Curiosity Corner

TikTok – is it for you?

TikTok requires time, creativity, relevance and consistency to thrive. It is rare that you will post a TikTok, and it will ‘blow up’ and gain a lot of traction on the first try. However, if you have a clear strategy and invest time to produce quality content, this could well be the channel for you.

Feeling inspired? Here are 10 takeaways to get you started:

1. Reach a younger audience: TikTok’s user base is largely made up of younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, although it is important to note that its user base is aging up, making it a great platform to connect with a wider audience.
2. Be creative with your storytelling: TikTok is known for its creative, short-form video content. Use TikTok’s storytelling format to share emotional, human-interest stories about grant recipients, beneficiaries, volunteers, or team members. Share real stories, behind-the-scenes videos, volunteer experiences, or updates about your mission.
3. Use challenges and trends: Create or participate in viral challenges that align with your mission. This could be something like encouraging people to donate, volunteer, or raise awareness in a fun and interactive way (e.g., a fundraising challenge or awareness campaign tied to a trending hashtag).
4. Fundraising campaigns: TikTok’s Donation Stickers can be added to a creator’s video and live streams to encourage viewers to make a donation while remaining on the platform. Beyond donation stickers, TikTok is an ideal platform for sharing behind-the-scenes content, such as sneak peeks of upcoming events, fundraising activities, or the impact of your work. You can also create short, engaging videos showcasing your mission, featuring real stories from beneficiaries or volunteers, or even running creative challenges to encourage participation.
5. Use trending sounds: TikTok is built around trends so leveraging trending sounds, music, and hashtags can significantly increase your content’s visibility. By incorporating popular audio clips, songs, or sound bites that are currently trending on the platform, your videos have a higher chance of being discovered by a wider audience. Search trending sounds in the search bar – what is current and popular. You can search for things such as ‘charity trends’ via this search bar. Or look at more general trends and consider how they could be adapted to your sector.
6. Use trending hashtags: Use trending hashtags such as #ForYouPage, #Nonprofit, #GiveBack to increase your reach. Don’t just jump on trends for the sake of it – make sure your content is authentic and relevant to your audience. Using the right mix of trending sounds and hashtags while staying true to your organisation’s mission and vision will attract more engaged followers.
7. Engage with your communityDon’t just post, you need to interact. Engage with followers by responding to comments, asking questions, and encouraging people to share their own content related to your cause. One idea – invite followers to create their own TikTok’s showing their support for your cause.
8. Collaborate with influencers: TikTok influencers have a massive impact, and partnering with one who aligns with your mission can give your charity’s message a huge reach. Influencers can share personal experiences, promote fundraising efforts, or simply amplify your work.
9. Understand the For You page (FYP): This is the main page of the app, and it is personalised to each individual/organisation on TikTok. When you first download the TikTok app and create a new account, the content you see on the FYP is normally generic, showing videos with millions of views and likes as the algorithm doesn’t know what you like to watch yet. As you use the app more, and start liking videos, commenting and sharing videos with friends, your FYP becomes more personalised.
10. Set Up Analytics: As a business account, TikTok offers access to in-depth analytics, which can help you measure your success.

Ready to embrace TikTok? Here’s how to set up your account:

• Download the App: Install TikTok and sign up with an email, phone number, or social media account.
• Create a Business Account: Go to your profile, tap the menu icon, and select Settings > Account > Switch to Business Account. Choose the appropriate category, eg Nonprofit Organisation or Cause/Charity.
• Set Up Your Profile: Use your organisation’s logo or a relevant image. Ensure your username is clear and recognisable.
• Write Your Bio: Include a strong call to action, such as “Visit our website to support.” TikTok allows you to add a clickable link in your bio, which can drive traffic to donation pages or campaigns.
• Create Content: Post regularly, keeping your content authentic and engaging. Don’t worry about perfection—TikTok is all about real, raw, relatable videos.

Want a little more help?