It feels like all I hear about on the news and online lately is “TikTok”. They even had a Super Bowl ad. But what in the heck IS TikTok? Is it important to your business?
First, some background info:
TikTok is (just) another Social Media platform much like Instagram, Facebook and all the others. Just a different formulation. It is video sharing; TikToks allows you to create a short video of 3-15 seconds or looping videos of 3-60 seconds. You can add music and fun icons and super cool effects. Adding the music leads to a lot of fun lip synching (who knew that would come back already!) They SAY it is for everyone because the app is so easy to use.
TikTok is owned by a company called BrytDance, which is in Beijing and was founded in 2012. 2017 was the first launch of apps for mobile phones. It was the most downloaded app in 2018! Some nitty-gritty details at Wikipedia if you are into that stuff:
My TikTok Experience
Now, for the test drive. But first a confession – my test drive was in September of 2019. And then I let this idea sit until now, when TikTok seems even MORE popular than it was. My pause in this test (although inadvertent) has been beneficial though, which I will elaborate on later.
So, back in September, 2019, I set up a TikTok account – setting up a TikTok account is much like setting up any other account or Social Media profile online. Nothing new here. Login, password, set an Avatar all that fun stuff.
Then what?
I started searching and scrolling and linking and following. Then I made a couple videos.
I admit here that making the videos could be HIGHLY addictive. You do it all on your phone and there are tons of really fun things you can do. I would imagine if you spent enough time on here you could get really great at it (much like some of what I see now, in 2020).
That was fun, right?. And I started getting people following me and it was fun for a little bit. But 90% of what I found on TikTok appeared to be teens or 20’s doing some dance moves, or selfie-type things. Some of them were actually a bit disturbing and made me wonder about what sort of society we are going to wind up with when these folks are adults in the world. Eventually I just got tired of it and stopped using it. I don’t need another social media outlet and this was of absolutely no use to me at all except to waste time of which I don’t need any more opportunities.
And now it is February, 2020. Five months later. And I went back into TikTok when I decided I needed to finally write this article. It has changed SO MUCH. I think now the majority of what I saw were much more professional videos and more and more and MORE “business” type videos. Athletes, TV Shows, Movies, Actors, Musicians… I was really startled. There did still seem to be the occasional tween doing some dance which was pointless (to me anyway), but not as much by far.
This makes me wonder if the TikTok craze will soon die, as it has changed so much in just five months?
But does my business need to be on TikTok?
If you are a Gary V fan, you’ve been hearing about TikTok for AGES now. He is where I heard of it and why I decided to investigate it. Gary V says any form of communication your business can have it SHOULD have.
Of course, not all of us have the time to post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, SnapChat, YouTube, whatever else, and now TikTok. It really is what works for YOUR business. The age range on TikTok seems to currently be under 18 – perhaps that is growing… But, if your business has nothing to do with 18 & under then perhaps it isn’t for you. TikTok IS growing by leaps and bounds, and some people think it is going to be link Instagram. Instgram started the same way; the kids were using it. Some people jumped in early and had a lot of success and now everyone is on it, and success varies.
Conclusion:
For myself, personally, I don’t need yet another Social Media channel. I don’t even like Stories because it is just one more place I have to look! So I won’t likely be continuing on TikTok. If my business was something I felt could make some headway via TikTok, I might set up a business account to give it a try. I think I will go back in a few more months to see what the landscape looks like and review again.
About Digital-Melissa: I am a veteran of all things internet, located in Rhinelander, WI. 20 years in eCommerce with everything from design to copy, social media, marketing, project management, website help & management plus more. Contact me today if you’d like to talk about how I could help your business.