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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of TikTok. However, if you feel like learning to speak a new language would be easier than trying to navigate another social media platform, you are not alone. We are here to help! TikTok is currently the most used app in the world and has been downloaded over two BILLION times. Gen Z kids are spending hours a day on it, and brands are quickly learning to harness its powerful reach, but if you still have no clue what a FYP is, then buckle in. We’re going to teach you everything you need to know.

Let’s start with the basics… WTF is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media platform for video content up to 10 minutes long. It’s a great creative outlet for those wanting to create short-form video content, but the gold mine of TikTok is its algorithm. Your home feed, AKA your “For You Page” (FYP) is like a personalized streaming service specifically tailored to your interests. No, really. Even the most niche of interests have a Tiktok page dedicated to it, and if you have ever been on the Utah mom side of TikTok, you know what we are talking about.

But, how the heck does this platform work? And more importantly, how can it work for your brand and business? Glad you asked.

Breaking it down

Assuming you've already downloaded the app and made a profile, let's start by making a video. At the bottom right side of your screen is a little icon of a person that will take you to your profile. Once you are on your profile, at the bottom center of your screen is a + sign. This will take you to the screen where you can begin recording. But, before you hit post, pause for a second! Have you used any filters? Sound effects? GIFs? On-screen text? Effects abound on TikTok, so bear with us. We can still get even more creative!

Tiktok allows you to choose from a variety of unique filters, change the speed, set up a self-timer, and most importantly, add any music or trending sounds that can sometimes (if you’re lucky!) cause your video to go viral. Pssst, a couple of popular editing effects are the duet and greenscreen features. Give them a try!

If you don't feel like recording fresh content on the spot, you also have the option to upload a pre-recorded video or photo from your camera roll. We often recommend editing videos in free editing apps such as Canva or In-Shot which allows you to easily add your business’ branding/logo. Once you are happy with your creation, be sure to tag friends or add a caption and hashtags. Don’t stop after your first post either! The accounts that grow the quickest are the accounts that are posting consistently.

Still not convinced of its power?

Have you noticed a corn-on-the-cob shortage lately? Or maybe you have noticed a strange number of people walking around singing about corn. No, you aren’t going crazy. This is because of a recent TikTok viral video that has taken the world by storm. A little boy was getting interviewed at a fair eating a stick of corn. His enthusiasm for his favourite food was so contagious that he blew up! People created a viral song from his interview, corn sales have skyrocketed, and this little boy is even paid now to make cameos for entertainment. All this happened in just a few days and is a perfect example of the power that TikTok has.

But it’s not just obscure and hilarious corn videos that can go viral. Small businesses have been unlocking the magic of TikTok to help grow their brand and even their sales. For instance; a now popular loungewear line grew from making a few sales a week to selling hundreds of articles per DAY because she was consistent on TikTok. She created a marketing strategy specific to the platform and went from having only 3k followers to now having over 50k! We really weren’t kidding when we told you that this is a powerful channel.

We even saw the power of TikTok for ourselves when we helped our client, a local ice cream shop, launch their account. Expanding our client's brand over to TikTok allowed us to think out of the box and flex our creative muscles. We were able to focus on humour and cleverness while highlighting both the unique products as well as the beloved staff of Cherry’s. Check it out here!

And there you have it. Your beginner's guide to TikTok. Which effects or trends are you the most excited to try out? Whatever you decide, don’t forget to follow us so we can see all the fantastic videos we know you will create!

And if TikTok seems a little too daunting to take on yourself, let us help!