8 Steps To Start A TikTok Marketing Strategy (For Small Business) (2024)

8 Steps To Start A TikTok Marketing Strategy (For Small Business)2024-02-05T21:59:59+00:00

Get in on the game-changing journey for your small business with a solid TikTok marketing strategy. This guide goes through eight essential steps to amplify your brand’s reach on TikTok. From identifying your target audience to simple video production methods, discover how to leverage this platform to get leads to your business.

What is TikTok Marketing?

TikTok marketing harnesses the growth and unique features of the TikTok app. The platform’s quick rise in popularity can be attributed to its innovative short-form video format, engaging user interface, and a distinct algorithm that prioritizes discoverability.

Small businesses on TikTok experience unparalleled opportunities for organic reach, creative expression, and the ability to connect authentically with a diverse and global audience. Tiktok is just one platform that makes up a well rounded social media video marketing campaign. Let’s dig in.

Does TikTok Work For Local Business?

Yes, local audiences can indeed convert into customers through TikTok. TikTok’s algorithm allows businesses to target specific geographic locations, making it an effective platform for reaching local audiences. The platform’s interactive nature and visually appealing content make it a powerful tool for attracting and converting customers within a specific locality.

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Why Video Marketing Is Trending

Video marketing has become a prevailing trend, shaping the digital landscape as users increasingly favor dynamic and visually engaging content. Across various platforms, from social media giants to emerging apps like TikTok, the emphasis on video is evident.

8 Tips for Building Your TikTok Marketing Strategy

Companies seeking success on TikTok must craft a strategic plan, recognizing that without a roadmap, their endeavors may fall short. In this context, ‘growth’ signifies not only increased followers but also heightened engagement, brand recognition, and the establishment of a loyal audience. A planned growth strategy is the key to navigating TikTok and leveraging its potential for growth.

#1 Identify Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience on TikTok is paramount for crafting content that resonates and yields meaningful engagement. TikTok attracts a wide range of demographics. From Gen Z trendsetters to older audiences exploring the platform, understanding your specific audience enables tailored content creation.

Businesses can curate videos that align with their audience’s interests, preferences, and behaviors, helping speak directly to their specific needs.

Content Relevance

Knowing your target audience helps you create content that resonates with their interests, preferences, and challenges. Tailor your videos to address topics that matter to them.

Tone and Style

Different demographics respond to varying tones and styles of content. Whether your audience prefers humor, authenticity, or informative content, align your tone and style with what appeals to them.

Preferred Hashtags:

Identify the hashtags popular within your target audience. Incorporate these hashtags into your videos to increase visibility among users who share similar interests.

Reviews and Testimonials (UGC)

If your audience is middle aged women, don’t feature and promote reviews or testimonials from senior males. Speak directly to your audience with cast studies, clients, and examples that resemble them.

#2 Scripting and Content Plan

Creating a content plan and scripting your TikTok videos in advance is a strategic approach that yields big benefits. Scripting ensures a thoughtful presentation, allowing creators to cover key points and ideas systematically, rather than randomly. This approach contributes to a cohesive TikTok marketing strategy that resonates.

The Connection

Personal story videos that resonate with the target audience, relatable quotes for image posts, and engaging content that promotes interaction on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

The Expertise:

Educational videos for YouTube, how-to guides for the Greenlight website, infographics detailing the benefits of personalized fitness, and thought leadership content for LinkedIn.

The Impact:

Success story blog posts, testimonial videos for YouTube and the Greenlight website, and case study posts for LinkedIn and other professional platforms.

The Takeaway:

Summary videos for YouTube, take-home message images for Instagram, motivational quotes for Twitter, and content that paints a picture of Greenlight’s future vision.

#3 Identify Competitor Videos & Hashtags

Understanding and leveraging competitor content is a key aspect of a successful TikTok marketing strategy. Identify local competitors and set benchmarks for your own progress.

Analyze the types of videos they produce, and consider replicating successful ones with your unique twist. Additionally, seek out viral or popular videos in your industry, replicate them, and note the associated hashtags. This is what you want to look for in competitors profiles:

Content Themes and Styles:

Identify the types of content that resonate with the local audience. Note the themes, styles, and formats that receive high engagement.

Video Production Techniques:

Examine the quality of video production, including lighting, angles, and editing. Learn from successful videos to enhance the visual appeal of your content.

Effective Hashtags:

Observe the hashtags used by competitors in your area. This can help you discover popular and trending hashtags within the local community.

Frequency and Timing:

Determine how often competitors post videos and the timing of their posts. Understanding posting frequency and optimal posting times can inform your own content scheduling.

Engagement Strategies:

Analyze how competitors engage with their audience. Look for effective engagement strategies such as responding to comments, running contests, or featuring user-generated content.

Calls to Action (CTAs):

Pay attention to the CTAs used by competitors. Identify how they urge viewers to take action. Can you beat their price, offer more value, or make a more compelling pitch?

#4 Build in Call To Actions

Incorporating effective calls to action (CTAs) is crucial for converting TikTok viewers into customers. Strike a balance by limiting promotional content to around 10%, preventing audience fatigue. Identify conversion-friendly offers, such as seasonal promotions, timely solutions, or special discounts, to maximize engagement and drive meaningful actions from your TikTok audience.

Visit Our Store:

Encourage users to visit your physical store, providing an invitation for local engagement.

Local Event Participation:

Promote local events or activities related to your business and invite users to participate.

Limited-Time Offer:

Create a sense of urgency by promoting limited-time offers or flash sales exclusively for local customers.

Show this at Checkout:

Offer a special discount or promotion code for in-store purchases, encouraging immediate action.

Follow for Local Updates:

Ask users to follow your TikTok account for exclusive updates, events, and promotions specific to their locality.

Tag a Friend:

Create content that prompts users to tag friends who might be interested in your products or services, expanding your reach locally.

Local Hashtag Challenge:

Launch a hashtag challenge tied to your business or community, encouraging users to participate and create content.

#5 Shoot, Produce, Edit

Creating TikTok content doesn’t require high-end equipment; use what’s available to you. Don’t let concerns about video quality hold you back—starting is more important than perfection. Embrace the learning curve, as you’ll naturally improve over time. Opt for mobile video editing tools, with desktop applications offering more robust features. Enhance your videos with elements like logos and captions to make them visually engaging and brand-aligned.

Lighting:

Your Content Goes Here
Natural Light: Whenever possible, use natural light as it provides a soft and flattering look.
Avoid Harsh Shadows: Position yourself or your subject to avoid harsh shadows on the face.
Artificial Lighting: If shooting indoors or during low-light conditions, use soft, diffused artificial lighting to illuminate the subject evenly.
Consistency: Ensure consistent lighting throughout the video for a professional and polished look.

Audio:

Your Content Goes Here
Clear Sound: Ensure clear and audible sound, as viewers may abandon videos with poor audio quality.
External Microphone: Consider using an external microphone for better audio capture.
Minimize Background Noise: Choose a quiet environment to reduce background noise.

Background and Props:

Your Content Goes Here
Clean Background: Choose a clutter-free and aesthetically pleasing background.
Relevant Props: Include props that enhance the narrative or contribute to the overall theme.

Angle:

Your Content Goes Here
Eye Level: Shooting at eye level creates a natural and engaging perspective.
Variety: Experiment with different angles to add visual interest.
Stability: Use a stable surface or tripod to avoid shaky footage.
Avoid Extreme Angles: Extreme angles can distort the subject and distract the viewer.

Composition:

Your Content Goes Here
Rule of Thirds: Divide the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically, placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections.
Background: Pay attention to the background, ensuring it complements the subject without being distracting.
Framing: Use elements within the frame to naturally frame the subject, adding depth and focus.

#6 Create A Content Calendar and Post

The best tik tok content strategy is a consistent presence. Creating a content calendar that maps out your posting schedule. Scheduling tools help automate your posts, ensuring timely and reliable posting. Plan ahead to have a backlog of videos, enabling you to have a regular posting strategy even during busy periods. Part of your content plan entails posting to other platforms where video works well, check out our other posts on both Instagram marketing strategy and Youtube video marketing.

Consistency is Key:

Aim for a consistent posting schedule. Whether it’s daily, a few times a week, or weekly, maintaining a regular rhythm helps to keep your audience engaged.

Test Posting Times:

Experiment with different times of the day to identify when your audience is most active. TikTok’s algorithm considers recent engagement, so posting when your followers are online increases visibility.

Quality Over Quantity:

Prioritize quality content over quantity. Posting frequently is beneficial, but not at the expense of content quality. Ensure each video meets the standards of your brand or style.

#7 Boost Views with TikTok Ads

Maximize your TikTok presence by strategically running ads for videos with high engagement or compelling offers. Running ads means that your content is viewed by a wider audience. When setting a budget for TikTok ads, consider your marketing goals, target audience, and the duration of the ad campaign to optimize its effectiveness.

Ad Formats:

TikTok offers various ad formats, including In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, Branded Effects, and TopView Ads. Choose the format that best suits your business goals and budget.

Targeting Options:

TikTok provides targeting options based on demographics, interests, and behavior. You can choose ages, regions, and the things they are interested in- helping to exclude or target certain audiences.

Budget and Bidding:

Set a daily or lifetime budget based on your financial capacity. TikTok’s bidding system allows you to optimize for your campaign goals, whether it’s clicks, impressions, or conversions.

#8 Metrics and KPIs

Track the success of your TikTok marketing strategy by monitoring key metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Metrics you want to track are the following: views, likes, shares, and comments. Use data tools to monitor these, and adjust your strategy based on the data to optimize and enhance your content.

Get Started With Video Marketing on TikTok Today!

The difficulty of making videos and posting to TikTok for a business owner can vary based on individual comfort with technology, creativity, and willingness to learn. However, creating engaging content might require some time to understand the platform’s trends, features, and editing tools. With a bit of practice and exploration, users can enjoy TikTok and see business growth.

Authority Architect – TikTok Marketing Agency

Become the authority in TikTok marketing with Authority Architect – your go-to TikTok marketing agency. We specialize in video marketing strategies for small businesses, ensuring optimal growth and engagement. From audience targeting to content creation, we’ll morph your brand to be associated with expertise, experience, and authority.

Unleash the power of TikTok marketing with Authority Architect and transform your small business into a thriving online presence. Learn about Authority Architect.

Frequently Asked Questions About TikTok Marketing Strategy

Is TikTok a good platform for marketing?
TikTok can be an excellent platform for marketing, especially if your target audience includes a younger demographic. Its engaging and creative format allows businesses to showcase their products or services in a unique way, and trends can quickly make content go viral, increasing visibility.

How do I make viral TikToks?
Creating viral TikToks involves staying on top of current trends, using popular music, engaging in challenges, and being authentic. Incorporate creative and visually appealing elements into your videos, and don’t forget to leverage relevant hashtags. Consistency and understanding your audience are key factors in achieving virality.

How often should I post on TikTok?
Posting frequency on TikTok depends on your content strategy and audience engagement. Consistency is important, but quality should not be compromised for quantity. Aim for at least a few posts per week, but analyze your audience’s response and adjust your posting schedule based on when your content performs best.

Is marketing on TikTok expensive?
While TikTok advertising costs can vary, the platform offers a range of budget options, making it accessible for businesses of different sizes. Organic marketing, through creative and strategic content, is also a cost-effective approach to gain visibility on TikTok.

Is TikTok marketing good for local businesses?
Yes, TikTok marketing can be highly beneficial for local businesses. The platform’s algorithm can help content reach a local audience, making it an effective tool for building community engagement. Local businesses can showcase their products or services creatively and connect with potential customers in their area.

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