Are You Really Going To Go Viral On TikTok?
If you’re marketing to millennials or Gen Z, you should probably have a presence on TikTok. The average age of a TikTok user is between 18 and 34, so it’s the perfect space to reach a younger audience. Many businesses haven’t gotten established on TikTok yet, and you can use this to your advantage. At Personalized Creative, we’ve successfully used TikTok to enhance our client’s overall marketing strategies.
TikTok is a unique space that plays by its own rules. If you want your brand to have an effective presence on TikTok, you’ll need to understand how this platform is different from the rest. But don’t worry–your business can absolutely market on TikTok effectively, and maybe even go viral! If you want your brand to be the next big thing on TikTok, these steps could help you get started.
Step 1: Become a TikTok User
You’ll never be able to “get” the vibe of TikTok and attract viewers unless you spend some time as a user. That doesn’t mean you have to watch endless reels of people dancing or doing outrageous challenges. There’s a lot of diverse content on TikTok, so take the time to find what you truly enjoy watching. Be sure to leave time to scout out what your competitors are up to on the platform!
Step 2: Start Tracking Trends
Trends on TikTok are pretty short-lived. A trend might last 3-5 days, so be prepared to jump in quickly when the right one comes along. Keep an eye on TikTok’s Discover page to see what’s hot now. It’s also helpful to have a “blank” TikTok account. Use this account for one thing only: scrolling through your feed. That way, instead of getting targeted content, you can spot trends across the app as a whole.
Step 3: Take a Deep Breath and Relax
TikTok users value authenticity. They don’t want to watch creators or brands that take themselves too seriously. Instead, TikTok users want to see who you really are. They might not go for a carefully scripted product demo. They’d probably rather watch your employees using your product in the breakroom.
The best approach on TikTok is to be playful, creative, and confident. Production value is less important than charisma and energy when it comes to TikTok content.
Step 4: Decide on a TikTok Marketing Strategy
There are five distinct types of TikTok ads:
Brand takeover
TopView
In-feed ads
Branded effects
Branded hashtag challenges
Each ad type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and you may want to incorporate more than one type into your overall strategy.
Brand takeover
Brand takeover ads will appear when users first open the app–and none of your competitors will be competing for their attention. Users only see one brand takeover ad per day. This is an expensive but worthwhile way to grab your audience’s attention.
TopView
TopView ads will show up on the users’ For You page. They’re similar to Brand Takeover ads, but they’re not the first thing someone will see when they open the app.
In-Feed Ads
In-feed ads will show up in between videos that users watch. They give you a lot of freedom to express your big ideas in video form. Just make sure to grab your users’ attention from the first second!
Branded Effects
Have you noticed that TikTok users love to apply custom effects to their videos? When your brand supplies those effects, you gain recognition quickly.
Choosing a TikTok Ad Strategy
The specific ad strategy you choose on TikTok depends on many factors. You’ll need to consider your budget, your specific marketing objectives, and your target demographic. The pros at Personalized Creative can help you tailor your strategy for optimal success!
Step 5: Track Your Success
What does the TikTok algorithm choose to promote? Will it bury your content, or will you go viral? TikTok hasn’t revealed everything about how its algorithm works. However, you can still perform effective data analysis to see how your marketing strategy is working. You should keep an eye on several key metrics. These are a couple of the top trends to watch.
Engagement Rates
How much are users engaging with your content? Are people reacting to your content or sharing it with others? Tracking your total engagement can give you a good idea of your content’s appeal. But you should also track how much each average follower engages, and how much engagement each average view produces.
Follower Growth Rate
If you’re not growing on TikTok, you’re shrinking. Keep a close eye on your monthly increase in followers. If you see any sudden increases or decreases, try to pinpoint what caused them.
Need a TikTok Expert on Your Side?
Maybe you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by TikTok–or maybe you’re just too busy running your business to design an effective TikTok marketing campaign. That’s where we come in. At Personalized Creative, we understand that marketing your brand on TikTok requires an individualized, creative approach. Want to partner with the pros? Contact us today to get started!