What The Heck Is TikTok & Should You Be Using It?

Have you heard all the noise about TikTok and perhaps been wondering if it’s something you should be paying attention to?

You may have been thinking that it’s only for youngsters, right? It’s that app that people lip-sync and dance on isn’t it?  Well, at first look that may be what you see, but it’s really a short-form video app that folks are downloading in record numbers. As a matter of fact, it was the second most downloaded app in all of 2019.

It can be described as a bite-size version of YouTube, with videos ranging between five and 60 seconds in length. Creators have access to an assortment of filters and effects, as well as a massive music library.

But the thing most central to TikTok’s success is its algorithm. It uses artificial intelligence to make personalized recommendations for viewers. The video feed plays the minute the app opens, instantly sucking viewers in. Users can follow their favorite creators, but they don’t have to for the feed to be filled automatically with curated clips.

And get this … the average user currently spends 52 minutes a day on TikTok!

Sure, it is true that about 66% of its active users are under the age of 30 and if that’s not your demographic you may have dismissed this tool.  But that also means that one third of its users are over 30 and this number is growing! Oh, and by the way, they have over 800 million users already!

Think about that for just one second…. 30% of over 800 million active users per month (that’s 266 million users) are over the age of 30.

2 Ways You Can Use TikTok for Business

1) Branded hashtag challenges.

So far, branded hashtag challenges seem to be the most popular approach for brands on TikTok. Several musicians and companies like the NFL, Sunsilk, and Universal Pictures have run campaigns. Even TurboTax is getting in on the action.

These campaigns encourage users to create videos around a specific hashtag, often using a specific song or set of dance moves.

2) Create fun content.

TikTok is all about fun and creativity. Creating your own content is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to promote your business on TikTok. Plus, one of the biggest benefits of TikTok is that you don’t need to create highly-polished videos. Just pull out your smartphone and start filming.

While wacky videos are widely popular on TikTok, we wouldn’t recommend trying to create an outrageous meme if that’s not the style of your business.

Try TikTok for Yourself

Our best advice to you is: Get on Tik Tok, create an account and see what it does so you can decide if it’s the right space to be promoting your business.

Download TikTok for Android

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