Have you thought about using TikTok for business? If the answer is no, you’re not alone. The majority of people over age 20 didn’t even have TikTok on their radar a year ago. Even today, many adults can’t imagine how that TikTok app could add value to their life much less, their business!
The first few times that TikTok was suggested to me, I did not take it even remotely seriously. Eventually, it was recommended to me by a friend who I really respect as a business owner and who knows my brand very well. So I figured, why not? At that time, I was feeling super discouraged with the demise of my Instagram engagement and I felt like I really had nothing to lose.
I joined the app and tried my hand and making these catchy short videos. The first thing that surprised me was that I was actually having fun doing this. Coming from a place of being totally burnt out by social media, this factor alone was enough to keep me motivated. The next thing that surprised me was how quickly things took off. Within 3 months of having the app, I had grown to 35,000 followers. It became abundantly clear that this app was not just full of teenagers like I had originally thought because I also started getting tons of wedding inquiries from couples who were finding me on TikTok.
I felt like I had stumbled upon a pot of gold! I started reaching out to my other photographer friends to join me on TikTok. Many of them are now experiencing the same results and I honestly can’t believe how many photographers still don’t know about the potential of this app. To help spread the word, I’ve gathered the top 5 reasons that your photography business should give TikTok marketing a try.
5 Reasons Photographers Should use TikTok for Business
1) Your potential clients are probably already on there.
My biggest hesitation with using TikTok for business was that I didn’t think my potential clients were on there. I made this assumption without even looking into things for myself and boy, was I wrong. My potential clients are loving TikTok just as much as I am and the TikTok algorithm is connecting me with them. One of my favorite things is when I post videos from my favorite venues and get comments from couples who are currently planning their wedding there.
Here’s just a small taste of the comments that I get on the daily:
2) It can help you grow all of your other platforms.
So maybe you have no aspirations to be TikTok famous but you’re interested in growing your Instagram audience. I see so many tips online for “How to grow your Instagram” or “How to get 100 new Instagram followers this month”. But the most Instagram growth that I’ve had in years has come from the least amount of effort. TikTok makes it easy for your followers to go over to your Instagram by including an IG button right on your profile. I simply post TikTok videos that resonate with my niche audience. This catches the interest of people who love what I’m doing and they want to follow along on Instagram as well. No hacks or secrets needed!
3) TikTok is not just dancing and silly stuff.
If you’ve never actually downloaded TikTok and spent some time on the app, it’s hard to understand what it’s all about. Without being on the app itself, you’ve probably only been exposed to videos that people reshare onto Facebook… which are usually pranks, jokes, and other silliness.
TikTok content is a lot more diverse than you may have realized. The “For You Page” (TikTok’s version of the explore page) is tailored to your interests. My followers love seeing behind the scenes from my shoots, “day in the life” videos, helpful tips, and other content pertaining to my business.
If you’re wanting to give it a try but not sure what you would post, I’ve put together this free guide to help you get started.
Click to download: What to Post on TikTok for Your Photography Business
4) The algorithm is insane.
I have never posted something to Instagram and thought that it might get a million views. In fact, that has NEVER happened to me in the 7+ years that I have been posting on there. But this is a regular occurrence on TikTok and has already happened to me 3 times in just a few months. The TikTok algorithm is based on interest, not popularity. If you post good content, it has a chance to “blow up” no matter how small or new your account is. This is so refreshing if you’re used to pouring your social media posts and feeling like they never get seen unless you pay for an ad. I don’t know if the Tiktok algorithm will be like this forever but it is right now and you should be taking advantage!
5) It’s still in the early stages.
I am so glad that I opened my mind and gave TikTok a try. It’s kind of funny because another one of the reasons that I was afraid to try it is because most of my peers weren’t on it yet. So basically, I wanted to wait until it was completely saturated and much more difficult before I would give it a try. Why do I do that to myself? By being an early adopter, I get to reach more people and get a head start on learning this fun and fruitful platform. The way I see it, this can go two ways. TikTok can become the next big thing and everyone will wish they had started sooner. Or worst case scenario, it’ll eventually fizzle out (which I do not anticipate!). But even if that were to happen, I will still get to keep all of my new IG followers, email subscribers and bookings that TikTok has brought me. So that’s still a win and my book.
I hope this information has been helpful in understanding if TikTok should be your next marketing move for your business. If you’re ready to jump in and need some help, don’t forget to download my free guide for what to post on TikTok for your photography business!
Let’s be TikTok friends! Come find me at @kristenboothphoto
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