Small Business Alert! Five Top Tips to Help You Win Customers Using TikTok

Having a business of any size is useless without a customer base.  Whether this is a loyal, repeat order customer base or one-off users, your business needs them to survive.  One way of increasing customer numbers, winning them, is through the social media network of TikTok.  A relative newcomer in the social media space, but one that enhances businesses when used correctly.  The nature of TikTok is fun, friendly, and engaging which makes it perfect for smaller businesses seeking out new customers.  One trait that is a must for TikTok success is creativity.  None of the tips in this article will be of any use without a creative and often adaptable element from the creator. 

Tip Number 1: Little and often

You’ve got to get your business recognised on social media.  Research has found that posting 3 to 4 times per week is the holy grail of uploading.  This can be brand new content and brand new videos or a recycling of a previous post.  Uploading to TikTok doesn’t need to be time consuming.  You could upload a video clip from a previous day but record a commentary over the top of it.  You might post responses to your uploads and comment on them yourselves.  What is important is that you are active on a regular basis.

Tip Number 2: Be a human, not a machine

One of the characteristics of TikTok is the video content that is regularly uploaded.  This is your chance to show you and your business visually.  Other social media networks strive for written content which can be created using software packages.  On TikTok, think human over machine.  You are what is going to win those customers not your words. 

‘TikTok users want to see a bit of weird and randomness from business pages.  The more of this you can give, whilst still getting your message across, the better your chances of winning new customers is going to be,’ reveals Jamie Sill, a professional marketing blogger.

Tip Number 3: you’ve got a friend in me!

Never has a Disney quote meant so much!  On TikTok, you are not alone as a user.  There are plenty of other people you can buddy up with to promote your business.  Ideally, this will be a couple of well-placed influencers who can spread your word to the masses, but it doesn’t have to be.  Seek out accounts which spread a similar message to your business and get connecting.  The majority of TikTok users are in the same boat as you and are seeking out connections.  Also, there follower base will be different to yours so your business message will reach more people.  Aim to virtually surround yourself with as wide a range of people as you can.  This will also allow you to see how other people use TikTok and give you ideas for your next post.

Tip Number 4: Surprise!

Get people talking and sharing your business message.  Word of mouth and personal recommendations are still extremely powerful marketing tools.  Create that shock of a surprise to create interest and to encourage people to join your page for more surprises.  This can be something within the video that is uploaded that is totally unexpected.  A friend dressed as a celebrity appearing behind you would be a very simple and attention-grabbing idea.  The surprise could be within a product you sell.  A piece of jewellery, a secret message, a discount code, anything that is a little bit unexpected will get people talking and help you to win more customers.  Keeping these surprises random will keep people coming back as they won’t be expecting something random or strange to happen every time.  

Top Tip Number 5: What’s that sound?

Social media platforms are becoming more aware of their use of sound, but this is not the case with Tiktok.  In fact, TikTok has always been sound dependent.  Whether this is a music clip, sound effect or miming along to a different voice, the use of sounds is key to TikTok success.  Your business will win more clients if sounds are used creatively throughout your TikTok account.  A trick to make this happen is to create uploads that don’t make sense without sound.  TikTok users want to have sound and respond positively to it. 

‘You’d be foolish not to embrace this and create interesting and quirky content based on sound.  In fact, people who upload onto TikTok start with sounds and then create their content around it, rather than add a sound clip at the end,’ says Sophie Daniels a business writer.

TikTok is there to be used as a strong tool in winning new customers.  If you are new to TikTok then the only way you are going to use it effectively is to have a go.  Upload a couple of out take style clips to show your human side and this will attract more traffic as your account won’t be perceived as a boring content only place.  Embrace the silly in amongst promoting your business.