05 Feb 2025

Should my business be using TikTok for promotion?

TikTok is undeniably one of the most influential social media platforms of the past few years. With over a billion active users, it’s a space where trends are born, creativity thrives, and brands have the opportunity to connect with a highly engaged, diverse audience. For many businesses, TikTok has become an essential part of their digital marketing strategy. But as with any platform, it raises the question: Is TikTok right for my business?

In this post, we’ll explore whether TikTok is a good fit for your brand, the benefits it offers, and key considerations to help you decide if this dynamic platform should be part of your marketing efforts.

1. Understanding TikTok’s Audience

Before deciding whether to use TikTok as part of your marketing strategy, it’s crucial to understand the platform’s user demographics. While TikTok has users across all age groups, it is particularly popular among younger audiences. As of 2025, 60% of TikTok users are between the ages of 16 and 24, with a growing user base in the 25-44 range as well.

Key Audience Insights:

  • TikTok’s core audience is Gen Z and Millennials, making it an ideal platform for businesses looking to connect with a younger, trend-savvy demographic.
  • The platform is popular in various industries such as fashion, beauty, gaming, entertainment, food, and tech, but it’s also making waves in more traditional sectors like education, fitness, and finance.

If your target audience aligns with TikTok’s user base, then it’s worth considering as a marketing channel. However, if your primary audience skews older or isn’t as active on TikTok, you may need to rethink your strategy.

2. TikTok’s Unique Features and Benefits

TikTok’s success lies in its ability to combine creativity, entertainment, and virality in ways that other platforms can’t. If you’re wondering whether TikTok is right for your business, it’s helpful to understand the platform’s key features and how they can benefit your marketing efforts.

Short-Form, High-Impact Content
TikTok is built on short-form videos (usually between 15 and 60 seconds) that grab attention quickly. This format encourages businesses to be unique, engaging, and concise with their messaging. The platform’s algorithm favors fresh, engaging content, giving businesses the potential to go viral with the right video.

Virality and Organic Reach
One of TikTok’s most compelling advantages is the ability for content to go viral, even if you’re just starting out. The For You Page (FYP) is the heart of TikTok’s discovery process, where users are exposed to content tailored to their interests. If your video gets traction, it can reach users far beyond your follower base, offering incredible organic reach.

Creative Freedom
TikTok is a place where creativity and authenticity are valued above polished, professional content. This allows brands to experiment with informal, humorous, or experimental videos that might not fit the more curated vibe of other platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn. TikTok encourages businesses to showcase their personality and humanize their brand.

Trends and Challenges
TikTok thrives on viral trends and challenges, which allow brands to join in on popular conversations. Participating in a trending challenge or using a trending sound can boost your visibility and relevance within the TikTok community. This is particularly useful for brands looking to build a playful or contemporary image.

3. The Pros of Using TikTok for Business

Here are some of the key advantages of using TikTok as part of your marketing strategy:

  • Engagement: TikTok has one of the highest engagement rates of any social media platform. Users actively engage with content by liking, commenting, sharing, and participating in challenges, which can drive more interaction with your brand.
  • Brand Awareness: With TikTok’s algorithm, even new accounts have the potential for massive reach. If your content resonates with users, it can easily go viral, helping your business achieve significant brand visibility.
  • Creative Marketing Opportunities: TikTok encourages businesses to be more authentic, less polished, and more experimental. This creative freedom allows you to show your brand’s true personality and appeal to users in a way that feels real and genuine.
  • Influencer Partnerships: TikTok is home to a thriving influencer community. Partnering with influencers can help amplify your message and introduce your brand to their dedicated followers. Micro-influencers, in particular, can provide high engagement at a lower cost compared to larger influencers.
  • E-commerce Integration: TikTok has made strides in integrating shopping features, such as TikTok Shopping, allowing users to make purchases directly from the app. If you’re an e-commerce brand, this could be a game-changer in terms of driving direct sales.

4. Potential Challenges of Using TikTok

While TikTok offers exciting opportunities, there are some challenges that businesses should keep in mind:

  • Content Creation Demands: TikTok’s audience values creativity, authenticity, and frequent posting. This means that to succeed on TikTok, you need to produce regular content that is engaging and fresh, which can require a consistent time and resource investment.
  • Platform-Specific Content: TikTok is not a platform for traditional ads or long-form content. It thrives on organic, fun, and creative videos that reflect current trends and user-generated content. If your brand doesn’t have the flexibility to embrace this type of content, TikTok might not be the right platform.
  • Targeting Challenges: If your audience is primarily outside TikTok’s core demographic of Gen Z and Millennials, you may not see the same level of success on the platform. Additionally, while TikTok’s targeting capabilities are improving, they may not be as refined as those offered by platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
  • Staying Relevant with Trends: TikTok moves fast, and trends can change in the blink of an eye. It requires businesses to stay agile and keep up with evolving trends to maintain relevance on the platform.

5. When Should Your Business Consider Using TikTok?

TikTok can be a powerful tool in your marketing strategy, but it’s not right for every business. Here are some scenarios where TikTok might be the perfect fit for your brand:

  • Your Target Audience Is Active on TikTok: If your audience is predominantly Gen Z or Millennials, TikTok offers a direct line to these highly engaged users.
  • You Have a Fun or Creative Brand Personality: TikTok’s casual, dynamic nature means it works well for brands that want to show their light-hearted, or innovative side.
  • You’re Looking to Build Brand Awareness: If your goal is to expand your reach and boost brand visibility, TikTok’s viral potential can help you achieve that.
  • You Can Create Engaging, Trendy Content: If you’re ready to invest in creating content that aligns with TikTok’s trends and format, it can help drive engagement and awareness.

Conclusion

So, should your business use TikTok as part of its marketing efforts? The answer largely depends on your brand, audience, and ability to adapt to the platform’s unique, creative demands. If you’re targeting a younger demographic, have the resources to create frequent and engaging content, and are ready to embrace TikTok’s playful, trend-driven culture, then TikTok can be an invaluable marketing tool.

However, if your audience doesn’t align with TikTok’s user base or your brand is better suited for a more traditional, polished marketing approach, you may want to focus your efforts elsewhere. Ultimately, TikTok offers an exciting opportunity to connect with a vibrant community, increase brand visibility, and create content that resonates with a new generation of consumers. Whether it’s the right fit for you depends on how well you can harness the platform’s creative potential to meet your business goals.