Impressive – but how does this translate to business? Businesses on TikTok, from sole traders to multimillion-dollar corporations, are creating connections with their customers with the right TikTok marketing strategy.
What is TikTok?
Since 2018 TikTok has broadened its offerings from dancing – though this is still wildly popular – to any subject imaginable. Lip syncing is still a major part of the app, with the audio for videos available as “sounds” for any creator to use.
Here are the basics:
- Users on TikTok create content up to 3 minutes long.
- These videos are automatically distributed based on the algorithm
- The main user experience is the landing page or For You Page (shortened to “fyp”)
- Based on interaction this video can be seen by millions who don’t even follow you!
Important Facts About TikTok
- Hashtags matter, just not the way you’re used to
- Followers are great, but virality is greater
- Niches are vital, but don’t be afraid to diversify
- Virality can be intentional – or a fluke.
Hashtags:
Unlike other platforms, TikTok hashtags aren’t simple tags. Thanks to marketing campaigns popularising hashtag challenges, many create video content and use whichever hashtag is trending.
For example #CloseYourRings trended with over 8 billion views. The content ranged from exercise to make-up tutorials, to serious social matters. What do eyeliner tutorials have to do with apple watches? Nothing, except that the hashtag is trending so creators used it.
Followers:
Follower counts can skyrocket on TikTok. Take Mercury Stardust; with one viral video, she went from 100 to 25,000 overnight. She now has over 1.5 million – all from explaining how to use a ratchet strap.
More followers do mean an algorithmic boost whenever you post a TikTok video, but regular viral content will get more exposure than a long followers list.
Niche:
More than identifying an ideal customer, finding a niche is about your goals – conversion, brand awareness, or even education around your industry.
DuoLingo is a popular language learning app but rarely talks about its product. Most videos joke about their mascot – and they’ve accumulated 2.5 million followers as a result.
Viral factors:
The magic – and headache – of TikTok is that virality can hit anyone. You increase your odds by participating in trends and viral sounds but sometimes it’s the video you least expect that blows up.
Benefits of TikTok for Your Business
- The algorithm does some of your work for you
- Immense reach
- Emotional connections are king
The Algorithm:
While the discover page is used, the primary interface is the fyp.
The TikTok algorithm is one of the most advanced, with users often shocked by how niche a video on their fyp is. By identifying sounds and trends your target audience is likely to interact with, your business can be shown to ideal customers without a cent on targeted ads.
Reach:
With over a million views a day and an intense algorithm, your video can reach huge numbers of people. Through marketing strategies like brand takeovers, duets, and giveaways with other TikTok influencers – you can reach people you never imagined!
Emotional connections:
Parasocial relationships are the lynchpin of social media marketing, and creating an emotional connection between viewers and your brand is highly valuable. A strong emotional connection creates brand loyalty even if they haven’t been a customer – yet.
Types of TikTok Content You Should Create for Your Business
Trends:
Companies should only jump on trends when it suits their business, but when something clicks it can send your views sky high.
Humour:
Even serious industries can laugh at themselves, and showing the public a more relatable company image can help create those sought after emotional connections.
Education:
You can educate your viewers in fun and silly ways with longer explanations to follow up in video replies to comments, further connecting with your viewers.
How to Get Started with TikTok for Business
While you can run a business page through a personal profile, it’s best to swap to a business account. Business accounts give you a few added benefits like audience insights and the ability to include your website and email address on your profile.
- Download TikTok from your app store
- Create an account
- Tap the “Me” button, then Edit Profile. This is where you personalise your TikTok profile with a bio, picture, and links
- Tap the three dots in the upper right corner, then select Manage Account
- Choose the Switch To Pro Account option, then choose Business
- From here choose the category that suits your business best
The best thing you can do is to get to know the app. Learn how trends work, because on TikTok they move faster than anywhere else! Decide what kind of account you want, and why your target audience will like that content.
Final thoughts
Tiktok shows no signs of slowing down and the potential audience for your company is staggering. Whether you’re looking for a way to connect with people, boost conversion, or promote your industry in general – TikTok has viral potential.
Hire a Professional Video Production Company
TikTok has enormous potential but can be time-intensive. Thanks to the sticky nature of the app – people just keep coming back – rapid release of videos is key to success. This need for a high quantity of videos in addition to the constant need for monitoring trends and challenges means that TikTok creation can quickly start to feel like a pain, not a gain.
This is where professional video production companies can play a major role in your business. It’s vital that your brand voice is crystal clear in your social media. Remove the obstacle by partnering with a video production company with expertise in translating brand voice into relatable content.
Hiring a professional also has the added benefit of broad-spectrum learning. An individual video producer may have great experience in one sector but a production company brings ideas and experience from other industries which might turn out to be your edge.
We can help with as much of your video content for TikTok as you need, so get in touch today to talk to one of our industry experts.
Please call us today at Inspireworks on 1300 885 968 or send us a message for more information.