TikTok For Business

TikTok is getting organized. The addictive, endorphin-producing, AI-driven social video network has organized its advertising tools under the “TikTok for Business” banner. It has also added a new “Brand Scan” AR feature that lets brands do virtual product/message placement using AR. (The new feature directly competes with Snapchat’s “Sponsored Lens” and “Word Lenses” AR tools.)

I have to limit myself to 5 minutes per day on TikTok. Otherwise — like so many other poor souls — I would spend my life mindlessly scrolling through the most “customized and tuned to my brain” feed of videos anyone has ever put in front of me.

(Note: As I have previously written, there should be some kind of thoughtful regulation — or at least some industry self-regulation — about the addictive nature of these super-self-tuning systems. In November 2019, China passed laws requiring TikTok and about 50 other video and gaming networks to provide anti-addiction tools and access restrictions for users under the age of 18.)

Now that TikTok for Business (nothing new here except the Brand Scan feature) has organized its advertising tools in a smart, convenient, and easier to use way… buckle up. TikTok’s ad rates are (for reasons I do not understand) cheaper than Facebook and, in many cases, much cheaper than Google (GOOG,GOOGL). We’ve got lots of clients getting exceptional ROI and also very good awareness metrics using the platform. This is already interesting, and now it’s going to get much more competitive.

Will TikTok ruin itself by “selling out?” I don’t think so. TikTok’s AI will perfectly balance the number and type of commercial messages presented to match each user’s behavior. Insidious, yes, but wildly effective.

Take the Survey

• I have become aware of a product or service because of something I experienced on TikTok.*
  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree
  • Prefer not to answer or question does not apply to me
• It is hard to believe that a TikTok account that features a young person basically just staring into their smartphone camera can have hundreds of thousands of followers.*
  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree
  • Prefer not to answer or question does not apply to me
• There should be some kind of regulation to help reduce social media addiction.*
  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree
  • Prefer not to answer or question does not apply to me
• I am on TikTok daily.*
  • Strongly agree
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • Strongly disagree
  • Prefer not to answer or question does not apply to me
• I am interested in attending a workshop focused on generating business using business social media platforms (including TikTok).*
  • Very interested
  • Interested
  • Neither interested nor disinterested
  • Disinterested
  • Strongly disinterested
  • Prefer not to answer or question does not apply to me