Move over, you dancing teens and make way for serious brands on TikTok!

TikTok’s audience is getting more mature and the platform isn’t saturated with advertisements as of now. Making it a ripe platform to steer your social media marketing efforts and dollars to.

Even though half of the majory brands aren’t leveraging TikTok yet, the ones who have report great results.

One of the things that sets TikTok apart from other platforms is the trends that pop up. Trends offer a great way to get in front of a large audience and this post will get you up to speed.

Wait! Why Should My Brand Be On TikTok!?

Wondering if your brand should be on TikTok? Let’s solve that once and for all and to answer this question, I recommend you read this and this.

Though originally a fun platform for a young audience, TikTok has transformed into a cultural phenomenon over the last 2 years.

The audience on TikTok is getting older so it’s a great way to leverage your brand in a humorous way to get in front of new audiences.

And then add in the fact that TikTok isn’t saturated by advertisements yet, making it a great platform to focus on and experiment with.

Identifying Trends on TikTok

To start identifying trends on TikTok, check out the “discover” tab and the “for you” tab. Use “search” functionality to follow the hashtag #TrendAlert.

One way to identify TikTok trends that will resonate with your audience is to follow like-minded accounts.

Something to keep in mind is that by the time a TikTok trend is trending, your brand is already too late to the party. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the right trendy creators so that you know about trends before they happen. 

There are some TikTokers that JUST promote upcoming trends on the platform. It’s wise to follow them. Try following wavewyld and jera.bean.

I learn best from examples so I recommend you check out this list of trends on TikTok last year and this year for some inspiration and a good understanding of what trends on this platform.

Strategies Capitalizing on TikTok Trends

Want to trend on TikTok? Whether it’s your brand trending or leveraging TikTok trends to get in front of new audiences or starting a new trend, there are a few strategies that will help.

I could go on about these strategies all day but consumers love it when brands get straight to the point so here are my 9 points:

• Post consistently, at least 2 times per week
• Don’t be afraid to be a disruptor
• Experiment with different video themes, hashtags, etc to hone in on your approach
• Use some of your budget on paid TikTok ads to reach a larger audience
• Work with TikTok influencers who already have an engaged demographic
• Use a branded hashtag like Chipotle did here
• Use the right audio as the majority of videos that go viral creatively utilize sound
• Be humorous or even self-deprecating
• Keep your videos at 30 seconds or less

Social Selling on TikTok

Many brands are taking advantage of the fact that they can go “live” on TikTok. This shows that video content is no longer king, live video is the real royalty.

Social selling on TikTok engages audiences and can even be leveraged by aligning with a topic trending on the platform.

Social selling on TikTok just involves a host (or 2) who go live and engage with their brand’s audience often to make sales in real-time. 

And FYI, the average consumer will spend $518 on social shopping by the time the year is over which is up 27% from last year.

The Go-To Search Engine For Younger Audiences

40% of 18-24 year olds prefer to do brand research via TikTok instead of Google. If you can be lucky enough to trend on TikTok, the algorithm will favor your content and you'll be more likely to show up in TikTok search results.

As I mentioned earlier, TikTok is somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. It’s paving it’s own way with a new opportunity for brands to authentically connect with their younger audience. In fact, TikTok users are starting to use the platform as a search engine.

When a consumer is looking for quippy bits about your brand or your industry, don’t you want these consumers to discover your content over your competitor’s? That is why trending on TikTok is an experiment you can’t afford to let go.

Next Steps: I Want to Capitalize on TikTok Trends

A consumer may visit your brand’s TikTok page for entertainment. But once they see that your content resonates with them, they’re more open to a community building relationship that eventually converts into sales.

Because TikTok isn’t saturated by brands yet, there is a lot of room for your brand to go viral on the platform. Follow the strategies that I outlined.

TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes accounts that  post consistently and frequently so having a presence on TikTok and leveraging the platform to engage new audiences is crucial. You may be realizing by now that capitalizing on TikTok is a lot of work. If that’s the case for your brand, you may want to work with an agency that specializes in TikTok like Rossman Media and you can contact us here.

Do you have any strategies for brands to leverage TikTok trends? We’d love to read your insights in the comments below!