TikTok is an app that lets users create and share short videos. The platform has become a dominant force in the social media landscape, with over 300 million monthly active users. It's also become a goldmine for marketers looking to reach audiences on a platform that offers more freedom than other social networks. However, only a select few are succeeding on TikTok. In fact, most marketers are making some critical mistakes that could be costing them a lot of money.
Here are five things marketers should avoid doing on TikTok:
- You have not participated in the trends.
If you're trying to grow your TikTok audience, it's time to get serious about trends. (You know what we are talking about!) You've been on the app for hours and you're starting to notice that some people’s videos are getting a lot more attention than others. It's because they know how to play the game: they're participating in trends. Trends are something that happens at random, but there are certain things you can do to make sure you get your foot in the door when one starts happening. One way is by using hashtags—but only if they're trending hashtags! Another way is by commenting on other people's videos about the trend so that their followers will see your comment and click on yours when they see it in their feed later down the road.
- You are not watching videos on TikTok.
There's no denying it: TikTok is the biggest social media platform out there. You can get more likes, followers, and views on TikTok than you can on any other platform. But if you want to build your audience on TikTok, you need to watch videos on TikTok. That way, you can see what type of videos people like and what kind of content works well with the platform. You can also learn about different ways to use the app and discover new features that might help you create better content in the future.
- You do not respond to comments.
When you first release a video, your viewers will leave comments on it. They may ask questions about the content or share their own experiences. If you don’t respond to comments, your viewers will feel neglected and may think that you don’t care about them. This is especially true if your channel is new, so it’s important to respond to comments as soon as possible. You don’t have to respond to every comment, but if someone has taken time out of their day to leave a comment, there’s no harm in replying. It doesn’t have to be long — even just saying thank you goes a long way. Plus, responding to comments will help boost your engagement!
- You are overselling your product.
You may be tempted to oversell your product on TikTok, but this is not the best way to do it. You will lose credibility and followers if you are not honest about what you are offering. If you are selling something, tell people what they can expect. If you are selling a service, explain how it works and why it is beneficial. If your product doesn’t fit into either category, you can still use an image that conveys what it does and why someone should buy it. Your goal is to have people click on your link, so make sure that your thumbnail is eye-catching and unique enough so that people want to know more about what you have to offer.
- You are not consistent.
How often you post is up to you, but it's best to keep things regular. If you wait too long between posts, your audience will forget who you are and why they subscribed in the first place. Some people recommend posting at least once a week, but others say that's too much. People with small audiences may find they get better engagement if they post less frequently — even once a month — while those with larger audiences can sometimes get away with posting several times per day. Keep in mind that if you want to use TikTok as a marketing tool, consistency is key as well. People don't want to feel like they're being spammed by brands, so try not to overdo it by flooding their feeds with content.