It’s been nearly two years since TikTok first became a popular app. Those in their 20s and 30s are the most likely to favour the app. And each day, new people sign up to join the party. This social media app now has more than 1 billion members and was the most downloaded app in the world in the year 2020. In fact, there is all the more reason to study how to grow a TikTok audience for the benefit of your online teaching business.
The Importance of Creating a Strong TikTok Community
As an online course maker, you should prioritise growing your TikTok community for the following reasons:
Spread the word about your brand to more people
Even in the year 2021, word of mouth is still one of the best strategies to promote your business. Friends’ product suggestions are trusted by 84% of consumers, according to a recent survey. The significance of this figure cannot be overstated when it comes to the marketing success of an online education business.
Develop a dedicated customer base
Brand loyalty used to be the main factor in a company’s continued existence for decades. Since there were fewer options, consumers tended to settle on one brand and remain with it for the long haul. The 21st century marketplace is far more fragmented than that of the past, and customers are less likely to be dedicated to a single brand.
To spend less on supplementary advertising methods
Online course businesses can save time and money by concentrating on building a community around their brands. Superfans: The Simple Way to Stand Out, Develop Your Tribe, and Create a Successful Company is a book by online entrepreneur, podcaster, and educator Pat Flynn about cultivating devoted customers.
Spend less on advertisements and more on actual human beings. Focus on finding and solving the largest problems experienced by your target audience instead than obsessing about the latest growth hacks and methods. Instead of focusing on increasing your conversion rate, consider how well you connect with your audience and make them feel valued.
Those who use TikTok versus those who use Instagram
Entrepreneurs in the digital sphere understand better than anybody how rapidly online platforms and social media apps can rise and fall. A short time ago, there existed the video-sharing software Vine, which became immensely popular among teenagers and launched the careers of numerous internet celebrities. Although it was quite popular, it eventually closed down.
All content creators on TikTok are treated equally
All users have a shot at being seen by their optimal audience thanks to the algorithm’s design (more on that below). There is a major benefit from this. If you’re a tiny online course maker without the funds to advertise on Instagram or Facebook, don’t worry; you can still build a community on TikTok and reach people who are interested in what you have to offer, so long as you provide them with great material.
Ads play a crucial role on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. To reiterate, this is how the company makes money while keeping the service free for customers. Yet, this compromises the integrity of the platform and the brands that participate in it. Advertisements and promotional-looking posts are ignored by consumers.
The reign of video content
Reportedly, 84% of consumers say they have made a purchase after being persuaded by a video. Four in ten respondents who responded to a HubSpot survey about the types of content they would like to see from brands cited videos as a top preference. Huge numbers of people are interested in watching videos. Part of the reason for TikTok’s success is this, and the app’s popularity is continuously growing.
Participation levels are unrivalled
Of all platforms, TikTok has the highest interaction rate. The engagement rate on Tiktok is around 18%, while for micro-influencers on Instagram it is only 3.84%. For business owners operating in the digital realm, the quality of interactions with their audience is more important than the quantity of followers they have. That’s why it makes sense to take advantage of apps like TikTok, which provide excellent possibilities for widespread interaction.
Is there a way to outsmart the computer programme?
Many internet business owners and marketers find the secrecy around social media platforms’ algorithmic processes to be their main source of stress. Nothing is certain; everyone has to take educated guesses about what will get them noticed, what will get them ignored, and so much more. Yet developing for TikTok is simple.
Locate a group to which you can belong
This app includes a plethora of communities covering everything from mental health to sexual health to books to business. When you initially join, it’s a good idea to look around for people who share your interests by reading through the feed and conducting targeted searches. Learn from their actions, the hashtags they’re employing, and the successful and unsuccessful content they’ve shared.
The next step is to start making material that will help others and serve your community. When using TikTok, remember to keep things light and interesting.
Participate in current styles by adopting commonly used phrases and music
The Explore page of TikTok is a great place to find popular hashtags and audio trends:
When you navigate through the For You page, you may begin to recognise patterns when you hear or watch the actions of other users who share your interests in particular sounds or videos. A keen eye on those tendencies is essential for achieving rapid expansion. Your chances of being noticed by more people on TikTok are increased because the app’s algorithm takes into account current trends and user reactions.
Interact with others
As we touched on briefly before, interacting with viewers in the video’s comments section is a terrific method to win over the algorithm. If you want more people to see your content, don’t be shy about responding to comments.