In just a few years, TikTok has skyrocketed in popularity, becoming one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world. What began as a fun platform for sharing short, entertaining videos has evolved into a powerful marketing tool, especially for small businesses. With TikTok’s unique algorithm and extensive reach, small businesses have an amazing opportunity to connect with their target audience and grow their customer base. But how can your business use TikTok to market locally? Let’s break it down step by step.
Understand Your Target Audience
Like any other platform or marketing plan, it’s essential to understand your audience on TikTok. The platform has a diverse user base, but it tends to skew younger, with many users between the ages of 16 and 30. However, depending on your business, you can still reach older demographics by targeting your content appropriately.
- Who are your ideal customers?
- What are their interests?
- What kind of content do they engage with on TikTok?
Once you’ve established a clear picture of your target audience, you can tailor your content to appeal directly to their needs and preferences.
Create Engaging and Authentic Content
TikTok is not the place for traditional, polished advertising. Instead, users are drawn to authentic, engaging, and sometimes quirky content. As a small business, you have a unique advantage: the ability to showcase your authenticity and personality.
- Behind-the-Scenes Content: Show your audience how your products are made, share a day in the life at your business, or introduce your team. People love seeing the human side of a business.
- Product Demos: Give viewers a glimpse of what your products or services can do. Keep these videos short, entertaining, and informative.
- Challenges and Trends: Participate in TikTok challenges and trends that are relevant to your business. This can help your content get discovered by a broader audience.
- Customer Testimonials: Showcase your happy customers. User-generated content or videos featuring real customers using your products can build trust and credibility.
Remember to keep your videos short, visually appealing, and engaging within the first few seconds to capture their attention.
Use Localized Hashtags and Sounds
TikTok’s algorithm heavily relies on hashtags and sounds to categorize content and make it discoverable to users. For a local small business, it’s important to use both general and localized hashtags to ensure you’re reaching your intended audience.
- Localized Hashtags: Use hashtags that highlight your location, such as #YourCityName or #YourNeighborhood. This helps you connect with potential customers in your area.
- Industry-Specific Hashtags: Pair localized hashtags with industry-relevant ones. For example, if you own a bakery in Seattle, use hashtags like #SeattleBakery, #SeattleEats, or #LocalBakery.
- Trending Hashtags: Stay up-to-date with trending hashtags on TikTok. When you use popular hashtags related to your content, your videos have a higher chance of reaching a wider audience.
Similarly, using trending sounds can also boost the visibility of your content. TikTok’s algorithm favors videos that use popular sounds or music, making it more likely for your videos to appear on the “For You” page.
Engage with Your Audience
TikTok is all about interaction and engagement. If you want to build a loyal following for your local business, it’s crucial to engage with your audience regularly.
- Reply to Comments: When users leave comments on your videos, make sure to reply to them. This shows that you value their input and can help build relationships with potential customers.
- Use the “Duet” Feature: TikTok’s “Duet” feature allows you to create split-screen videos with other users. This is a great way to collaborate with influencers or respond to customers’ content in a creative way.
- Host Giveaways or Contests: Encourage your followers to participate in contests or giveaways that require them to create content related to your business. This not only increases engagement but also encourages user-generated content that promotes your brand.
Leverage TikTok Ads
If you have a marketing budget, TikTok’s advertising platform can help amplify your reach. TikTok offers a variety of ad formats that allow you to promote your business, including:
- In-Feed Ads: These are short video ads that appear in users’ feeds as they scroll through TikTok.
- Branded Hashtag Challenges: Create a branded challenge that encourages users to create content related to your business.
- TopView Ads: These ads appear at the top of users’ feeds when they open the app, giving your business high visibility.
Investing in ads can help you target a specific demographic, ensuring that your business reaches the right local audience. Our next blog will discuss Ad Accounts on social media if you need more information.
Track Your Performance
Lastly, it’s essential to monitor the performance of your TikTok content. TikTok offers analytics tools that allow you to track metrics such as views, likes, shares, and engagement rates. By analyzing this data, you can identify which types of content resonate most with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Marketing a local small business on TikTok requires creativity, consistency, and a deep understanding of your audience. By creating authentic content, engaging with your followers, and using the platform’s advertising tools, you can effectively promote your business and grow your local customer base. TikTok offers a unique opportunity to connect with your community in a fun and interactive way, so don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with it! Contact us if you have questions!
