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Over the past decade, businesses have been leveraging social media platforms to drive sales. Everyone has come to realize that these platforms help businesses to grow and make profits.
According to platform statistics, social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have over 3.96 billion active users. As of 2021, TikTok alone has over 1.5 billion downloads, topping Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Currently, the app is popular amongst teenagers, with about 32% accounting for most active users.
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TikTok, a video-sharing app, was launched in 2018. Bytedance, a Chinese tech company, is the owner of the app. According to the company, it first created Tiktok for the Chinese market as Douyin.
Later on, in 2017, the app got rebranded and promoted as Tiktok for the international market.
Tiktok enables its users to create and share short-form videos. These videos are usually 15 to 60 seconds long. Creators can record videos using hashtags and challenges to drive engagement.
Furthermore, most content on Tiktok focuses on entertainment for users. So why have many businesses started to use TikTok as a part of their marketing strategy? Business is more than just fun and games, right? Yes, that’s right, but including some fun and games attracts what every business needs. Attention. But wait, there’s more. Unlike other social platforms, content on Tiktok typically goes viral in minutes. Another great feature about Tiktok is that it’s a home for everything. So what does your business focus on? Cosmetics? Culinary arts? Nutrition? Outdoor gears? There is a place for topics like these and everything in between. Yes, there is definitely room for you. Oh, did I forget to mention this? TIK TOK IS COMPLETELY FREE! Yes, free. Free and effective marketing is always a plus. But hold your horses, here are some factors to consider before marketing on TikTok.
YOUR AUDIENCE
Keep your target market in mind. A report published by Statista shows that about 32.5% of active users on Tiktok are young people. This percentage of users includes people ranging from 20 to 30 years old. So if your business targets people between the ages of 18 and 40, then TikTok may be the right place to be. On the other hand, if you have not yet clearly defined your audience, give it some good thought before investing time in TikTok. Why, oh why can creating insanely short videos take up lots of time?
YOUR CONTENT MUST BE SHORT AND OH SO VERY SWEET
People tend to be most interested in 10-15 second long videos. If you choose to make such short videos, they must be both relevant and amusing for your content to go viral. Even if you decide to do longer videos, this platform was made to create and share short videos. So you will always have a few minutes at most to grab the attention of your audience. The content you share has to be right on the money.
YOUR GOAL
What is your objective? What do you intend to achieve on TikTok? Are you aiming to create awareness for your brand? Do you want to build your fanbase? Knowing why your business should be on TikTok will help you strategize on the best ways to utilize it.
For example, can you utilize the hashtag feature on TikTok? Users might choose to create short video clips with your brand’s hashtags and product tags. The outcome of this is, your brand gets popular amongst users. Is your competitor one of those possible users?
Your Enemy
Okay, so your competitors are not always your enemy, but if your competitors are active on Tiktok, be sure to watch them. Their presence on the platform is a sign that your target market is on the app. Try following your competitors’ page, and see how they are making use of TikTok. Analyze their content and discover what they are doing right and wrong because this can help you start using TikTok on the right foot. Learn from your “enemy” too.
BENEFITS OF USING TIKTOK FOR YOUR BUSINESS
#1 INCREASED BRAND AWARENESS
Since TikTok’s inception, the app has had a quantum leap in growth. More celebrities are moving to the platform, and user activity is on the increase. In addition, through hashtags and challenges, brands can now generate organic reach and engagement for their business.
As a business owner, you can tap into this. Create user-friendly videos, add humor, and share with your audience.
#2 PERFECT PLACE FOR INFLUENCER MARKETING
Through influencer marketing, brands have reached larger audiences on Tiktok. Even though this is a paid channel, it is effective in acquiring users.
Most celebrities on Tiktok act as influencers due to their large followings and fanbase. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Sony are leveraging these influencers to promote their brands.
You, too, can work with these influencers to raise awareness for your brand.
#3 EFFECTIVE PAID PROMOTION
TikTok, like every other social media network, allows paid promotion on its platform. If a good percentage of your target market is on the app, you can reach them by specifically targeting them with ads.
Many brands have reported an increase in sales after promoting their brands through TikTok ads. Also, TikTok ads are easy to set up, unlike other social media networks that can be complex.
#4 EASY CONTENT CREATION
Tiktok is one platform with a variety of content. Users can produce content on various topics daily. Food, travel, beauty, health, business, dance, vacation, and many others are among the common topics its users create.
Also, users create content depending on the trending hashtags. This content usually garners traffic on the platform.
As a business owner, ensure you take advantage of this user-generated content to produce content ideas for your brand.
Moreover, you can follow trending hashtags and pick out concepts to use in your videos. This will help reduce the hassle of content creation for your brand.
#5 BUILD COMMUNITIES
Creating humor-infused content can help you build your following on Tiktok. Users who find your video content educating and entertaining easily become fans.
Also, top celebrities and brands such as Garyvee, Pepsi, and Coca-cola maximize the platform by building communities through their video content. Tiktok is the platform for growing communities. In addition to building communities on the platform, you can also move your fans to your other social networks.
Because the app allows you to share links to your other social networks and website, your followers connect with you outside the platform. As a result, your community keeps growing and expanding.
#6 VIRALITY
The “discover Tab” is the only tool you need to go viral on the app. When you click on the tab, it displays all top-trending hashtags and challenges you can use. Adding the trending hashtags to your video captions can help boost your visibility on the app.
Your being viral is always one click away on TikTok.
HOW TO GET STARTED ON TIKTOK
- First, visit the Google play store and download the app.
- Sign up or create an account for your business on the platform
- After signing up, ensure you log into your account and edit your profile page.
- Create a bio for your business
- Start producing video content for your page.
- Connect and engage with other creators
CONCLUSION
If building a trusted community of fans is one of your core objectives- TikTok is the place to be. Having thousands of followers alone on the app will have your business spread like wildfire. Except it will make money instead of burning forests.
Plenty of brands and businesses on TikTok have reported a significant increase in sales. Is it, then, really a stretch thinking that it can benefit you too? This is surely worth thinking about. Did I mention it’s free marketing?
