TikTok - your salon's latest marketing goldmine?

If you’re a regular social media user, then chances are you’ve run into a TikTok video. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are well-known to you, and chances are you use one or more of these platforms for promoting your hair or beauty business. Now you’re probably wondering if TikTok can also be utilised for growing your business. Well, grab your coffee or tea and let’s find out!

Understanding TikTok

Since its worldwide release, TikTok has made waves in the world of social media and app stores, comparable to those of Snapchat and Instagram. The app allows users to create short, 15-second videos with the use of background music and filters. Additionally, it helps you discover videos from other users that are related to your interests. Although it primarily appeals to a young demographic, TikTok is becoming more and more popular with various age groups - so now would be an opportune time to create an account for your business. Fang Digital has stated that “for businesses, this can be a good time to build a user base and enjoy organic advertising techniques to show off your products or services”. With over 500 million users worldwide and growing, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll reach your target audience on this app!

TikTok and your business - will it work?

Although synonymous with lip-sync videos, TikTok can be utilised to promote your hair or beauty business in a more natural and friendly manner. If you’re a fan of creating silly videos in the salon, then this app is PERFECT for you! Record them during a colour processing, a lively event you’re hosting or of you and your staff having a laugh before closing for the day. Don’t forget, you can include background music to add more energy to your videos, as well as hashtags to make it easier for users to find your page.

Keep in mind that your content is what attracts people to your page and eventually to your salon. Additionally, as stated by Business News Daily, “TikTok is also attractive because it is still, for the most part, uncharted territory when it comes to marketing. The app has only just begun exploring paid advertising and offers an open arena for influencers to fight for top positions”. For the hair and beauty industry, this social media network is at its infancy and salons are only just beginning to catch onto this trend. If you’re an aspiring salon owner who wants to share their marvellous hair and beauty creations with the world, then this is a fab way to do it!

How marketing works

Although TikTok is fairly new, the app prides itself on a number of marketing tools users can choose from. You can create videos and post them on your profile and work with various influencers or try something different, like creating infeed native content, brand takeovers, hashtag challenges and branded lenses.

Infeed native content are ads that are somewhat similar to story ads on Instagram or Snapchat and can include website clicks - which is great if you’re looking to attract new clients to your page!
Brand takeovers let brands control TikTok for a day, allowing them to create all kinds of content and challenges for users.
Hashtag challenges are created to encourage people to take on any number of challenges - sharing a video of you undertaking it at the salon and including the campaign hashtag will attract more viewers to your page.
Branded lenses come in all shapes and sizes - TikTok lets you create your own face filters and objects, allowing potential clients to have fun with them, while at the same time improving their bond with your brand.

Summarisation

In order for your business to grow on TikTok, it’s important that you not only have time to regularly post videos, but also make them lively. Remember, the majority of TikTok users are young adults, so it’s important that your content resonates with them. Luckily for you, TikTok works a lot like its social media counterparts, making it easy for you to use. It’s an ideal app to show off your creative side with beautiful videos of your creations, as well as the lively vibes in the salon. If you’re an aspiring hair and beauty star, TikTok is the place to do it!