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| Small business TikTok ideas |
34 Small Business TikTok Ideas
Recently, In the world of social media, TikTok marketing quickly become one of the best methods to showcase your business.
The short video app, released in 2022, has more than 1 billion monthly active users and is the most downloaded app in the Apple App Store in the second quarter of 2022 with more than 60 million downloads.
TikTok is known for memes, challenges, dance and viral moments, TikTok has attracted top brands and small businesses alike. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find a top seller that hasn't at least tried the app.
How do I start a small TikTok business?
To start a small businesses on TikTok, there are a few things you need to do:
- Create engaging and creative content that appeals to your target audience.
- Use hashtags, trends and challenges to get your videos seen.
- Build a strong profile and engage with other users on the platform.
- Use TikTok ads to reach out to more people about your content.
We enlisted the help of a TikTok small business expert to give you some ideas to get you started. And, if you're already using TikTok, you might be able to get some new ideas.
TikTok business account vs creator account
Why small businesses should be posting on TikTok
We’ve established that TikTok is popular, but does that mean it’s actually helping people discover your brand?
The answer is yes. Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok doesn't just show you videos from people you already follow. The app's home page, dubbed "Recommended for you," is a constant stream of content mixed with TikTok videos from people you don't follow but that the app thinks you might like. This means potential customers are more likely to find your videos without going directly to your profile.
TikTok can do wonders for your brand, but the trick is creating content that people actually want to see, like and share.
This unique approach to discoverability turned accounts into overnight stars and drove exponential growth in brand-published video content.
There's even an in-app #smallbusiness community for entrepreneurs to share and improve content with their own trends, sounds, and hashtags.
Meet your small business TikTok expert
Erin Dubs is the owner of Azur Fit, a fitness apparel brand she launched in August 2018 . She started out with tank tops, but demand expanded her collection to include leggings, sweatshirts, bras and swimwear.
Erin has amassed 126,000 followers on her TikTok account @erinndubs, where she promotes her business and offers a glimpse behind the scenes.
"TikTok cannot be ignored," Erin said. "When you have it, it definitely takes you to the next level."
If she has a popular TikTok, the effect is immediate, she said.
"When that happens, there are always 300 people on the site throughout the day. It will get 60,000 views in a few days," she said.
When Erin first went viral on TikTok, her inventory was emptied.
Even TikToks with smaller views are valuable because they still drive so much traffic to her website and Instagram, she said. Other founders have seen similar results, using TikTok for business to raise awareness of their ventures.
“It refers to your website, and it does really well. So sometimes I just want that reminder, like, oh yeah, make a TikTok today.”
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| Small business TikTok ideas |
34 TikTok ideas you can use for your small business
You are authentic on tiktok? We talked to Erin about the tried-and-true format she uses, which you can try yourself.
Organizing inventory
If you are a small product-based business, you can specify how you want to organize your inventory. This content may be helpful to other small business owners, and will help your clients see all the hard work you put into them that they may not have thought of.
Showcasing the inner workings of businesses is one of the most popular types of videos companies post on TikTok.
Erin said “I always tell people to be transparent on TikTok,” ."People want to see evidence about your work, whether it's talking about your sales on launch day or shipping your first order ."
This doesn't mean you have to get into all the details, but showing how you run your business will give a human touch and satisfy curiosity. You'd be amazed at the things people find interesting that you probably just see in your everyday life.
Erin says "No matter what stage you're in, there are always things to talk about," .
Erin, for example, posted a video showing her stockroom getting ready for a pop-up event and receiving inventory through an office window. These ideas not only provide transparency but show that your product is popular.
- also You can try filming TikTok from:
- Celebrate milestones like your 100th sale or anniversary
- Prepare for new product launches
- Demonstrate how to design and select products.
@aliyahcosmeticss All my new inventory has arrived. I can’t wait to show my new gloss collection #smallbusiness #businessowner #gloss #lipgloss #lash #lashes #supportme ♬ original sound - goalsounds
Introduce yourself
A great first TikTok video for small business owners is to introduce yourself. The more personal your business feels, the more people will resonate with it. Share your name, some fun facts about yourself, and a little bit about your business so people can get to know you as soon as they follow you.
Workspace Tour
Share your workspace with clients! You'll love seeing where your products are made. Do you have your own home office? Do you have retail outlets? Do you work at the kitchen table? By showing off your workplace, you help your clients identify with you more.
@ktscanvases where I work #fyp #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #officetour #smallbusinesscheck #foryoupage #onlinebusiness ♬ Buttercup - MixAndMash
Packing Orders
One of the most common small business videos you're likely to see on TikTok is about packing orders.
This is your chance to show potential customers what to expect when the package arrives. This is an especially good idea if you're adding things like giveaways, thank you notes, or special packaging.
Some businesses on TikTok even have customers request to see their order packaged in the video, which is a special bonus for them if you have the time. Remember to never give out the client's personal information such as his full name or address.
. Seeing how a company packs an order is satisfying, and your customers will love seeing what happened before they received their order.
Erin implemented the idea by capturing the time-lapse of her and her staff packing an order.
@erinndubs @azurfit ♬ Chinese New Year - SALES
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| Small business TikTok ideas |
How to Start
There are other small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs on TikTok who would love advice, and you can offer it. When they are attracted to the suggestion, they can also become customers and help grow your following so more people see your TikToks.
This format has been a winner for Erin and has attracted many followers. For example, Erin shared:
how to find the manufacturer
How to successfully launch a new product
What You Need To Do (And Not To Do!) To Start A Fitness Apparel Business
@ritaoffline #smallbusiness #businesstips #smallbusinesscheck #hustlecheck #sidehustle #business #smallukbusiness #onlinebusiness #businesscheck ♬ Lose Control - MEDUZA & Becky Hill & Goodboys
Best Marketing Channel
Remember: TikTok is not LinkedIn. The entertainment element should be there. "I think the most effective thing is anything you can do to get people's attention, whether it's information, tips, something educational, or something fun and different," says Erin.
@erinndubs #entrepreneur #shopify #business ♬ original sound - Armando
@thesuburbanfarmhouse How we started our small business #smallbusinesscheck #etsy #etsyshop #womenwhobuild #smallbusiness #homeproject #farmhouse #farmhousedecor ♬ Sonic the Hedgehog - Super Guitar Bros
What You Wish You Knew
Another high-quality video content that small businesses can share on TiKTok is something they may have learned on their journey as a small business owner, or wish they had known sooner.
Mistakes You Make
How to use products
You don't want this to be the only type of TikTok you post, but you should definitely showcase your product or service.
@rapunzille How to style the Rapunzille “Star Struck Ear Threaders” 2 ways. #jewelrybusiness #jewelryhack #howtostyle #jewelrytips #smallbusinesscheck ♬ How to style the Star Struck Ear Threaders - Rapunzille
Show off the details
Do you have a product with amazing details? Share your up-close and personal observations of products to show what makes them special, but here are some ideas:
- Showing off the stretch of your fabric
- Showing a product resisting water or weather
- Showing how to use a skin care product
- Pairing jewelry with an outfit
- A timelapse of the burn time of a candle
- Creating a makeup look
- Cooking with your cookware or utensils
- Sipping from a handmade mug
New product launches
You can even create buzz for new products by teasing them on TikTok before they launch. This gets customers ready to buy when the product is available, while also showing that you have the ability to grow your brand.
Erin did just that when she launched her swimwear line. She started with a model wearing a new bikini on the beach, followed by wearing a bikini herself and showing off the details, before posting a third TikTok with a trending dance and voice.
This is a great way to show what makes your products unique, establish demand for them, and talk about how you respond to your customers' needs.
@erinndubs do y’all like my hair!? Also I’m wearing a size medium! #entrepreneur #businessowner #smallbusiness #shopify #bossbitch ♬ Baby - Instrumental - Dibyo
Know yourself or your employees
TikTok is an app driven by people and personalities
.TikToks where people just talk to the camera is the main source for the app, but you don't have to have the sparkle of a full-time influencer for this format to work for you.
People love getting to know the people behind a brand to add a human element. Seeing a face is also more attractive than a steady stream of products.
This can be a challenge if you're not used to being in front of the camera, but it will get easier over time as you become more familiar with the app.
Erin can be seen in her many TikToks, whether giving advice or modeling a product, and her co-workers (and office mascot!) also make appearances.
@erinndubs #office #mascot #frenchbulldog ♬ I look like this - Kéria Lové
Photoshoot Tips
Did you take the photo yourself? Did you learn anything that could help other small business owners take better photos? This can be anything from how you style your photos for your Instagram photo shoot, such as the settings on a professional camera, or the type of lighting you use.
@westmain #howto #flatlay #flatlays #smallbusiness #smallbusinesscheck #photoshoot #photo #flatlayphotograpy ♬ original sound - Shop West Main
The first is a duet
Once enabled, you can create a TikTok with other people's videos next to it. This is a fun way to respond to customers who create videos to showcase their orders or review your products. Also you can encourage people posting these kinds of videos by offering discount codes.
@erinndubs Reply to @harjanbadesha #ecommerce #shopify #businesstiktok #entrepreneur #business #smallbusiness #businesshacks ♬ Buttercup - Jack Stauber
Interact with customers
TikTok's tools facilitate interaction in a variety of ways.
Another option is to create videos based on comments. When a customer asks a question or compliments you, you can click reply and shoot a video with their comment overlaid.
For example, in this TikTok, when asked how she packs an order, Erin responded by shooting a video to demonstrate the process.
@erinndubs Reply to @harjanbadesha #ecommerce #shopify #businesstiktok #entrepreneur #business #smallbusiness #businesshacks ♬ Buttercup - Jack Stauber
Find trends
If you're really looking for an idea, TikTok will never be short of popular sounds, stickers, memes or challenges.
It takes some time to scroll through TikTok and see what's trending right now. Following other businesses and seeing what they post is a great way to get inspired.
In the post, Erin used a trending sound to make a joke about her expenses.
“When I have free time myself, I scroll TikTok for an hour,” Erin said. “I just listened to the sound and thought: How can I apply this in my office? How can we put a skit together, or apply it to something interesting that happened recently, even if it’s not necessarily business related ?”
Favorite DIY
Success story
@tinachencraig How to turn your passion into a career #learnfromme #edutok ♬ オリジナル楽曲 - 🐷きょっちゃん🐽 - きょっちゃん
About your business name
@whatevalola My name isn’t Lola... but here’s why I named my shop “Whateva Lola” 🌈🐶 #smallbusiness #doglove #fyp #shihtzu #puppy #storytime ♬ original sound - whatevalola
Meet Your Pets
@ciaraturnerart What a day of packaging orders looks like!! 💖 #fyp #foryou #smallbusiness #businesscheck #xyzbca ♬ Moon (And It Went Like) - Kid Francescoli & Julia Minkin
Start to Finish Timelapse
Your inspiration
Supplies needed
@geraldandfaith BE A CEO — found these on Amazon #businesscheck #smallbusiness #businesstips #ceoof #myaesthetic #relationshiptips #PlayWithLife ♬ original sound - Gerald & Faith
The Best sellers
Product Displays
Most requested service
Share a discount code
Listing Products Online
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| Small business on TikTok |
Stock Updates
Ask for follows
Host a giveaway
Shout-Out to Other Small Businesses
@madebybusby Small biz shoutout to mintmakerstudio cause look at these fab stamps 👏🏻#fyp #shopsmall #foryoupage #shophandmade ♬ When Will I See You Again - Shakka
Reasons to Shop Small
Say thank you
@baycreekandco I can’t wait to get back to normal and open up Baycreek & Co! #womeninbusiness #entrepreneurlife #modernfarmhouse #homedecor #ourcommunity #boutique ♬ Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne
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| Small business TikTok |
On TikTok, authenticity is key
Erin stumbles upon her TikTok strategy, but it's an important lesson about authenticity. Viewers on TikTok don't just want to be sold, they want to be inspired or entertained by real people.
In fact, it took Erin two tries for finding her sweet spot on TikTok . She originally launched @AzurFit to show behind the scenes of her products and photo shoots. But she realized that while she gained some followers and views, it wasn't translating into sales. Viewers don't really become new customers.
She left the account for a while before restoring the app and switching the account to her name. This time, she took a more personal approach, showing off her personality or participating in challenges.
Then one day a commenter asked her how she runs her business and she answered some questions. She started posting about her business on TikToks and offering advice. This opened up a whole new target group for her.
Since then, she's had several viral TikToks, gained followers and increased sales.
"It's really cool. Instead of talking about my product directly, I'm giving business tips that translate into sales," she said.
She realized that taking a more human approach, rather than just pushing the product, could actually sell her clothes.
Get out there and do some TikTok magic
By now, you should have some small business tiktok ideas for getting started with TikTok or recovering your account. there are different ways to use Each format . So if you only use these ideas, you can post regularly.
TikTok is fickle, and it's important to know the best time to post on TikTok. Some videos become success stories and some don't - you just have to keep trying new ideas and experimenting. you never know when you'll be big . There's always the potential for something simple and unremarkable to go viral, Erin said.
"It's awesome. It's free advertising, otherwise you'd spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to get that kind of attention. So why not try it?"
Small business TikTok ideas FAQ
Is TikTok good for small business?
Yes, TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform with over 1 billion monthly users, allowing your brand to reach a broad audience.
What is the most popular small business on TikTok?
Does it cost to have a TikTok business account?
No, creating a TikTok business account is free.