As one of the fastest growing social media apps of all time, TikTok has evolved from a social platform for dancing teens to a viable way to grow your business. Social media marketing has proven to be an effective way to reach your customers, and TikTok is no exception. The average person spends about 2.5 hours a day on social media. Engaging content like TikTok videos can be one of the most effective ways to grab consumers’ attention. That attention can turn into brand growth and profit, but there are a few rules to follow when starting your own TikTok account.
Tip #1—Browse the sounds
Starting off, get comfortable with the sound options in the app. When you make your first video, browse through the available sounds and choose one that is popular and appropriate for your business. Viral songs garner more attention from the TikTok algorithm, so they’re a good place to start. And don’t worry– if you don’t want music over your video, just make sure to mute the sound. This way your video will still pop up under the viral sound, but no one will be able to hear the music.
Tip #2—Focus on accessibility
Not everyone watches online videos with the sound on. To make your video accessible and easy to understand, add closed captions! After filming your video, click the text icon at the bottom of your screen during the editing phase, then simply type out what you said starting with “CC:”. You can add duration to your text by tapping it once, and edit further by choosing a clear font and color.
Tip #3—Make use of hashtags
The TikTok algorithm favors the use of hashtags over actual captions, so make sure you leave enough room for them within the 150 character limit. Hashtags that relate to your brand are welcome, but you can also use viral hashtags to further boost your post. Pro Tip: make sure you also use #fyp to get your video on the public popularity page.
Tip #4—Find your niche
To really make an impact on viewers, think outside of the box. Whether it’s a personalized hashtag, jingle, or challenge, any form of creativity gathers views and likes. Businesses such as Chipotle have started dance challenges to boost viewer engagement, but don’t force a video that doesn’t feel authentic to your brand. Have fun with your videos and encourage engagement naturally. If you want higher numbers, create a competition that no other brand has used before that involves an interesting hashtag and your viewers making their own videos.
Tip #5—Stay active
TikTok is only helpful to a business if people actually see it. One way to stay visible is to be active on the platform. When you’re not making videos for your own page, make sure you’re following relevant trends and other brands you admire. Like and comment on videos that you have interest in. Doing this is a great way to boost your brand without bombarding everyone’s feed with halfhearted videos. Following trends will also help keep your For You Page (commonly referred to your fyp) personalized with content you want to see.
Starting your own TikTok page is exciting, but can also be stressful if you’re not a social media maven. With constant changes in trends, it pays to have a team of professionals looking out for your brand.
