Unless you have been living under a rock, there is a high probability that the word TikTok makes you feel all kinds of ways. If you have downloaded the app yourself, then presumably you have passed all phases from discovery to uncontrollable scrolling to accepting the power of the platform. And if you’re looking for ways to promote your business, then TikTok should certainly be considered, as its capabilities are increasingly expanding. If you’re still not convinced, then read this blog post where we share a profile checklist along with some tips that make starting out on TikTok a child’s play.

How did TikTok achieve such a persuasive image among its billions of users? Before ByteDance changed the app’s name to TikTok in 2018, it was operating under the name Musical.ly. The general idea was the same, sharing short-form videos, however the main focus of the app was on lip-syncing content. Now, TikTok is so much more than lip-syncing. Today the content you see on TikTok can be entertaining, informative, educational or just aesthetic. Each and every user is allowed to find or add their niche and explore it to the fullest. This makes TikTok a very accessible and inclusive platform – everything today’s generations expect and value.

According to data from TikTok, the application has been downloaded over 3 billion times! That number is so close to reaching almost half of Earth’s entire population. Along with the growing number of users come new features that are added by both TikTok and its users. For example, TikTok has extended the video length from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, meanwhile users can create entertaining filters and trends. Other updates from TikTok’s side include voiceover, stitch, duets, live streaming and many more. A lot of jargon for a newbie to take in at first, however the most elementary step should be setting up your profile. Pass this step swiftly with the help of our checklist below.

• Create a business account and add your website link or Linktree
• Use your brand name as the TikTok name and username
• Link your account to your Instagram and YouTube
• Use your logo as a profile image (at least 20 x 20px)
• Follow accounts that are popular with your ideal demographic
• Create a persona for your ideal customer on TikTok and the content they consume
• Engage with similar accounts to gain exposure
• Save your favorite videos for later inspiration
• Cross-promote your TikTok account on your other social channels
• Research trends, sounds and challenges often in TikTok Creative Center
• Create content with current trends in mind and try to batch-create
• Have a schedule and repurpose your TikTok content for other social media platforms

Once you have completed the “basics”, your account is ready to embark on its journey to TikTok success. If you are working with your brand, there are additional ways you can make your company stand out.

Challenges

The TikTok community loves a good challenge. It does not matter whether you decide to connect your challenge with a specific sound, hashtag or filter. Just make sure you include at least one of those, so the challenge is automatically recognisable for the viewers & it is clear to them how they can join in on the fun. By launching a branded challenge you can potentially receive and collect user-generated content that makes making your brand more visible even simpler.

Advertisements

Just as Facebook and Instagram have not escaped the advertisement space, TikTok has fallen into the same trap. But that’s good news for marketers and brands as they can target their ideal customer and run an advertisement campaign that is sure to reach the desired audience. TikTok ads appear in the main feed and are typically well “hidden” which makes them seem like any other entertaining video. To make people actually stop & look at your ad you need to let your imagination take control and come up with creative concepts that influence the viewers delicately.

Keep up with the trends

Hopefully, it comes as no surprise that in order to make sure you stay relevant among billions of other users you need to stay on top of your game 24/7. This means that you need to be aware of the hottest trends that are currently viral and use them for your own advantage. We advise you to always put a twist on the trend by making the video feel and seem more like your brand. For example, if you have a luxury brand, then try to approach every challenge as elegantly as your brand would, like it’s a human being. TikTok Creative Center is THE place to find such trends, so make sure you peek there every once in a while. We also have a blog post explaining how you can find trending audios and videos there.

Collaboration with experts of the field

As you are just starting your expedition to Mount TikTok, growing a following can appear as a challenge at first. To raise your visibility on the TikTok scene, reach out to influential creators that have already earned their followers’ trust. You could send them your products and let them review them, feature your brand in the content they create or promote your challenges. The possibilities are endless. Just make sure that the creators you reach out to are in line with your ideal target audience.

There you have it! You are now officially ready to TikTok your way to the top. As the platform is predicted to become one of the leading social media platforms in the market, do not hesitate to test new waters and increase the potential of your brand. If you feel as though you could use some additional help setting up your TikTok account, feel free to contact us!