3 Essential Tips for Launching Your Business on TikTok

With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has quickly become a global marketing powerhouse, presenting an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to connect with new audiences. However, diving into the world of TikTok can be daunting for newcomers. Where do you start? How do you create content that resonates and get TikTok followers who will support your brand?

In this article, we’ll share three essential tips to help your business thrive on TikTok, whether you’re a seasoned marketer or a complete beginner.

Tip 1: Understand Your Audience and Platform Culture

Identify Your Target Audience:

Defining your ideal customer profile on TikTok is crucial. Start by researching your existing audience through TikTok’s analytics tools. If you’re new to the platform, analyze your competitors or similar brands to identify who they are targeting and what resonates with their followers.

Embrace Platform Trends and Culture:

TikTok thrives on trends and challenges that captivate its diverse audience. Participate in trending challenges and incorporate popular hashtags to increase the visibility of your videos. Pay close attention to platform norms like duets, remixes, and authentic storytelling to seamlessly blend into TikTok culture.

Content Style and Length:

TikTok content should be short, engaging, and to the point, with videos ranging from 15 to 60 seconds. Leverage humor, creativity, and relatable storytelling to captivate viewers in the first few seconds.

Examples:

Duolingo, a language-learning app, has successfully embraced platform trends and humor by creating quirky, relatable videos featuring its owl mascot. By participating in trending challenges and responding to comments, Duolingo has amassed millions of followers.

Tip 2: Create Engaging and Authentic Content

Content Themes and Pillars:

Develop a consistent content strategy that revolves around specific themes relevant to your business:

Educational Content: Share industry-related tips, hacks, or tutorials to provide value to your audience.

Behind-the-Scenes: Offer a glimpse into your team’s daily activities, workspace, or production process, showcasing your brand’s human side.

Customer Spotlights: Highlight user-generated content or customer testimonials to build social proof and trust.

Content Calendar:

Consistency is key to getting TikTok followers. Plan a posting schedule of 3-5 times per week, mixing different types of content to keep your audience engaged.

Storytelling Techniques:

Use strong hooks within the first 3 seconds to capture attention.

Incorporate humor, emotion, and relatable storytelling to foster deeper connections with your audience.

Examples:

Gymshark, a fitness apparel brand, shares workout tips and user-generated content from fitness enthusiasts, establishing itself as a community-oriented brand.

Tip 3: Leverage TikTok’s Marketing Features

In-App Advertising Options:

TikTok offers a range of advertising options:

In-Feed Ads: These appear in users’ feeds as native content.

TopView: Ads that appear when users first open the app.

Branded Hashtag Challenges: Encourage users to create content around a branded hashtag.

Branded Effects: Custom AR effects that users can incorporate into their videos.

Set up your first ad campaign using TikTok Ads Manager. Start with a small budget and experiment with different ad formats.

Influencer Marketing:

Collaborating with relevant influencers can help your brand gain credibility and reach new audiences. Look for influencers who align with your brand values and have an engaged follower base. Encourage authentic partnerships where influencers showcase your products in a way that feels natural.

TikTok Shopping and E-Commerce Integrations:

Take advantage of TikTok’s shopping features like TikTok Shopping and LIVE Shopping to sell directly to users. Set up and optimize your product catalog for seamless purchasing.

Analytics and Performance Tracking:

Use TikTok Analytics to understand your audience demographics and measure content performance. Adjust your strategy based on data insights and audience feedback.

Examples:

E.l.f. Cosmetics ran a Branded Hashtag Challenge called #eyeslipsface, generating over 4 billion views and countless user-generated videos.