What is TikTok?
If you’re thinking of integrating TikTok into your content marketing strategy, start off with brief, playful videos to capture attention.
TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share looping videos. The videos often include short musical snippets along with sound effects and often are around 15 seconds to three minutes long. That said, some content creators have found success with videos as long as ten minutes, while others have gone viral with clips as short as nine seconds. Users can then like, comment, share and favorite the videos.
It might not sound like much, but with short clips to scroll through it’s extremely easy for users to accidentally spend hours watching videos of people dancing, lip syncing, pranking each other and more. The lighthearted, entertaining aspect is what many younger consumers appreciate about the social media platform. In an article from Family Education, Zoe (16) explains:
Whether your target audience is teens or not, make sure the marketing content you create on TikTok is relatable.
“TikTok is popular with teenagers because of how short the videos are. They are quick and don’t drag it out too long and keep the viewer’s attention. I think it’s also popular because a lot of the people we are watching are similar in age, so it’s cool to see someone that we can really relate to.”
Why Should You Care About TikTok?
If Gen Z or Millennials are your target audience, you definitely want to give TikTok a closer look.
Hootsuite reports that TikTok has over 1 billion users worldwide, 70.5% of which are between the ages of 18 and 34 years old.
The same statistical analysis from Hootsuite indicated that users spend around 22.9 hours on TikTok per month.
Even if you aren’t targeting Gen Z or Millennials, it’s worth it to familiarize yourself with the app and take cues from its lively approach. As the current Gen Z users get older, they’re likely to become your target audience. It will be useful to understand how they like to engage on social media, so – regardless of the platform you’re focusing on – you can better connect with them.
How Can You Use TikTok For Your Brand?
While there are some elements of typical social media marketing that do carry through to TikTok, this platform is different enough from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn that you’ll want to dedicate specific resources to this channel.
Additionally, some platforms like YouTube have started watermarking the downloaded versions of videos to discourage reposting on other platforms. Other platforms like Instagram will penalize videos with TikTok watermarks on them.
Make sure the marketing content you create for TikTok is original. Some platforms like Instagram will penalize videos with TikTok watermarks.
7 Tips To Use TikTok As An Effective Part Of Your Social Media Strategy
- Spend time on the platform. Watch how other users – both consumers and brands – are using it. What types of videos are they posting? Do you notice similarities between those that perform well?
- Create catchy videos. TikTok is not the place to share your most recent keynote speech or slides from a recent workshop. You have mere seconds (if that!) to catch a user’s attention.
- Use crisp, catchy visuals and music to create a video that will hold their focus for 15 to 60 seconds.
- Don’t be shy about special effects and stringing video clips together. This platform’s users embrace visual elements, especially when timed well to the music!
- Post strategically. Include relevant hashtags on your post to give it more visibility.
- Show the lighter side of your brand. TikTok is the platform for entertaining followers. Show your staff having fun!
- Jump on trends you can use. Do you see a challenge or hashtag going around that you can relate to your brand? How can you put your own spin on it?
- Interact. Remember, like other social media platforms, the point of TikTok is to engage. As you watch other videos, take the time to like, comment and share others’ posts.
- Experiment. Don’t be afraid to play! This is a young social media platform, so best practices aren’t completely defined yet. Try out different tactics and pay attention to what works well for your business.
Should You Advertise On TikTok?
TikTok’s advertising options are still fairly new, but there are several ways for companies to take advantage of paid reach:
- In-app purchases. This feature allows users to buy products through a dedicated page without leaving TikTok. You can learn more about some of the options here.
- Sponsored challenges. Encourage users to create a certain type of video and tag it with a hashtag (like Guess’ #InMyDenim challenge where the company had users record themselves wearing their Guess denim).
- Partnerships with social media influencers. Reach out to a popular TikTok user who will showcase your brand in a video they create and post.
Examples Of Brands Using This Social Media Platform Effectively
Nickelodeon (@nickelodeon)
With more than 14 million followers, this TikTok account does a good job of blending nostalgia with the bright and colorful slime it’s known for. Videos include iconic clips from popular shows, holiday-themed décor with slime oozing and cast “glow-ups” (past and present images of a person in a single video) from various shows.
What Can You Learn From Nickelodeon?
Show off your past. Pull in old video clips and re-edit them to make a new video specifically for TikTok. This gives your new social media followers a chance to see how you got to where you are now and reminds your older followers of the journey they’ve taken with you.
Red Bull (@redbull)
When you think of Red Bull, you probably think of the slogan, “Red Bull gives you wings.” The brand’s TikTok page certainly reminds followers of this. The videos feature all sorts of extreme athletes flying through the air, showing off their “wings.”
What Can Red Bull’s Social Media Strategy Teach You?
Share your core message in as many different ways as possible. What do you want consumers to think of when your brand comes to mind? Come up with a variety of ways to visually reinforce it; let creativity be your guide.
Team USA (@teamusa)
Before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games were postponed, Team USA started building up their following on TikTok. Their social media strategy included sharing clips from summer and winter sports, featuring exciting clips from past games alongside videos of athletes who were training for Tokyo 2020.
What Can We Learn From Team USA?
This social media strategy does a fantastic job of watching TikTok’s trending videos and finding ways to participate. For example:
- “Emily Sweeney did not luge control,” to a popular TikTok song with the lyric, “Just lose control.”
- Shaun White’s “glow up” shared clips from his first games to his most recent games.
- A video to the song Roxanne (which users often show themselves dancing to) spliced together a soccer, rugby and basketball player dancing with their sports’ ball.
How can your brand follow Team USA’s lead? Watch for trending songs and challenges on the platform and look for ways you can follow suit with your company.
Fenty Beauty (@fentybeauty)
From giveaways and sales to the products themselves, Fenty Beauty does a fantastic job of mixing the fun with the items that are for sale. While there are lots of videos showing off the beauty products themselves, there is also plenty of entertainment to keep social media users interested.
Meetings @ Fenty Beauty Be Like…
What Can We Learn From Fenty Beauty’s TikTok Page?
Come up with fun ways to reinforce your products and services. They’re a big part of your brand, you don’t want to hide that. However, you need to make sure the ways you’re featuring them are entertaining, so followers don’t feel like you’re always selling to them.
United Nations IFAD (@ifad)
Although the International Fund for Agricultural Development probably isn’t the first organization that comes to mind when you think of TikTok, theirs is an account worth looking at. This social media channel is a fantastic example of empowering and inspiring users by focusing on solutions instead of problems. Videos include ways that rural communities are using their resources, quick facts and clips of people #DancingForChange (a hashtag they created) all over the world.
Karima Left School…Found A Job And Friends In A Cheese Cooperative
What Can We Learn From United Nations IFAD’s TikTok Page?
Don’t be afraid to share important news on this platform – this is especially important for nonprofits. By positioning yourself in a positive light, you can drive awareness and engagement to your cause.
Get Help With Your Social Media Strategy
Whether you want to invest in TikTok or another social media platform, we can help! Contact us today for a complimentary 30-minute consultation; we’re happy to assist with any part of the process, from developing your strategy to creating and sharing the posts themselves.
Special Offer:
Sign up for a complimentary consultation during January and receive an Email Marketing Guide valued at $475! We offer a 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs – no strings attached. Call 360-955-1410 or contact us today to arrange your consultation!