TikTok exploded in popularity during the pandemic, and four years later, it\u2019s still going strong. After surpassing the 1 billion user mark in 2023, TikTok now boasts 1.5 billion monthly active users<\/a>. If you\u2019re not using TikTok for your business, you\u2019re missing out on a huge chance to reach your potential customers.<\/p>\n From trending sounds to live streams to viral challenges, TikTok isn\u2019t just about dancing anymore. And its active user base spans far beyond Gen Z.<\/p>\n In this article, we\u2019ll teach you how to use TikTok for business. We\u2019ll walk you through identifying trends, which editing tools to use, how to measure success, and more.<\/p>\n Note: this article is about how to use TikTok as a marketing channel for your business. To learn about the \u201cTikTok for Business\u201d platform, check out this article about TikTok advertising<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Bonus: Get a free TikTok Growth Checklist<\/span><\/strong> from famous TikTok creator Tiffy Chen that shows you how to gain 1.6 million followers with only 3 studio lights and iMovie.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Below, we\u2019ll take you through nine steps to set your business up for success on TikTok. We\u2019ll start with the basics of the platform. Then, we\u2019ll help you level up by creating a strategy, making engaging content, and running ads.<\/p>\n The first step is to set up your TikTok account and secure your username. If you already have a personal TikTok account, you can easily switch it to a Business Account. Scroll down to step 6.<\/p>\n It\u2019s free to create a business account on TikTok. The advantages of having a TikTok business account include:<\/p>\n One downside is that business accounts only have access to a limited music library. However, this is good: TikTok prevents business accounts from using copyrighted music<\/a>, so you won\u2019t accidentally use a copyrighted song in an ad.<\/p>\n Follow these steps to create your TikTok account<\/strong>:<\/p>\n 1. Download and open the TikTok app.<\/p>\n 2. Create a new personal account. You can use your email or log in with your Google, Twitter, or Facebook account.<\/p>\n 3. Tap Profile<\/strong> in the lower right corner, then hit the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.<\/p>\n 4. Tap Settings and Privacy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 5. Tap Account<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 6. Tap Switch to Business Account<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 7. Pick the category that best describes your brand and tap Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 8. Add your business email address to your profile.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s it! You now have a TikTok Business account.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Access exclusive, weekly social media bootcamps hosted by TikTok experts as soon as you sign up, with insider tips on how to:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTry it for free<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Before posting on TikTok, you must create a platform-specific social media strategy<\/a>. Having an Instagram or YouTube strategy is an excellent place to start, but remember that TikTok is very different in its content styles, user preferences, and algorithm.<\/p>\n Gathering information is the best way to build a winning TikTok strategy<\/a>. Here are the building blocks you need to get started.<\/p>\n The first thing you need to understand is the TikTok algorithm<\/a>. The algorithm is the one obstacle that stands between your videos and going viral on TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you want to hit the FYPs of your potential customers, you need to learn the factors that will help you get there. According to TikTok<\/a>, the algorithm ranks videos based on several factors. Those factors include user interactions with past content, the video\u2019s captions, sounds & hashtags, and viewer demographics.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a video about how to choose hashtags on TikTok:<\/p>\nHow to use TikTok for business<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Create a TikTok Business Account<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet better at TikTok \u2014 with Hootsuite. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Step 2: Create a TikTok strategy<\/span><\/h3>\n
Understand the TikTok algorithm<\/h4>\n