Effective Ways to Use TikTok For Small Businesses in 2023

For any small business owner, it’s important to look for new ways to reach your target market and grow your business online. 

And with over one billion active monthly users, TikTok presents a unique opportunity to do just that. TikTok can help you reach new audiences and promote your business fun and engagingly. 

The one-minute video app, the most downloaded app in 2020, declared in 2021 that it had exceeded one billion monthly active users.

TikTok is well-known for its memes, dancing challenges, and viral moments. Top companies, as well as small enterprises, have found success there. It would be difficult to find at least informally top salespeople who aren’t using the app.

Check out this blog post to learn more about how you can use TikTok for your small business to succeed.

TikTok For Small Businesses

TikTok: How It Works

TikTok is a social media app where users can share short videos of themselves singing, dancing, and lip-syncing. The app is available in over 150 markets and over 75 languages. TikTok was originally launched in 2016 as Douyin in China. In 2018, the app was launched globally as TikTok.

Chinese tech company ByteDance owns TikTok. The app has been downloaded over 2 billion times globally. In 2019, TikTok was the most downloaded iPhone app in the US.

The well-known “For You” page on TikTok is where users may view videos that correspond to their likes. TikTok employs artificial intelligence (AI) to suggest videos to users based on their preferences, most recent views, and previous searches. People love the individualized user experience that is created as a result.

To find fresh material, one may also follow hashtags or popular music.

Users of the app can create and share short videos with others. TikTok videos are usually between 15 seconds and 60 seconds long. TikTok also has a live streaming feature called TikTok Live, where users can stream live videos to their followers.

tiktok for you page

Why Should Small Businesses Use TikTok?

TikTok has become extremely popular among small businesses in recent years. 

There are several reasons for this, but the most important one is that TikTok provides an easy way for businesses to reach a large audience with little effort. 

Additionally, TikTok is an extremely cost-effective marketing tool, as businesses can create short videos without expensive equipment or production costs. 

Finally, TikTok offers businesses a unique way to connect with their audience and create engaging content that stands out from the rest. It’s no surprise that more and more small businesses are turning to TikTok to help promote their products and services.

Here are 7 reasons why your small business should start using TikTok:

1. You Can Reach a Large Audience With Your Content.

TikTok has over 1 billion active users, which means a huge potential audience for your business on the platform. If you create engaging, creative content, you can reach many people with your message.

2. You Can Connect With Potential Customers.

TikTok allows you to connect with potential customers in a fun and interactive way. You can use the platform to show off your products, offer discounts, or give people an insight into your business.

3. You Can Build Brand Awareness.

If you’re not using TikTok to promote your business, there’s a good chance that your competitors are. TikTok is a great way to build brand awareness for your business and get people talking about your products or services.

4. You Can Create Video Content.

TikTok is all about short, fun videos, so it’s the perfect platform for businesses that want to create video content. Video is a great way to engage with potential customers and promote your products or services.

5. You Can Use Hashtags to Reach a Wider Audience.

Using hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to reach a wider audience on TikTok. When you use relevant hashtags, your content will be seen by people interested in that topic. This is a great way to get your business in front of potential customers.

6. You Can Advertise on Tiktok.

TikTok offers a variety of advertising options for businesses of all sizes. You can choose to run an ad campaign, sponsor a challenge, or promote your brand through influencers.

What To Do To Boost Your Business On TikTok?

boost content

Every business needs customers to grow and be successful. To get potential customers interested in your product or service, you need to market your business in a way that captures their attention and entices them to learn more. 

This post is your beginner’s guide on how to boost your business on TikTok with these creative Small business TikTok ideas.

1. You Need to Be Aware of What’s Popular on Tiktok.

If you want to make your business successful on TikTok, you need to be aware of what content is currently popular on the platform. You can do this by following popular users and checking out the trending hashtags. This will give you an idea of what kind of content is resonating with users at the moment and how you can adapt your content to be just as successful.

2. Use Relevant Hashtags.

Hashtags are essential for helping users find your content on TikTok. If you’re not using relevant hashtags, your content will likely get lost in the shuffle. Research which hashtags are most popular in your niche and use them in your posts.

3. Create Engaging Content.

If you want people to pay attention to your business on TikTok, you need to create engaging and entertaining content. Think about what kind of content would make you stop scrolling through your feed and take notice. Be creative and have fun with your content—users will appreciate it!

4. Use Influencers to Promote Your Business.

use right influencers

One great way to get more eyes on your business on TikTok is to partner with influencers with a large platform following. Ask them to promote your brand or product in their videos, and you’ll reach a new audience.

5. Offer Incentives for Users to Follow You.

If you want people to follow your business on TikTok, you need to give them a reason to do so. Offer incentives like discounts, exclusive content, or early access to new products. This will help you attract more followers and build a loyal audience.

6. Be Active in the Tiktok Community.

If you want to be successful on TikTok, you need to be active in the community. Comment on other people’s videos, participate in challenges, and engage with other users. The more active you are, the more likely people will notice your business.

7. Keep Your Content Fresh.

TikTok users have a short attention span, so you must keep your content fresh and exciting. People will quickly get bored and stop following you if you post the same thing repeatedly. Make sure to mix things to do in TikTok up and keep your content interesting.

8. Use Paid Promotions.

Paid promotion is a great way to reach a larger audience, beneficial for people using TikTok for business. You can use TikTok’s paid ads to promote your business to a wider group of users. This is an effective way to boost your visibility and reach more potential customers.

9. Analyze Your Results.

tiktok analytics

To succeed on TikTok, you need to analyze your results and figure out what’s working and what’s not. Keep track of your metrics to see how your content is performing. This will help you adjust your strategy and continue to grow your business.

10. Have Fun!

TikTok is about having fun, so ensure you enjoy yourself while growing your business. If you’re not having fun, it will show in your content, and people will quickly lose interest. Be creative, be yourself, and have a good time!

TikTok Video Content Ideas For Your Business

You may wonder how to make the most of Small business TikTok. The good news is that there are plenty of creative ways to use TikTok for your business – all you need is a little imagination.

This article will share small businesses’ 18 best TikTok video content ideas. So if you’re ready to start with TikTok marketing, keep reading!

1. Showcase Your Products Or Services in Action

One great way to use TikTok is to show your products in action. This is especially effective if you sell physical goods that can be used creatively.

For example, selling jewelry could create a TikTok video showing how to style different pieces. Or, if you sell home decor, you could show how to use your products to transform a space.

Not only will this give potential customers a better sense of what your products are all about, but it will also showcase your brand’s creativity.

2. Share Tips and Tricks Related to Your Industry

TikTok is the perfect platform for sharing tips and tricks related to your industry. Whether you’re a hair stylist or a fitness trainer, your followers will appreciate helpful advice they can use in their lives.

And since TikTok videos are typically short and to the point, you can easily fit your tips into a 60-second clip. Just be sure to make your tips visual so that they’re easy to follow.

3. Highlight Your Company’s Culture

TikTok is a great way to give potential customers a behind-the-scenes look at your company culture. This is especially effective if you have a young, creative workforce.

For example, you could create a video tour of your office or do a day-in-the-life style video that follows one of your employees. You could even host a Q&A session with your CEO or other senior members of your team.

No matter what approach you take, highlighting your company culture will help humanize your brand and give potential customers a better sense of what it’s like to work with you.

4. Share User-Generated Content

If you want to show off your happy customers, TikTok is the perfect platform. And since user-generated content is extremely popular on the app, you’re sure to get plenty of engagement.

There are a few different ways you can go about this. For example, you could ask your followers to submit videos of them using your products and then share the best ones on your account. Or you could create a hashtag challenge where people have to use your product creatively.

Not only will this help promote your products, but it will also show that you value your customers’ opinions.

5. Offer a Discount or Contest

Everyone loves a good deal, so offering a discount or contest is a great way to increase engagement on your TikTok videos. For example, you could offer a percentage off their purchase if they use a certain promo code in your video. Or you could host a contest where people have to submit a video of themselves creatively using your product.

Either way, this is an effective way to get people to interact with your videos and brand. Just clarify the discount or contest rules, so there’s no confusion.

6. Collaborate with other TikTok Users

One of the best ways to get more eyes on your TikTok videos is to collaborate with other users on the app. This could be anything from doing a duet video to hosting a challenge on your account.

Not only will this help you reach a wider audience, but it will also help you build relationships with other influencers in your industry. And that can pay off big time down the road.

7. Take Your Followers Behind the Scenes

If you want to give your followers a closer look at what goes into running your business, take them behind the scenes! This could be anything from showing how your products are made to giving them a peek at your daily operations.

Doing this will help humanize your brand and make potential customers more likely to do business with you. After all, they’ll be able to see that there are real people behind your company, not just a faceless corporation.

8. Share Customer Stories

TikTok is the perfect place to share customer stories. This could be anything from highlighting how your product has helped someone achieve their goals to showcasing a particularly creative way that someone has used your product.

Not only will this help promote your products, but it will also show that you care about your customers and their experiences. And that’s the thing that can set you apart from your competitors.

9. Offer Tips and Tricks

If you want to show off your expertise, consider offering tips and tricks on your TikTok videos. This could be anything from sharing your best beauty tips to giving your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business.

No matter your approach, offering tips and tricks is a great way to show you know what you’re talking about. And that can go a long way in building trust with potential customers.

10. Collaborate with Other Brands

Consider collaborating with other brands on your TikTok videos to reach a wider audience. This could be anything from doing a duet video with another company to hosting a challenge on your account that features products from multiple brands.

This helps you get more eyes on your videos, but it will also show that you’re open to working with other companies. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

11. Offer Exclusive Deals

If you want to encourage people to follow your TikTok account, consider offering exclusive deals on your videos. This could be anything from giving away free products to providing discounts on your services.

It will also show that you’re generous with your promotions. And that can go a long way in building trust with potential customers.

12. Do Live Videos

If you want to connect with your followers in real time, consider doing live videos on your TikTok account. This could be anything from taking questions from viewers to hosting a live Q&A session.

Doing this will help you connect with your fans and followers and show that you’re open to engaging with them in real time. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

13. Participate in Trends.

If you want to stay relevant, consider participating in trends on your TikTok videos. This could be anything from lip-syncing to popular songs to creative challenges with other users.

It will help you stay up-to-date and show that you’re open to trying new things. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

14. Teach Something New

If you want to show off your expertise, consider teaching something new in your TikTok videos. This could be anything from sharing your best tips for starting a business to offering advice on how to be more creative.

No matter what approach you take, teaching something new is a great way to show that you know what you’re talking about. And that can go a long way toward building trust with potential customers.

15. Collaborate with Influencers

If you want to reach a wider audience, consider collaborating with influencers on your TikTok videos. This could be anything from doing a duet video with an influencer to hosting a challenge on your account that features products from multiple brands.

Not only will this help you get more eyes on your videos, but it will also show that you’re open to working with other companies. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

16. Show Off Your Personality

If you want people to connect with you, consider showing off your personality on your TikTok videos. This could be anything from sharing your favorite jokes to giving a behind-the-scenes look at your life.

Doing this will not only help people get to know you, but it will also show that you’re open and honest. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

17. Get Personal

If you want to connect with your followers deeper, consider getting personal on your TikTok videos. This could be anything from sharing your favorite memory to opening up about something difficult you’ve gone through in your life.

18. Be Consistent

If you want to grow your TikTok following, consider being consistent. This means posting new videos regularly and engaging with your followers regularly.

Doing this will not only help you attract new followers, but it will also show that you’re dedicated to your account. And that can be a major selling point for potential customers.

These are just a few of the many creative TikTok video content ideas for small businesses. So if you’re looking to take your account to the next level, consider giving some of these ideas a try.

Advertising On TikTok

Advertising on TikTok is still fairly new, but it’s already proving to be quite effective. Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok offers users a completely immersive experience that is perfect for ads. 

Since users are already engaged and focused on the content, they are more likely to notice and remember ads that are integrated into the content. In addition, TikTok ads are highly targeted, so businesses can reach their ideal audience with ease.

There is no doubt that TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in recent years. With its highly engaging and interactive format, TikTok provides marketers with a unique opportunity to reach a large and engaged audience. 

However, some challenges need to be considered when advertising on TikTok. First of all, the platform is still relatively new, which means that there is less data available to help marketers understand their target audience and what kind of content they respond to. 

Additionally, the algorithm that TikTok uses to populate users’ For You pages is still somewhat mysterious, making it difficult to predict which videos will be seen by most people. Finally, as 

TikTok is growing in popularity and becoming increasingly saturated with marketing content, meaning that brands need to work hard to stand out from the crowd. Despite these challenges, TikTok remains an incredibly powerful tool for reaching potential customers, and savvy marketers who can overcome these challenges can reap the rewards.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your TikTok ads, you can do a few things to improve your chances of success. 

First, ensure your ad creative is attention-grabbing and relevant to your target audience. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ad formats, including video ads, to see what works best for your business.

Once your ad creative is ready to go, it’s important to test different placements and targeting options to find what performs best. 

Try testing different combinations of age, gender, and interests to see which leads to the most conversions. Also, be sure to track your results so you can continue to optimize your campaigns over time.

Small Business Success Examples On TikTok

While many businesses utilize TikTok for their promotion, just a few of these businesses have significantly improved due to the app. 

These three examples demonstrate that incorporating TikTok into your social media strategy may have a major impact.

Enchanted Scrunch’s founder, Dasha Derkach, founded Enchanted Scrunch a year ago. She first advertised on Instagram before starting to publish on TikTok.

enchanted scrunchies

Two months after it was posted, the video had 15k views, and 10 orders were placed the same day! Since then, she started seeing a steady increase in her viewers, with one video occasionally exceeding 3 million views.

Now that it has become Dasha’s main marketing approach, around 90% of all of her sales come from TikTok, with the remaining 10% coming from Instagram and Pinterest.

As a result, sales have significantly increased. In the past, she used to get two orders a week before TikTok, then 100 orders a week, and now her team does TikTok Lives almost every day and gets close to 500 orders a week!

Since establishing Enchanted Scrunch on TikTok a year ago, Dasha’s massive scrunchie company has amassed over 170k followers and reached six figures.

PetSmart’s first creator-led Reach & Frequency campaign accomplished its awareness and reach goals with 37 million impressions. 

It also beat all of TikTok’s video requirements by a minimum of 2.5 times. Compared to TikTok standards, the campaign generated a 9.4x higher video completion rate and a 2.6x longer average watch time per video, illustrating the high engagement level of the TikTok community with the creator-focused content.

PetSmart teamed with TikTok’s Creator Managed Service team to identify creators with amusing takes on how they’ll do anything for their pets, including taking them to PetSmart. 

Included among these artists were @dontstopmeowing and @ilolathehusky. The fun videos promoted the brand hashtag #AnythingForPets while boosting PetSmart’s new slogan with localized content. To improve awareness and reach, PetSmart deployed Spark Ads with the Reach & Frequency objective and broad targeting to get the creators’ films in front of as many animal lovers as possible.

PetSmart’s first creator-led Reach & Frequency campaign accomplished its awareness and reached goals with 37 million impressions. It also beat all of TikTok’s video requirements by a minimum of 2.5 times. 

Compared to TikTok standards, the campaign generated a 9.4x higher video completion rate and a 2.6x longer average watch time per video, illustrating the high engagement level of the TikTok community with the creator-focused content.

PetSmart teamed with TikTok’s Creator Managed Service team to identify creators with amusing takes on how they’ll do anything for their pets, including taking them to PetSmart. Included among these artists were @dontstopmeowing and @ilolathehusky. 

petsmart

The fun videos promoted the brand hashtag #AnythingForPets while boosting PetSmart’s new slogan with localized content. To improve awareness and reach, PetSmart deployed Spark Ads with the Reach & Frequency objective and broad targeting to get the creators’ films in front of as many animal lovers as possible.

One spoon changed Pierce Woodward’s life, and his creative upcycling has made him a TikTok success story. In isolation, the teen began making rings out of rusted metal spoons and uploaded them on TikToky for amusement.

Influencers drawn to Pierce’s rings as a consequence of his content increased his fame. After opening his store, his first ring release sold out in two days, and subsequent releases are now selling out in a matter of minutes. 

Simply said, it was the young person’s innovative use of the social media platform to produce persuading ring-making content and to leverage bigger influencers to grow his business.

The millionaire creator of Brand Pierre, who left high school to follow his entrepreneurial goals and built his business from the bottom up, uses TikTok as his main marketing channel. 

More than 1.6 million people follow Pierre on Instagram, and since then, he has switched from making spoon rings to creating jewelry with “purpose, meaning, and intention.”

Conclusion

TikTok is a social media platform that small businesses should not ignore. It has many features that can be used to boost your business. 

The advertising options are affordable, and the video content ideas are endless. There are also many success stories of small businesses using TikTok to grow their business. 

If you have any questions about how to use TikTok for your small business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to help you get started on this exciting new platform!

FAQs

How to Start a Small Business on Tiktok?

To get started with TikTok for your business, you can create your own content and post it on the platform or partner with already established brands and influencers to promote their products or services. If you want to create your own content, make sure it is original and engaging.

You can also use popular hashtags to make your videos more discoverable. If you partner with brands or influencers, ensure they are relevant to your target audience. It is also important to negotiate fair compensation for your work.

How to Use Tiktok Ads for Your Business?

TikTok offers a variety of ad formats that can be used to promote your business. You can use video ads, image ads, and even short-form ads. Test different ad formats to see which ones work best for your business. It is also important to target your ads correctly.

You can target by location, age, gender, and interests. Make sure to target your ads to people most likely interested in your products or services.

How Can Tiktok Work for Small Businesses?

TikTok can be a great way to reach a new audience and promote your products or services. However, it is important to create engaging content and target your ads correctly. Otherwise, you will not be able to achieve your marketing goals.

Is Tiktok the Most Effective Way to Promote a Small Business?

There is no one answer to this question. It depends on your business goals and your target audience. If you want to reach a new audience, TikTok can be a great way to do that; however, if you are only interested in promoting your products or services to people already familiar with your brand. In that case, other marketing channels may be more effective.

How Much Does It Cost to Advertise on Tiktok?

TikTok offers a variety of ad formats, so the cost will vary depending on the format you choose. Video ads are more expensive than image ads, and short-form ads are usually the most affordable. The price also depends on who you are targeting. If you target a wider audience, it will cost more than if you target a specific niche.

How to Use Tiktok to Market Business?

It depends on your business goals and your target audience. If you want to reach a new audience, TikTok can be a great way to do that. However, suppose you are only interested in promoting your products or services to people already familiar with your brand. In that case, other marketing channels may be more effective.

Is It Worth Promoting My Small Business on Tiktok?

There is no easy answer to promoting your small business on TikTok. While the platform offers a lot of potentials for businesses to reach new audiences, there is no guarantee that your content will be seen by anyone other than your existing followers. 

Additionally, TikTok’s algorithms are constantly changing, making it difficult to maintain a consistent presence on the platform. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, promoting your small business on TikTok can be a great way to reach a new audience and connect with potential customers.

Can I Get Free Tiktok Training to Use Tiktok?

There are several ways to get free TikTok training, including TikTok’s creator’s community. You can also learn by watching tutorials on YouTube and following other users who create helpful content. Additionally, many businesses offer paid courses that can give you more in-depth knowledge of how to use TikTok to promote your business.

Is Tiktok for Business Free?

There is no cost to create a TikTok account or business profile. However, if you want to run ads on TikTok, you must spend money on ad credits. Additionally, some features, such as analytics and branded effects, are only available to TikTok for Business users who pay a monthly subscription fee.

What Hashtags to Use on Tiktok for Small Businesses?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best hashtags to use on TikTok will vary depending on your business and target audience. However, some tips for finding relevant hashtags include using TikTok’s search function and looking at the trending topics on the platform. Additionally, you can use a hashtag research tool, such as Hashtagify, to find popular hashtags relevant to your business.

How to Gain Followers on Tiktok for Small Businesses?

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being seen by potential customers. 

These include creating engaging content, using relevant hashtags, and running ads. You can also try collaborating with other users with a similar target audience to your business.

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