Storytelling is a universal human experience that we’ve utilized for thousands of years. Some of the earliest evidence of storytelling dates back to 30,000 BC, and while it can’t be proven, scientists speculate oral storytelling most likely began shortly after the development of spoken language. For…well, forever, humans have used stories to entertain, sell, educate and motivate each other, but the *really* good stories are those that connect us together and remind us we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves.

TikTok: Everyone’s favorite video app. And when I say everyone, I do mean everyone—at the time of this writing, TikTok has 689 million active monthly users from from 10 to 110. People like the app so much that 90% of TikTok users open it every. day.

It’s totally understandable that now, brands want a piece of those eyeballs. But before you start lip syncing or dancing for your brand, here are 3 things to keep in mind when creating branded content on TikTok.

1. Cut through the clutter...by blending in. 

I know, I know. Everything we’ve ever wanted as marketers is to stand out from the cluttered media landscape. What I mean is this: Create content that doesn’t automatically out itself as an ad in the first few seconds.

In this case, be entertaining, educational, informative, and creative, but don’t be sales-y. Shoot your TikToks as though you’re an average Joe. Use an iPhone, a ring light and trending sounds available in the Commercial Music Library. Be mindful of the safe areas for text, and for heaven’s sake, make your TikTok videos vertical.

2. Use royalty-free music & audio to your advantage.

As a business account, you have access to TikTok’s Commercial Music Library—meaning you can use any song within the library without worrying about licensing. This is nice because it removes some of the hassle, but the library is limited and generally doesn’t have mainstream, trending songs.

Unfortunately, you can’t use trending sounds created by users, either. When an incredible lip syncing opportunity comes by, you may have to settle for sitting it out or posting from your personal account.

3. Paid strategies give you a boost.

Partnering with influencers, running in-feed ads, and promoting branded hashtag challenges are all great ways to gain traction on TikTok. Like most social platforms, your media spend is scalable, so no matter your budget, you can make magic happen.

Ready to dive into TikTok?

We can help you create and execute a plan that’s not cheugy. Give us a call!

Here’s the thing about the good old days: you never miss them until they’re gone. In the world of digital advertising, we’re the living exception. Because today, we can still track users across the web to deliver relevant ads to targeted audiences. But the hand is ticking toward midnight. And the good old days are almost gone.

Is your brand’s owned content turning customers into loyalists? It can, it should, and we can help.

We are living in a very strange time. People are functioning the best that they can in the comfort we call ‘home’. My situation is no different.

A call to action (CTA) is crucial in pulling users down the funnel toward a conversion. CTAs often take the form of big, flashy buttons on campaign landing pages, urging users to submit a form or take advantage of an offer.

Many organizations find it difficult to set a marketing budget. It’s hard to know just how much you’ll need for a year’s worth of marketing efforts, especially if you’re new to the position or organization. But beyond the total amount, it’s harder still to breakdown your budget by tactics. Where do you start?

The marketing industry has certainly seen the benefits of content marketing — higher consumer engagement, lower costs, more leads. But while many marketers scramble to create content in an attempt to shout through the noise of a saturated digital space, even fewer have put in the time and research to first craft a an effective strategy.

Content strategy is ever-evolving. With each piece, marketers learn something new about their target and what motivates them.

Marketing today relies heavily on the production of content. With tactics such as social media or digital video it’s ever important to have as much content as possible to keep your brand enthusiasts coming back for more.

It’s easy to understand why content marketing is a hot topic lately. Few marketing strategies help brands demonstrate knowledge and expertise more clearly than crafting original content your readers find valuable. And with as much time as people spend in front of their email inbox today, email almost always makes sense as a vehicle to deliver that content. However, before you launch an electronic newsletter or other email marketing effort, you should be familiar with the CAN-SPAM Act.

It’s a big, big, blog world out there folks. And if you, your company, or both are not actively in the blogosphere, stop doing what you're doing right now – and get your blog on.