If you’re a business owner, you may be wondering if TikTok is worth your time and effort. After all, TikTok is known for its light-hearted and fun content – not exactly the first place you think of when it comes to marketing your business. But don’t write off TikTok for business just yet! The platform can be quite valuable for businesses, especially when it comes to generating leads.
As a digital marketing agency, we’re always on the lookout for new ways to help our clients grow their business online, and for a lot of companies, TikTok marketing is worth taking a closer look at.
TikTok is a social media app that is quickly gaining in popularity, especially among young people. In this blog post, we’ll explain what TikTok is and why you should consider using it to promote your business. We’ll also discuss how your website is the key to success with TikTok and how important it is to make sure your website is ready for all the traffic TikTok can generate!
If you’re one of the many people with privacy concerns about TikTok, you’ll also find our best practices for using your TikTok business account safely.
Let’s take a closer look at TikTok marketing.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a short-form video-sharing app that allows users to create and share videos. In just a short period, it has amassed a huge following and become one of the most popular apps on the app store. TikTok videos are usually between 15 seconds and 60 seconds long and can be edited with filters, music, and other special effects. TikTok is especially popular with young people, but people of all ages are using the app.
What demographics are using TikTok
TikTok is largely used by Gen Zers, with 41% of US users falling into this age group. This is followed by millennials (34%), Gen Xers (21%), and baby boomers (4%).
In terms of gender, TikTok is slightly more popular with females (52%) than males (48%).
Whether your target audience is young or mature, there is merit for your brand to have a business account on this platform.
How can TikTok be used for business?
TikTok can be used for business in several ways. TikTok can increase brand awareness, generate new traffic and leads to your website, and connect you with TikTok influencers and new online partners to cross-promote your business. There are also video ads, including brand takeover ads, that can be explored. The decision to use TikTok for business comes down to your business goals. At a minimum, you should create a TikTok account for your business to ensure you own your business name on the platform. This ensures one of your competitors doesn’t claim your name which could cause all sorts of issues down the road.
How does TikTok work?
The key to success with TikTok is understanding how the app works and what users are looking for when they use the app. When creating content for TikTok, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
- TikTok is all about entertainment value. Your videos should be creative, fun, and engaging.
- Keep your videos short and sweet. TikTok users have a short attention span and are unlikely to watch a video that is longer than 60 seconds.
- If you can be creative and original with your videos, you’ll be more likely to succeed on TikTok.
- Use hashtags to reach a wider audience. TikTok users often use hashtags to find videos they’re interested in watching. If you use relevant hashtags in your videos, you’ll be more likely to be found by users who are interested in your content.
The reason TikTok is so popular is that it’s a fun and easy way to consume content. The videos are short and entertaining, and there’s a never-ending stream of new content to watch.
Now that we’ve explained what TikTok is and how it can be used for business, let’s talk about how your website is the key to success with TikTok marketing.
How To Optimize your website for TikTok Marketing
TikTok is a great way to generate leads for your business, but only if you have a website that is optimized to convert those leads into customers. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. TikTok users are more likely to be browsing on their phones, so you want to make sure they can find what they’re looking for on your site. Also, include a call-to-action on your website that encourages TikTok users to take the next step, whether that’s signing up for your email list, scheduling a consultation, or making a purchase.
Does TikTok Help Search Engine Marketing (SEO)?
While direct linking and referral linking from TikTok to your website doesn’t help SEO, there are some major SEO benefits to TikTok marketing.
Google is showing TikToks, along with other social media platforms video content (Facebook and Instagram Reels) in search results! With this in mind, you can generate ideas that answer popular Google searches.
I.E. if you’re a landscaper, a common Google Search in your industry might be “Why hire a landscaper.” You can then film a TikTok video answering this question, and it will have the potential to show up when someone searches for it on Google. In order to have the best chance of your TikTok video showing up both in TikTok and on search engines like Google, you need to make sure you create content that is engaging and helpful, and optimize your content for the TikTok algorithm. More examples of how to grow your landscaping business online.
How to Optimize your TikTok Profile and Videos for SEO:
Make sure you follow these best practises in your TikTok strategy to help them rank on the Discover page (and then Google!):
- Fill out your TikTok profile with all appropriate fields. Make sure you’re linking people to the correct page on your website, use an appropriately sized logo in your profile photo, have an informative and engaging bio, and a branded hashtag.
- Add hashtags to all of your posts. TikTok users are searching in the app they same way they go on Google – so ensure you’re hashtaging your small businesses primary keywords.
- Utilize the TikTok description copy to the MAX. TikTok is expanding the length of descriptions from 300 characters to 2,200 characters. This is huge. Capture your audience’s attention by sharing relevant content that’s easily searchable on the app.
TikTok and Privacy: how to navigate their invasive privacy policy
If you decide to use TikTok, there are a few things you can do to minimize the risks associated with the platform. First and foremost, be sure to read the app’s privacy policy before creating an account. This will give you a better understanding of how your data will be used and shared.
Additionally, consider creating a separate email account for your TikTok account to further protect your privacy. Always ensure you’re using a strong password for your TikTok account and never reuse passwords across different platforms or accounts. Using the same password for multiple accounts makes it easy for hackers to gain access to your sensitive information, so it’s important to use unique passwords for each of your online accounts.
Finally, and this is an optional, advanced step for those with major privacy concerns (I hear you), purchasing a cheap burner phone (iPhone 6 should do the trick) that you ONLY use for TikTok.
Following these steps will minimize the amount of personal data TikTok has on you.
TikTok > It’s time to get your TikTok Business Account. ⏰
If you’re not using TikTok for business, you should be. It’s a great way to connect with potential and current customers in a fun and informal way. And don’t forget about your website! Make sure it’s mobile-friendly and can handle a high amount of traffic from mobile devices. Contact North Shore Digital today for help developing a social media strategy that will reach more customers and drive sales through your website.
Carly is a strategic digital marketing professional with more than ten years of content marketing experience.