How to use TikTok for business: a beginner's guide

As a result, businesses have begun to take notice of TikTok's potential as a marketing tool. The platform offers a unique opportunity to reach a younger audience that may not be as active on other social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter. With its short-form video format and interactive features, TikTok allows businesses to engage with their audience in new and creative ways.

One of the most notable features of TikTok is its algorithm, which uses machine learning to suggest content to users based on their viewing history and engagement patterns. This means that even businesses with small followings can have their content seen by a large audience if it is engaging and resonates with users. Whether you are just starting out or looking to improve your existing TikTok strategy, this guide will provide you with the insights and best practices needed to succeed on the platform.

Before we explore how to use TikTok for business, let's take a quick look at why your business should be using TikTok in the first place.

Why should your business be using Tiktok?

Tiktok has rapidly become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. Additionally, the platform has a highly engaged user base, with an average daily time spent per user of 52 minutes. This presents a valuable opportunity for businesses to reach a younger demographic, as the majority of TikTok users are between 16 and 34 years old, with 60% of TikTok users between the ages of 16 and 24.

Moreover, TikTok offers a unique and engaging way for businesses to connect with their audience through short-form videos. Brands can create entertaining and authentic content that aligns with their brand values and resonates with their target audience. As a result, businesses can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and ultimately, generate sales. TikTok also offers various advertising options, including sponsored content and in-feed ads, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience and achieve their marketing objectives. With all these benefits, it's no wonder that more and more businesses are considering incorporating TikTok into their marketing strategy.

Now that we have established why TikTok is such a useful platform for businesses, let's look at how to get started with it.

Creating a TikTok Business Account

The first step to using TikTok for business is to create a TikTok Business account using the following steps:

1. Download the TikTok app and create a personal account.
2. Once you're logged in, go to your profile, and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
3. From the menu that appears, select "Switch to Pro Account."
4. Choose "Business Account" and follow the prompts to set up your account.
5. Once your account is set up, you can access TikTok's suite of business tools, including analytics and advertising options.

Creating a TikTok profile for Business

Creating a TikTok Profile is essential for businesses looking to leverage the platform for marketing purposes. A business profile offers several benefits, including access to TikTok's advertising options, analytics tools, and the ability to add a website link to your profile. When creating your Tiktok profile, it's important to optimise your profile picture, bio, and profile information to accurately represent your brand and attract potential followers. You also need to create engaging content that aligns with your brand and resonates with your target audience.

Managing a Tiktok Business Account

Managing a business account on TikTok involves creating and publishing content, engaging with followers, and tracking analytics to measure the success of your marketing efforts. It's important to create content that aligns with your brand and resonates with your target audience. You can use TikTok's editing tools and effects to create eye-catching videos that showcase your products or services. Engaging with your followers is also crucial for building a strong community and fostering brand loyalty. You can respond to comments, carry out Hashtag challenges, and collaborate with other creators to increase your reach. Finally, tracking analytics is key to measuring the success of your marketing efforts and making data-driven decisions for future content creation.

Creating Content for TikTok

Now that you have a TikTok Business account set up and you have an overview of how to manage it, it's time to start creating content!

Keeping your content short and sweet will be most ideal. TikTok videos are limited to 60 seconds, so make sure your content is concise and to the point. The platform is also all about music, so choosing a catchy song that fits the mood of your video can do wonders!

The users love creative content, so don't be afraid to try something new and different. Also, hashtags are a great way to reach new audiences on TikTok. Make sure you use relevant hashtags in your content to increase your reach. TikTok is a highly collaborative platform, so consider teaming up with other creators. This will also help your content reach new audiences.

Advertising on TikTok

In addition to creating organic content, TikTok also offers a range of advertising options for businesses. Here are some of the most popular advertising options on TikTok:

In-Feed Ads

These are ads that appear in a user's "For You" feed. They can be up to 60 seconds long and can include a variety of ad formats, including images, videos, and branded effects.

TopView Ads

These are full-screen ads that appear when a user opens the TikTok app, just like other TikTok videos. They have a high visibility reach and can be up to 60 seconds long.

Branded Hashtag Challenges

These challenges encourage users to create content around a specific hashtag. They can be a great way to engage with users and increase brand awareness. They are typically sponsored by a brand and can be created in collaboration with popular TikTok creators or influencers. The idea is to create a challenge that is fun and engaging and encourages users to create content that aligns with your brand.

An example of a successful branded hashtag challenge was MAC Cosmetics’ #YouOwnIt challenge on TikTok which was a huge success, with over 30,000 user-generated videos and over 1.5 billion views.

In addition to the advertising options on TikTok, businesses can also use email addresses on TikTok to communicate with their followers, promote their products or services, and manage their marketing campaigns. By collecting email addresses from their followers, businesses can create targeted email marketing campaigns that can help them build brand awareness and drive conversions. Additionally, businesses can use email addresses to send out newsletters, product updates, and promotional offers to their subscribers. It's important to ensure that businesses are transparent about how they collect and use email addresses on TikTok, and that they comply with all relevant data protection and privacy regulations. By using email addresses effectively, businesses can enhance their marketing efforts on TikTok and build a strong, engaged community of followers.

TikTok also offers a range of targeting options to help you reach your desired audience. You can target users based on demographics, interests, and behaviors, making it easier to reach potential customers who are most likely to engage with your brand.

Measuring Success on TikTok

As with any marketing strategy, it's important to track your success on TikTok to determine whether your efforts are paying off. TikTok offers a range of analytics tools to help you measure your performance, including views, likes, shares, comments, follower growth, and engagement rate. By tracking these metrics, you can determine which types of content are resonating with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

TikTok is a powerful marketing tool for businesses looking to reach new audiences and engage with their existing customers. By creating engaging content, collaborating with other creators, and leveraging TikTok's advertising options, you can reach potential customers in a fun and creative way. Remember to track your success using TikTok's analytics tools to ensure that your efforts are paying off. With over one billion active users, TikTok offers a unique opportunity for businesses to grow their brands and reach new audiences. So why not give it a try and see how TikTok can help your business grow?