Tailor Your TikToks to Reach Your Audience
It might feel daunting to try to reach TikTok audiences outside of your orbit . There are many free things you can do to expand your reach. We offer some tips for optimizing your TikTok content.
TikTok curates content through a user’s “For You Page” (or FYP, for short) based upon that person’s likes, comments, shares, and watch time of other content. One way to ensure that your TikToks are seen is by creating sponsored content. However, there are many free things you can do with your content to reach your desired audience and expand who sees it.
Content Creation Tips
Make sure your videos are high quality
This doesn’t necessarily require fancy equipment; however, use good lighting and a microphone with good quality, when possible. As far as the filming process itself, always film vertically, especially if you are doing so on a phone. Do not turn your phone sideways.
Use sound & other features
Design your videos to be played with the sound on. This sound could include trending sounds and music, which would be a great way to make it on to more people’s “For You Page.”
If a viewer has a history of watching TikToks with the same sound, it is more likely that your video may end up on their FYP. When there is a trending sound, viewers who are looking to see all the different ways the sound has been used may just come across your video under that specific sound also.
Hootsuite says, “two-thirds of TikTokers (67%) prefer brand videos featuring popular or trending songs.”
Other trending features you can utilize are video effects, especially those native to the TikTok app. Some of these features could include green-screen, voice-to-text, and text treatments.
Maximize the first moments
A complete watch-through from a viewer is not guaranteed, so it is important to grab a user’s attention and show them the value of watching your video within the first few seconds. Use visual effects or implement quick edits that will keep the visuals of your video engaging.
Post-Filming Tips
Spell it out
TikTok’s captions have a 300 character limit. It is prime real estate to invite interaction and engagement with your TikTok. This can be a space to create curiosity or ask questions that will subsequently create conversations in the comments.
Use #Hashtags
The caption is also the place to add relevant hashtags, which can boost your content within the algorithm. Using the right hashtags can help you reach your key audience and those beyond it as well.
“For You” hashtags are often used to get on more people’s “For You” pages. (i.e. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage). You can also use trending hashtags, including those related to any popular challenges happening on the platform at the time.
Using and engaging in hashtag challenges are a great way to participate in the algorithm, come up with new content, and reach different audiences. You can search for trending hashtags by region in the TikTok Creative Center, which will also allow you to see what has been trending for the last seven or thirty days.
It’s important to find and use the hashtags that fit your organization’s cause. By tapping into an existing subculture that overlaps with your cause, you are more likely to find your target audience. For instance, if your organization has a focus on animal rights, you may want to use hashtags that speak to audiences that would be most interested in that cause such as: #vegans, #friendsnotfood, #savetheanimals.
Follow-Up Tips
Interact with your audience
As your TikTok begins to garner engagement, make sure you follow up on interactions you receive. One way to do this is by replying to any comments you receive. This can be done in various forms such as duets, stitches, video replies, or standard text comments.
Engaging your audience also goes beyond your own content. According to MRC Data and Flamingo, 21% of TikTokers say they feel more connected to brands that comment on other people’s posts.
Staying on top of the comments of your videos is a key way to send engagement signals to TikTok’s algorithm. The algorithm tends to draw more people to content that causes conversation, and if people see you engaging with others, they will be more likely to visit your profile and check out more of your content.
Happy posting!
This is Part II of our TikTok series, you can check out Part I here. You can also visit more stories from our Tech Tools for Good series, where we aim to help nonprofits better leverage new tech tools through educational blog posts.
This article was written by Trinity Worthy. Asibey Consulting has no affiliation with TikTok. All of our reviews and recommendations are independently selected and we receive no compensation for them.