How to make TikTok slideshows that get views

1. Pick one idea, not a topic

“Skincare” is a topic. “Three things I stopped putting on my face after 30” is an idea. A good slideshow makes a single promise and keeps it. Before you design anything, write the promise in one sentence. If you can't, the post isn't ready.

2. Write a hook slide that creates a question

The first slide is the only one most people see, so it should open a loop that only swiping will close. Formats that reliably work:

• The list: “5 apps I'd pay for twice”.
• The mistake: “You're storing your coffee wrong”.
• The reveal: “What A$50 buys at our market”.
• The point of view: “POV: you finally automated your invoices”.
• The contrast: “Before vs after we changed one thing”.

Keep it short enough to read in a second, roughly eight words, and avoid giving the answer away on slide one.

3. Choose the right number of slides

Most strong slideshows land between five and eight slides: a hook, three to six slides that deliver, and a closing slide. Fewer than four feels thin; more than ten tends to lose people unless every slide is strong. Give each slide one point. If a slide needs two sentences, split it.

4. Make the text readable on a phone

Use large, bold type with a subtle outline or shadow so it reads over any photo. Keep text away from the bottom fifth of the frame and the right-hand edge, where TikTok places the caption, username and buttons. Aim for one to three short lines per slide. Use the 9:16 vertical size so the slideshow fills the screen.

5. Use photos that match each line

The image should prove or illustrate the sentence on top of it. Generic stock photos make a slideshow feel like an advert; specific, slightly imperfect photos feel like advice from a person. Keep the colour and mood consistent so the set feels designed. Only use photos you own or are licensed to use commercially.

6. Add sound, a caption and a reason to engage

Slideshows still need audio. Choose a sound from TikTok's library that fits the mood and keep it low-key so it doesn't fight the text. In the caption, add context and a light prompt that invites a comment, such as “Which one surprised you?”. A few relevant hashtags help TikTok understand the topic; you don't need dozens.

End on a slide that gives people something to do next: follow for part two, save it for later, or visit the link in your bio.

7. Post consistently, then read the numbers

One great slideshow rarely changes an account; a steady rhythm does. Post several times a week if you can, at similar times. After a few days, check two numbers for each post: how many viewers swiped past slide one, and how many saved or shared it.

If people leave on slide one, rewrite the hook and repost the idea with new wording. If they leave midway, cut the weak slides. If saves are high, make a follow-up on the same theme. Treat each post as a test, not a verdict.

Making slideshows faster

Maison Mise turns one idea into a finished TikTok slideshow: the hook, every slide's text, matched photos, a caption, hashtags and a score out of 100 with suggested fixes before you post. You download the slides and post them yourself in Photo Mode. The free plan includes 3 slideshows a month and needs no card. For hook ideas on their own, try the free Hook Studio.