Fairly new to the social media scene, TikTok is one of the most popular new platforms among the Gen Z audience. With so much attention from younger users, TikTok offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses to generate awareness and grow in new and existing markets.
If you're new to TikTok or don’t know how to leverage it for your business, here's the ultimate roadmap to fuel your business growth with simple TikTok marketing techniques.
What is TikTok?
With mostly video content, TikTok is a popular social media app that focuses on short-form videos created and uploaded by mobile users. Though you may be thinking that YouTube is the place to be for video, TikTok's short videos go over well with users.
In fact, TikTok was the most popular app downloaded globally in 2020 and rose to become the sixth-largest social network.
The most popular videos on TikTok are 15-seconds long, but users can create videos between 15 seconds and 60 seconds. If you've been posting videos on YouTube or Facebook Live, creating and uploading videos on TikTok will be a breeze.
Glossary and Basics for TikTok
TikTok has many of its own terms and features, like any social media platform. Here's a quick rundown of what you need to know:
TikTok Live
Like live videos on Facebook or other platforms, TikTok Live allows users to create and broadcast videos in real time. The catch is that you must have 1,000 or more subscribers to use this feature.
For You Page
The For You Page, or FYP, is the newsfeed for TikTok. When you first open the app, you're greeted with your newsfeed that features content selected according to your interests and viewing habits. This feed contains videos from accounts you subscribe to, as well as suggestions for other pages and content you may enjoy.
Filters
TikTok offers effects and filters that you can use to personalize your content, such as GIFs, stickers, transitions, and text overlay. Depending on your content, these filters can enhance your message and attract the attention of users.
Music
TikTok integrates Apple Music and a wide selection of sound effects and songs from an extensive library. You can choose these songs or effects to add to your video. Audio clips also give you some insight into what songs or sound effects are trending, which can be used to inspire your content strategy.
TikTok Trends
TikTok relies on trends, like all social media. Users tend to see more trending content, but they also participate in "challenges". These are spread through hashtags and challenge the user to complete a task, such as recording themselves dancing to a song.
Each time, a user is encouraged to upload their challenge video with something added to it, so you can leverage this activity by creating your own challenges related to your industry.
TikTok Advertising
TikTok offers many useful advertising features, such as in-feed video ads, challenges for brand pages, and branded hashtags. Though advertising on TikTok can be pricey, it can gain a lot of attention and traffic for your brand quickly.
Getting Started on TikTok
TikTok is fairly new, so many businesses haven't included it in their content marketing strategy yet. This means you have lower competition, and you can be one of the earliest adopters of this rapidly growing social media platform. With a younger audience, TikTok is particularly useful for brands marketing to Gen Z, though it's expected that the platform will grow among older audiences over time.
In addition, short-form video content is gaining ground as a content marketing strategy. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are all seeing growth and popularity among younger users, making TikTok a great choice for video marketing.
Because TikTok seems to be setting trends in video for the rest of social media, your business needs to be on there.
Fortunately, getting started on TikTok is quick and easy. Here's how:
Create Your Business Account
Just like the rest of the apps, TikTok can be found in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Simply download the app, complete your signup, and create your business account.
From there, you can create a profile with a username, profile picture, and short bio. Use this as an opportunity to share your brand logo and create a bio that summarizes your brand and what you’re all about. Usernames must be unique, but do your best to create a name that includes your business name and keywords.
Link Your Social Accounts
TikTok isn’t a standalone strategy – it should be part of your overall social media marketing and content marketing. Link your TikTok account to your other social accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram. This helps your followers find you on TikTok easily.
Start Watching Videos
As a video-based app, TikTok offers videos of all types. Once you set up your account, start watching videos to learn what type of content users like and think about how you can use the popular trends with your brand. You can also follow other small businesses or brands in your industry with hashtags like #smallbusinesstiktok.
Follow Accounts
After you watch some videos and get a feel for the app, choose some other accounts to follow. These can be the same as Instagram or Facebook, or search for accounts that are relevant to your industry or brand. Be sure to choose some accounts that are in your industry, since it can give you inspiration for trends.
Engage with Content and Users
TikTok has an advanced algorithm that will provide you with content that you'll like, but only if you give it the raw information to go on. Be sure to like or comment on videos and interact with accounts to teach TikTok what you like, so you can receive new content suggestions in the future.
Create Videos
Once you get a feel for the app, you can make your first TikTok video! Keep in mind that your video doesn't have to be perfect. It may take time to get the hang of creating and uploading videos on TikTok. If you prefer, you can record a video on your computer or smartphone, edit it, and upload it after. Several providers also offer video templates to help you create professional, high-quality videos for TikTok and other platforms.
Fuel Your Business Growth with TikTok
Now that you have the basics down, it's time to get your brand active on TikTok. You'll be surprised to see how quickly you can catch on to the app and create videos. Just jump in and start posting some videos, and you'll be on your way to growing your business and getting followers on the newest social media app!