How to Win on TikTok as a Brand in 2023
Written by Jessica Van Sack
TikTok is quickly becoming one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1.5 billion monthly active users worldwide. It’s a platform where people come to be entertained and escape the everyday grind. But it’s also proving to be an effective marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Businesses on TikTok are getting real results.
For example, Chipotle saw a 21% sales lift in one month after launching its first TikTok campaign. And Walmart saw a 34% increase in brand awareness after running a six-second ad on TikTok.
There are a few things that make TikTok an attractive marketing platform for businesses. First, it’s incredibly cost-effective. You can launch a campaign for as little as $500 and see real results. Second, it’s very easy to use. You don’t need to be a social media expert to create content that resonates with users.
So, should your business be on TikTok? If you’re looking for an affordable way to reach a wide audience and grow your business, the answer is yes!
In this article we’ll detail the 5 Top Tips for Brands on TikTok, followed by TikTok FAQs, and then a step-by-step on how to begin.
With a few handy tips and a good strategy, TikTok can help your business find new customers and grow revenue. This article will provide actionable advice on how to promote your brand or businesses on TikTok. And it will help you answer the question, “should my brand be on TikTok?”
Do you wish you were in Instagram 5 years earlier? Well, that’s TikTok now. It’s the biggest opportunity for organic reach in years.
As TikTok continues to grow in popularity, more and more brands are looking to the platform as a way to reach and engage younger audiences. With its focus on short-form video content and a user base primarily made up of Gen Z and millennials, TikTok offers a unique and powerful marketing opportunity for brands looking to drive sales and build brand awareness. In this article, we’ll explore five tips for brands looking to succeed on TikTok:
5 Top Tips for Brands on TikTok
1. Create shareable, short content
One of the key ingredients to success on TikTok is creating content that is shareable. This means creating content that resonates with users and encourages them to participate and share their own creations. Users are driven by emotion, so the easiest way to drive users to action is to spark emotion. Creating happiness, a sense of belonging or just making people laugh are all great techniques for TikTok Content. The most viral content also tends to spark curiosity. A great way to do that is to ask a question that surprises and/or engages the audience.
2. Be authentic and genuine
Gen Z and millennials are known for being highly savvy when it comes to marketing, and they are quick to spot inauthenticity or insincerity. It’s important for brands to be authentic and genuine in their messaging and marketing efforts in order to build trust and authenticity with their target audience. Gen Z does not follow commercials are marketing.
3. Engage with followers and customers.
TikTok prioritizes interaction in its platform. By creating and sharing video content that responds to user comments, questions, and other interactions, brands can demonstrate their commitment to their audience and create a sense of community around their brand. Another benefit of replying with video and engaging with users on TikTok is the opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality and unique voice. By creating engaging and creative content that reflects your brand’s values and messaging, you can differentiate yourself from the competition and stand out on the platform. This can be especially important for smaller or lesser-known brands looking to build awareness and establish themselves on TikTok.
4. Encourage Users to Comment
Another advantage of replying with video and engaging with users on TikTok is the ability to drive engagement and participation. By encouraging users to comment, share, and create their own content related to your brand, you can increase the reach and visibility of your content on the platform. This can be especially powerful when combined with other marketing strategies, such as creating challenges or sponsoring sponsored content.
5. Experiment and try new things
TikTok is a fast-evolving platform, and what works today may not necessarily work tomorrow. One way for brands to try new things on TikTok is to experiment with different types of content and see what resonates with users. This could include creating challenges, sponsoring sponsored content, or partnering with popular TikTok creators. Brands should also be willing to test out different marketing strategies and tactics on the platform, and see what works best for their target audience. By being willing to try new things and experiment with their approach on TikTok, brands can stay ahead of the curve and effectively reach and engage younger audiences.
TikTok FAQ’S for Brands
Are My Customers on TikTok?
Firstly, there’s a common misconception that TikTok is a bunch of kids dancing. Not so. Even though TikTok is overwhelmingly popular among Gen Z, there is a shift away from this trend. It doesn’t matter how old you are. TikTok really is for everyone.
For example, check out these two accounts from our clients at This Old House:
This Old House⤵️
@ThisOldHouseOfficial @TomSilvaTOH (<- Tom Silva of This Old House!)
Let’s take a step back …
Can TikTok help promote my business?
Secondly, with the mantra that every user can be a creator from their smartphone, TikTok is an app for anyone. Primarily, users create and share short-form, vertical videos. TikTok offers addictive, educational and entertaining social content in quick bites.
Moreover, TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform in the world! In fact, TikTok been downloaded more than two billion times worldwide (Sensor Tower, 2020).
Thirdly, Instagram and Facebook are limiting in reach and increasing costs to advertise. Engaging with your audience is more difficult and expensive than ever. And it’s only going to get worse.
Brands are Growing on TikTok
Fourthly, brands can convert users into brand ambassadors through the power of shared experience on TikTok. Our incredible TikTok strategist Alana Parks (here and here), creates strategies that drive ROI on TikTok. In fact, she took a hair growth serum from zero to 12k followers in a month – generating $30K in revenue for a $20 product through organic TikTok content.
The power of TikTok is immense. We’re in an age when consumers must constantly be reminded that you exist. As a result, staying afloat as a retailer, brand or service is harder than ever. At YHC we’re passionate about helping businesses, and that’s why we’re passionate about getting businesses on TikTok. Ready to get started? A great way to get to know us is to book a discovery call! (OK, I’m ready!)
What’s more, TikTok now integrates with Shopify to allow for TikTok shopping (info here).
Users spend an incredible amount of time on the platform (More than 80 minutes a day, on average, in the US). That’s because TikTok’s intelligent content discovery process allows users to discover fresh content based on their viewing preferences and habits. This helps brands achieve fast growth and visibility.
The Future of Social Media: TikTok is taking over social media. Brands will need to follow suit if they don’t want to be left behind!
TikTok is the only social network that allows brands to reach new, highly engaged audiences organically.
To help your business get started on TikTok, we’ve compiled a list of some our favorite business TikToks. Check these out or search by a hashtag that you’re interested in. Get inspired. See what’s out there. Then start posting! And DM us if you’re looking for some help.
If a kitchen sponge can be on TikTok, you should be too. The answer to all of the above is a resounding, “yes!”
So, let’s get started.
The no-sweat formula for starting a TikTok for my brand:
- Download the TikTok app on iOS or Android.
- Sign up by tapping the profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Important: we advise that you sign up with a phone number, so you’ll want to sign up manually. And, it’s a good idea to have only one TikTok account per device
- If you’re signing up manually, TikTok will ask you to input your birthday.
- Enter your phone number, email address and set a password.
- Now this is important, you’re going to start getting lots of random videos. Ignore them. Immediately hit search (magnifying glass in top right corner). Search for keywords in your industry. For example, if you’re a jewelry brand, you should search for something like “14K gold jewelry” or “trendy jewelry” or “fine jewelry.”
- Keep searching until you find content that looks close to something your ideal customer might watch.
- Take a look at the top accounts that come up. Follow them. Study them. Save your favorite videos from them.
- Make a list of 10 hashtags that have under 1 million hits in your industry.
- Interact with 5 accounts per day on the For You page for one week.
- After you start to understand the platform, go follow our resident TikTok genius Alana Parks (here and here).
- Don’t overthink it. Just start. Try to keep your first 10 TikToks in your niche, but with as broad appeal as possible. And try to keep them under 7 seconds to start.
If you’re looking for an affordable way to reach a wide audience and grow your business, TikTok is definitely worth considering. But before you dive in, it’s important to have a solid strategy in place so you can get the most out of the platform. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to success!
Related Articles
Related
Webinar Series: Learn Short-Form Video and Content Tips for Growth
We're excited to kick off a series of webinars sponsored by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. This transformative series of webinars are designed to help you harness the potential of social media and elevate your business to new heights. Join us as we delve...
Introducing Advanced Generative AI Consulting Services
Yellow House Creative Consulting Unveils Advanced AI Consulting Services to Drive Innovation and Success in the Digital Landscape BOSTON, MAY 14, 2023 – Yellow House Creative Consulting, a leading provider of cutting-edge advertising and social media solutions, is...
Content Ideas for Black History Month
Introduction + free guide to Black History Month content prompts In this article we offer tips for creating content around Black History Month and we're rounding up how the major social media networks are elevating Black History Month on TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat and...