TikTok now has over one billion active users. If that’s not enough to get your business on the app, then you might end up missing out on a lot of opportunities.

Did you know that TikTok boasts more than $500 million in revenue in the United States alone? And it’s all thanks to its 1 billion active users who spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the app.

From a marketing perspective, that’s a goldmine of target audiences and potential leads. It’s no wonder that brands and businesses have been quick to hop on this growing platform.

While advertising on TikTok is still considered in its early stages, many have seen its benefits. And you can, too!

This article will go through the reasons you should be on TikTok in 2022. Discover some expert tips on how you can best use the app for your business’s marketing strategies.

The Rise of TikTok

Tiktok has seen an incredible rise in popularity over the last few years. It has now joined the ranks of Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram, and the app shows no signs of stopping.

But how did that happen?

The story begins with the Chinese company Bytedance introducing the app, Douyin, in 2016. And after just one year, they expanded the app internationally and gave it the name TikTok.

A few months later, TikTok purchased Musical.ly, a short-form video app that became popular among American teenagers. Musical.ly was mainly used for sharing lip-syncing clips but it had over 70 million downloads during its peak.

This merger was an important step in TikTok’s skyrocket to popularity.

You see, the rebranded app expanded beyond music and lip-syncing. It now allows users to create and watch videos, from dance trends and tutorials to comedy skits, all in under 3 minutes.

Why You Should Be on TikTok

Almost everyone is on TikTok now – from celebrities, content creators, and of course businesses.

As a business owner, you should start using TikTok for your marketing. Here are three main reasons why:

Reason #1. Your Audience is There

Many people between the ages of 13 and 30 are using TikTok, and older age groups are getting in on it, too. So, it would be a missed opportunity for you to pass up TikTok just because it’s seen as an “app for kids.”

And if you think about it, the same thing happened to Facebook and Instagram a decade ago. Business owners were quick to dismiss those platforms back then, thinking they’ll have no use. But now, they’re essential platforms for businesses.

Reason #2. Video Marketing is the Priority

Research shows that 86% of people would like to see more videos from brands.

With TikTok’s short-form interface, it offers an accessible way to include videos in your marketing strategy. You’ll also easily expand the reach of your video content given TikTok’s personalised user feed.

Reason #3. It’s Different from Other Social Media Platforms

TikTok’s unique user experience is unmatched by any other social media platform. After all, it lets you create short videos by shooting, applying effects, and customising audio.

The app is also quick to adjust its features based on user feedback. And this doesn’t happen often in other apps.

Using TikTok essentially opens infinite possibilities for expanding your business’s digital marketing strategy.

3 Opportunities for Your Brand on TikTok

Now that you’ve decided to get your business on TikTok, you’ll be able to grow it through the platform. How exactly?

Well, these are what you’ll get:

Opportunity #1. Discovery

TikTok is built on the #ForYou feed. This is a stream of auto-play videos curated to each user’s interests. It’s all part of the app’s strategy to let users discover different types of content and experience new perspectives.

What does this mean for your brand’s marketing strategy?

Simply put, the videos you post can be easily discovered by millions in their #ForYou feeds, even if they haven’t followed you yet. And if you get your video trending, you’ll be closer to landing thousands of leads.

Opportunity #2. Connection

A cool feature of the TikTok app is that it lets users record reactions to your video as it plays. This is a great way to genuinely interact and connect with your audience.

Another cool thing about TikTok is that the content isn’t restricted by when you post.

For example, a video you posted weeks or months ago can still have an increase in likes and views. This happens when you use a trending song or hashtag. Or when users watch your video all the way through. The app pushes that video up on users’ #ForYou feed.

TikTok’s drive for authentic engagement definitely pushes you and your brand closer to your brand’s followers.

Opportunity #3. Influence

Using TikTok is a great way to show the more light-hearted and relatable side of your brand. This can prove your relevance with new audiences and strengthen your influence over your existing market.

Another thing to think of is that brands trying the platform out are viewed as early adopters. By the time it takes off, those brands would have already built a strong audience.

If you do the same, that means you would have positioned your brand as an industry leader. Rather than just a trend follower.

3 Tips for Maximising TikTok This 2022

Ready to integrate TikTok videos into your marketing strategy this 2022?

Take note of these 3 tips if you want to make the most out of the app for your business.

Tip #1. Build Your Creator Starter Kit

The most important thing to remember about TikTok is its format: short-form videos, with content under two minutes. This gives you an idea of what equipment you would need.

You can ditch the high-tech cameras and sound system. A smartphone with a good camera and a solid ring light are best for making your TikTok videos.

Users will be watching on their phones anyway. They’ll be listening to the audio with external speakers or headphones. So, don’t worry too much about sound mixing.

Plus, everything you need to edit the clips – effects, filters, transitions – are already on the app.

Tip #2. Stay Updated on Trend

A good way to let your video stay on top of the #ForYou feed is to use hashtags.

So, find out which keywords are trending and use that for your TikTok marketing campaign. Study other videos that are trending and adapt their style, while still making your brand stand out.

Remember, your target consumers are looking for more authenticity in content. They want to know what goes into your brand and how you do it. So, make sure to have behind-the-brand, explainers, interviews/duets, and product teasers.

Ultimately, studying the trends will let you know what videos to make for your audience.

Tip #3. Know the Algorithm

If you want to catch your target audience’s attention, then you need to know how you can ensure you’ll appear in front of them.

One of the best practices for your TikTok videos is to use five hashtags or less in captions and comments. You can also opt to “boost” your video, which will appear as an ad on your audience’s For You page.

There’s also the option of connecting your TikTok content to others with similar short-form video features. These include Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

Implementing these practices will allow you to maximise your content and reach even more audiences.

The Time to Be on TikTok is Now

By 2023, TikTok will surpass over 2 billion active users. This growth will introduce more content strategies worldwide. As a result, it will expand the potential for digital marketing as we know.

Your business can take advantage of this opportunity to grow through TikTok. But only if you act on it and join the platform right now.Schedule your free consult with one of our GMS experts to get started on your brand’s TikTok marketing strategy.