sound.” You’ll get a pop-up of recommended, favorite, and recent sounds, giving you easy access to audios that TikTok thinks you’re likely to use.
If you want to discover new sounds, click the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the pop-up. Then, you can search for specific sounds or click to “Discover more sounds.” From audios curated just for you to themed playlists of popular sounds, this is where you’ll go to explore TikTok’s extensive library of sounds.
Businesses will want to navigate to “Commercial Sounds” to access TikTok’s collection of over 500,000+ sounds that are pre-cleared for commercial use. This library also features recommended sounds and playlists tailored to business accounts.
Once you’ve found the sound you want to use, simply select it and tap the checkmark button. You’re also free to crop the sound by pressing the scissor icon, as well as adjust its volume to be as loud or quiet as you’d like.
The Discover Tab and For You Page
You can also find interesting sounds just by using TikTok. Explore the Discover tab, which highlights the latest trending content, or scroll through your For You Page, which is tailored to your interests and often showcases trending sounds that align with your brand’s niche. Who knows? You might stumble upon the sound for your next viral TikTok.
Trend Round-Ups
If you want to cover your bases, you can regularly review trend round-ups posted by TikTok and third parties like Slaying Social or Later. Dedicated to tracking and reporting on the latest viral trends, these round-ups can be a quick and easy resource to get yourself caught up on the latest happenings on the app.
How To Make Your Own TikTok Sounds
A great thing about TikTok is that you’re not just limited to using existing sounds — you can also create your own original sounds! Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to do that.
1. Define your idea.
Before you start recording, it’s crucial to identify what type of sound you want to create. Explore popular trends on TikTok, pay attention to what resonates with your target audience, and draw inspiration from your brand’s identity and values.
2. Record your sound.
Once you have a clear idea of the sound you want to create, it’s time to bring it to life. TikTok allows you to import sound from video and audio files from your device, so try to record the sound in those two formats.
3. Edit your sound.
After recording, consider editing and fine-tuning the sound to your liking. Crop it, adjust levels, add effects, and get it ready for importing.
Before we move on to the next step, though, let’s talk about avoiding licensing disputes. While TikTok has a library of sounds pre-cleared for commercial use, business accounts are still free to use original sounds, which include their own imported sound and sounds uploaded by other users.
However, since original sounds aren’t cleared by TikTok for commercial use, the platform recommends brands consult with their legal team to ensure they’ve obtained the proper license before using non-commercial sounds. In general, try to stick to licensed or royalty-free tracks to keep your content safe from legal troubles.
4. Upload your sound to TikTok.
When your sound is ready, it’s time to upload it to the platform. Head to the TikTok app, tap on the “+” icon to create a new video, and press “Add sound” at the top of the screen. From there, tap the magnifying glass icon, “Discover more sounds,” and then the “Your sounds” tab.
Under this tab, you’ll see options to “Import sound from video” and “Import local sound,” both of which allow you to upload a video or audio file from your device library to create your very own TikTok sound.
Quick tip: Your sound will default to the title “Original Sound” when first used in a TikTok. Consider editing your sound title so it better reflects the content and is optimized for search. To do this, navigate to your sound’s page and tap on the pencil icon. Be intentional here, though. You can only rename it once!
5. Use and promote your sound.
Finally, it’s time to put your original sound to work and use it in your TikToks. Share them across your social channels, encourage your followers to use your sound in their own videos, and engage with creators who do.
You can also reach out to influencers within your niche and ask them to use your sound in their content. Collaborations can expose your sound to a wider audience and increase its usage. By promoting your sounds strategically, you can amplify your brand’s presence and leave a lasting impression on the platform.
Wrapping It Up
As we’ve explored, the right sound can elevate your content, exposing you to a wider audience and connecting you to the latest viral conversations. Whether you decide to ride the wave of popular sounds or carve your own path with original content, just remember to be agile. Keep your ears open for rising trends, experiment with new sounds, and leave room for your own creativity to shine.
