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Wondering how to use TikTok for your business? Looking for tips to increase your success on TikTok? In this article, you will discover 4 ways your business can be successful on TikTok.

The first thing you should know is your audience on TikTok?

TikTok is the latest trend on social media with more than 2 million downloads on the App Store and Google Play and more than 500 million monthly active users.

The platform consists of videos recorded by the user of 15 and 60 seconds that allow editing and integration in the application with the other important social actors.

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TikTok Business Example: Guess

The largest demographic of TikTok users is between the ages of 16 and 24. But if you think TikTok is just a Gen Z fad, think again.

Since its inception in 2018, TikTok has evolved from a video creation app intended solely for users to express their creativity to a marketing and advertising haven.

You've probably seen the ways brands use Instagram to engage with consumers through posts, stories, live videos, and IGTV.

TikTok allows brands to interact with users through video, only in shorter and smaller clips. In the last 12 months, brands have created accounts on the platform to explore and interact with consumers.

The appeal of TikTok for businesses is the large number of active users on the platform.

It's still unclear exactly how the algorithm works, but it seems like it's much easier for your video content to go viral on TikTok than on other social media platforms.

On Tiktok, you can find everyone from influencers and celebrities to politicians and the average user.

If your business is ready to give TikTok a try, here are four types of content to get you started.

# 1: Create own content on TikTok

Even if your brand is unknown, you can use TikTok effectively for marketing. It all starts with planning great content and following these tips.

  • Be authentic: Most social media users don't have access to expensive camera equipment or production budgets. They create content with their phones and their time, that's authentic to them. Take the same approach with your own content. By revealing the true personality of your brand, users will feel connected and relate to your brand, generating trust.
  • Use the 2 magic ingredients: Pets and Children are the ingredients that generally make TikTok content go viral. This is because users are younger and there is more interest in watching humorous and entertaining videos with children and animals. If your office has a pet, include it in your content. And consider that one of your team member's kids is good for a hashtag challenge dance and record it!

    Remember that TikTok is not the place for first impressions and fake smiles. It is a place of authentic entertainment, humor and natural fun.

  • Add your own touch: You don't have to struggle to find new and unique content ideas for TikTok. The platform is built on community engagement and hashtags, so all you have to do is find existing content and make it your own your way.
  • Take part in hashtag challenges or trending dances and songs. If there's a trend in your niche about having a productive morning routine, show yours. Your unique brand story and personality will set you apart from others in the same category. See what's already hitting the app and put your own spin on it.

Before starting to create content, keep in mind at all times that TikTok is not a formal or super professional platform; It is a space for users and brands to experiment with trends, act silly and playful and show another side of themselves.

@bennythebullit us. ##gritty ##foryou ##ohnana ##ohnanana ##rookiethings ##buckleup♬ NANANA - __liene__

Tap the magnifying glass button in the bottom menu to open the "Discover" page, where you can view the best videos and #hashtags. Explore the videos to see how other users create your content.

# 2: Preserve and share user generated content on TikTok

While the nature of TikTok is fun, playful, and casual, it takes real thinking and creativity to produce content that meets that premise. Brands especially need to plan their content to get the best return on their efforts.

Nike has taken an interesting approach to TikTok. Instead of posting their own public video content, they are leveraging user-generated content (UGC). If you look at his TikTok profile, you will see that his account is private and he will have to request access to view the content.

Search the #nike hashtag to see the real magic of marketing. More than 929 million users have viewed the hashtag, and millions of TikTok posts include it. As you scroll down, you will see videos and GIFs of users wearing their Nikes, painting their Nikes, dancing in their Nikes, and more. This UGC is free advertising for the brand.

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Nike hashtag on TikTok

# 3: Advertise on TikTok

Like other social media platforms, TikTok is moving towards a monetized future where brands can pay to have their ads shown to users. The following are 3 ways TikTok allows you to pay for ads from within the app.

Brand acquisitions: These ads appear in the user's feed before any other user content is viewed. They can be linked to the advertiser's landing page and are unique to different categories. Basically, only one ad can be shown in that space for the specific category per day.

Native Ads: These video ads are played between user content. They can last between 9 and 15 seconds and include buttons. However, users can skip or scroll through these ads.

Sponsored hashtag challenges: hashtag challenges are big on TikTok. When there is a new challenge on the Discover page, millions of users can view and join. Your business can pay to sponsor a hashtag challenge and get a custom banner on the Discover page. When users touch it, they are taken to videos that your team creates to explain and demonstrate the challenge, all while promoting your brand.

TikTok hashtag challenge example

Samsung used the Hashtag Challenge feature to push the UGC while announcing new features. When they launched their Galaxy A phones, they created the #GalaxyA campaign. Users were encouraged to add that hashtag when using their Galaxy A phone features for TikTok.

When you search for the hashtag, you will see that there are over 158 million views and tons of content from users displaying the characteristics. TikTok is a brilliant platform for brands working on design, technology, and software to demonstrate their products.

hashtag galaxya on TikTok

Brand lenses: design a TikTok filter related to your business. Users can select the lens by choosing a filter for their video and it will be live for 10 days. The lens is automatically included in the Top 10 Trends list and comes in 2D and 3D. TikTok is currently working on an AR version.

# 4: Promote content created by influencers on TikTok

Like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, your brand can use influencer marketing to expand its reach. Influencers on TikTok have varying numbers of followers, and therefore varying degrees of influence. In general, the more followers an influencer has, the more expensive it will be to work with. However, the ROI has the potential to be tremendous.

As a brand, you can reach out to relevant TikTok influencers and propose a working relationship with them, but it's important to be strategic with who you partner with. If your brand sells beauty accessories, working with a video game influencer is not the best option. Find influencers who work within your niche and whose personalities align with your brand values.

For a certain level of pay, TikTok influencers could:

  • Talk about your product in a TikTok video.
  • Post about it in the video description.
  • Link to your brand in the description.

You've already seen the success of influencer marketing on other social platforms, and TikTok is no different. Like other influencer platforms, you need to be smart about the contracts you propose and sign, and the influencers you work with.

R Marketing Digital