Considerations on Leveraging TikTok’s Popularity for your Business
TikTok is a short-form video-based social media platform that has surged in popularity in recent years, becoming the seventh most-used social media platform in Australia, and many client have asked us, “does my business need TikTok”?
The platform and has seen a massive 40% increase in the average-users time spent on the platform, compared to last year (2021) and has the potential to reach an Australian audience of 7.38 million users over the age of 18. Furthermore, a recent study has released that as many as 40% of Gen Z prefer searching on TikTok, than over Google search.
So, with more people spending more time on the platform, you have probably found yourself wondering, does my business need to be on TikTok?
The first thing to consider is, is your target audience on TikTok?
TikTok has seen significant year on year growth since it was launched in 2016. Here are some key stats you need to know.
- 47% of TikTok users are between the ages of 10-29
- 42% of TikTok users are aged between 30-49
- Of all TikTok users, 9% are male and 53.1% are female.
What types of Businesses are on TikTok, and Why?
So many brands and businesses have jumped onto the TikTok trend and created a profile for their business. Brands and businesses on TikTok range from mega brands like Netflix and Woolworths, right down to local book shops like Riverbend, or coffee bean suppliers like Campos.
But how does having a TikTok account benefit your business?
Currently one of the main reasons to use TikTok as a marketing platform is building brand awareness, and brand development. Consumers spend their time and money with brands that they recognise and trust. Social media is a valuable tool available to brands to build stronger and more trusting relationships with consumers, by telling your story through the videos and creating better customer engagement.
You can also advertise on TikTok, so if you have a product or service relevant to the Millennials or Gen Z, it could be worth doing some advertising.
What content should you post, and how often?
The general consensus is that accounts should be posting between 1-4 times per day, which does seem like a lot. But the content you make doesn’t need to be extravagant, and it doesn’t need to be long. Keep it short, simple and engaging. Look at what other brands similar to you are doing, look at their most viewed videos and take notes on what you liked, and didn’t like and start from there. TikTok has a strong focus on ‘trends’, where users are encouraged to create content to a certain sound-bite or snipped of music.
Jumping on a TikTok trend is an easy way to get started, such as “day in the life of” or “what it’s like to be a <<job title>>”. Keep in mind what your brands ethos is; your content should represent who your brand is, and highlight your brand’s point-of-difference.
Most businesses know that search engines like Google are constantly updating and adjusting their algorithms to show the most relevant pages to users. However, what most businesses don’t realise, is that social media platforms, do the same thing, which is why you need to be posting often. The more you post and engage with content, the more likely you are to have your content seen.
Consumers are utilising social media to search for information and recommendations more often, and with more of us spending more time on social media than ever before, TikTok could be a great way to get your brand in front of new audiences and engage directly with their consumers.
Are you able to commit to the time needed?
If you do decide that your business might benefit from having a TikTok account, take into consideration how often you would like to be posting, and if you have the time, or resources to be able to maintain the account.
Running a social media account isn’t just about posting, it’s also about engagement which includes liking and replying to comments on your own content, as well as content you may have been tagged in. It also involves checking and replying to any direct messaging you might receive through the platform, and engaging with other accounts in the same manner.
To #Hashtag, or not to #Hashtag?
Hashtags on TikTok are used the same way as on other platforms, and they help users find the content they are interested in, they also help the platform know what your content is, and who to show it to.
Try to use hashtags that are in-line with your brand, or create your own like what Crocs did with #CrockTok. If you use hashtags that have millions of posts attributed to it already, your post will likely be lost among them. The general rule of thumb is to try to use hashtags that have a few hundred thousand posts, so your post has a better chance of being seen. Try to use around 5-10 hashtags per post that speak to your brand, current trends, and your area of business.
So, what do you think? Should your business be on TikTok?
Outsource2Us can help you navigate your social media management needs, and come up with a strategy that is right for your business.