Every few years, a new app emerges and redefines the way we use social media and we all know 2020 belongs to TikTok. Everyone loves the app, even those who said it was a waste of time, are hooked to it. 

As the new contender for 2020, TikTok is a place where you can find a mix of lip-syncing, dancing, mini-video content, etc. There are so many reasons why businesses should get active on TikTok. So, let’s jump straight into it.

1. The number of people in the app

TikTok currently has a user base of over 250 million active users and it is available in 154 countries worldwide. It’s the seventh most-used social app in the world putting it above Snapchat and Twitter. So if your business is already on Snapchat and Twitter, then you should be on TikTok. 

2. Easy to capture the audience attention

If content is king, then videos are the crown jewels. Video content marketing is such a significant trend and you can easily make relevant content using TikTok. When you open the app, you will realise that it’s filled with amateur videos ranging from lip-syncing to songs, dancing to trending songs, someone sharing about their life and etc with thousands of likes and engagement. 

You can shoot your videos using the app and edit too. TikTok provides a variety of filters, music, effects and you can even adjust the speed of your video according to your liking.

3. Leverage on the local influencers

Users with 10K followers and above are considered micro-influencers. So they can be a huge part of a local marketing campaign because their area of influence is usually within their area.

They make it possible for small businesses to be on TikTok. It’s easier to collaborate and you can be sure that you target the right people.

4. TikTok Ads

Aside from the trends and videos you publish on the app, you can also use TikTok ads. This will allow you to increase your reach to users who might not be following you. Ads are still new on TikTok but they are customizable, and you can target who you want and how you want it.

5. In-feed Video

Just like how you see ads on your Instagram feed or Snapchat, TikTok has the same feature too. Your ad shows as another post on the feed of your target audience. This type of ads would allow the target audience to go straight to your website or to your app download page with one click. 

6. AR Filter

AR filters can be anything from creative effects to selfie filters and these filters allow the users to change their environment or their faces radically using only their smartphones. With these, your audiences can directly interact with your brand and have fun using the AR filters. 

These AR lenses can be used to promote your products and by integrating TikTok AR into a hashtag challenge, your results can be amplified considerably.

7. Brands look more authentic

Because most of the users don’t do major editing using professional tools, your brand would come across as more authentic. The users are more accepting of raw content rather than a polished one because the latter looks like an ad and most audiences do not like it when they are constantly being blasted with ads.

You can gain trust between consumer and brand when you publish similar content to what you see on TikTok. However, note that your TikTok account is still a part of your brand. So be sure to relate your brand’s personality into your content when you adapt to the trends.

8. Take Advantage of User-Generated Content

Taking Nike as an example, rather than posting their own public content, they rely on the contents posted by their customer and fans.

If you search #Nike on TikTok, you’ll be able to see millions of videos and GIFs uploaded by users with this hashtag.

Nike gets a lot of free advertising and as for your business, you have to encourage UGC whenever you can. You can do that by starting conversations and steer it towards your brand. You can make this a part of your TikTok marketing strategy. 

Should you sign up for TikTok? Whether you join the bandwagon or not, connecting with your brand’s targeted audience should still be the key to your social media strategy. Find what’s best to speak to your audience and what makes sense for your business. 

Sources:
– https://brandastic.com/blog/what-is-tiktok-and-why-is-it-so-popular/
– https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-businesses-need-to-be-on-tiktok/342805/
– https://www.forbes.com/sites/marciaturner/2020/03/31/using-tiktok-to-build-your-business/#484df0825846