Step Up Your Content & Create Quality Content in 2024

One of the reasons TikTok became popular during the pandemic was because it was anti-aesthetic: it had a casual, film-in-your-parents-basement vibe. But as TikTok has evolved, so has the aesthetic, and one of the most popular predictions for TikTok marketing in 2024 is filming high quality content. 

I have already shared the top marketing trends you'll see in your feed in 2024, and now I want to share how you can step up your content and create higher-quality content this year: 

1️⃣ Using a mic 

2️⃣ Filming with your back camera 

3️⃣ Youtube-style edits 

 First we'll start with the #1 investment you can make in your content this year: buying a mic. The cute but crackly mini-mic is OUT, and good quality audio is IN. 

Our cameras have come a long way that you don't really need an actual camera to vlog or film videos, but the sound quality on our phones? Not quite there yet. 

You've probably seen the Rode Wireless Go II all over your feeds: 

Is it cute? Not really, it looks kind of clunky because it's square. But is it functional? Big yes. 

 Using a mic when filming your content doesn't just give you better sound: it also makes you look more credible. See also, the mini-mic trend of years past.  

Podcasts used to be an audio-only format, but in 2024 if you're not also doing a video podcast hosted on Youtube that can be cut down into viral social clips, are you even making a podcast? A few days ago, Lauren Elizabeth announced she was quitting her podcast for that exact reason.   

Podcast clips have become a super popular content format across TikTok and Reels, so much so that we're also seeing the rise of “fake podcasts” – people filming videos that look like they're recording a podcast, but really the clips are just for social. 🤯 

 Why? Because speaking into a mic on video automatically adds a level of credibility and authority to your content. I know, it's weird, but…makes sense?

It's truly fascinating to me how the simple change of adding a visible mic to your content can impact not only the quality, but also the credibility.  

So in an effort to jump on the trend, I called my brother who works in sound design and made him give me a lil audio lesson on how to use the 3 mics I already owned: the Rode Wireless Go II, my Rode lav, and my Blue Yeti mic.

The Rode Wireless Go II isn't cheap (the lowest price I could find was $223 here) but you get what you pay for, because it's really easy to use and definitely the best mic system for filming on your phone.  It comes in a set with a receiver (thing that plugs into your phone or camera) and two transmitters (the mic's), so you can record two people if you need to! 

You can hold the mic, or you can just clip it on to your shirt. If you're filming any content outside, it also comes with a windscreen (furry thing you put on top of it). 

If you're filming “get dressed with me” videos, it's difficult to get good sound with a mic, so my friend Marielle Elizabeth shared her hack with me: she just plugs the transmitter right into her phone and records with that while getting dressed. It kind of acts like a boom mic, and while the sound quality isn't as good as having the mic up close to you, it's a big step up from your phone, especially when you're far away.  

Another more aesthetically-pleasing option is to use a lav mic. I use this $72 one from Rode which is made to fit the receiver you get with the Rode Wireless Go system (you can't just plug it into your phone).  

If you want to channel the fake podcast vibe and make it really obvious you're using a mic, I love my Blue Yeti one ($99) because it's SUPER SIMPLE to use and I love the look of the white one. I usually use this at my desk for zoom calls or webinars, but you can hook it up to your phone too using a simple USB connector. 

 And when it comes to recording voiceovers for your content, a mic is a great way to make your voice just sound better. If you don't have a mic, one easy way to make your audio sound better is to film underneath a blanket like this:

By far, the most talked-about trend I've seen on people's IN's list is filming with your back camera instead of your front camera. 

To me, this is…terrifying. I need to see my angles, ok?!? 

But in general, we are seeing a shift towards treating TikTok more like Youtube, where it's standard to have high quality videos that are filmed with a camera. 

Coco Mocoe explains this trend well, citing Monet McMichael as an example of a creator with high-quality GRWM videos that make her stand out. And Monet is absolutely KILLING the content game: her engagement rate of 21% (!!!) is truly unmatched.  

I still don't think you need to go out and buy a camera for your content this year because the cameras on our phones are so good, but sadly the front-facing selfie cameras still aren't as good as the back-facing cameras. So if you want better quality video without having to buy a camera, just turn your phone around! 

If you're like me and you still want to be able to see your camera when filming a sit down video, you can pair it to your TV or an iPad to act as a monitor. 

Finally, content in 2024 is all about the creative edit. With so many creators using similar hooks and filming styles, taking a more creative, Youtube-style approach to editing your content is a great way to stand out. Less hooks, more b-roll and storytelling throughout your video. 

One easy way to achieve this is by creating an intro to your video using b-roll. I know, this sounds antithetical to short-form video, which is all about hooking in the viewer in the first few seconds. But it can also act as a way to set the scene and add some fun before you launch into talking on camera! 

I love this example from @justinescameraroll - it's a more fun and engaging take on what otherwise would just be a talking head video. Justine is actually doing “editing week” on her TikTok account, so you can follow her for some tips on how she achieves the Monet McMichael-style edit. 

You can also switch up the format throughout your video: filming some scenes talking to camera in your car, switching the angle, then jumping into green screen, and back into your car. Justine filmed 6 different angles using both the front and back camera of her talking to camera in her phone in this video! 

 The tip for all of this is to write your script before you film - you can even take it up a notch by storyboarding the different filming angles and scenes! 

 And if you're inspired to do some shopping for content equipment now, you'll want to add these to your cart too: 

My favorite tripod that doesn't break 
A mag-safe version of the StickyGrippy (so you can remove it!)

You can watch how I organize my content equipment here, and all of my fave content creation tools are linked on my Amazon store here too :)