Daily posting unplanned videos on your TikTok account, won’t cut it — not for your business. You need to wire each of your videos around a specific theme, concept, or maybe even a “template” for starters.
THAT is what’ll bring in money and truly convert your TikTok account into a fully-fledged marketing channel for your business.
In this post, we’ll show you how to improve TikTok video branding for small businesses. From jaw-dropping success stories to easy ways to improve TikTok branding — we’ll give it all to you.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What is TikTok branding?
TikTok branding is when a brand strategically uses the TikTok platform to build and promote its unique identity. It involves creating and sharing content that reflects the brand’s values, engages the target audience, and makes the most of TikTok’s special features, like short videos with music.
Typically, you’ll need the following to begin your business’s TikTok branding journey:
1. Branding Assets
- Logo and Visual Identity: A well-designed logo and consistent visual elements that represent your brand.
- Branded Imagery and Videos: High-quality images and videos that align with your brand’s style. You don’t all of these beforehand, but you need to tick it off in each of your TikTok posts — for consistent branding.
2. TikTok Account
- TikTok Handle: A unique username that reflects your brand and is easy for users to remember. Ideally, we recommend opting for the same handle as all other platforms. In this way, your existing followers can find you on TikTok easily.
- Profile Picture and Bio: An eye-catching profile picture and a concise bio that introduces your brand.
3. Content Strategy
- Content Calendar: A plan outlining when and what type of content you will post.
- TikTok Ideas: A pool of creative ideas for videos that align with your brand and appeal to your target audience. You can begin brainstorming with this awesome list of TikTok and Reel ideas
Now, this is just the basics. To truly convert your TikTok into a space that naturally attracts your ideal buyers — you need to put in a bit more effort. And that’s what we’ll share in the next few sections.
TikTok Branding is Important: Jaw-dropping Success Stories
Before we take you to the ultimate blueprint of improving your TikTok branding — we need you to be crystal clear about your ‘why’.
Why are you building on TikTok? Why are you branding on TikTok? What could it possibly bring to your business? What kind of success should you expect?
To begin with, TikTok first surfaced as a video streaming platform only. But today, the majority of GenZ treats TikTok as a search engine.
That’s because this platform is home to unfiltered human experiences. You can find news, expert opinion, honest reviews, promoted reviews, personal stories, public-building journeys, and almost everything else. Plus, the platform’s got about 1 billion active users with 1.1 million creators. So, you get the idea 🤷 Content is overflowing!
Now the question arises; has TikTok worked for anyone else so far? Has any business generated real revenue with their efforts invested in TikTok?
Yep.
Check out these examples:
1. Lala Hijabs
@lalahijabs The hustle is real and it’s all worth it 🙏 #smallbusiness#hustleisreal#hijab#muslimowned ♬ Deserve You – Justin Bieber
That’s how they took off.
Even today, TikTok is Lala Hijab’s primary marketing channel. Whenever they launch a new product, they post about it on TikTok first. The results? Most of their products are SOLD OUT even before they make it to the shelves!
2. Noble Leather Co.
@nobleleatherco Answer @cranky_crab The one and only legendary belt video#oddlysatisfying #asmr #smallbusinesscheck #MySmallBusiness #sosatisfying ♬ original sound – Noble Leather Co.
We also recommend browsing his channel and taking notice of the following branding elements:
- He uses a proprietary hashtag: #LeatherTok
- He consistently used specific video formats like ASMR& how-tos to promote his products.
- He follows a similar length of videos too and maintains consistency in his color palette.
We’re going to show you how and why all of this matters in a bit. But for now, study Kyle’s channel and notice these!
Suggested read: How to incorporate brand color palette in videos?
3. Yaboy Chamoy
Yaboy Chamoy is a candy store that sells a variety of candies coated in proprietary Chamoy sauce. The founder, Mathew Crostwaite, says the recipe for this Chamoy sauce was passed down from his grandmother and he’s enhanced it further as per his tastes.
Hundreds of customers have ordered and absolutely loved their sweets.
Again, TikTok is the primary marketing channel for this small business. In fact, most of the customers of Yaboy Chamoy come from the close-knit community they’ve built on TikTok.
These are only a few examples of small businesses that benefited from TikTok. There are some HUGE businesses as well (like Hyundai, Wyze, and Sony) — that also benefited from TikTok and boosted their sales. Check out their case studies on TikTok’s page for Success Stories.
How to improve TikTok video branding?
Well, now that you know why you should improve your TikTok video branding — allow us to show you how you can actually do it.
1. Study your followers, look for key attributes
To truly improve your TikTok video branding, start by analyzing your audience to uncover specific elements and demographics.
For example, use TikTok analytics tools to determine the age groups that engage with your content the most, pinpoint their geographical locations, and identify their interests.
Once armed with this data, tailor your content accordingly. If you discover that a significant portion of your audience is interested in fitness, incorporate workout routines or health tips into your videos.
By aligning your content with your audience’s demographics and interests, you create a more personalized and engaging TikTok experience, which strengthens brand connection
2. Film with a consistent background
Consistency in your TikTok videos is not only about the content but also about the visual elements. Consider maintaining a consistent background throughout your videos.
For instance, if your brand is associated with nature and sustainability, film against a backdrop of greenery or eco-friendly settings. This visual cohesion not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also reinforces your brand identity.
We recommend experimenting with different backgrounds initially, and once you find one that resonates with your brand, stick with it. This simple yet effective strategy creates a recognizable and professional look for your TikTok content. It contributes to a stronger overall brand image.
3. Stick to one video editor
To maintain a uniform look and feel across your TikTok videos, stick to one video editor or a set of editing tools. If you switch to new editors or keep trying out new editing tools and techniques, you’ll never be able to establish a connection with your audience. Or build a recognizable identity.
Say if you prefer a vibrant and energetic style, ask your editor to use editing techniques that enhance colors and transitions consistently. This streamlining ensures that your content has a distinct and recognizable style, making it easier for viewers to associate the videos with your brand.
But if your vibrant posts a dull-colored post after every two posts — your audience will scroll past, unable to recognize you and actually hear what you’ve got to say.
If you’re new to the game, we recommend experimenting with your options. If you plan to outsource, consider the 15 top-rated video editing services.
And if you plan to edit it yourself, experiment with various editing tools initially. Once you find a style that resonates with your brand, make it a consistent part of your video creation process.
Both outsourcing and finding your style will not only simplify your workflow but also strengthen your brand’s visual identity on TikTok.
4. Invent a new hashtag
Remember how we highlighted Noble Leather’s proprietary hashtag in the previous section?
Well, it’s because proprietary hashtags help with both SEO and unique brand identity. So, it’s a good idea to boost your TikTok video branding by inventing a unique and memorable hashtag.
For instance, if your brand focuses on creativity, you might create a hashtag like #InnovateWithUs. It’s best to replace ‘us’ with your company’s name.
Also, encourage your followers to use this hashtag when engaging with your content or creating their own related videos. This not only organizes your content but also fosters a sense of community around your brand. We also recommend running hashtag challenges or contests to further encourage user participation.
5. Branding is connection, create offers
Branding is not only about what your audience sees about you. It is also a lot about how your audience feels about you.
So, go beyond visuals on TikTok. Establish a deeper connection by providing exclusive offers or promotions to your audience.
For example, you could offer a limited-time discount code exclusively for TikTok followers or provide early access to new products. This creates a sense of exclusivity and value, fostering a stronger connection with your audience. You may encourage participation by announcing these offers in your videos and directing viewers to your website or a specific landing page for details.
Note that by integrating exclusive offers into your TikTok strategy, you not only enhance your brand’s reputation but also incentivize loyalty and engagement.
Final Words
Another tip before we sign off: stay consistent!
And this applies to both your brand assets and posting frequency. If you change the face of your brand frequently, people will struggle to identify you. And if you post too little, people will forget about you.
So, make sure you’re consistent with your TikTok branding efforts. If time is an issue or the content is stealing your business activity time, shoot us a message…
We can offer you a free round of TikTok video editing and show you how outsourcing your TikToks to us will not only save you time but also become your gateway to more money! 🙂
