TikTok is a viral social media platform for sharing short videos. In many aspects, acquiring likes and followers is easier on TikTok than on similar platforms. It’s maybe because of its massive popularity among youth.
Therefore, TikTok has become a great source for attracting new customers and connecting with existing ones. If dealt with strategies for promotion, TikTok can change the game for a business. Let’s learn how to promote businesses on TikTok to achieve the ultimate success.
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Why You Should Use TikTok for Business
Contrary to common belief, TikTok’s user base is incredibly diverse. It’s not just Gen Z creating funny dance videos. Many millennials and older demographics use the platform daily for entertainment, staying updated on current events, or discovering new products.
In fact, recent statistics reveal that almost 50% of TikTok users are between 25 and 44 years old. This means your target audience likely falls within that age range.
Here are some specific advantages of using TikTok for your business:
Boost Brand Awareness
TikTok provides various ways to increase your brand’s visibility. You can collaborate with influencers, run different types of ads, and use features like hashtags and branded stickers to highlight your brand. Additionally, if you create content that is both entertaining and unique, your videos have a strong chance of going viral.
Promote Products
What makes TikTok marketing stand out is that it doesn’t feel like traditional marketing. There are many subtle ways to showcase your products without seeming too promotional, such as partnering with trusted influencers, creating genuinely helpful and entertaining videos, and more.
Expand Your Audience
With millions of users worldwide, TikTok is one of the best platforms for reaching a global audience and expanding your customer base. Plus, you have the added benefit of reaching users who might not be active on other social media platforms.
Attract New Customers
TikTok thrives on authentic, engaging content that feels personal and relatable. This approach helps build strong connections with your audience, increasing the likelihood of converting them into customers. Additionally, if you jump on the right trend at the right time – or even better, start a trend – you might attract a significant number of new customers.
Now that we’ve covered why TikTok is essential for your business, let’s explore how you can maximize the platform’s potential.
Get Started with TikTok for Business
Ready to dive into TikTok for your business? It’s a competitive space, so it’s crucial to be strategic and well-prepared before you start posting videos. Follow these steps to begin using TikTok for business and enhance your chances of success.
Create a TikTok Business Account
The first step is deciding which type of TikTok account to create. You have three options: business, creator, and individual. For most brands, a TikTok business account is the best choice.
A business account gives you access to TikTok’s full suite of marketing tools, including analytics, ads, commercial audio, and other resources. You can also set up a TikTok store and integrate reliable third-party apps to manage your content.
Here’s how to set up a TikTok business account:
- Download the TikTok app on your phone and create a new account.
- Open your profile and tap the menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings and privacy → Manage account.
- Select Switch to Business Account.
- Choose the category that best represents your business.
Next, optimize your profile to align with your brand identity, enhance search visibility, and present a professional image. Add a high-quality logo as your profile picture, enter your business name and username, and craft a brief, compelling bio.
Finally, include your website URL and links to your social media profiles, such as Instagram and YouTube. Depending on your goals, you could link to your homepage or direct users to a specific landing page or blog.
Get Verified on TikTok
Getting verified on TikTok adds a blue checkmark next to your account name, indicating that TikTok has confirmed your account’s authenticity and that it belongs to a notable business.
A verified badge builds trust and credibility with your audience. It also protects your brand from impersonation by marking your profile as the official one.
To obtain verification, your account must meet certain criteria, including:
- Logging in within the last 6 months
- Having a complete profile with at least one video
- Adhering to TikTok’s community guidelines and terms of service
- Enabling 2-step verification
You can apply for verification through TikTok’s request form by providing proof of identity and popularity, such as a business email and media coverage.
Define Your Goals
What do you want to achieve on TikTok? Whether it’s boosting brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or increasing product sales, having clear and meaningful goals will guide your content creation and overall TikTok marketing strategy.
Break your main goal into SMART targets. For instance, if your goal is to raise brand awareness, you could set targets like:
- Gain 10,000 new followers within the next 3 months.
- Achieve 500,000 video views across all TikTok content in the next quarter.
- Secure 75,000 profile views within the next 6 months.
Once you’ve established your social media KPIs, you can create content that aligns with them and track your progress. But before doing that, there’s one more crucial step.
Understand the TikTok Algorithm
To succeed on TikTok, you need to understand how the platform’s algorithm works. The TikTok algorithm is designed to show users content that it thinks they’ll enjoy, based on factors like:
- User interactions (likes, comments, shares, etc.)
- Video information (captions, hashtags, sounds, etc.)
- Device and account settings (location, language, device type, etc.)
By creating content that aligns with these factors, you can increase your chances of getting your videos in front of the right people.
Develop a Winning Content Strategy
Now it’s time to start creating content for your TikTok audience. We’ll provide some tips to help you develop a winning content strategy. For more comprehensive information on strategies, you can check this out. But first, let’s cover some key points to get you started:
Know Your Audience and Engage
Take the time to understand your target audience on TikTok. What kind of content do they engage with? What trends are they following? Use this information to create content that speaks directly to their interests and needs.
You should focus on attracting more audiences. For beginners, one key strategy is to buy real TikTok likes to build reliability among your audiences. It will further attract a larger audience, and you will find opportunities to keep your promise.
Embrace the TikTok Aesthetic
TikTok is all about fast-paced, visually engaging content. Embrace the platform’s unique style by using trending sounds, filters, and editing techniques to make your videos stand out.
Leverage Trends and Challenges
TikTok is all about jumping on the latest trends and challenges. Keep an eye on what’s popular and find ways to put your own spin on it. This can help you reach a wider audience and boost your engagement.
Collaborate with Influencers
Partnering with TikTok influencers can be a great way to tap into new audiences and boost your credibility. Look for influencers whose audiences align with your target customers.
Optimize for Discoverability
Use relevant hashtags, keywords, and descriptions to make your content easy to find. This will help you show up in search results and on the “For You” page.
Post Consistently
Consistency is key on TikTok. Try to post new content regularly to keep your audience engaged and interested.
Measure and Optimize Your Performance
Once you start creating and posting content, it’s important to track your performance and make adjustments as needed. TikTok offers a range of analytics tools to help you understand how your content is performing.
Pay attention to metrics like views, engagement, and follower growth. Use these insights to identify your top-performing content and find ways to replicate that success.
Run Targeted TikTok Ads
In addition to organic content, TikTok also offers a range of advertising options to help you reach your business goals. Some of the most effective TikTok ad formats include:
- TopView Ads: These full-screen ads appear at the top of the “For You” page when users open the app.
- In-Feed Ads: These native ads blend seamlessly into users’ “For You” feeds.
- Branded Hashtag Challenges: These encourage users to create content around your branded hashtag.
- Branded Effects: Custom stickers, filters, and AR effects that users can incorporate into their videos.
By leveraging TikTok’s powerful targeting and measurement tools, you can create ads that reach the right people and drive real business results.
Stay Up-to-Date and Iterate
The world of social media is constantly evolving, and TikTok is no exception. Stay on top of the latest trends, features, and best practices to ensure your TikTok strategy stays effective.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Pay close attention to your analytics and be willing to adjust your approach as needed. With a little creativity and a lot of persistence, you can turn TikTok into a powerful growth engine for your business.
Bottom Line
TikTok may have started as a platform for dance challenges and viral videos, but it has quickly become a powerful marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. By learning how to promote business on TikTok, you can harness the power of TikTok to boost your brand awareness, drive sales, and connect with your target customers.
I am an SEO professional and writer at VOCSO Digital Agency. I love to learn and write about digital marketing terms like SEO, social media, and SEM.
