Welcome to Crawdaddys’ TikTok marketing adventure! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share our experiences, blunders, and valuable insights from our first-ever foray into the first two weeks of our TikTok launch. As a restaurant and concert venue in Visalia, we embarked on this journey to connect with our audience, boost brand awareness, and create engaging content. Buckle up, fellow small businesses, as we spill the beans on what worked, what didn’t, and how you can avoid common pitfalls.
Crawdaddys owner and lead guitarist in the Crawdad’s band, which plays most nights on the first floor from 7 to 10, is Keith Korsgaden. Crawdaddys is one of our oldest customers. We have been hosting their website since we first moved up to the Central Valley. When we approached Keith with the idea, he was very open. “Let’s do it!” Keith was aware of the controversy surrounding TikTok, but due to his active social media presence in other outlets he knows the value of reaching his customers on the platforms that they frequent is key to his bottom line.
Status of TikTok
The US House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok. The bill requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app within six months or face a ban from US app stores. The future of the bill in the Senate remains uncertain, but if enacted, it would represent a significant challenge to TikTok, which is used by about 170 million Americans. We went into the venture knowing full-well about the controversy surrounding it, however. The campaign to save TikTok is growing. Read more about it here. The bill had not been enacted until after our first two weeks had already gone by. Even so, we’re continuing with our TikTok endeavors until it is no longer viable to do so. So watch along with us.
Overview of Crawdaddy’s Social Media
Before we got started with TikTok we analyzed Crawdaddys existing social media presence. The audit tells you where you stand, what’s working, what’s not, and where you should focus your efforts next. It’s a comprehensive check-up for your social strategy that can lead to more effective and efficient marketing. If you’re interested in getting one, Hootsuite will provide one when you sign up for a free trial. Note that we are not an affiliate, we just like their services. Even if you aren’t ready to get a full audit you should start out by just knowing how many followers you have on each social media platform. Crawdaddy’s followers are listed below.
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Shown above are the followers Crawdaddys has on the different social media accounts. Facebook has the most with 12,000 followers; Instagram has 1,277; X (formerly Twitter) has 455; Truth Social has 31; YouTube has 25 and Rumble has 19.
What is TikTok Marketing?
TikTok has emerged as a dynamic platform for small businesses to amplify their brand presence and connect with a diverse audience. With its highly engaged community, businesses can leverage organic content and paid ads to drive customer interaction and sales. The platform’s creative tools and analytics enable entrepreneurs to craft compelling stories and measure their impact, making TikTok a valuable asset for small business marketing strategies.
TikTok marketing involves leveraging the platform’s short-form videos to promote your brand, products, or services. It’s a vibrant space where creativity thrives, and authenticity rules. Let’s dive into our adventure:
1. Setting Up Your TikTok Business Account
Business vs. Creator Account
Before diving in, understand the difference between a TikTok business account and a creator account:
– Business Account Benefits:
– Access to business tools like ads and analytics.
– Ability to create an ecommerce storefront.
– Third-party tools for scheduling and managing content.
– Option to add a website link to your profile.
Creating Your TikTok Business Account
1. Download the TikTok app and create a new account. (Here’s the link to our new TikTok account @crawdaddysvisalia
2. Go to your TikTok profile and tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner.
3. Tap Settings and privacy, then switch to a business account.
2. Our Mistakes (Learn from Us!)
a. Ignoring Trends
We initially stuck to our comfort zone, creating generic content. Big mistake! TikTok thrives on trends. Lesson learned: Stay updated and ride the trend waves.
b. Underestimating Hashtags
We underestimated the power of hashtags. Tip: Research trending and relevant hashtags for your niche. They boost discoverability. Crawdaddys’ top performing hashtags are #crawdaddysvisalia #visalia #whosyourdaddy and #crawdaddys. There are also hashtags that others use, but also return Crawdaddys’ accounts in the search results such as #sinatratribute #cookingdemos etc.
c. Inconsistent Posting
Our sporadic posting schedule hurt our engagement. Takeaway: Consistency matters. Post regularly to stay on your audience’s radar.
d. Neglecting Interaction
We focused solely on content creation. Remember: Engage with other creators, reply to comments, and build a community. One of our major mistakes was committed on our first attempt. A video we had uploaded had text appearing over faces. A kind viewer pointed it out. Instead of commenting and thanking the poster, we deleted the video and thus lost all the views it had already received. Views are kings in the TikTok algorithm so this was a blunder. Lesson Learned: Encourage interaction.
3. Tips for TikTok Success
a. Know Your Audience
Understand your target demographic. What resonates with them? Create content that speaks their language.
b. Embrace Trends
Hop on trends early. Participate in challenges and use trending sounds. Be part of the conversation.
c. Storytelling Matters
TikTok thrives on storytelling. Craft narratives that captivate and evoke emotions.
d. Closed Captions
Add closed captions to your videos. Accessibility matters, and it boosts engagement.
e. Measure and Optimize
Track your performance. Use TikTok analytics to refine your strategy. (You can see our breakdown of four variables of Crawdaddy’s TikTok analytics on this post.)
4. Real-Life Examples
They collaborated with creators for a successful campaign. Authenticity and humor were key.
Their quirky, unexpected TikToks went viral. Remember, not everything needs to be sales-focused.
Conclusion: Jump in the Water’s Fine!
Our two-week TikTok journey was a rollercoaster, but we learned valuable lessons. Now it’s your turn! Dive into TikTok, experiment fearlessly, and let your creativity shine. Crawdaddys is ready to groove—how about you?
Remember, the best TikTok marketing is a mix of strategy, spontaneity, and a dash of dance moves. 🕺💃
