TikTok for Success: Use TikTok to Market Your Business
TikTok is video-sharing app that allows users to create 15 second-long videos, or 60 second-long videos if four 15 second-long videos are strung together, paired with a wide selection of effects, templates, filters, speeds, and sounds. Since its release in 2016, TikTok has become one of the most popular and widely used social media apps around the world, especially among people between the ages of 16 – 24. TikTok can be a great tool for any small business owner seeking a new platform for marketing their products or services.
Here are a few tips for any small business owner ready to dive into the world of TikTok to successfully market their brand.
1. Your Best Friends: For You Page, Discover Page
Most videos on TikTok that go viral are videos that appear on TikTok’s For You or Discover page. The For You page is the first page that appears when users open the app. These are generally videos that have been getting the most likes. This is the ideal place for your videos to appear. The chances of your videos getting on the For You page will increase if you use the hashtags #fyp and #foryou in the caption. The Discover page allows users to view videos that have used trending hashtags. It also allows users to use the search bar to find other users and specific videos based on a hashtag. This is another place you want your videos to show up. The Discover page is essentially another way for users to find your business’ TikTok video and page.
2. Consider the Layout
When preparing to shoot your TikTok video, the video must be taken vertically-not horizontally. If the video is shot horizontally, it will force the viewer to rotate their phone to watch and this is not an optimal user experience. Additionally, it is important to consider where the caption, following, for you, like, comment and share buttons appear on the screen. If text or items shown in the video get covered up by the caption or the various buttons that appear on the screen, the viewer won’t be able to see it. If you decide to upload a video instead of shooting the video directly on the app, be sure to follow these same suggestions.
3. Hop on Trends
A great way to increase the reach and engagement of your business’ TikTok videos is by hopping on TikTok trends as much as possible if they are appropriate for the kind of products or services you are trying to market. TikTok trends can include popular sounds, hashtags, and effects. TikTok includes a trending category under both the sounds and effects buttons of the camera. Hopping on trending sounds, hashtags, and effects will increase the likelihood that people will discover your video. Dance challenges are also a great way to take advantage of trends to market your brand. If you decide to make a video marketing your product or service using a popular dance challenge, be sure to use a hashtag that includes the name of the challenge.
4. Use Quality Content
Finally, having quality content on your page is critical. You should feature content that is on-brand for your business but is also light and fun. Use TikTok to promote your business creatively and humorously.
