Tapping into TikTok: Our Top 3 Learnings from 2021

Table of Contents

By Arbaaz Ghani

 

Videos are still one of the most effective ways to interact with the public. Cisco predicts that in 2022, online videos will account for more than 82% of total internet traffic for consumers, 15 times higher than in 2017.

 

TikTok is a video-sharing app where people can shoot, edit, and share videos up to 3 minutes long. Users upload and create their own videos, varying from lip-syncing to dances, epic transformations, instructional videos and so much more. TikTok has over 800 million active users, which is just under Instagram’s active user base of 1 billion people. With more than 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, TikTok has completely taken over the social scene.

 

Over the past year, BlueSky has developed a number of creative, impactful, and successful TikTok creator programs – and we’re sharing everything you need to know to create a TikTok strategy that works for your business. In our new blog series, you’ll learn about TikTok’s powerful algorithm and get tips for creating your own viral videos. We will also dive into why TikTok is such a great platform for brand awareness and attracting new customers.

 

Here are our top 3 learnings for how to leverage TikTok for PR and incorporate it into your communications and media plan.

 

Importance of creating content that is native to TikTok

The TikTok algorithm is constantly pushing content to people based on what it thinks that they will like. That’s why it’s so important to hop on trends and share content that other users are interacting with the most. Video content that is heavily branded or does not feel native to the platform will stand out – but for the wrong reasons.

 

Creating engaging content that converts 

Think about what will make your content more engaging. A strong hook at the beginning of the video is crucial to have viewers stick around and watch the entire video. Clearly describing your videos with captions is crucial and according to TikTok, the best captions are personable and are relevant to the video. Additionally, you always want to use sound in your video, which can include music, voiceovers, or sound effects to help add context to your videos.

 

For example, BlueSky developed and executed RBC Youth Banking’s TikTok program that served as a channel to reach students across Canada, while providing content for paid ads through RBC-owned digital channels. For this program, BlueSky ensured all creators produced engaging and dynamic content with strong hooks, personable captions, and voiceovers.

 

     

 

Building in representation and diversity

Millennials and Gen-Zs are actively looking for brands that use non-traditional representation to help connect with their consumers and they’re willing to spend money with those brands. Brands that successfully incorporate inclusivity and diversity in their TikTok creator campaigns know that authenticity is key. Above all, it requires actively challenging your implicit biases to find non-traditional creators who can help tell your brand’s story and align with who your customers truly are. This authentic commitment to representation should inform your plan’s strategy from the outset.

 

For RBC’s partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival, BlueSky worked with TikTok creators that represented different races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Adding diversity in this TikTok campaign helped facilitate the creative freedom required to develop well-produced, authentic content that resonated with the target audience, while also being on-point with the brand.

 

 

Clearly, there’s no shortage of business opportunities on TikTok. As with any social platform, it’s important to choose the best social media strategy that aligns with your communications goals and that makes sense for your own brand.

 

Interested in learning about how your brand can take off with TikTok? Contact us today to find out how our team at BlueSky can help.

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