May 27, 2024
Do you know how to use TikTok? The short-form video-sharing app has taken the world by storm, with Ofcom reporting that over 85% of internet users aged 16-24 have used it. It was only a matter of time before brands started using TikTok for business purposes. For example, brands like Ryanair, Wayfair and Chipotle have all built loyal followings on TikTok, allowing them to connect with a youthful engaged audience, likely at the fraction of traditional advertising costs.
This is a guide on how to use TikTok for business purposes, offering some essential tips and techniques displayed by the biggest and best brands. It will make it clear how you can incorporate this app as part of your wider social media strategy.
We’ve all noticed it – attention spans are getting shorter every year at the minute. Now there’s some debate as to whether TikTok is the cause or response to this fact, but it’s undeniable that you have to play on the terms of the field. TikToks from your brand should be short and sweet, clearly communicating something either about your product or brand identity in the first few seconds.
Keep in mind that 60 seconds and more is considered a “longer” video on TikTok. Recently, videos as long as 10 minutes are showing up on TikTok, but these much longer videos should be posted few and far between by businesses.
The 2020s are the decade of the influencer and businesses are taking notice of this on TikTok to grow online with new audiences. Collaborating with influencers helps to give your product a little bit of pop-cultural cache, associating you with someone who has an ingrained fanbase that might be new to your business. Better still, many influencers and online comedians bring a creative, funny quality to promotional content, showcasing your goods or services in a new and interesting light.
If influencers rule the 2020s then memes rule the 2000s. While they couldn’t often feel less consequential, memes have become a significant part of the cultural landscape of this millennium – a powerful tool for transferring ideas and messages. With this in mind, staying on the pulse with TikTok trends and memes is always a great place to find inspiration. However, it’s important to not let things move too far on before getting posts up – late memes scream boomer! (whatever that means)
Much like Facebook and Instagram, TikTok can be used as a space for paid advertising. Of course, this doesn’t have the same triumphant feel of hitting the big time with a piece of homegrown content, however, it can be similarly effective. Plus, well crafted ads can go under the radar and attract eyes in the same way as traditional memes and posts!
Sharing an aspect of personality
When considering how to grow online sales, TikTok Shop should be on your radar. TikTok Shop offers a unique way to sell products through interactive shoppable content, almost like the Teleshopping and Infomercial days of old. If you’re confused about how to use TikTok Shop, the site itself offers a basic breakdown of account setup and usage.
As with all digital marketing efforts, consistency is the thing that will make the most difference on TikTok. Post regularly from your TikTok business account, check for trends and work across other platforms to create a comprehensive approach. You’ll figure out how to use TikTok to your advantage soon enough.
