In recent years, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse in the social media landscape, captivating millions of users worldwide with its short-form video content. 

While TikTok is primarily known as a platform for entertainment, it also presents a significant opportunity for businesses to engage with a diverse and highly engaged audience. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to use TikTok for business, its importance and benefits, monetisation strategies, methods to grow your account, the role of agencies like us, and various types of TikTok ads and organic content.

How to use TikTok for business 

Massive User Base

TikTok boasts over a billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular social media platforms globally. Its diverse user demographics range from Gen Z to Millennials and beyond, offering a vast potential customer base which is why TikTok for your business is one of the best marketing tools to tap into. 

High Engagement

TikTok’s addictive content format encourages users to spend significant time on the platform. This translates into increased opportunities for businesses to capture their audience’s attention.

Creativity and Authenticity

TikTok’s unique appeal lies in its creative and authentic content. It allows businesses to showcase their brand personality and connect with users on a more personal level.

Viral Potential

TikTok’s algorithm is designed to help content go viral. Well-received videos can quickly gain millions of views, propelling both established and new businesses to the forefront. 

TikTok users can interact with content that they find engaging and help to grow the account with views, likes, and comments. One TikTok post has the potential to go viral which has been known to make businesses a lot of money through their TikTok profile. 

How TikTok is Helpful for Businesses

Brand Awareness

Creating a TikTok presence can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and recognition, especially among younger demographics who are increasingly turning to TikTok for content consumption.

Engaging Content

TikTok’s short video format forces businesses to convey their messages concisely and creatively, ensuring that content remains engaging and user-friendly.

User Interaction

Engagement on TikTok is highly interactive, with features like duets, comments, and challenges allowing businesses to directly connect with their audience and foster a sense of community.

Product Promotion

Businesses can showcase their products or services in a more dynamic and visually appealing way, driving interest and potential sales.

Monetising TikTok for Business

Influencer Partnerships

Collaborating with TikTok influencers who align with your brand can help you reach a broader audience. Influencers can create content that authentically promotes your products or services.

In-App Advertising

TikTok offers various advertising options, including In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects. These paid options allow businesses to reach specific demographics and track campaign performance.

Affiliate Marketing

Leverage affiliate marketing programs to incentivise TikTok creators to promote your products or services. Creators earn a commission for every sale generated through their unique affiliate links.

Selling Merchandise

Businesses can sell merchandise or digital products directly through TikTok by linking to e-commerce websites or integrating shopping features within the platform.

Growing Your TikTok Account: TikTok users 

Consistent Content

Post regularly to keep your audience engaged and informed. Consistency helps in building a dedicated following.

Quality Over Quantity

Focus on creating high-quality, creative content that resonates with your target audience, even if it means posting less frequently.

Trend Utilisation

Stay updated with TikTok trends and challenges relevant to your niche. Participating in these trends can boost your visibility.

Collaboration

Collaborate with other TikTok users, especially influencers, to cross-promote content and expand your reach by piggybacking off their engagement and followers on their TikTok posts. 

Hashtags

Utilise relevant and trending hashtags to increase the discoverability of your content. Create custom hashtags for your brand to encourage user-generated content.

The Role of Agencies in Growing Your TikTok

TikTok’s dynamic nature requires a nuanced approach to content creation and advertising. Here’s how agencies can assist:

Strategy Development

Agencies can help businesses create a tailored TikTok strategy, including content planning, campaign ideation, and audience targeting. We also have a good knowledge of what works for the TikTok algorithm and TikTok feed.

Creative Production

Agencies, like us here at Fresh Pies, have the expertise to produce high-quality videos, ensuring that content aligns with TikTok’s unique format and trends. We can carefully curate TikTok content and find the right time to post which works for you and your business. 

Influencer Collaboration

We can identify and connect businesses with suitable TikTok influencers for effective partnerships, this helps with business brand awareness and adds an extra revenue stream as it allows brands to piggyback off influencers followers.

Ad Campaign Management

We can manage paid ad campaigns, optimising them for maximum reach and engagement. These are particularly useful for ecommerce businesses. 

Analytics and Reporting

Agencies provide data-driven insights, helping businesses understand campaign performance and make informed decisions.

TikTok Shop and Affiliate Marketing 

We can help set up your TikTok Shop and help you to manage the back office of your shop which is great for affiliate marketing which is where “normal” (normal as in we mean not an influencer, a regular Joe person like you or me) can create videos and earn commission off the sales of that video. This is great for ecommerce businesses. 

Types of TikTok Ads and Organic Content TikTok business account

In-Feed Ads

These are short video ads that appear in users’ feeds as they scroll. They are skippable and allow for a call-to-action.

Branded Hashtag Challenges

Brands create custom hashtags and challenge users to participate by creating content related to the challenge. This promotes user-generated content and brand engagement.

Branded Effects

Businesses can develop custom augmented reality (AR) effects that users can incorporate into their videos. This creates an interactive and fun experience.

TopView Ads

These are full-screen video ads that appear when users open the TikTok app. They offer prime visibility but can be costlier than other ad formats.

Branded Music

Businesses can create and promote their original music on TikTok, enhancing brand recognition and allowing users to engage with their products or services creatively.

Organic Content

Organic content includes regular posts, challenges, duets, and trends that businesses create without paid promotion. This content helps build a genuine connection with the audience.

In conclusion, TikTok offers immense potential for businesses to connect with a diverse and engaged audience, boost brand awareness, and drive revenue. Utilising TikTok for business involves a combination of creative content, strategic marketing, and a keen understanding of the platform’s dynamics. 

By leveraging influencer partnerships, in-app advertising, affiliate marketing, and other monetisation strategies, businesses can capitalise on TikTok’s popularity and achieve significant growth. 

Moreover, agencies play a crucial role in guiding businesses through this journey, helping them navigate TikTok’s unique landscape and maximise their impact.