TikTok stories marketing?
Is everyone doing stories now?
Apparently, it’s not just Instagram and Facebook who are doubling down on the battle for short attention spans in the form of showcasing a creator’s daily life.
The undisputed king of short reels – after the Vine – is now doing fleeting stories as part of its bid to revolutionize its content offering.
TikTok is King
TikTok made its mark all over the world when it launched back in 2019. But it was in 2020 that a great number of the world’s population turned to the social media platform as a source of entertainment during the lockdown.
When it comes to the entertainment value that the platform offers, it is undeniable that it is way ahead of other social media spaces existing today. Whether it is to inform, educate, entertain, or simply express oneself, TikTok has become the go-to platform for people of all ages.
Quite obviously, users like the positive vibe it brings – the funny videos, from the pranks to the unassuming dance routines and challenges. Without a doubt, TikTok is this generation’s happy pill.
In August last year, TikTok executives confirmed that the platform is introducing TikTok Stories, which is designed to give people new options to give life to their creative ideas. Interestingly, it came at the heels of Twitter’s shutdown of its Fleets, which was considered a complete failure. TikTok’s executives clarified that TikTok Stories was not created to replace its existing features such as videos, Duets, Stitch. and Live.
While it was not clear at that time how long the platform intended to do its pilot test, social media consultant Matt Navarra already caught wind of the new feature after a couple of his followers sent him screenshots. It was understandable that social media users back then were suspicious of the feature’s longevity after seeing Fleets make an ungraceful exit.
After a year since it did its pilot test, it looks like TikTok Stories is here to stay, much like that of Facebook and Instagram. Most recently, Pinterest also introduced its Stories, which disappear after 24 hours.
Clearly, the preferences of social media users are changing. People prefer shorter videos and content creators do not want to flood their timelines or walls with short content. With Stories, they can post and engage with their followers and start fresh 24 hours after.
Read more: Twitter Outreach: The Master Guide
How to Post Content on TikTok Stories
Just a reminder: TikTok is only available in specific regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom. If you are unable to see some options mentioned, it means TikTok Stories is still not available in your region.
To post, follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Go to your profile and click the “Post” button or the “+” icon.
Step 2: Look for the “Stories” option at the bottom bar. If you’re based in the US and the UK and still cannot see the option, you may need to update your application.
Step 3: Click “Post to Story.”
It is worth knowing that when you post a story, TikTok automatically chooses the background music for you if you do not choose one yourself. Whether it is photo or video content, it is highly recommended that you do the choosing yourself.
TikTok does not allow adjustments to the privacy settings, something that content creators, especially influencers, ought to remember when they are posting sponsored content. A description, hashtags, links, and location can be added to your Story. You can also tag people if you want them to be notified that they were mentioned in your content.
If for some reason, you want to remove the Story you posted, all you need to do is to go back to the Story, look for the “…” button from your sidebar and click it. Once you swipe it, you will automatically see the “Delete” button.
Benefits of TikTok Stories Marketing
The question still remains: Will marketers be able to leverage TikTok Stories at all?
The answer is yes!
Here are a few ideas you can consider if they want to make the most of the feature:
1. Do a behind-the-scenes tour.
People love watching behind the scenes. It gives a different kind of excitement and makes the experience more personal for the viewer. It can be done by basically anyone, from ordinary brand users to celebrities, endorsers, influencers, and the like.
2. Introduce exclusive and timebound promos.
A fleeting window is a perfect opportunity to introduce exclusive promos that will only be available for a short period of time. A fleeting window of opportunity creates a sense of urgency, prompting viewers to act or they will lose the opportunity forever.
3. Answer FAQs.
Answering FAQs can be a fun way to create a break from the regular kinds of content that you post on your account. This can be fun, especially if an endorser, celebrity, or influencer is involved.
4. Make announcements.
If you want announcements to be noticed right away, TikTok Stories may be the best way to go. It can be brief. And it also has the potential to attract more viewers than usual.
5. Share random posts to connect with your followers.
A brand endorser talking about something so random is a very welcome surprise for a lot of followers or fans. The tendency would be for them to watch it repeatedly and invite their friends to watch it as well before it is gone for good. This can increase a brand’s engagement dramatically.
6. Introduce upcoming projects or opportunities.
Introducing something new via TikTok Stories is a lot of fun. Viewership or engagement for that particular content will surely go up. Choose something that will catch the attention of people right away.
Takeaways from TikTok Stories Marketing
TikTok Stories is not as popular and widely used as that of Instagram and Facebook yet, but who knows what the future will bring?
As the social media platform works on making this feature available in other regions, it is highly likely that it will become more popular with the younger generation. It is just a matter of time before marketers will see it as another explosive opportunity, where they can promote their brands.
