TikTok has become a global social media phenomenon, drawing millions of users’ attention with its short video content. Thanks to its trend-based algorithm, TikTok provides a platform for people to showcase their talent, crafts, projects, brand, and small business. This TikTok guide will lay the groundwork such as the platform’s fundamentals and essential TikTok tips like creating engaging content and growing your business’ presence.
What is TikTok, and how does it work?
TikTok is an application where creators can record, edit, and share videos by using the application’s built-in features. But, TikTok hasn’t always been what it is today. It started out as Musical.ly, back when people would only lip-sync to songs and dance to trending music. Now, TikTok is much more than that. It’s a platform where ordinary people, but also celebrities and brands share content. From daily lives to relatable, informative or funny videos, recipes, and a myriad of other topics, making it likely to have something for everyone. The bite-size videos allow its over 1 billion active users to enjoy high volumes of content. TikTok helps users and businesses reach their target audience and interact with them.
Why is TikTok important?
The most obvious answer to this question is the fact that content on TikTok has greater potential to go viral when compared to other platforms. You might have noticed that other platforms have been employing TikTok’s layout on their feed. There is a reason for that. TikTok’s algorithm distributes content at a high speed, resulting in increased potential for virality. Also, its algorithm-driven feed curates customized content for the consumer based on user behavior. This means that because their content will be viewed by those who want to see it, the people or brands with small followings can gain overnight fame.
TikTok offers its users opportunities to connect with audiences in new and engaging ways. Both established brands and start-ups maintain their community management through the comment section where people leave witty and funny comments embracing TikTok lingo, such as the phrases formed around certain memes, short and funny audios, and sarcastic nuances. These idiosyncratic features further contribute to the trend culture that underpins TikTok’s popularity and sustains it.
For example, in 2020, Nathan Apodaca’s viral TikTok video of himself drinking Ocean Spray cranberry juice while skateboarding inspired the “Dreams Challenge,” which carried the brand and Apodaca toward accelerated fame. Ocean Spray’s quick response, which featured the CEO Tom Hayes skateboarding to the same music, effectively illustrated how businesses can capitalize on TikTok’s viral trends for marketing success. Through this partnership, Ocean Spray showcased how the platform can be used to create genuine, user-generated content that increases engagement and brand affinity.
How to get started on TikTok: the basics
Here are the steps to get you going while getting started on TikTok:
- Download the app: TikTok is available for free for both iOS and Android devices. You can simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Create an account: Choose a username, upload a clear profile picture, and write a catchy bio that reflects your personality, business or interests.
- Include relevant links: TikTok allows you to add links to your profile, like your website or other platforms. You can utilize this feature to drive traffic to your other online platforms and increase visibility.
- Optimize your profile for search: Be sure to include keywords in your username, bio, and captions to reach broader audiences who are interested in the kind of content you create.
- Explore content: Remember the personally curated content on TikTok? This is when you help it create yours. Go dive into TikTok’s endless stream of videos by scrolling through the ‘For You Page.’ TikTok personalizes the content you see once you start engaging with the videos you particularly like.
- Follow creators: Start following other creators whose content resonates with you to populate your feed with relevant videos.
How to use TikTok: understanding important features
For creators looking to increase their presence and optimize their influence on TikTok, it’s essential that they grasp the platform’s main features and know what to look for. Understanding these integral features allows creators to share engaging content.
1. Navigating around the app
When you first open the app, you’re greeted by the ‘For You Page’ where you can engage with videos by liking, saving, commenting, or reposting them. Following creators whose content you enjoy is as simple as tapping a button on the right side of the screen. Interacting with videos helps tailor the algorithm to your preferences, resulting in a more personalized ‘FYP.’ Accessing different sections like the ‘Home’ page or ‘Following’ is easy from the bottom left corner, and you can customize your profile or search for specific content from the top right corner. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take your time to explore the layout and remember, you can always save videos as drafts if you’re unsure about sharing them immediately.
2. Understanding analytics
As a content creator you can enhance your TikTok strategy, post at the ideal times, and eventually establish a more engaged audience by knowing what kinds of content appeal to them. You can access TikTok’s built-in analytics by simply heading to your profile, tapping on the three lines on the top right side, choosing ‘Creator tools’, and selecting ‘Analytics.’
3. Selling on TikTok and setting it up for business
Selling your services or products on TikTok with its built-in shopping features like TikTok ads, a shop tab, and shoppable video content is a no brainer. Start by creating a business account and set up your settings according to your business. TikTok offers a complimentary service that grants access to several business tools, including comprehensive analytics and the Ads Manager.
After everything is set up, you can install the TikTok Sales Channel app to integrate your Shopify ecommerce business with TikTok or apply for TikTok Shop. By using TikTok marketing strategies like ads and engaging organic content, you can leverage the platform to aid you in reaching your target audience. TikTok itself has an official page where you can get more detailed information,TikTok for businesses, and start growing your brand.
How to post on TikTok
- Open TikTok and tap the Create button (plus symbol) in the bottom navigation bar.
- Choose the video length by scrolling left to right, then tap the Record button to start recording. Tap again to stop recording. You can also upload pre-recorded videos or photos or use templates.
- After recording, tap the check mark to proceed to the editing screen. Here, you can add filters, effects, text, captions, and other features to your video.
- Tap Next to add details such as a caption, relevant hashtags, a thumbnail and tags for people or locations featured in the video.
- Adjust privacy settings to determine who can view your video and explore features like Duets and Stitches.
- Once everything looks good, you can either save your video to drafts for later or tap Post to share it on TikTok.
How to create engaging content on TikTok
After establishing a thorough understanding of TikTok, let’s talk about some TikTok strategies to improve your chances of creating relatable and engaging content.
Relatable content
Relatable TikToks are one of the gateways to viral content. People love to see a part of themselves on TikTok. So, try to be authentic while coming up with content ideas for better engagement. One thing about TikTok, it’s always changing. There is an internal mechanism that its users collectively employ where they connect through the comment section or trends. Insider intel: the videos on TikTok aren’t always necessarily Gen-Z coded, although they lean in that direction. But the comment section is almost always packed with Gen-Z humor. If you’ve watched enough TikToks, you can probably tell that many renowned brands are now using the comment section to employ proactive community management with Gen-Z humor, and it’s working.
Engagement with the audience
Be sure to use the comment section for your advantage, both to answer or engage with the comments your business gets, and to engage with other content creators. Because you establish a relationship and promote a feeling of community by actively answering questions and comments from your viewers. Engagement of this nature fosters followers who are inclined to interact with and share your content, which will increase the chances of it going viral. Don’t shy away from using Gen-Z lingo. And do it even if you don’t think you can. It comes off as genuine when people who aren’t necessarily Gen-Z use the discourse. Why? Because it’s funny. There is a high chance that you’ll see a middle-aged lawyer lip syncing to a trendy audio where nothing they say matches their looks, and people eat it up every single time.
How to use TikTok effectively: 5 tips
Here are more essential TikTok tips once you get the hang of the things and feel like you can do more:
- Share your profile with QR codes:
Access your unique TikTok QR code by tapping the three lines at the top right corner of your profile. This personalized QR code serves as a direct link to your TikTok profile, allowing you to easily share it across various social media platforms.
- Upload external videos:
By utilizing the Upload feature you can share videos that are recorded outside TikTok’s interface. You can access this tool from the recording screen, with the Upload button you can import videos from your phone’s gallery. Don’t forget to personalize your video by using TikTok’s editing tools.
- Create slideshows with templates:
Slideshows make numbers on TikTok. Want to try it out? Simply access the Templates option on the recording screen, choose your preferred template, and select images from your phone’s gallery to create photo slideshows.
- Utilize branded hashtags:
Identify and use niche-specific hashtags relevant to your content to reach a targeted audience. By using branded hashtags, you increase the chances of your content being discovered by users passionate about your content, leading to higher engagement and potential followers.
- Use text to speech feature:
This feature not only makes your content more accessible but it is also great for localization. By converting text to speech, you can translate the video into other languages for global engagement.
How to start on TikTok with no followers
So, you’re diving into the TikTok world with no followers? No worries, you’re not alone! Here’s the gist: Start by vibing with the trends. TikTok is all about staying current with what’s in and what’s out. But it’s not only about riding the trend train; it’s about engaging with other fellow TikTokers too. Show them some love, leave comments, and don’t be afraid to duet or stitch with other creators to kickstart your views and maybe even skyrocket them.
Here’s a little trick: Utilize TikTok’s ‘Promote’ feature. Think of it like giving your content a little boost and a pat on the back for more eyes to see across the platform. It aids your content on its way to fame and visibility, reaching beyond your immediate circle and into the wider TikTokverse.
Key takeaways
TikTok is a dynamic platform where you have to stay on top of trends, understand the algorithm, and be agile while creating relatable and engaging content to promote your business. For beginners, it might be a little overwhelming to digest all of this information about TikTok at first, but it’s all worth it when you finally have a loyal audience that shares your interests. If you are still unsure or just don’t want to go through the hassle of it all, you can hit us up, sit back, relax, and enjoy becoming TikTok famous, since Walrus Creative Works will be there to help you stand on business.
