Think there is not a practical business application to TikTok? Think again.
I was one of those social media marketers that felt it was a fad that would fade away, but it seems it is on the rise and has amazing business tools brands can use. For early adopters, the time is now.
Here are some stats (via Social Media Marketing World):
TikTok has over 1 billion active users
49% of those users are over the age of 35
It's the 2nd most downloaded app in the app store, so the growth is not slowing down
Are you now convinced? Let's help you get started.
Download the app
The simplest way to start is to download the app to your phone and set up a business profile so you can get a clickable link in your profile and access to analytics.
Like I tell folks for Instagram Stories, sit back and watch for the first week so that you can get a feel of what the social network is like. Follow three users related to your industry to get a feel of the content being created on the platform.
PRO TIP: Save anything you like to favorites so you can refer back to those examples. This is something I had wish I had done in the beginning.
Tik Tok videos can be shared with other platforms
I downloaded the app in early 2019, but it took me until the fall to look at it and dive into making videos. I focused first on making my capsule wardrobe videos because I was already doing that on Instagram Stories, so I used that subject to learn how to edit videos on TikTok.
PRO TIP: You can make videos in TikTok and share them just about anywhere --- other social platforms, email, save to your phone and even email them to friends/family.
Engagement matters
Once you start commenting and liking videos, Rachel Pedersen told us at Social Media Marketing World 2020, it takes about seven days for their algorithm to begin serving videos you want to see. So, if you're looking at how-to make-up tutorials, you'll see more of that. Not a fan of the dancing trends, don't like or comment on those videos.
Niche down with hashtags
Just like Instagram, find your target audience via hashtags. Look at the content being made and take note. Use only the hashtags relevant to your subject. This is not a time to spam hashtags.
Same rules to creating content apply, with a twist
The rules for creating video content on TikTok are similar to other social networks and content rules -- produce what your audience wants — the twist is to be entertaining. The key here is to create stories that are engaging, educational but are also entertaining.
If you don't know what your audience wants, do some research and ask.
And similar to Twitter, there are only have 140 characters, so think wisely about the caption, hashtags and let the video be the star.
Ready to get started? Be consistent
I'm testing out the method Rachel Pedersen suggested at Social Media Marketing World: Create three videos each day over 30 days with a mix of trends and evergreen content that builds a relationship with your audience.
That evergreen content should be focused on what your audience wants (it's more than likely similar to what you're already creating for Instagram Stories). You can follow my progress at my TikTok profile shannonleeh.
Want to get up to speed on how to make TikTok videos? Rachel suggested her YouTube Tutorial on the subject which I've included here which was such a lifesaver for me!
Still on the fence? Don't let the trend fly past you! What's holding you back when it comes to TikTok? Just like getting on other platforms, don't let the little voices in your head hold you back. You've got this.
Interested in more tips on digital marketing and social media? Join my FREE Facebook Community, The Simplify Tribe.