Our blog series, Channel Champions, is a collection of 4 blogs. We have interviewed the experts behind our different social media channels to give you a glimpse behind the scenes. This series gives you access to the people who know EXACTLY what they’re talking about when it comes to social media. And not just social media but how to use these platforms to leverage your brand and build your business.
Are you ready for our experts to teach you…? Let’s dig in!
Channel Champions Part 2: TikTok For Business
Did you also go through that stage, mostly during lockdown where younger people kept doing choreographed dances and stunts? And you had no idea why? It’s like the new Glee hit screens and you didn’t get the memo.
Released in China in 2016, TikTok was dubbed the third fastest growing brand in 2020. Previously seen as an app for the younger generation, (I mean, did you even try one of the dances?) businesses and influencers are starting to use TikTok to promote themselves.
Sounds totally intimidating? Fear not. Future Females’ Anna Fastovsky has created content and managed the TikTok account since February 2021. What started off as an internship, turned into Anna staying on to run the TikTok account for very good reason. Starting the TikTok account, Anna has grown it to have 556 followers.
When she isn’t blowing up on TikTok, Anna’s completing her undergrad in Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. It’s a no-brainer that the first thing she cracked was the TikTok for business algorithm. While she may have quite an analytical brain, Anna also has an urge to be creative making TikTok her perfect fix. It comes as no surprise that we had several questions for our resident TikTok fundi and we think the answers may help you!
Is TikTok just for “young” people and do I need to make dance videos if I want to use it well?
Believe it or not, TikTok isn’t just for the GenZ kids, even though they comprise the largest demographic on the app. TikTok appeals to all age groups because there’s content on there for everyone. From cooking to gardening and life hacks, it’s not age-specific. What is so great about TikTok, for all ages, is that there are so many cool things to learn. And the people teaching them and starring in the clips are of all ages. My recent favourite account is “Sing Along with Pete”, he’s an elderly man who goes live on the app every evening and sings sweet songs. He currently has over 200k followers.
So, in short, no, you don’t need to just make dance videos! Generally, as with all social media, if your account tells a story, it invites followers to join you on that journey. As I said, I came across someone who sings every evening and he is quite successful on it. Personally, I also enjoy following accounts that include hacks, house renovations and comedy.
What is the best TikTok for business benefit?
Exposure. All it takes is one video of yours to do well and the next thing you know you’ve set a trend, or you’ve created traction to your business. People are generally more attracted to video imagery than still imagery or text. TikTok allows business owners to demonstrate or share their products or services in modern and bite-size ways to a multitude of consumers. Once consumers (the audience) has liked the brand, they become “fans” and are there closer to converting to a sale.
How do I know if my audience is on TikTok?
You can go on the app and search keywords that relate to your business. By doing this you will find potential users that are in a similar field to you or naturally like your business. You could even be the creator of niche content on TikTok.
How has TikTok managed to grow so quickly, so fast?
The short videos are between 15-60 seconds (having said that, 3-minute videos are now a thing too). They are captivating with people managing to squeeze a lot of information into a single video clip. These clips are very straight to the point unlike Youtube videos which tend to have more of a build-up and time to “play with”. Also, now you have the option to scroll through clips – what a win!
Some of TikTok’s growth can also be attributed to the pandemic. With everyone having to stay home, TikTok quickly became a way for people to connect and feel part of a greater community, as well as to keep entertained.
What is a TikTok duet / stitch?
A duet / stitch is a form of replying to someone’s TikTok video with your own TikTok video clip. They are put up side by side in a split-screen format, so your duet is seen as a new, single video. Often people use the duet feature to react to another person’s video.
What are analytics on TikTok?
If you create a business profile on TikTok, you have access to all sorts of extra information. Analytics track your following, how much traction your page gets, which countries your followers are from and even what times your followers are most active (so you know the best times to post). It’s very similar to Instagram’s business profile “insights”.
Is it safe?
With any social media platform, you take it with a pinch of salt. The app is safe if you are cautious, just as with Instagram or Facebook.
How do I increase views and gain followers?
A good way to gain followers and get views is to post videos that use trending sounds, hashtags and try to do a trend every now and then. A big thing with TikTok is CONSISTENCY.
If you are consistent on the app, you will reap the rewards. This is because the algorithm will identify you as an active user and could push your videos to more people. Additionally, the more you post, the more likely it is for one of your videos to “blow up” and go viral.
Did TikTok lose popularity due to Instagram Reels or are the audiences different?
When you look at Instagram Reels, you will often see videos that have come straight off TikTok! I definitely don’t think TikTok lost popularity when Instagram introduced Reels, although it was a good attempt on Instagram’s behalf. I would even argue that the TikTok algorithm is more personalised than the Reels.
How do I get started on TikTok?
Make an account! Give yourself a day or two to figure your way around the app and follow some people in the same sort of category as you. Once you have the hang of it, get posting! You can make your account a business account, however, be warned, this could stop you from using trending sounds (the same as some Instagram music is restricted on business accounts).
Is TikTok here to stay or will it crash and burn like Vine did?
It’s hard to really predict that with any sort of social media platform. TikTok beats Vine in that it’s set up creator funds in most countries to support its creative users. For now, it’s definitely here to stay, and certainly a platform you should be present on.
Busy setting up your selfie ring for a quick product demo clip? TikTok has something for everyone. Making sure you are part of the offering is all about consistency and having some fun with bite-size clips!
Stay tuned for the rest of our Channel Champion series, you never know what you may find out!