But what type of content requires users to see more information and will viewers get into the habit of reading longer descriptions? It all depends on the type of content being shown and how creators are presenting it. Let’s take at whether the character count increase will be useful for TikTok users.
What Does Increasing the Character Count Mean for TikTok?
In September 2022, TikTok rolled out a change to its character count limit, bringing the limit up to 2,200 characters. The character count applies to the caption section for its videos and posts. The increase in characters means that creators don’t have to confine their captions to a short paragraph but can now post much longer segments of text.
The platform is growing and what used to be a space for short-form content like social media challenges and comedy is becoming more like a search engine for young audiences who are continuing to use it as one. Content creators can utilize keywords to reach audiences who are searching for particular products and services.
This doesn’t mean that short video captions will no longer be useful, it just means that the option to add extra characters could change the way creators post their stories. Creators can use the extended character count to grow fans and followers on TikTok and offer in-depth explanations.
Why TikTok’s Short Video Captions Worked
Many of TikTok’s videos don’t require long captions and viewers are used to consuming the content (with text captions already in the video). Typically, videos with short captions are:
Dance videos. Comedy videos. Cute and funny animal videos. Workout videos. Social media challenges. Live videos. Calming nature videos. Music and lip-syncing videos. Short tutorials.
Longer captions pave the way for creators who would like to include more hashtags and keywords in their descriptions.
Why Did TikTok Increase the Character Count for Posts?
By increasing its character count, TikTok is now on par with competitors like Instagram, which already has a character limit of 2,200. TikTok has stated that it wants to give its users more flexibility to express themselves.
TikTok’s extended character count opens up new possibilities for creators who are looking to maximize their reach on the platform. Their content will have a better chance of coming up in the feeds of users who are looking for specific content. Many popular influencers are noticing the trend and utilizing the feature already.
By having longer descriptions of up to 2,200 characters, creators who require more space to show off their content can now do so. Depending on what their aims are, a longer description allows them to:
Offer extra details about their video. Expand their reach by using more hashtags. Get closer to their audience. Include keywords that are searchable by TikTok’s audience. Target and reach their audience with personalized and relevant search results.
TikTok also has a Creator Portal which is a collection of content such as videos and articles that give newbies tips on how to create content on the app. If you’ve got some ideas for content that could interest and excite viewers, you can also get started with the TikTok Creator Portal.
What Types of Content Could Benefit From Using the Full Character Count?
While some users may not use or appreciate longer captions, there are ways that this new character count can be useful to people on the platform. Certain types of content could benefit from the additional character count. Some of these are:
Cooking videos that show the full recipe. Step-by-step tutorials. DIY projects with instructions. Creator-educators using the #LearnOnTikTok hashtag. Creators focusing on complex subjects that require in-depth explanations. Business owners summarizing their services. Advertisers with links to their services.
Long or Short Captions, It’s Your Choice
Choosing the character length of your video descriptions depends on the types of stories you are creating. If you are already benefiting from short video descriptions, then stick with what works for you. If you want to create content that requires descriptions of more than just 300 characters, then TikTok’s update could be beneficial to you.
