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How to Use the TikTok App to Grow Your Business Online
An Interview with Entrepreneur & TikTok Rockstar, Julie Anderson sharing how she’s using the TikTok app to meet new customers
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a social media platform that showcases short lip-sync, comedy and talent videos.
If you’ve never heard of TikTok, it’s likely because you don’t have a teenager in the house. Mine is addicted. She’s always creating new stuff and with over 1500! videos on her account, she’s steadily growing her audience.
The platform has actually been around since 2012 but was originally called ByteDance until it was released internationally. After it’s merger with Musical.ly in 2017, it’s popularity soared and hit over one billion downloads globally. It’s now one of the most trending platforms for social sharing.
So, why is this relevant or important for business owners? While TikTok might seem like just space for teens to lipsync their favorite songs but it can be an amazing tool for growing your online business and making connections.
Even marketing mogul, Gary V has touted TikTok as being one of the most important platforms for spreading your brand message and growing your online presence.
Tell us a bit about you and your online business.
I’ve been in network marketing with my company for just over 2.5 years now. Prior to this, I had not known what network marketing was, I didn’t actually own a cell phone, had no clue about social media.
How did you get started on TikTok?
I’m a huge fan of Gary Vaynerchuk and consume a lot of his content, primarily YouTube videos. One of his videos he emphasized that TikTok has the potential to be bigger than Instagram.
And right now it’s a land grab, your content must still be good but there is a definite advantage to being one of the first on a platform.
He talked about if you want to become very popular on Facebook and Instagram now, you have to be the best. People who started on IG before it became more popular have an advantage over people who are brand new to the platform.
I took his advice, downloaded the app and spent hours watching videos, playing with things, and fell in love with it!!! Then I started cranking out content! 🙂
You now have over 12,000 followers! Woohoo! What things did you do to grow your followers? Any tips for just getting started?
I’m over 19K followers now lol! 🙂 This is exactly what I’ve done to grow my followers: I do NOT ask for anyone to follow me or like my videos, I comment and engage with other people’s videos, consistently create content every day, respond to every single message, take all feedback and suggestions to make more content and better serve.
As soon as I hit 1000 followers, I started going live everyday as well – I actually do 4 live videos per day all with different content across different platforms and have noticed fellow Tikokers have followed me over to IG, FB, and YouTube too.
From responding to thousands of comments, I’m getting to really know my audience and how best to serve them – what content they like. The biggest thing, is I BE ME – being rooted in giving without expecting ANYTHING in return and replying to every comment or message (all my settings are open and public too.)
I’m looking at this like Gary Vee explains – keep it as pure as long as possible – business is a marathon not a sprint.
And I LOVE TIKTOK!! It just feels so right and I really enjoy it and the culture and community!
What are some tips for getting started on TikTok?
Tips for getting started – it’s exactly the same as getting started on any other social media platform. Recognize that you’ll have no clue about how to get started and things don’t make sense hahaha.
Start getting a feel for things by scrolling around – when you see a video you like, give it a heart, write a comment. If you really like it and get an idea, save it to your favourites. If you hear a sound clip you like and it gives you an idea for content, you can save that too.
TikTok GIVES you daily trending hashtags, trending sounds, trending ideas for videos – pick some that resonate with you and create your content!
TikTok also has this really cool feature where you can duet with other TikTokers – you can select that button and virtually engage/interact with people whilst at the same time creating content.
Has the platform been good for your business? How have you used TikTok to promote your business?
Absolutely – but not in I am posting this product and people flock to buy it kind of way. The reason people are following is because I’m not trying to sell them anything. I’m giving them content they enjoy.
My focus is on building culture, community. And by default, brand. I do post some of my TikTok content on Facebook and IG and that has helped attract new clients to me from those platforms as well
More importantly has been the profound ability to impact people – connect with people and truly help people just by being me. Having so many messages has really helped improve my cold market prospecting confidence too.
And the diverse cultures on TikTok lives – I’ve got people from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada, the US all engaging and commenting, and engaging with them, entertaining them, is helping me develop leadership skills.
Are you able to monetize with TikTok and earn income like on other platforms like Instagram or YouTube?
Yes, I’ve actually earned money from my live videos and have attracted people to me the same way as FB and IG.
How do you create a TikTok business account? Is there any perks to doing that?
It’s so easy, you just click a button – its free and you get all kinds of data and info – what videos your followers like and watch from other creators, what your trending videos are, graphs of your growth, etc
Where can we find more about you and your business (and of course, your TikTok account to follow you)
I’m on Facebook (both a personal account and a business page), IG, YouTube, LinkedIn.
IG handle is _julie_anderson_
TikTok handle is @julieanderson426
FB Personal is: https://www.facebook.com/julie.anderson.54738943
FB Business is: https://www.facebook.com/julieandersonmonat/
Find other ways to grow your online business and your brand here:
How Starting a Facebook Group Can Help Grow Your Blog Faster
Great article! My son mentioned TikTok a couple of months ago and I asked if it was the same as tic tac toe – doh!!
Love that you’ve had such success – now I must go download it and check it out for myself 🙂
Hahahaha! I love that! Yes, it’s definitely a platform to watch in the future!
I have been wanting to start with TikTok. But I am a bit intimidated. I set up my user name but didn’t realize I could make a business account. I’m going to try and just go for it. Wish me luck!
YES! DO IT! Drop the link when you’re up and running so that I can check it out!
Good information, I’m hearing a lot about TicTok and lot of people having success with it. I think it’s time for me start on this new platform too..
YES!!! Drop your link when you have it up and running. I’d love to see what you do with it!
I have been thinking about getting into marketing on TikTok and I think this was just the push I needed! Thank you!
Woooohoooooo! Drop your link when it’s up and running! I’d love to check it out.
I’m so glad you wrote on Tik Tok because I’ve heard of it but had no clue what it was. (No teenager in the house, just a cat.) It actually sounds really fun and I’m thinking I might like it better than Instagram. I just picked one platform to start with and that was Pinterest but I’m slowly starting to branch out. Great article!
Thanks, Heather! Now, a cat on TikTok might be super exciting lol
WOW this is really coming up a lot more than I thought. At first, it was really popular with singing and young teens / kids. Now for bloggers?! I’m barely getting into video ? perhaps I need to look into this more now for real haha
I think it might be a super fun and creative platform to share your message if done right. Drop your link if you get yours up and running! 🙂
Very interesting! I must admit that I have been puzzled as to how people have managed to get traffic from TikTok. Probably because I don’t understand how it works so reading this has been an eye-opener for sure.
You and me both, Pernille! Love that Julie could add some great tips for getting started. Now just to get out there and DO IT! 🙂
Great article! As a blogger and instagrammer, I’ve been hearing a ton about tik tok but wondered what all the hype was about. I thought it was all for a younger crowd but I can see a lot of potential for growing my brand after reading your post. Thanks for sharing!
Me too, Shannon! I am excited to try it out to see how it might help my business as well!
These are great tips! I started it, but need to implement some of these tips to make the most out of my TikTok!!
Thanks, Maira! So glad that you found some ideas to get your TikTok running!
I am a high school teacher (with a travel blog as a side hustle) and my students are constantly using my classroom as a tik tok rehearsal space – I would never have thought to use it as a platform to grow my business!! Loved reading this interview. It has given me a lot to think about!
I can totally picture that! lol My daughter is doing them EVERYWHERE so I can just imagine your classroom lol.
I loved this article! I honestly did not think of Tik Tok in this way for growing a business. When I hear about TikTok I think of younger teens using it but now, i am definitely going to look into this.
Thank you so much and so glad that you liked the post! I think it’s such a neat and creative platform to use for your business. Cheers!
My teenage son watches Tik Tok daily, and it never occurred to me that it could be used by bloggers to an adult audience! Thanks so much for giving me new ideas on how to share my content!
You bet, Jen! It’s crazy to think that I need some advice on getting on the platform from my 14 year old daughter lol. You’ll have to let me know how your first TikTok goes! 🙂
Thanks for this advice! I’ve created an account on TikTok and I’ve been watching and trying to learn. It looks like TikTok is here to stay for a while!
You’re welcome, Jennifer! It definitely looks like a fun platform to use… I need to get going on it myself! 🙂
I had honestly never thought of using tiktok this way but the wheels are turning now. Thanks!
Isn’t a neat platform!? I am excited to get in there too and check it out. You’ll have to let me know how things go with your own account.
Very interesting blog post. I will set up a tiktok account this weekend.
Thank you, Grace! I think it can be a really different and fun way to connect with your audience for sure! Cheers 🙂
Thanks for posting this! I have heard of Tiktok a few months back but paid no attention. As we have been stuck at home and playing with funny videos my 24 yo daughter suggested going on Tiktok so I will look into it for sure.
This is such a great time to do something on TikTok! I’m also making a plan with my 14 yo daughter to get on this while we are stuck at home! 🙂
Thanks for the intro! I had no idea about Tik Tok. Just that people keep talking about it.
Absolutely! I think it’s a pretty neat and new way to connect with your audience if the idea works for you. Interested to see where it will go in the future.
I downloaded Tik Tok a few days ago and I completely forgot that I did. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!
Yes! I keep meaning to get at it as well! Thanks for the reminder too! Cheers 🙂
Good information, Sasha! I’m really not up to date on all the platforms, so this was helpful!
This is really great article. Thank you for such help on TikTok.