Well, this isn’t something we ever thought we were going to write about. But in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, you just never know what the next big trend will be. Unless you're psychic. Then, you may have a clue. But at this very moment, TikTok is what’s on everyone’s mind. And we’ll be honest with you, we too, have recently jumped on the bandwagon. Because we don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon, so rather than resisting it, we may as well become one with it.For those of you who have been living under a rock and aren’t exactly sure what TikTok is, let us explain. What started out as a lip-syncing app for teens called ‘Musical.ly’, is now a massive library of 15-180 second videos that cater mostly for Gen Z. The database includes videos that educate, provide the lols, and go viral *cue the floss dance* - their slogan is quite literally ‘trends start here’.
Contrary to what people think, TikTok isn’t just filled with half the world’s teenage population. You’d be surprised at the variety of different people on there and you’d also probably be even more surprised that in July 2020, TikTok had a global audience of 800 million people with 2 billion downloads (Kemp, 2020). Your coffee barista, hairdresser or even dentist could all be avid TikTok users. It’s proving to be the perfect platform to build brand awareness, which coincidentally is why we’ve all gathered here today. So, thank you for joining us.
4 Advantages of Using TikTok To Build Brand Awareness
Around The World
TikTok is used in over 150 different countries, meaning your videos have the capacity to go all around the world in 80 days in 24 hours. And the best part? It’s free. Yes, you read that right. It can be done at no cost. We’re definitely aware that we’re sounding like the salesperson on your morning news segment, but this platform has the ability to reach an international market and connect you with totally different audiences. It’s mind-blowing to think about the reach that TikTok really has.
May I Have Your Attention, Please
Long gone are the days where we skip certain parts of a video. TikTok is here, and the platform only expects 15-180 seconds of our attention. These fun, fast and creative videos rely on its maker to share a valuable message in a one-minute window, keeping the viewer engaged until the very end (depending on the context of course). The plus for you is that once you get the hang of creating these videos, it shouldn’t take you too long.
We’re Not In Hollywood
When people think about filming a video, they normally think of big lights and big cameras like the ‘Aputure 300D’ or the ‘Red Monstro’. Just the thought of this becomes overwhelming, which we totally understand. However, when making videos for TikTok, it’s almost preferred to use your regular, everyday iPhone (or Samsung if you’re one of those). It instantly makes it accessible to many people. You don’t need a Hollywood setup - you just need yourself, some space, your phone and Voilà! You’re ready to go.
#User-Generated Content (UGC)
As humans, we trust the opinion of others more than anything else and TikTok just happens to be one of the biggest sources for user-generated content. Remember when Justin Bieber came out with his #comearoundmechallenge to promote his ‘Changes’ album? Or his #intentionschallenge to promote his song ‘Intentions’? They were both dance challenges that saw half of the world’s TikTok users trying to recreate them. The general idea of hashtag challenges is great because it creates so much user-generated content – which is ultimately marketing that doesn’t come across as marketing. It’s brilliant.If you’ve been umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether you should hop on the bandwagon, we’re here to tell you that you abso-freakin’-lutely should!To break it down a little further, here are just three simple reasons you should start an account:
- You’re open to trying something new
- You’re wanting to increase brand awareness
- Your target audience is on the younger side of life
And here are some do’s once you’ve signed up and you’re in the midst of making your first few videos:
- DO keep it fun – TikTok is your chance to showcase your brand’s personality.Let the audience get to know you.
- DO use music – make sure you’re keeping your audience engaged.Your best bet is to use the tunes that are trending at the time of creating your video.
- DO keep it quick – don’t lose your audience’s interest.Make sure you’re keeping to the point.
What’s the worst that could happen? Not as many views as you’d hoped for? Maybe. But it’s a game of trial and error. Eventually, you’ll get the hang of it. And who knows, you may even see your followers fly through the roof. You would be silly not to try. Using TikTok is a calculated proactive choice. One that you should partake in. And if you’re still not too sure on the ins and outs of TikTok, feel free to holla at our team. We’ll be more than happy to TikTok it up with you. Also, if you haven’t checked out our page yet, we’re @picos.media on TikTok.
