As an ecommerce entrepreneur, you might be wondering if launching your brand on TikTok makes sense. After all, isn’t the platform mainly just for fun dancing or singing videos?
While you can certainly show off your best dance moves or musical talents on the social network if you’d like, you certainly aren’t limited to this type of content!
In fact, as TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, brands everywhere are taking to the platform to grow awareness, expand their reach, and ultimately boost site traffic and sales.
If you don't know where to begin when it comes to incorporating this social network into your marketing strategy to get the greatest number of views possible and maximize engagement, here are some of the best video ideas that you will want to consider trying today!
What are the best types of videos to post on TikTok for more engagement?
When it comes to the best kinds of TikTok videos to share with your followers, you'll probably find that what trends work well for some brands won't bring such great results for others. That being said, here are some popular video ideas to post that can easily be adapted to different brands and are likely to be a hit with the people following you on the social media platform.
1. New product teasers
Looking for a way to build anticipation for a new product launching on your ecommerce site? Give your audience a brief glimpse of your future bestseller via a fun, high-quality TikTok video!
You’ll have tons of freedom when creating this kind of content and deciding how you want to promote your online store’s offerings. Although TikTok videos can be up to 10 minutes long, remember that most users on this social media platform are generally used to viewing content that’s much shorter in length. For this reason, it may be best for you to aim to keep your clips announcing new releases on the briefer end.
If you’re worried that you won’t be able to entice your audience with your product launch in a video that's just a few seconds long, don’t be! In fact, 30 seconds or less is often more than enough time to pique users’ curiosity and encourage them to learn more about what you have for sale.
In this example from e.l.f. Cosmetics, for instance, the popular brand shows off its new Cookies and Dreams collection, highlighting various items in a 16-second clip with chill music playing in the background.
@elfyeah Introducing our new delicious Cookies and Dreams collection \ud83d\udc4f What product is catching your eye? \ud83d\udc40 @moodsandviews #cookiesanddreams \u266c original sound - elfyeah
Source: @elfyeah
2. Product demonstrations
If your product requires a bit of explanation on how to use it or has a special feature that you want to highlight, consider putting this into a fun video as a way to sell on TikTok.
How-to tutorials or videos demonstrating your product’s feature(s) are really good marketing tools and can aid in convincing on-the-fence shoppers to head to your ecommerce site, add the item in question to their carts, and finalize their purchases in no time!
Again, while you’ll have up to 10 minutes to explain your product in your video, TikTok users’ attention spans are likely to expire way before this. It’s therefore generally best to use this platform for quick demos, saving longer content for other social networks or your FAQ page on your online store.
3. Behind the scenes
Behind-the-scenes content is popular across the wide spectrum of social media platforms, making it a great option whether you’re looking for Facebook post ideas, Instagram post ideas, or TikTok video ideas. This is because it allows companies to grant their audience an inside look into their brand universe. Furthermore, it can help show people the human side of a business.
In addition, this video idea can be adapted to nearly any type of online store. For example, you can show orders being packaged to be sent to your customers; give your audience a tour of your office, warehouse, or other workspace; demonstrate your product-creation process for a particular item; etc.
Behind-the-scenes videos also provide the perfect opportunity to share a day in your life with your followers. Post a video that will give other users a look into what your life is like as an entrepreneur, allowing them to put a face to your business.
Don’t feel like you have to have the most expensive equipment to show off in the background of your videos or present your business in a way that doesn’t seem authentic to you. Above all, consumers crave realness. Sharing behind-the-scenes clips is simply a way to give your current and potential customers alike a peek into your world and make them feel closer to your brand.
4. Hashtag challenges
Participating in a hashtag challenge or even creating an original one of your own is perfect for expanding your reach on social networks like TikTok. The great thing about hashtag challenges is that there’s really something for everyone.
Whether you want to make videos that educate, entertain, or do both, you can easily find or launch a hashtag challenge to suit your needs and possibly cause your brand to go viral!
In this example of a hashtag challenge done by Adidas, the brand gets involved in the #putafingerdownchallenge and brings awareness to some of the issues that many women face while running. Although the two people in the video are sporting Adidas products, the clip itself is less about promoting a product than it is about showing support for members of the brand’s community.
@adidas How can you be an ally to your female running community? #Running #RunningTok #putafingerdownchallenge #womensrunning #runners \u266c With Women We Run - adidas
Source: @adidas
5. Q&A sessions
An excellent method for strengthening connections with your TikTok audience is to answer their questions in a video.
Begin by first creating a short video requesting that your followers send you their questions. In this clip, you can specify if you’d like people to ask questions about your products, your business, your personal life, etc. Of course, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also always keep it open, see what kinds of queries you get, and go from there!
After a follower sends you a question, you can simply click “Reply” and create a video that displays the question that you received and features your response. This TikTok video idea tends to work really well for brands, as it shows viewers that they care what they have to say.
6. Reactions
Another fun way to interact with your followers on TikTok is through the platform’s special Duet feature. Duets work by allowing you to record your own video as it plays alongside the video of another TikTok user. This type of content is really popular with people on the social network, as it offers a way to connect with other TikTokers and build a sense of community.
When it comes to ecommerce marketing, this can be used to, for instance, react to your customers’ videos showing them unboxing their orders from your online store or using your products. You can use the reaction videos you post to share tips, for instance, if you find that one of your followers is facing a challenge related to your offerings or your field of activity.
To encourage your followers to share their videos featuring items that your store offers for sale, you might opt to create a hashtag related to your brand and/or offer a code for a small discount for every video posted.
7. Trending sounds
Stuck in a creative rut regarding what types of videos to share on TikTok? Don’t worry, there’s always an endless supply of trending sounds and music that you should feel more than welcome to use for your own content!
While you won’t want to make clips incorporating trending sounds exclusively, jumping on a trend is a great way to connect with other TikTok users, get more views, grow your reach on the platform.
For example, GoPro gadgets can be used for a wide range of activities, everything from snowboarding to mountain biking and beyond. In this particular TikTok video, though, the brand uses the popular “I’m just a baby” sound clip that’s gone viral to play on people’s love for cuteness and show one of their products being used to get a closer look at some adorable red pandas.
@gopro No, they aren’t stuffed animals \ud83e\uddf8 Shot by Enliang Wang #gopro #justababy #baby #cute #cubs #animals #panda \u266c original sound - Jordan
Source: @gopro
8. Live-stream purchases
Although TikTok is generally known for its super-short clips, the social network recently began offering its live-shopping feature, which gives merchants the opportunity to engage with shoppers in real time via live sessions.
With this feature, brands can highlight their offerings in a live stream, no matter what time of day. This allows them to better connect with their audiences, as people are able to ask questions, learn more about the goods or services available, and make purchases.
While this TikTok video idea will require a bit more preparation and work on your end, it can really assist in attracting your target market’s attention and boost conversions for your ecommerce business.
9. Team introductions
Similar to videos featuring behind-the-scenes content, clips that highlight you or one of your team members can help your followers feel more connected to your brand. Posting a short video on your TikTok account and introducing yourself or interviewing somebody else on your team can give your business a human touch that your audience is sure to appreciate.
Besides posting introductions, you can also film yourself or other people working for your company giving quick recommendations, such as for how to choose a product from a specific collection, or answering fun questions, like what their favorite dog breed is and why.
10. Quick tips
As with any other kind of content marketing and social media platform you choose, if you want to boost your brand authority and thus increase site traffic and sales, the videos you share on TikTok should serve to benefit your audience in some way or another. Highlight your expertise in your particular field by offering a few simple tips or helpful advice that can be easily shared in a TikTok video.
Note that this type of TikTok video idea featuring tips doesn’t have to directly involve your products, though it can certainly be related to what you sell. For example, say that your online store sells high-quality silk scarves. You might create a video detailing the best way to wash delicate fabrics or how to properly store small silk items to keep them in good condition for years to come.
Check out this example from the popular clothing retailer Levi’s, for instance, which helps consumers determine how to identify vintage clothing from the brand during their thrifting adventures.
@levis Save this video for the next time you go thrifting \ud83d\udccc #vintagelevis #vintagedenim #buybetterwearlonger \u266c original sound - Levi’s
Source: @levis
11. Giveaways
Whether it’s to spark more interest in your brand or show your loyal customers your appreciation, hosting a fun giveaway or contest on TikTok is a win-win for both your business and your followers!
Encourage your audience to create videos showcasing your products, answering questions such as what product they’d like your ecommerce site to offer next, suggesting name ideas for the newest item in one of your collections, etc. To further expand your reach on the platform with the context, you might ask that participants tag a friend for an extra entry.
In terms of the prize you provide, that’s totally up to you!
While the items that people can win can be big or small, you’ll definitely want to make it worth your audience’s while to participate. You could, for example, offer a generous discount on their next purchase, but you'll find that a free product is probably going to work the best and generate the most interest.
Be sure to clearly share the rules for any videos you post involving a giveaway, including the time and day that the contest ends, to prevent confusing or disappointing any people who want to join in the fun.
12. Sale announcements
If you’re thinking about launching a major sale on your online store, why not give shoppers a heads-up and increase anticipation before the event by announcing the sale in a TikTok video?
Feel free to let your creativity roam free with this type of video—alerting your audience about an upcoming sale can be done in all kinds of ways. Your video can be as simple or as extravagant as you wish!
Regardless of the clip’s format, be sure to include all the relevant information, such as the amount of the discount, the day the sale begins and the day it ends, and any special exceptions, so that everything is clear to your followers and they know exactly what to expect.
13. Milestone celebrations
Highlighting important events for your company is a great way to help draw people into your community and build brand loyalty, one of the many roles of social media in ecommerce. For this type of TikTok video, you can find an original way to commemorate any exciting achievement or milestone for your business that’s important to you!
For instance, you might opt to celebrate anniversaries or other special moments such as your 100th sale, 100th customer, etc. You can even choose to create a giveaway to say thanks to your customers for their support
In the example below, Chewy celebrates its 10th year in business by creating this video that describes how the company partnered with an artist to create a mural that featured the pets of some of Chewy’s first customers.
@chewy How are we 10!? \ud83d\udc41\ud83d\udc44 \ud83d\udc41 #PetsBringUsTogether #wynwoodwalls #art #wynwoodmiami #chewydelivery #mural #fyp #fypシ \u266c original sound - Chewy
Source: @chewy
14. ASMR
Videos featuring autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) are a unique genre of content designed to trigger pleasurable sensations like tingling or relaxation in viewers.
These videos typically feature whispering, gentle tapping, crinkling sounds, or other soothing auditory and visual stimuli. ASMR content has gained immense popularity on platforms like TikTok, becoming one of the top trends, due to its ability to captivate and engage audiences.
Brands can benefit from posting ASMR videos on TikTok for several reasons:
- Audience engagement: ASMR has a dedicated and highly engaged fan base on TikTok. By tapping into this niche, brands can connect with an attentive audience.
- Relaxing brand experience: ASMR videos can create a relaxing and enjoyable experience for viewers, associating these positive feelings with the brand.
- Creative storytelling: ASMR can work as a creative way to tell a brand's story, showcase products, or demonstrate features in a subtle and immersive manner.
In order to create compelling ASMR videos to share from your TikTok account, it's all-the-more essential that you invest in high-quality microphones to ensure clear and immersive sound. Crisp, soothing audio is crucial for ASMR.
Throughout the video-creation process, you'll also want to pay attention to visual elements such as lighting, color schemes, and set design to create a visually pleasing atmosphere. In addition, when promoting products or services, integrate them subtly and naturally into your ASMR narrative rather than making them the focal point.
15. Holiday-themed content: Halloween, Christmas, etc.
Holiday-themed videos on TikTok are content specifically tailored to celebrate and capture the spirit of various holidays, from traditional occasions like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's to more niche and cultural celebrations. These videos often include festive decorations, music, and activities related to the holiday, creating a sense of connection and celebration among viewers.
Holiday-themed videos can be a fantastic form of content for your brand to share on TikTok due to the fact that holidays evoke strong emotions and nostalgia. You can tap into these feelings to work on creating a deeper connection with your audience.
What's more, the social network's algorithm tends to favor timely and trending content. Holiday-themed videos align with trending topics, potentially increasing reach and discoverability, boosting your chances of going viral on the platform.
If you wish to create engaging holiday-themed videos, be sure to plan your holiday content well in advance to ensure that it aligns with your brand's goals and messaging. Consider using a holiday-specific music or sound effects to enhance the festive atmosphere. You might also opt to incorporate holiday-themed decorations, props, or branding elements in these TikTok videos to set the holiday mood.
How can you make good, creative, and engaging TikTok content?
Creating effective content on TikTok requires a blend of creativity, authenticity, and understanding of the platform's dynamics. Here are some tips to follow in the brainstorming process for video ideas if you want to make compelling videos that may even go viral:
- Keep it short and sweet: TikTok's format is short-form, so aim to convey your message or story succinctly within 15 to 60 seconds. Quick, attention-grabbing content performs well.
- Hook viewers early: These days, people tend to have a relatively short attention span. Start with an intriguing hook within the first few seconds to capture users' attention and encourage them to watch the entire video.
- Tell a story: Craft a narrative or story that resonates with the people in your target audience. Stories that elicit emotions or curiosity are more likely to engage viewers.
- Add visual appeal: Use vibrant visuals, creative effects, and engaging transitions to make your video visually appealing to users. High-quality production can set your content apart.
- Use music and sound: Choose music or sound effects that complement your content and create an emotional connection with viewers. TikTok offers an extensive library to choose from.
- Incorporate trends: Stay updated with TikTok trends, challenges, and popular formats. Participating in trending content in an original way can boost your video's visibility and your chances of going viral.
- Don't forget about interactivity and calls to action: Engage viewers by adding interactive elements like polls, questions, or call-to-action buttons. Encourage participation and provide clear CTAs to guide viewers on what to do next, such as following your brand or visiting your website.
Remember that TikTok values authenticity and creativity. Don't be overly promotional; instead, aim to entertain, inform, or inspire your audience. Experiment with different content styles and formats to discover what resonates best with your target demographic.
TikTok: A powerful tool for your business
Depending on your target market, TikTok can provide an excellent opportunity for you to connect with current and potential customers and grow your ecommerce business . If you aren’t already using it in your social media marketing strategy, you’ll definitely want to consider adding it ASAP!
There are endless possibilities when it comes to the kinds of content you can create and share on your TikTok account. While the ideas in this list are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of videos you can post, hopefully we’ve given you some helpful inspiration to aid you in getting started!
