What are TikTok Videos?
TikTok videos are short-form vertical clips that live in the For You feed, the Following feed, and on creator profiles. The technical format is 1080 × 1920 px vertical, with videos ranging from 3 seconds to 10 minutes. While the video itself is the primary asset, the cover — the still image users see in profiles and search results — drives a measurable share of taps. TikTok lets creators select a frame as cover or upload a custom designed thumbnail with text overlay.
For US small businesses and creators, TikTok is the highest-organic-reach platform in 2026, with the For You algorithm capable of pushing brand-new accounts to millions of views. The 150+ million US monthly active users span Gen Z through Gen X, and TikTok Shop has turned the platform into a serious direct-to-consumer channel. The cover image is what makes a profile feel professional — a grid of designed covers reads completely differently from a grid of random frame-grabs. publy.ch handles cover design, supporting graphics (hooks shown on-screen, supporting visuals for the video itself), and end-screen CTAs.
How to create TikTok Video Assets with publy.ch
With publy.ch you produce TikTok cover and supporting graphics in minutes:
- Pick the TikTok template — pre-sized at 1080 × 1920 with the TikTok safe-zone overlay built in.
- Drop in a video still or hero photo — auto-cropped to vertical, brand-styled in one click.
- Generate the hook headline — the AI suggests 3–5 word hooks ("Don't make this mistake," "POV: you just…") that match TikTok native voice.
- Apply the brand kit — your colors, fonts, and logo layer on without making the cover feel "branded" in a bad way.
- Export for upload — 1080 × 1920 PNG for the cover, plus optional on-screen text graphics for the video itself.
The graphic outputs slot directly into TikTok's upload flow and into editors like CapCut.
Best Practices for TikTok Video Covers
- Cover safe zone is small. TikTok's UI covers the bottom 35% of the frame in profiles. Keep all key text above 65% height.
- Use a hook headline, not a generic title. "5 mistakes new founders make" beats "My founder story."
- High contrast against the video still. A bright headline on a muted background is what catches the eye in a fast-scrolling feed.
- Show a face when possible. Faces consistently outperform object-only covers in the For You feed and in profile grids.
- Match the cover to the first 3 seconds of the video. Bait-and-switch covers tank watch time, which destroys reach.
- Use brand color as a corner accent. A consistent flash of brand color across covers makes the profile grid feel intentional.
- Test cover designs. TikTok lets you swap covers post-publish. A weak performer often turns around with a new cover.
- Don't crowd the cover with text. 3–7 words on the cover. The video carries the rest.
Formats and Dimensions
- Cover image: 1080 × 1920 px (9:16)
- Profile grid display: 1080 × 1280 px effective area (top is cropped)
- Profile safe zone (text): keep above the bottom 35% of frame
- File format: PNG or JPG
- Video itself: 1080 × 1920 px vertical, MP4
- Recommended headline size: 80–140 px font
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Auto-picked frame as cover. Almost always off-center or unflattering. Always upload a custom cover.
- Text behind UI elements. Like, comment, share, follow icons live on the right side. Keep text away from that area.
- Cover doesn't match the video. If the cover promises "5 secrets" and the video doesn't deliver them, retention crashes.
- Generic, brand-less covers. A polished profile grid is half the reason new viewers follow you.
- Tiny text. TikTok is consumed on phones held at arm's length. Test cover legibility at thumbnail size.
Create TikTok Video Assets with AI — Try publy.ch Free for 3 Days
With publy.ch you build a TikTok profile grid that actually converts views into follows. AI hook generation, brand-kit-locked covers, and TikTok-correct dimensions. Start your 3-day free trial at publy.ch.