by By: Malia Kappelman
TikTok is a social media app that launched in app stores internationally in September 2017. The app was designed to make, edit, and share short videos with music or voiceovers. The app now has 1.8- 2 billion users per month, and has consistently stayed one of, if not the most used, apps in the app store.
Through trends, engagement, and quick popularity growth, people have been able to grow their following over a matter of months, weeks, days, or even hours. This mass following that happens can quickly change people’s lives in terms of money, press, opportunities, and recognition.
With this opportunity for quick popularity, a whole new world of possibilities not only for people looking to become “TikTok famous”, but also for people who are looking to grow their small businesses. Whether these businesses are people’s hobbies at home or smaller store brands, this app allows for a wide demographic of people to become aware of these things in a very short amount of time and inevitably increase sales.
The University of Houston posted an article addressing how small businesses can use TikTok as a new tool that, until recently, companies did not have access to. It focuses on the importance of finding the audience that you need for the product that each company is trying to sell. Once your audience is found, you can then analyze how you want to market to that demographic. Depending on the budget a band has, there are also now options for paid ads and selling your products through the TikTok Shop.
According to Emarketer, TikTok has supplied 4.7 million jobs, and 7.5 million US businesses are on TikTok. 74% of businesses reported that the app has helped them increase sales, hire more employees, and expand overall.
References:
TikTok, TikTok Shop, Emarketer, University of Houston
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Hi Malia! I love your blog post! The breakdown of audience targeting and marketing tools like TikTok Shop makes the platform’s impact even clearer. Nice work! You also do a great job highlighting how TikTok’s rapid growth has reshaped opportunities not just for creators, but especially for small businesses!
Hi Malia! I like how you show that TikTok isn’t just for dance videos or memes, but can actually level the playing field for small businesses with little a very very small budget. The part you included about reaching “a wide demographic of people … in a very short amount of time” really shows how powerful social media can be for someone just starting out.
Hi Malia! This is a great overview of how TikTok has completely changed the game for small businesses. I like how you break down the shift from the app being just a place for short videos to becoming a real engine for visibility and sales. The idea that someone can go viral overnight and suddenly have opportunities, customers, and exposure they never could’ve reached with a traditional marketing budget is so true, especially for homemade brands or passion projects. It really shows how crazy TikTok can be, giving small creators and businesses the same chance at attention as bigger companies.