What is TikTok exactly?
In sum, TikTok is an application created in China that allows people to share and create short videos. Indeed, until recently, videos could not last more than one minute; however, ByteDance, the business behind TikTok, announced that they would soon allow videos up to three minutes. The content on this social media is very diversified: we can find videos related to humor, dancing, cooking, interpersonal relationships, training, etc. It is important to mention that the more you will watch a specific type of video, the more the algorithm will offer you similar ones. It is then possible that a user’s proposed content is very different from another user. And no, TikTok is not only about videos of teenagers dancing or stupid jokes, if it is not what you are looking for.
To some extent, TikTok is a lighter and more playful version of YouTube. You may have noticed that YouTube videos are more and more professional-looking and long. Often, many hours are necessary to create videos of quality; however, on the TikTok side, you only need your phone to create short videos. Spontaneousness and authenticity are also very appreciated on this application.
But is TikTok only used by teenagers? Although younger generations mostly used this social media at first, more and more people from other age groups are using it. It is even the platform with the most significant growth in the last months. According to Oberlo, TikTok now has more than 800 million active users worldwide, and more than one billion videos are seen every day. This is a lot of people and a lot of videos!
How can I have access to TikTok?
TikTok is mainly a mobile app; you then need a mobile phone to access this social media. Whether you have an Android or iPhone device does not matter, you only need to download the application, and that’s it. Launch TikTok, fill in your profile page, add a profile picture, choose areas of interest, and then start watching videos. When you watch an entire video, it tells the algorithm that this kind of content interests you. Consequently, keep this in mind when you try TikTok for the first time.
The app is quite easy to use. In the upper left corner, you will find a button allowing you to look for friends. You can access your TikTok account’s settings and even features to create ads in the upper right. At the bottom is the homepage, where you can find videos from creators you subscribed to or videos chosen by the algorithm that could interest you. Then, you can discover or look for new content by clicking on Discover, access private messages on Inbox, or modify your profile. If you wish to share content, you only have to click on the + icon located at the center.
Is TikTok relevant to my business?
Now that we have presented you the basis of TikTok, ask yourself if it would be relevant to your business. As we mentioned previously in our article about choosing the right social medias, it can be demanding to be on all platforms. Since you only have 24 hours in a day, choose social platforms that are relevant to you. But how? First, ask yourself who is your target audience. Are these potential customers on TikTok? Yes, TikTok is used by teenagers; however, by a lot of young adults as well.
Second, it is also important to keep in mind that TikTok is an app about creating and watching videos. How comfortable are you making short videos? Although you can use your mobile phone, you might need other applications to edit everything in order to create something that is good-looking and attractive. Moreover, most of the time, TikTok videos are made up of someone talking (or dancing), who shares a tip, a piece of advice, a story, etc. It is then likely that you will need to show yourself if you want to create videos for TikTok, unlike other social media platforms.
If you want to use TikTok for your business but do not want nor have the time to create content, why not work with a professional content creator or an influencer? Start by looking for someone that would be relevant to your community and could represent your products well. Do not forget that most influencers will ask to be paid (which is normal), especially if you want to work with professionals and have successful campaigns.
In conclusion, TikTok is not only for teenagers. On the contrary, more and more people are trying this application every day. You are not obligated to dance in front of your camera to create content. Indeed, you can simply share stories or pieces of advice. We recommend you take the time to watch videos to understand what could interest your community and then adapt your content! For example, you can summarize and promote your blog articles in short videos specially made for TikTok. Try it!