TikTok is a global-scale creative community that has explosively conquered the world. Visiting its homepage, we can read: “TikTok is the leading platform for short-form mobile videos. Our mission is to unleash creativity and bring joy.” This concept has worked so well for them that the app, now with a billion users, virtually wipes the floor with the competition – statistics show that it averages 26 hours of screen time per month for its users. There are also many corporate success stories, with many brands owing their explosive results to TikTok. But could yours be one of these? Consult with an online marketing agency to explore this potential.
Why TikTok?
If you already have successful, well-established online communication channels (you post regularly on Facebook or Instagram, your newsletters are regular guests in the inboxes of your mailing list, your blog is constantly updated), then it’s time to turn your attention to TikTok. Why?
- You can reach new target audiences here who are not present anywhere else, and don’t just think about teenagers – 90% of users in Hungary are over 18 years old.
- You can expect much lower advertising costs on TikTok than on other platforms.
- TikTok is currently the trendiest online platform. If you can be successful here, it can give your brand a completely new momentum. Partnering with an online marketing agency can streamline this process.
After you’ve registered your company’s TikTok account,
it’s worth immediately switching to a TikTok Business account, which makes options available such as:
- Opportunity for partnership with TikTok influencers
- Launching paid advertisements
- Access to real-time analytics of your account’s performance
- Directing traffic to external websites
If you are ready with setting up your account, the next step is to define your content strategy, but this requires that you know:
- The more clearly defined characteristics of your target audience.
(Residence, age, gender, interests, workplace, income, relationship status, media consumption habits, motivations, typical problems)
If you need the help of a professional marketing agency with this, you can find it here.
- What content your competitors produce (don’t just think about your business competitors here, on TikTok, you’re competing with every content creator for screen time!)
Let’s pause for a moment here! Take the time to thoroughly explore the platform and map out your indirect and direct competitors! See what type of content the audience likes the most, and try to incorporate this into your own content plan, adding a twist that makes it unique. However, if you have ideas that you haven’t seen anywhere else, TikTok is the perfect place to realize them, and for that certain 15 minutes of fame, let your creativity run wild!
What you’ll need
It’s easy to get started with video content creation on TikTok because you’ll find everything you need in the in-app video editor, so you don’t need to be a wizard of Adobe Premier Pro, just a phone (it’s especially beneficial if the phone is high-end for image quality) and you’re ready to start recording.
However, it’s good to have a tripod that holds the phone steadily during recording, and in some cases, it can also solve the lighting.
TIP: Although the built-in microphone is often sufficient, it’s worth investing in an external microphone. The platform’s peculiarity is that “amateur” videos are more popular, but a quality sound track can greatly enhance the enjoyment of the recording (and thus the reach!), while maintaining the TikTok homemade feeling.
TikTok Ads
While developing your content strategy, you should also consider whether you want to advertise on TikTok. There are some highly innovative, platform-specific ad types. These are not the cheapest, but are undoubtedly very effective. You can only launch them through official TikTok partners though. In the TikTok Ads Manager, which is part of the Business Account, you can also launch ads. But first, it’s worth thoroughly researching the basics of TikTok ads, as their advertising policy is much stricter than that of their competitors. Moreover, there is no customer service for ads launched by individual users. This means that if your ad is disabled for any reason, you are unlikely to be able to find out the reason. To avoid this, it may be worth running your ads from an agency account. If there is a ban, you can find a solution immediately.
This way, you have access to beta ad types, agency experience (which saves you a lot of time and money if you choose well), plus platform support, as TikTok customer service is only available to agency accounts. Consulting a marketing agency in Budapest can provide invaluable support in navigating these complexities.
TikTok algorythm
What do TikTok’s dancing, million-view teenagers have?
– (?)
An algorithm sense.
Joking aside, understanding how the algorithm works can be very useful if you’re serious about being on TikTok. This is the mechanism that decides which videos appear on your “For You” page. It’s worth knowing that the TikTok algorithm doesn’t recommend a video based on the size of the account’s follower base or the number of high-reach videos it has. What does this mean? It means that even with a new account, your very first video can be a great success! Just find the language your target audience speaks. Finding and using the right hashtags is even more important here than on other social media platforms. Because while, for example, Instagram’s feed is mostly made up of content from accounts you follow, on the For You page, the algorithm shows you a higher proportion of videos and accounts that you might find interesting.
5+1 tips for content creation
1. The first 3-5 seconds should be impactful!
The TikTok audience has a particularly high threshold for stimulation, and if your video doesn’t hit the mark, it will disappear with a single swipe. Don’t waste time with long introductions, get straight to the point, and focus on grabbing attention right from the start.
2. Use music and filters that are currently trending.
The reason for this is simple: the algorithm favors videos that use popular music and filters.
3. Tell a good story.
There is a place for storytelling on TikTok, especially when it comes to corporate accounts: corporate storytelling can play a big role in building your employer brand.
4. Post content specifically created for TikTok!
What does this mean? It means don’t share your Instagram stories or videos downloaded from Facebook here, as the algorithm identifies these as “low-quality content.” Also, strive to post regularly and don’t delete your videos once you’ve posted them. This tells the algorithm that your account is reliable and produces quality content, increasing your chances of appearing at the top of the For You page.
5. If one of your videos becomes popular, ride the wave of success!
What does this mean? If you see that the TikTok community has caught on to one of your videos because comments and reactions are pouring in, then make hay while the sun shines! Post another video where you react to the top comments, continue the same topic, or just thank everyone for their interest.
6. The key is to do this as quickly as possible, as the buzz around your account will grow.
Get to know all the features of the TikTok video editor! You wouldn’t believe how many possibilities it offers. How many different solutions are born from them every second of the day. If you don’t know what kind of content you want to create at first, draw inspiration! Get to know the tools you can use in videos. After that, it will go more smoothly! This video professionally summarizes the basics, and even more.
Summary
It’s worth TikToking if all your other online channels are already working well and you want more. Consider it a long-term investment, spend time getting to know the peculiar language of the “residents” here. Feel the algorithm and use it to your advantage! If you also want to advertise, then look into it very thoroughly. Consulting with an online marketing agency or a marketing agency in Budapest can provide the expertise needed to maximize your success, so write to us and we will help. Good luck, and Go Viral!
