How does TikTok Work?

If you were ever a Vine user, you should know that TikTok is very similar to the old app. When first launched, Musical.ly hosted creators who simply lip-synced to different songs and audios. However, as the app developed, influencers started to use it to create their original content. With time, TikTok, as we know it today, was born. The best part about the app is that it has a place for everything. That means that regardless of the nature of your business, you can take advantage of this popular app to get it to thrive. This turned TikTok into one of the market’s most potent digital and social media marketing apps.

Relatability Is Popularity

Gen Z makes up the majority of TikTok users. With this target demographic in mind, you should know that unlike millennials, Gen X, or even boomers, who are more confident in familiarity and comfortable with patterns and methods they already know, you should be a lot more creative when using TikTok for digital marketing. Still, what makes Gen Z love TikTok so much is its relatable content. So how does TikTok work? What should you do to be successful on TikTok? How can you be creative and relatable at the same time? Let’s find out.

TikTok users and stars are heavily dependent on the app’s algorithms. That means that your tags are one of the most important tools you can use. On top of that, the app is ultra-sensitive when picking at each user’s tiniest interests. This has a simple meaning for business owners. If you can create content that is decent in terms of authenticity, relatability, and realism, meaning if your content is even mildly entertaining, original, relatable, and believable, there’s a good chance you can succeed on the app. One of the most underestimated features of TikTok is its plethora of eager viewers for every business owner. No matter what you do, someone always wants to know more about your products or services on that app. All you have to do is take advantage of your assets and tada! Affordable digital marketing has never been easier! The better you get at each of the factors we mentioned (relatability, originality, believability, and entertainment), the more successful of a TikToker you can become.

Still, the question remains. How can I be creative and relatable at the same time? The answer to this question is actually simpler than you might think. You see, TikTok has maintained some of its old features from the old days of Musical.ly. It still revolves around the use of sounds and songs. However, these sounds are now used to demonstrate the struggles, accomplishments, fears, stories, and the overall users’ daily lives. That’s how TikTok’s short-lived trends come to life too. Someone finds a sound or song relatable, thinking they can apply it to their specific situation, or maybe a song goes viral. Users think they are in or know of situations that match the “vibe” of that song, and they make a video about it. When other users see that video, it inspires them to express themselves differently but using the same audio, or trend, for that matter, and the cycle repeats. This overuse of the same sounds and trends is how you get the relatability factor. And how you interpret them and use them in your videos allows you to show your audience how creative you are.

After creating your video, you can choose a caption and your desired tags before posting the final product. You can use trending hashtags if you have a larger business with an active social media presence. However, if you are a small business, you should use hashtags with fewer posts under them. This way, your content will not just get lost amongst the billions and billions of other people.

Moreover, unlike posting content on Instagram or YouTube that needs more effort and sufficient editing and filming skills, TikTok videos make the best impression if they’re simple and not staged like a professionally edited video. The reason behind that is the simplicity, which makes your content appear more natural, and your audience will automatically feel closer to you. So if you’re thinking of not posting a video in your drafts because there are some “bloopers” in it, don’t. These videos tend to get the most views and likes on the app; the funnier they are, the better.

Another factor you should take into consideration is that TikTok has its standards when it comes to user activity. Because of the simplicity of the videos posted, as well as their short length compared to IG and YT videos, it’s expected for a user to post at least 3-5 videos every couple of days to be considered an active content creator. TikTok videos can be between 15 seconds and 3 minutes long. Still, the most common duration time for a video is between 15 and 60 seconds.

Many more features make TikTok an excellent tool for marketing your business digitally, such as live streams, influencer marketing, and partnership with TikTok itself. On top of that, applying the tips and tricks mentioned above to specific lines of work can appear challenging for business owners. That is why at CMC Marketing Agency, we encourage you to dedicate your time to doing what you do best and let our digital marketing experts take care of your social media presence. Aside from marketing on TikTok, we also offer services regarding Instagram marketing, YouTube marketing, and Facebook marketing as a part of our social media marketing services in Toronto. On top of that, we can help your business grow through numerous other digital marketing tools, including Search Engine Optimization, website design, content marketing, graphic design , and many more!

If you have more questions regarding how you can promote your business on TikTok, or if you want to set an appointment with our experts at CMC Marketing Agency for a consultation, call us today!