TikTok is the social media video-sharing app that has taken the world by storm, but what’s it all about? Millions of businesses are using TikTok successfully, so how does it work for brands? Whether you’re a creator or a business, you can use TikTok to generate more traffic, sales, brand awareness and connection with your audience. Stay tuned to find out more about why your brand should be using TikTok!
What Is TikTok?
TikTok has exploded in the last year or two, but if you’ve missed the craze, let us tell you about the platform!
TikTok was created in 2014 in China, and was originally known as Musical.ly. In 2017, it merged and became TikTok. The platform is packed with sounds, filters and effects, and has launched the careers of many ‘TikTok celebrities’ as well as musicians, comedians and more. TikTok is now available in over 150 countries, has over 1 billion users, and has been downloaded over 200 million times in the United States alone!
Why Your Brand Should Be Using TikTok
We appreciate that it can be a little daunting to navigate a whole new platform, but it seems as though TikTok isn’t going anywhere. Whether you’re a creator or a business, this platform is full of entertaining, fun ideas, trends, collaborations, infectious TikTok hits, influencers, dances and brilliantly creative content, so you should get involved. People in all sorts of professions – from dentistry to teaching – have found audiences on the platform to share tips with, showing that there is truly a place for everyone.
Let’s take a look at some specific reasons why TikTok should be the next platform that you and your brand conquer!
1. To Reach Wider Audiences
TikTok is perfect for reaching audiences between the ages of 16-30, so if that’s your target audience in your marketing strategy – TikTok is for you! Don’t just assume that the platform is for younger audiences though, as the pandemic showed a large rise in the use of TikTok from the 25-34 and 35-44 year old age brackets, too.
The platform is known for being light-hearted and experimental, so if your brand is fun, creative and youthful, you could be very successful on TikTok. TikTok is also great for showcasing products or services on camera, with tons of influencers reviewing products and securing brand deals (we’ll talk more about this later!) There is also TikTok ads which allow businesses to run ads as videos, generating more exposure and increasing sales.
2. To Grow Your Brand
Showing your product is one thing, but allowing audiences to get to know your brand, your values, your team and what you’re about helps create brand loyalty and awareness. TikTok is truly a platform to show off personality, so if your team or brand has a lot of it, why not give it a try? There are tons of quick trends to jump on and there is a larger chance of going viral than other platforms!
3. For Global Reach
To say that TikTok has global reach is… well, an understatement. Since launching in 2016, TikTok has gathered more than 500 million active users, and is growing at a super fast rate. This means that users can reach millions of people around the globe, without it being based on nationality or popularity. The ‘For You’ page consists entirely of videos from algorithmic suggestions, so it’s super easy to get exposure and land on other’s pages, even if it’s your first video!
4. To Stay Relevant
TikTok is the current platform of choice for a lot of users, and as a brand, you need to stay relevant and follow what your audience gels with. Here are some key stats to inform TikTok’s current and recent success:
- The platform currently (July 2021) has 73.7 million followers
- TikTok was the most downloaded app in 2020
- TikTok’s engagement rates are higher than top scoring apps such as Instagram and Facebook
From these stats, I think you can agree that the app isn’t going anywhere, so maybe it’s a sign to move with the times and lean into TikTok!
5. To Find Others In Your Niche
If you’re a niche creator, such as a creator that reviews specific sports equipment, for example, there will be a side of TikTok for you!
TikTok creates a sense of community more than (in our opinion) any other social media platform. Known for its authenticity, people aren’t afraid to be themselves on TikTok. That means that niche interests emerge constantly on TikTok, with branches such as BusinessTok, BrandTok or BookTok, in which a community of like-minded individuals find each other, share tips, livestream, share recommendations, duet, collaborate and more. If your brand is a little niche, you can be sure to find people who appreciate it on TikTok!
6. To Partner With TikTok Influencers
Another effective marketing strategy is influencer marketing, and TikTok is perfect for this. Like many other social media apps, TikTok has thousands of influencers and micro influencers that can help build brand awareness through your partnership. If you can find people with a good following who create content that you feel shares your demographic, then it’s a great idea to partner up! TikTok Views will help with traffic, branding, sales and will increase your following quickly!
Final Thoughts
We hope that you found this article useful, and learned a little something about TikTok. It is a fun and creative platform that is helping a lot of brands get their kick-start (and generating more sales for already established companies, too). So, why not get involved?
You can also check out our articles on How TikTok Is Changing The Music Industry, Alternative Social Media Platforms For Creators & Small Businesses, How TikTok Royalties Work & Posting Frequencies For Creators.
