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How Does TikTok Make Products Go Viral?

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Social media has changed the game of product advertisement in ways most can’t really imagine. Typically, when you think of an advertisement, you think of those few inescapable minutes in the middle of your show telling you why Coca-Cola is still relevant. You might also still get those previews at the beginning of Prime Video shows (despite paying for the subscription.) Most of the time these days, the product is being sold to you without you even realizing it. That’s not to say that it’s not clear what’s an ad and what isn’t. It’s just that products are being sold in subtler ways. There’s no better example of this than the largest social media platform currently in use.

TikTok Goes the Sales Clock

Vine walked so TikTok could run, and TikTok is sprinting. TikTok has become famous for its short, creative clips which can cover any topic imaginable. That’s no exaggeration either. It’s amazing how much creativity and editing can go into what feels like a few seconds worth of video. With the platform’s growth in popularity, we can also see how this format has been adapted for the use of selling products. Many advertisements on Tik Tok are clearly labeled as “sponsored” and interact differently from regular posts. Comments are more regulated and there is often a clickable link in the center of the screen.

Now imagine you come across one of these after hours of scrolling. (Yeah, we know how carried away a TikTok session can get. No judgment here.) These ads are made in a way that it seems like just any other Tik Tok at first glance. The product could be shown being used by some of your favorite content creators. One full view, like, and maybe even an “add” to your “Favorites” and this advertisement has gotten engagement with thousands of viewers. This exact thing happened earlier while watching a cooking recipe that actually turned out to be an ad for KerryGold. The ingredient was briefly touched upon. It wasn’t until that little “Sponsored” emblem in the lower left corner was seen that it became apparent that this was a subtly crafted ad. Now imagine what happens once it goes viral.

How to Go Viral on TikTok

Going viral is the ultimate goal for any social media platform, whether it’s Tik Tok, Youtube, Twitch, Twitter, or Instagram. What is going viral? Well, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s based off of the term to spread like a virus. Except in this instance, it’s not a deadly contagion, but instead a funny or informative video. Going viral indicates that a piece of media has reached thousands of different viewers and generally means that it’s also had a large reception. This sounds like a nearly impossible thing to accomplish, but that’s only nearly. A few tips to going viral would include following trends and opting for variety. Staying on top of trends is the easiest way to go viral.

Trends are always the most popular style of video and typically have a consistent topic or format. Trends are fleeting though, and what’s trending can change from week to week. It is best to get in while the wave is fresh to get the most out of it. It’s already trending, so there’s a good chance that jumping on the train will get you the same level of momentum. Another way is to add variety. Changing things up until you find what draws the most viewers is the best bet. Once you’ve found your niche, the rest is easy. Well, outside of making good quality content, that is.

Products and other companies often take note of these trends and will make advertisements to suit what is popular. Sneaking their products into these formats is a surefire way to boost sales and publicity. Some of our favorite products have been found on Tik Tok, so it goes to show how effective this mode of advertising is.

3 Steps to Increase Your Instagram Following Through Tik Tok

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As of January 2021, nearly 700 million users were active on TikTok monthly. A little more than a billion people a month use Instagram. Now people with accounts on both platforms can link their profiles. As a result, Tik Tok has become an excellent tool to increase your Instagram following. That has caught the attention of many business owners looking for unique ways to gain customers and become relevant online.

Why You Should Use Tik Tok to Increase Your Instagram Following

Because of Tik Tok’s unique algorithm and how easy it is for videos to go viral, many brands have noticed an increase in their Instagram followers since they joined Tik Tok. At first glance, TikTok is an app featuring short, often pointless, videos and nothing more. But other social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook were also once viewed as insignificant when it came to being resourceful for businesses. Now they are essential for almost every type of company.

Instagram has come a long way with digital marketing, although many still view it as just an interactive photo album. But with influencers making five-figure annual salaries, it is easy to see why so many people turn to the photo-sharing app for more than snapping selfies. Economics takes the reality of the platforms to whole different levels.

Useful Marketing Statistics for Instagram and Tik Tok

  • According to Hootsuite, 81 percent of users research products and services via Instagram. About 130 million users a month click on shopping posts. About 50 percent of users have bought something after seeing it on Instagram.
  • TikTok’s users are young, with 62 percent falling in the 10 – 29 age range in 2020 according to Statista. This demographic is one many retailers and businesses want to reach.

How Can You Increase Your Instagram Following Through TikTok?

Connecting audiences between TikTok and Instagram starts with creating engaging content on both platforms. It will allow you to increase your Tik Tok following as well. There are a few more steps to take to drive viewers between TikTok and Instagram.

Add Your Instagram Account to Your TikTok Account

On TikTok, you can add your Instagram link to your bio and vice-versa. TikTok profiles already have a spot for your Instagram link, and you can share TikTok videos on Instagram. That makes it much easier for your followers on one platform to have access to the content on another. If you already have many followers on TikTok, this is an excellent way to enhance your Instagram following.

Use the Same Branding, Logos, and Images on Both Platforms

This makes it easy for an audience to know what they’re looking at. If the content flows well across both sites, everyone will know it all goes together with a glance.

There are famous logos that we would recognize even if we only saw a portion of the image. Logos such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Pizza Hut are familiar to us because of the longstanding marketing of these companies.

Even if you have a small business or are just getting started on social media, it is crucial to your brand to maintain consistency with all the platforms you use. Use the same screen name, profile photo, and cover image on every account if possible. This will make it much easier for your current and potential customers to find you while using their favorite apps.

Promote Your Instagram Content in the Video or Caption on TikTok

Influencers who use both platforms will often share their Tik Tok videos on their Instagram accounts. These videos feature their username and profile image, making it easier to find them on the other platform even if they do not have a link in their profile. You could even add a short clip of a video to your Tik Tok account and ask viewers to head over to your Instagram account to view the rest. You will quickly gain more Instagram followers with little effort involved.

Along with giving an easy way to go from your TikTok to your Instagram, you can encourage those who check TikTok multiple times a day – and 90 percent of users do, according to TikTok – to tap back and forth.

When you share a video on your Tik Tok account, you have the option to save it to your device. This makes it easy to reshare the video on any other platform, including Facebook or Twitter, allowing you to increase your followers on all major social media outlets. By continuing to create engaging content on both social media platforms, you will give your new Tik Tok followers an excellent reason to follow you on Instagram as well.

Enhance Your Company’s Online Presence with Social Media Marketing from Web Content Development

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to enhance your company’s digital marketing strategy is to keep your social media accounts updated. Social media marketing has gone from being something that was ignored by those in the advertising industry to a helpful tool that brings success and profit to brands in all types of industries.

If you are interested in getting started with social media marketing or would like to learn more about using Tik Tok and Instagram to increase your company’s online exposure, give Web Content Development a call today at (800) 316-9664. We look forward to helping you make the most out of your company’s social media posts.

Marketing Positivity: These TikTok Accounts are Doing it Right

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There are a lot of brand opportunities available on TikTok today. With more than 500 million people using the platform, creating videos with special effects should be a part of your marketing strategy. This is especially true when you want to reach out to Gen-Z. Here is what you can learn from some companies that are using TikTok for maximum impact.

Chipotle

This popular Mexican restaurant has managed to get over 55,000 fans on the platform. These fans are not only watching what the restaurant is posting but they are actively engaging in their posts, too. In fact, as part of their TikTok marketing, they have managed to have one of their challenges go viral. This was Chipotle’s #GuacDance Challenge in which people posted themselves dancing with avocados. Not only did this help them advertise their free guacamole but it also was a funny, musical way of getting people to engage with their brand.

Elf Cosmetics

One of the most influential marketing campaigns on TikTok is by Elf Cosmetics. It had people use the company’s original song “Eyes, Lips, Face” along with the brand’s hashtags. This challenge was picked up by numerous influencers, which spurred celebrities to get involved, too. In doing so, the brand’s song was able to go viral on this platform. It also went viral on Instagram and YouTube. The reason for such success is that Elf Cosmetics promo song to feel as though it belonged to TikTok. This tactic helped them become one of the first brands to be successful in advertising here.

Converse

Another brand whose marketing strategy capitalized on its use of Tik Tok hashtags is Converse. They have frequently asked their users to participate in a variety of challenges whereby they created user-generated content that is related to a specific theme. For instance, in one of their marketing campaigns, Converse asked their users to customize a pair of sneakers and then use the hashtag #ConverseAllStar to share their creations. By taking the time to niche down and center on artists, Converse was able to generate over 54 million views with this campaign alone.

Fenty Beauty

As one of the very first brands to create a “collab house,” which is a place where social media influencers live and work together, Fenty Beauty was able to take their Tik Tok marketing to the next level. They have their very own group of TikTok influencers who post fun, subtly-branded content for them. This has saved them a lot of money when it comes to advertising because they have not needed to run any paid media to promote their brand.

Gymshark

By treating Tik Tok as a separate, independent, social media platform, Gymshark has been able to create unique content that appeals to this user base and the content style that its algorithm favors. They have done a lot of challenges throughout their time on this platform. For instance, their most notable challenge is the “Stand Up Challenge” in which Demi Bagby, a popular TikTok influencer, was able to get Gymshark’s hashtag over 280 million views. This was mainly because users enjoyed recreating the brand’s original video.

Conclusion

There is a lot that you can learn from what these brands have done to make TikTok a platform that is worth including in their marketing plans. These are things that you can do for your brand as well. So, now that you know what some brands are doing to succeed on TikTok, isn’t it time you engage this platform as part of your marketing strategy? To get started, contact Web Content Development today.