tiktok has unmatched reach and penetration among teens and gen z. the meteoric rise since its inception in 2018 is incredible. From an obscure karaoke app to the best free entertainment app on the Apple Store, your journey has been a great one. no wonder everyone wants a bite of the tiktok pie.
but getting famous on tiktok isn’t exactly a piece of cake. With 500 million active users, tiktok is a virtual battleground for content creators. your content can easily drown in the tons of binge content being uploaded there every second.
if you’re a marketer or influencer, your chances of shining on tiktok are optimal as only 4% of marketers use tiktok. one reason could be that tiktok is relatively new compared to older platforms like facebook and instagram. another is that tiktok creators are quite secretive about their metrics, making tiktok marketing almost a shot in the dark.
however, you can earn a lot by earning a name on tiktok. Downloads for the lip sync app have surpassed those of Facebook and Instagram (see chart below). this means that you can reach a larger audience through tiktok. Plus, TikTok sessions last longer than Snapchat or Instagram sessions, giving you the opportunity to better engage your audience.
as said, succeeding on tiktok is not by chance. a well-recorded strategy and engaging content are what you need to outshine other talented tiktokers. we have compiled an effective action plan to speed up your tiktok journey. check it out.
how to become famous on tiktok in 4 easy steps:
1. create disruptive content
if you are a conservative thinker, tiktok is not the platform for you. you will have to unleash your wildest and craziest side while preparing tiktok content. challenges, skits, gymnastic feats, comedic performances, makeup & fashion, magic and illusion are some of the genres that can gain strength.
Young people, who make up 41% of tiktok’s user base, love the platform’s uninhibited environment. original, ready-to-use content works here. at the same time, you will need to take advantage of viral ideas to engage your audience.
You can use trending hashtags to improve the visibility of your posts. Use the app’s discover page to search for popular hashtags that can add value to your posts and help you reach the right audience.
after the bushfires in australia, there were a series of tiktok posts based on the disaster. they ranged from live broadcasts to skits and recitals. Since the topic was newsworthy, related posts got a lot of engagement and many creators just jumped on the wave.
hollywood dressmaker sarah hambley @officialhambly posted a tutorial on sewing natural cloth bags for animals injured in australian fires. The short video garnered 51K likes from Sarah and numerous comments. note the use of relevant hashtags, #australia and #prayforaustralia.
makeup artist and wildlife enthusiast @witchytwitchytv delivered an ashen makeup tutorial inspired by the Australian bushfires and appealed to her viewers to donate generously. the post got 244.7 thousand likes and 1.3 thousand comments.
2. Identify your niche
You really can’t be a jack (or jane) of all trades on tiktok. the most famous tiktokers stick to a particular niche that resonates with their profession or personal brand. they build a rich body of work showcasing their talent and skills in their niche. Naturally, such focused content not only attracts the right followers, but also garners great engagement.
zach king, @zachking, who is a high-grossing tiktoker, is a video editor by profession. He started out by making YouTube tutorials on Final Cut Pro, a popular video editing software. when he joined tiktok, he used his editing skills to create illusion videos.
Viewers found your content compelling and high-quality. today zach is among the top tiktok influencers and partner with many brands.
jojo siwa, @itsjojosiwa, has made a career out of her tiktok account. The teenager Ella had her first date with show business when she participated in a reality dance show with her mother. Although she was eliminated, the competition from her inspired her to venture into tiktok.
jojo captured many hearts on tiktok with his amazing dance moves. but the public loved her outrageous curtsies as much as her twerks. Her headdress caught her attention so much that she launched her own line of ties and fashion accessories.
3. taking advantage of influencers
While the rags-to-riches stories about tiktok users can be inspiring, they’re not exactly a true reflection of the masses. not everyone is a talented dancer or a powerful artist. how can a normal person succeed on tiktok?
The answer is influencer marketing. You can partner with influencers who are basically users with a high number of followers. If influencers promote or engage with your content, you can quickly move up the popularity charts. content endorsed by influencers gets more eyes and inspires confidence in viewers.
Because we believe in fair reporting, we won’t downplay the challenges of influencer marketing. the first is to find the right influencer. not all influencers will get the right kind of attention.
This is why you should have a thorough vetting process to evaluate influencers. don’t be swayed by vanity metrics like number of followers. your ideal influencer should reflect your values and appeal to your audience.
You can check out the top influencers on the tiktok discover page or do a google search for influencers on your domain. Verify your content on other channels. shortlist influencers who match your interests and industry.
Once you’ve shortlisted a couple of influencers, you’ll need to tackle the next hurdle. how can you get on their radar? influencers are busy with brand building and have little free time. you will have to be persistent in your efforts to get his attention.
try to establish a relationship with influential people. be generous with social currency (hearts, comments, etc.) on your posts. Follow them on other social networks. start conversations about common ground. if you can nurture the relationship well enough, your target influencer may start engaging with your content.
As the link strengthens, you can tag them in your posts and even republish their content (with prior permission, of course). If all goes well, you can create a joint post or have them take over your account for a day. they could expect remuneration for the latter.
Taking advantage of influencers is a route to success on social media. it’s especially impactful on tiktok, where creativity and originality are paramount.
4. invest in advertising
If you’re in a hurry to get to the top spot and have money to spare, you can opt for paid ads on tiktok. tiktok has recently launched a formal advertising program which is available at a premium price. As of now, tiktok ads have a starting price of $10/1000 views. you will have to shell out a minimum of $500 on a campaign.
before you invest in tiktok advertising, we have a warning for you. advertising on tiktok is still in its infancy. it has not been explored or exploited as widely as on facebook and youtube. this could be a blessing in disguise, as there aren’t many brands clamoring for the audience’s attention yet.
Still, it’s best not to harbor unrealistic dreams of skyrocketing sales ROI through tiktok advertising. rather, measure your ad roi in terms of increased awareness and engagement.
Not that we’re trying to scare you, but advertisers will find tiktok audiences harder to please than instagram or facebook audiences. young people are using tiktok as a means of self-expression. they are not inclined to see commercials or brands, in general.
You will have to incentivize tiktokers to click on your ad. arouse their curiosity or let their favorite influencers take over your channel for a day. ads based on viral content, like trending hashtag challenges, seem to be gaining ground faster on tiktok. Please refrain from promotional ad copy as it has little appeal to tiktok users.
Regarding the technical aspects, you will need to create a tiktok ad account and then select from three available business models: campaigns, ad groups and ads. Depending on the option you choose, you’ll specify the goal, budget, schedule, and copy.
advertising on tiktok can be an expensive affair. you need to have a solid budget and a well-formed strategy before taking this path.
final thoughts
although tiktok is the new kid on the social media block, its growth has been explosive. For content creators and marketers, tiktok’s uncluttered ecosystem offers opportunities to grow.
if you have talent and fire in your stomach, nothing should stop you from becoming famous on tiktok. these practical steps will help speed up your journey.
