TikTok Tips Tuesday
1. Stitch top-performing or relevant videos.
Stitch is a tool that enables you to combine another video on TikTok with one you're creating. It's yet another way to collaborate with other TikTokers, leverage user-generated content, and expand your reach.
Start by looking for top-performing videos in your niche. You can do this by using the search bar and typing keywords relating to your brand. Or, check if any videos directly mention your brand.
Once you find a video to stitch, tap the Share icon on the right-hand side. Then, tap Stitch. This will open an editing tool where you can select five seconds of the video to use in yours.
2. Use the green screen effect.
TikTok has many filters and effects, but one stands out from the crowd: the green screen effect.
Like a traditional green screen, this effect lets you stay on-screen while different images appear in the background. It adds a whole new level of storytelling by incorporating visual aids.
This filter is ideal for explaining topics, providing recommendations, or whenever visuals could complement your story.
For instance, suppose you're a fitness influencer. You could explain the proper form of an exercise by referencing photos in the background. In this case, the background visuals enhance your commentary rather than distract from it.
3. Leverage trending audio.
88% of TikTok users say sound is essential to the TikTok experience. It grabs people's attention and adds flavor to your content. And for many users, it's the starting point for creating a great video. Not sure what sounds are trending right now? TikTok's Creative Center ranks the most popular music and audio clips each day. You can even filter the results by region, which is helpful if your audience is in a different location from yours.
4. Try vlog-style videos.
Vlog-style videos feel more personal and intimate — which might explain why they're so popular on TikTok.
These videos typically include multiple clips tied together with a voiceover describing the series of events. It's highly engaging and lets viewers feel like they're living in your shoes.
5. Incorporate both niche and trending hashtags.
Making a TikTok is half the battle — you also need to ensure it lands in front of your audience. Hashtags are one way to get there.
Adding hashtags in your description gives your videos a better chance of being seen, allowing you to drive discoverability, build brand awareness, and extend your reach. But how can you do it?
This may sound counterintuitive, but only targeting popular hashtags is ineffective. While they command a larger audience, they're also highly competitive. On the other hand, niche hashtags have fewer people searching for them, but those who do are highly engaged and interested.
For example, #workout is a popular hashtag with over 95 billion views, but #coreworkout is more niche with a fraction of the audience.
A well-rounded hashtag strategy should include both niche and popular hashtags. Take a look at the example below.
6. Reply to comments with video.
On TikTok, almost every brand has the same goal: to connect with its audience. So often, that connection forms in the comment section. It's where viewers go to ask questions and share opinions.
Before, creators were stuck replying to comments with text, but now they can reply with video. This feature allows you to dive deeper into topics, answer questions, and keep your audience coming back for more.
7. Add value with "How To" TikToks.
"How To" videos and tutorials are an easy way to provide value to TikTok viewers without sounding overly promotional. Plus, positing yourself as an expert or authority in your niche keeps your brand, products, and/or services top-of-mind for viewers.
For instance, if you're a travel brand, you could film videos of must-see attractions, restaurant recommendations, and travel tips — like the example below.
8. Leave a CTA in your description and/or comments.
Need more engagement? Sometimes, it's as simple as asking for it.
The ultimate goal of a CTA is to persuade users to do something — follow your TikTok page, visit your website, leave a comment, and so on. So ask yourself, what do I want my viewers to do? Whatever you choose, it should help you move closer to your primary goal (i.e., drive website traffic, increase brand awareness, etc.).
Your description and comment section are prime real estate f9=or CTAs. Use this area to ask questions, encourage users to follow you, or drive traffic to your website, blog, or other social channels (ex., "More tips on my blog, link in bio!").
On top of that, if you're running ads, we recommend using a marketing integration tool, such as LeadsBridge, to sync all your lead data to your CRM.
9. Add subtitles to your videos.
In 2021, TikTok became more accessible with the introduction of auto captions. Although you can manually add captions — which allows for greater flexibility to play around with text color and font — you can also use the Captions tool. With just a click, you can generate subtitles for your videos, allowing others to read or listen to your content. By adding subtitles, you make your videos fully accessible, which means you can reach an even wider audience. Plus, it also helps viewers who want to browse TikTok but can't turn the sound on.
10. Explore top-performing videos in your niche for inspiration.
The most successful videos on TikTok are creative, out-of-the-box, and often quirky by nature. That's a tall order — which is why every brand should explore the top-performing videos in its niche for inspiration.
Start by typing keywords relating to your brand in the search bar. Then, click the filter icon and select "Most liked." This will populate TikTok videos that have gone viral using that specific keyword.
