TikTok was launched in 2016 and since then, it has taken the world by storm with over two billion downloads worldwide. Some people use TikTok as a source of entertainment. Whereas others have used this app to increase their small businesses’ reach and turning it into a success. Social media marketers use TikTok to unleash their brand’s creativity.
On the 25th of June 2020, TikTok announced to advertisers and marketers globally that it is open for business in a new brand and platform known as “TikTok for Business.”
This platform will be used by marketers and social media managers to grow their organization’s overall brand awareness by implementing effective marketing solutions.
In 2020, TikTok was the most downloaded app, and it ranks as the 7th most used social network with approximately 800 million users active globally making it the 7th most used app on the internet. Many marketers have seen surprising results after implementing effective marketing strategies to their small businesses through TikTok for Business.
According to Wallroommedia, 60% of TikTok users are Gen Z who are the largest generation of Trendsetters in the United States and will comprise 74 million people by next year, making them the largest generation of all time. However, the majority of marketers also believe that brands are missing out on all the benefits they could possibly achieve if they make use of the Tiktok app by implementing effective marketing strategies to grow their small businesses to an audience worldwide.
Mihovill Grguric of mobile marketing agency Udonis states, “Many businesses still ignore TikTok, thinking it’s a fad or only for kids. However, if we have learned anything from the past, we should know that platforms people deem as ‘fads’ (Facebook, Instagram, even the internet itself) often become an integral part of our lives.”He further adds, “Moreover, all top social networks we use today started by first attracting a younger audience. When it first emerged, Instagram was also used primarily by teens and young adults. Now, all age groups it, as well as 25 million businesses. The same can happen with TikTok.”
TikTok generates engagement amongst users by providing viewers with informative and educational content in a 15- or 60- second video clip which increases the chances of seeing immediate results.
Producing an engaging TikTok video costs nothing. All marketers have to do is pick their phone with a good quality camera, neither does it require any fancy equipment nor does it require any special software. Organizations willing to produce entertaining content with engaging music and pleasing visuals can gain quick engagement on TikTok. At present, brands use it as an excellent marketing secret to increasing their sales and further their reach to countries across the globe.
If you’re planning to launch a TikTok account for your small business or organization, here are a few strategies you can implement which can possibly lead to blow up your small business and attract customers globally or locally.
1. Understanding How TikTok Works
Tiktok consists of two main pages. The “For You Page,” and the “Following” page. When you sign up for a TikTok account, you will directly be moved to the FYP page where you can see all the trending and popular videos from creators and brands worldwide. The following page is where you can see the videos from the users you follow. Whereas if you want to see any trending challenges, you can visit the discover page.
2. Paid Advertisements for TikTok Business
There are five forms of ad implementation for you to use if you are interested in paid media and digital marketing.
a. In-Feed Videos
With this type of ad marketing, users can convey the story of their company or organization by implementing content for videos on the “fyp” feed of users with a skippable video that lasts only fifteen seconds. Through the in-feed video ad, users can click through to the TikTok page, URL landing page, or app download. The video’s impact is measured by CTR, play duration, video interaction, video views, number of clicks, and impressions. The goal of this type of TikTok ad is to attain traffic to landing pages, App Store and increase eCommerce sales. In-feed video ads support internal and external landing pages, as well as deep linking and app downloads.
b. Top View
This format of TikTok ad will help present your company on an unmissable spot on TikTok by capturing the user’s attention fully through narrative, sight, and sound. This ad format portrays a 15s video and helps increase brand engagement amongst users.
c. Brand Take-Over
A TikTok brand takeover helps attain the user’s attention with a dynamic display, and a full-screen static. It also delivers a substantial visual impact for the brand by promoting a positive image of the brand. For the brand takeover, brands can use a video of 3-5 seconds, a GIF, a static image, or a video. The links embedded in the video can be connected to the landing pages of the website, or they can be connected to the challenges of hashtags on the platform. It displays after users open TikTok and supports internal and external landing page conversion. The main goal of this ad is to increase brand awareness.
3. Hashtag Challenge
Hashtag challenge is a form of engagement that helps users increase their brand engagement through creative expression. Brands use this strategy by inviting users to participate in a hashtag challenge created around the theme of their company or a specific campaign. This ad format consists of a package option for 3 to 6-days and consists of creative guidance, media placement support along with a seamless setup. Hashtag challenge helps increase your company’s brand awareness, follower growth, and reach increase too.
4. Promoting User Interaction
A crucial characteristic of using TikTok through an influential campaign of marketing is user interaction and engagement with your content. For instance, users can be challenged to join a hashtag challenge, such as a dance, or a food company can allow their customers to send in their choices of dishes that aren’t on the menu. Also, a brand in the hospitality or food industry can allow users or customers to share their experiences on TikTok which can also be an essential tool in increasing user engagement and content interaction. A brand or a company can attain success and fame on TikTok if they produce content that is relatable, unique, and authentic instead of producing forced or staged videos.
5. Produce Creative, Fun, and Unique Content
One of the best things about using TikTok to create content and videos is that a highly polished or high-quality video is not required for creating an impact. Originality plays a contributing factor in creating quality content that will help engage users. Users mostly prefer to watch content that is either entertaining or silly. And one can get an idea about what to write from the content being produced by popular brands on TikTok.
6. Branded Effects
Since the launch of this app in 2016, TikTok has implemented numerous initiatives that have increased the user’s interest and engagement. One of those initiatives adopted by TikTok is branded lenses, which are quite similar to the 2D and 3D lenses of Snapchat for faces and photos.
Verdict
According to TikTok demographic statistics, TikTok is available in 155 countries and 66% of its users are below the age of thirty. Tiktok has proven to be an effective tool for the majority of brands in promoting their products and services
