What if I tell you that there is an exciting app in the market that will allow your business to reach out to more than 1 billion users in over 150 countries.
Gone were the days when businesses had geographical and infrastructural limitations to market their products.
Now, social media has expanded promotional opportunities to such an extent that you can operate a small-scale business with a handful of employees but have thousands of customers.
According to a recent survey, 66% of consumers have said they watch video content on their mobile phones while 33% of consumers believe that video is the best medium for brand promotion.
One such app which has made this possible is TikTok.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a Chinese-owned video-sharing app where users can shoot, edit and share videos jazzed up with music, special effects, filters, and much more.
It would be safe to say that it might be one of the world’s fastest-growing social media apps for celebrities, influencers, and, yes—businesses.
How to set up your free TikTok Business Account
Setting up a TikTok business account requires 3 easy steps. So, let’s get started.
1. Install the app
First, you have to get on the app.
You can download it from the App Store or Google Play store. Once the app is installed, open it. Tap on the option “Me” in the bottom menu bar and click “Sign Up.”
Register with your contact number, email address, or a registered social media account.
2. Set up your Business Account
Within the app, click “…” on the top right of the “Me” page, and choose “Manage my account”.
Under the “Switch to Pro Account” option, select “Business Account.”
Now, choose the category which best suits your business to get customized content, solutions, and events.
3. Create and explore
After setting up your business account, explore the creative tools of the app.
Start posting content about your goods and services, share information, and get discovered!
How to grab the audience’s attention on TikTok
- Be candid and fun
You can make a separate 15 seconds video or a total of 60-second video to show your business’s fun side.
Read more: How to Win Over Gen Z with Video Content
- Use music for videos.
Make your videos more engaging and exciting with music. This will grab the viewer’s attention throughout your video.
- Format properly
Shoot vertically and not horizontally to avoid poor formatting. You have to make sure that your videos are aesthetically pleasing to gain maximum viewership.
- Introduce hashtags
Create campaigns and challenge users to make videos, tag their friends, and use your hashtags.
- Collaborate
To boost engagement, collaborate with other brands and influencers. This will provide you with a base viewership.
- Utilize TikTok ads
You can use the infeed native content with website clicks or brand takeovers by taking over TikTok for a day or use branded lenses for photos.
How to advertise on TikTok
TikTok offers a variety of options to choose your ad type. However, the cost of each may vary.
These ads usually start at $10 per CPM (Cost-per-thousand impressions).
The total cost may range between $50,000 to $120,000 according to your ad’s format and duration.
Choose your options
1. In-feed video ads
These ads can be made through self-service and are easy-to-make short videos that appear on the user’s feed and blend-in organically.
2. Branded hashtag challenge
These ads are created with TikTok users who are asked to make fun videos using the brand’s hashtag and are placed near the discovery page.
3. Brand takeover
These are three- to five-second short video ads that appear in the #ForYou feed when the user opens TikTok, and may include hashtags or company links.
4. TopView ads
TopView ads can be 60 seconds long and appear on full screen on the delayed play.
5. Branded effects
Branded effects include customized filters, stickers, and lenses for the users to utilize in their own videos.
How to create video ads on TikTok for business
Using the in-feed video ads, TikTok also allows its users to create ads using self-service.
Want to know how it’s done? Well, we’ve got you covered.
1. Set up your TikTok Ads Account
Go to the TikTok Ads Manager, select your billing country/region, and then choose which purpose the account is mainly used for—business or individual promotion. Then click on “Next.”
2. Enter your details and Sign Up!
After creating an account, you’ll be asked to put in some basic information- your email id, password, and verification code, which will be sent to your email.
In case you’re signing up by phone, enter the verification code sent to your number.
TikTok will then ask you to enter some basic information such as your email address/phone number and password.
You’ll also have to enter a verification code sent to your email.
If you choose to sign up with your phone number, you’ll need the verification code sent to your phone.
Click to confirm that you agree to TikTok Ad terms and conditions and then “Sign Up.”
Once you’re notified that your account is approved, log in to your dashboard, follow the instructions to finish your account setup, and then create your TikTok Ads!
3. Create your ad campaign
Go the “Campaign” and select “Create.” Then choose your advertising objective- drive traffic, conversions or app installs.
4. Specify an ad group for your campaign
After specifying your campaign’s name and budget, choose the placements and target for your ad group.
Select either “Automatic Selection” if you want your ad to appear on all the partner apps of TikTok or “Select Placement” if you want to manually choose where you want your apps to appear.
In the “Targeting” section, you can create your target group based on demographic information.
You can include gender, age, location, language, etc. If you want to target a more specific audience, you can also choose a custom audience.
5. Create your ad!
Once all that is done comes the fun part. You can create your first ad by either uploading an image file or video from your desktop or library or simply create a new video.
But keep in mind the recommended ad specs to make sure that your ad is really popping.
Once that is done, you can preview your ad, add a title and a short description.
Then, you can choose your calls to action, in which you can ask the audience to either “Sign up,” “Book Now,” “Download now,” or “Learn More.” Last but not least, “Submit” your ad, and voila, you are done creating your first ad!
How is TikTok going to help establish your business?
- Ideal place for user-generated content
TikTok helps design organic content and grabs the interest of millennials who are more interested in authentic brand value rather than old-age marketing tactics.
- Engaging marketing tactics
Gen Z is no more interested in seeing your redundant paid content. TikTok allows a way for brands to incorporate their products and services in well-structured stories.
- Builds business communities
TikTok builds a personalized business community as the users consume most of the content through the videos. The app is also planning to introduce a formal group feature.
Brands that are crushing it at TikTok for business
Here are three brands for you to get inspired from to up your TikTok marketing game!
Chipotle
Chipotle has ruled over TikTok for quite a while now. With the quirky TikTok bio – “Less Tok, More Guac” and consistent posting, its #boorito campaign got over 4 billion views on the app.
NFL
NFL using TikTok for its media strategy and engaging content has brought itself 200 million likes on the platform. Check it out:
Elf Cosmetics
Elf Cosmetics has been killing the TikTok marketing game. By coming up with its song “Eyes Lips Face” for its TikTok campaign, the brand has reached ONE BILLION views on TikTok.
That’s all, folks!
With the changing dynamics in marketing, there is no doubt that video content is ruling the world.
If you want your business to shine, then TikTok is a great platform to do so.
We hope this beginner’s guide flares up your marketing strategy on TikTok for Business.
If you need some cool video marketing ideas to make it happen, then we are here to help you!
Talk with a video strategist