It’s looking like we’re getting closer to losing TikTok. And if TikTok has been vital to promoting your business, you’re no doubt concerned about the future.
This is the issue with leaving all your business promotion to social media. Your page could drive lots of sales but if the platform is banned, crashes, or is otherwise shut down, you lose all those sales in one swoop.
Do you remember when Meta had a major system crash back in 2021?
Meta employees couldn’t access their own offices but it also meant both Facebook and Instagram were useless for an entire day.
Businesses relying only on Facebook and Instagram lost a full day of sales while those who used other methods continued to run despite the crazy event.
So today, let’s look at things you can do so you don’t find yourself at a loss if and when TikTok goes away.
There Are Other Video Platforms
TikTok has its advantages. Their search is superb and the company’s algorithm does a great job of indexing keywords using captions, text on the video, and the audio itself. But that doesn’t mean it’s your only option.
Instagram Reels
Instagram added Reels explicitly to compete with TikTok. And while the Instagram algorithm doesn’t work the same as TikTok, it’s not a bad alternative.
And if TikTok was banned, Meta might face pressure from users to provide a comparable experience if it is to become its replacement. After all, it’s not even the only TikTok competitor on the (Silicon) block.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube is already a giant. It’s owned by Google and it’s the second most popular website second to, you guessed it: Google.
So when it launched Shorts, and established a creator program designed to bring creators over from other platforms to monetize on YouTube, many expected Shorts to take hold and compete.
That hasn’t really been the case. But if the top player is taken out of the competition, things could get interesting as Instagram and YouTube compete for TikTok’s user base.
B2B? Don’t Overlook LinkedIn
LinkedIn is crucial for professional networking. Lots of executives and founders use it as their primary social media platform.
Your business should be on it if you cater to other businesses. Of course, if you don’t, it may not be for you. As always, you want to use more than one social media app but it should make sense for you.
Social Media Is Only the Start
While social media is great, it’s primarily a tool for new people to get to know you. Once a target customer knows you, you should bring them to your universe and get them to a place you control.
Website
You don’t own your TikTok page, TikTok owns it. If TikTok goes away, so does your page, your posted content, and your followers.
On the other hand, your website is yours. And it’s now extremely easy to build a professional website so if you don’t have one, what are you waiting for? We can help you too!
Email Marketing
Email marketing empowers you to manage your follower network effectively. As subscribers sign up for updates, you gain the ability to engage them with exclusive opportunities.
For product-based businesses, this could be sneak peeks into product development to create early excitement. Service-based businesses can offer special promotions or trial periods.
Avoid overselling, however. Today’s consumers are bombarded by ads and will tune you out if you go for the hard sell. Focus on delivering something of value to engage your target customer.
There’s Life After TikTok
Don’t get me wrong, I love TikTok. It’s one of my top apps for content creation and inspiration.
But if this ban does indeed happen, you’ll still have other places to see my mug on screen and read my words. I’ll still be here to share insights and help you grow your small business.
If you need additional content marketing help, contact me today to set up an introductory call.
Your friend,
Jose
