So you think TikTok is just for teenagers... think again. TikTok has well and truly got a rep for being a platform for 13-year-olds. While this is somewhat true, a large portion of their demographic is indeed older. The platform is also growing in popularity with content creators and brands that are looking to grow their audience, increase engagement, and reach millions of people. There is so much potential to easily reach new eyes, and have your content seen by the masses. Being the biggest platform of 2020, overtaking the downloads of the likes of Facebook and Instagram, TikTok is a fun platform where you can highlight a less curated version of your brand, experiment with video, and drive traffic to your site.
Why TikTok is Good for Businesses...
With more than 2 billion downloads, TikTok’s popularity is on the rise and shows no sign of slowing down. But it can be a daunting social media platform for some users. What if you can’t dance? Do you need to be a video expert? Luckily, anyone can use TikTok successfully — no dance or video experience required.
From educational videos to beauty transitions, there are many ways to use TikTok for your business or personal brand, and the opportunities to jump on top and even viral trends are endless. With a strong social strategy, TikTok can help you have fun with video content, build a niche community, and tap into a younger audience.
TikTok is also a great leverage point for other social media networks, such as Instagram and Pinterest. These platforms value quality video content, especially with the launch of Reels within Instagram. TikTok's easy to use interface makes it easy to create the content and leverage it's platform for success, but also accommodates for videos being used and repurposed on Instagram Reels, which can save a lot of time in the content creation process.
Growing your Instagram Followers with TikTok
With the ability to link to your Instagram profile and easily direct users out of the app, TikTok is a great platform to increase Instagram traffic. You’ll be saying hello to more followers and engagement in no time! Between TikTok's unique algorithm and the chance for anyone to go viral — many creators and brands have noticed an increase in their Instagram following since joining TikTok.
Here's some ways to grow your Instagram following with TikTok:
Connect your Instagram to your TikTok account.
Tease Instagram content within TikTok video captions.
Make TikTok's showing what you can offer your audience on Instagram.
Use consistent branding across all platforms.
Use your TikTok bio to direct your audience.
Create engaging content.
Leveraging TikTok for Business
Now that you are aware of the potential TikTok can offer you as a business online, it's time for some tips on how to leverage it for social media success:
Get comfortable with the platform: As the new kid on the block, TikTok requires a learning curve — especially if you’re not comfortable with creating video content. Before you dive right into using it for your business, it's a good idea to create a personal profile, and play around with the app first. TikTok has various editing tools and effects — experiment with them, create different transitions and see what would make sense for your brand. It can also be helpful to explore the Discovery tab and follow hashtags to see what other businesses (including your competitors) are doing.
Choose a niche topic: TikTok really thrives around the concept of niches. TikTok users like to follow unique accounts, and thanks to the algorithm, anyone can find your content. By focusing on a niche topic, you’ll have more flexibility to be creative, have fun, and find a gap for your business to make an impact. Choosing a niche topHere areic also helps because you can drill down and focus on certain aspects of your brand. For example, if you’re a bakery, your TikTok could feature behind-the-scenes content that focuses specifically on bagels. You could become known on TikTok as the go-to account for everything bagel-making. If you consistently share niche content, your ideal audience will find and engage with it. And as your community grows, you’ll be able to direct them beyond TikTok — like to your website.
Decide when and how often you will post: As with any other social media strategy, it’s a good idea to have a content calendar for your TikTok profile. With this, you can brainstorm ideas, and plan out the scope of your TikTok content for the upcoming week or month. When you first start creating content for TikTok, focus on sticking to a posting schedule and frequency that’s doable for you. Similar to other platforms, TikTok rewards consistency. But rather than post 3 times a day, become overwhelmed, and then not post for months, start with 3-5 times a week and work your way up from there.
Leave perfection behind- it's a snooze fest!: “Be authentic” may sound cliché, but TikTok is the perfect platform to show your personality, and is the ultimate destination for individuality and being relatable. Unlike Instagram, where a cohesive aesthetic has become the norm, it isn’t necessary for TikTok. Authenticity can add a layer of connection with your community. They’ll feel like they know the person or people behind the brand — fostering more engagement!
So whether you are a total video newbie, or a seasoned pro looking to leverage it for further social success, TikTok is the platform you need to be on to start reaching new markets and growing your engagement online. Using TikTok is a great way to show another side of your brand, build a niche community, and target a younger generation of buyers. So let down those walls and start experimenting with TikTok! With engaging video, and the right strategy, you can use certainly TikTok to grow your business.