According to experts, any business that isn’t taking advantage of social media platforms like TikTok is making a big mistake. Why? Because TikTok, Instagram, and other sites represent a way to reach potential customers that conventional advertising simply can’t match.
Rather than sending an overt message encouraging people to buy something, business TikTok accounts can foster a connection between the business and consumers. And with millennial and Gen-Z consumers valuing authenticity and relatability in the brands they buy from, this is an important step for increasing overall sales.
Some brands already have highly visible names, so they may not have to work as hard to establish a presence on TikTok. However, there are countless other businesses that aren’t very well known. In that case, it’s key to grow their TikTok following in order to get the word out.
They could follow TikTok trends for greater visibility, or buy TikTok followers to fortify their image as an established company. It’s usually recommended to try a number of strategies for the best results. To learn more about those strategies, just keep reading!
Understand Your Target Audience
Before you can use TikTok to drive higher conversion rates, you have to make the right content. Before you make the right content, you have to figure out what kind of content will resonate with your audience. And in order to do that, you have to understand who your target audience is, and what they want.
This is pretty much the foundation of a successful content strategy, whether or not you’re a business on TikTok. Knowing your brand’s target audience will provide guidance for your content, and help keep your messaging consistent and on-brand.
Figure Out How To Play Along With The Algorithm
Just like with any social media platform, a lot of your success will depend on how well your content jives with TikTok’s algorithm. This will determine how many people see your content, so it’s obviously pretty important.
First, drive visibility up by using captions and hashtags that are relevant to the content. Second, stay on-trend by using popular sounds and songs – this will also get your videos seen by more people.
Get Inspiration From Competitors
If you want to see what does and doesn’t work for similar businesses on TikTok, just look at what your competitors are doing.
This isn’t a suggestion to just copy-paste their strategies for your own business; it’s more like an opportunity to gather data on how your type of business can succeed on TikTok. And when it comes down to it, don’t feel shy about copying their most successful strategies. The content should always be your own, but there’s absolutely no shame in imitating a proven method for success.
Develop a Solid Content Strategy
Let’s say you’ve established yourself in a certain niche, you understand your target audience, and you know what to do to get your content seen. Don’t stop there – it’s high time to nail down a content strategy!
You’ll have to decide what types of videos you’ll make, how often you’ll make them, and when they get posted. Even though dancing, lip-syncing, and other entertainment-type videos are popular on TikTok, you don’t have to stick to those things.
Practical and informative content is popular as well, including videos that offer advice and life hacks, DIY videos, tutorial and how-to videos, and so on. In order to seem relatable and authentic, you’ll have to provide value to your audience.
Some brands aim to entertain, while others provide actionable information to their customers. What you end up doing will depend on you, but remember – consistency is key.
Partner With Influencers
Corporate sponsorships are a great way to promote advertisements that actually resonate with potential consumers. It’s becoming increasingly common for businesses to partner with influencers on TikTok, who will promote brands to their followers through a variety of methods.
This could include just a brief mention or a more prominent feature in which the influencer shows how they benefit from using the product or service. You could also stitch or duet with an influencer, have them use your branded hashtags, or get them to promote a brand challenge.
Leverage Your Analytics
TikTok Business accounts come with an analytics feature, which will help you understand how and why your audience is engaging with your content.
You’ll be able to find out when is the best time to post, which hashtags are the most successful, and measure engagement metrics for each piece of content. The more you understand these analytics, the more you’ll be able to optimize your content and improve overall performance.
Why Is TikTok So Effective For Businesses?
We’ve covered the “how”; what about the “why”? Some businesses are on the fence about promoting themselves via social media, but this is usually because they don’t understand the benefits. As it turns out, there are several advantages – here are the main ones.
- It makes marketing look more organic
Studies show that just over 50% of Gen-Z internet users have ad-blockers installed – they aren’t interested in being bothered by advertisements. Unfortunately for some companies, Gen-Z may make up a large portion of their target audience. TikTok offers a way for businesses to get in touch with their core consumers, without putting them off with obvious marketing tactics.
- It provides a way to engage with consumers
A successful TikTok account doesn’t just have followers; it has fans. If a business can find the magic formula for content that keeps viewers coming back for more, they’ll build relatability just as fast as they’re building their following.
- It increases the conversion rate
TikTok content lets businesses showcase their products in action, which may be just what consumers need to hit that “buy now” button. The videos can be more than purely informative, though; they can be engaging and entertaining, which makes the product seem even more appealing.
The Takeaway
Businesses of all shapes and sizes have a lot to gain from using TikTok. By using the right strategies, they can leverage this app to connect with consumers and boost their bottom line.
