TIKTOK’S ENGAGEMENT MANTRA

Manilka Ediriweera elucidates the dos and don’ts of promoting your brand

In today’s digital world, businesses need to constantly find new ways to stay relevant and engage with their target audiences. One way to do this is by staying up to date on the latest social media platforms and trends.

And what better way than through TikTok…?

With over a billion monthly active users, it is undoubtedly one of the most engaging social media platforms out there at this time. Furthermore, engagement rates are out of this world as well since it’s the perfect platform for those with short attention spans and an inclination towards video content.

Having said that, TikTok is not your average social media platform either.

It’s a space where social media trends are born, stories are told and many people spend their time. So it is safe to say that this short form video app has successfully taken the world – including corporates – by storm.

TikTok is also an underrated yet essential marketing platform.

With a world of active and highly engaged users, it opens up whole new dimensions for marketers. Whether you are a small business owner or marketing manager, it is impor­tant to understand how TikTok works, its potential and how your business can tap into this platform for its gain.

Sounds easy, right?

Well, not really – because you can’t see results by merely posting content on the app. It takes more than that! There are some strategies that will help you boost engagement and find success on TikTok for your brand.

So get in on the trends! When it comes to TikTok, it’s all about hopping on those trends and having fun because that is what people are there for at the end of the day. They want content that’s fun, engaging and appealing to them.

Research viral trends because they have great potential to reach a massive global audience – so try and get in on them.

Have you noticed or heard a popular song on TikTok recently?

If so, create content around the song. Embark on a TikTok challenge or simply share behind-the-scenes footage of your business and team. This is a proven method with many companies gaining millions of followers and reaching new audiences.

Follow TikTok trends and be prepared to create content that aligns with these trends. Nevertheless, keep in mind that originality also plays a large role in getting you noticed on this platform.

Remember to frequently post content on your brand. This applies to all social media platforms in general. But if you want to boost engagement levels and make your company or brand popular on TikTok in particular, you must follow a consistent and frequent posting schedule.

You can make things easy by scheduling your content with a TikTok calendar. This will help you save time while keeping your audience engaged and interested. When posting content, remember to embrace the platform’s unique format – short and snappy videos designed to capture attention instantly.

Use hashtags because they are an important part of a TikTok marketing strategy. If you do your research on trends and trending hashtags, and incorporate them into your marketing strategy, you’ll have a better chance of reaching wider audiences. If you don’t, the effort you put into creating quality content will be wasted because you may experience challenges in reaching the right audience.

When using hashtags on the platform, make use of niche and popular ones to reach a wider audience; use a maximum of three to four hashtags for each post; ensure your hashtags are relevant to your content; use trending hashtags; and don’t turn away from hashtag challenges.

Connect with your audience and find your sweet spot. When you do that, the hard part is mostly over. But remember that you need to be authentic and consistent in the messages you put out.

Even if it takes time, this will be a better way to connect with your target audience than compromising your brand’s identity to gain a quick, short-lived following. So make it a point to stay true to the values of your brand and leave your audience wanting more.

Test and learn until you know what works for your brand… and what doesn’t. Keep an eye out, pay attention and improve with every passing day.

And finally, keep in mind that the best and most important piece of advice is that nobody likes a fake. So get your phone out and make a video. Let it be as engaging and entertaining as possible. Remember, TikTok isn’t about high quality production – so go ahead, have fun and be creative. That’s all you need to do!

By following these basic strategies, your business will be able to perfect its potential for engaging with its audience through TikTok. This in turn will produce concrete results. So tap into the power of TikTok and boost the relevance of your brand. Give it a try and see how your organisation can benefit.

TikTok isn’t about high quality production