Unless you’re rich, famous or just plain lucky, becoming internet famous is virtually impossible in today’s social media landscape. Or it used to be, before TikTok burst onto the scene.
TikTok is a social networking platform that allows users to create and view short-form videos. It has over 800 million users worldwide and is one of the fastest-growing social networking sites. While it is immensely popular among Gen Z, it’s not just for teens. In fact, according to Monopolize founder Brett Knutson, it’s the most effective way to grow your personal or company brand organically.
Unlike Instagram, you don’t need to have a large following or recognizable name to have your content go viral. “If you post on Instagram and you don’t have any followers and you don’t use any hashtags, you will get zero likes. One hundred percent of the time,” explains Knutson. “But on TikTok, even if you don’t use hashtags and you have zero followers, you can still get views.”
The reason for this is that TikTok’s algorithm is literally designed to propel videos to viral status. “Their special sauce is that they’re giving people a shot,” says Knutson. Anyone can start from scratch and become a viral sensation, making it a great tool to gain brand awareness. “If you’re a new business, tor trying to grow your personal brand, TikTok is the way to do it,” says Knutson. “TikTok is a lot more friendly to new creators than Instagram is or really any other platform.”
Knutson offers the example of TikTok user @lexilicioussweets, the 16-year-old daughter of one of his friends who recently started a baking account on TikTok. Despite starting at zero, she managed to gain 1000 followers in just two weeks with one of her videos at over 200,000 views and counting. And that is the beauty of TikTok – you don’t need to be someone to grow; you just need to post high-quality, consistent content and let the algorithm do the work.
Another advantage of TikTok is that it can be utilized to grow your following on other social media platforms. “It’s very hard to grow on Instagram organically, so the best way to grow on Instagram or Twitter or any platform that’s older is to leverage the newer platforms,” he explains. “It’s a once in a generation opportunity to grow from literally nothing.”
So if you’re a new business or just wanting to grow your personal brand, stop wasting crucial time and download TikTok.
If you’re interested in learning more about Brett and his company, be sure to follow him @knutson or visit his website.
