TikTok Marketing 2020: Grow Your Account & Master TikTok Ads

No matter what your end goal is, you won't get anywhere without setting up a TikTok account. The following lectures will guide you through the process.

Covered in this lecture:

• What section 2 of this course will cover.

• How to skip ahead if you already have a TikTok account.

Before you grow your TikTok platform, you need to make sure you've set up the right kind of account. For example, are you looking to grow your personal profile? Or gain more customers for your business?

Covered in this lecture:

• The 3 types of TikTok accounts.

• Real-life examples of each account type.

What happens if you want to change your account type later on? Well, it depends on the kinds of changes you want to make and how many followers you've attracted.

Covered in this lecture:

• Tips on switching account types.

• How to ensure you don't lose an existing following.

If you've spent time on TikTok, you'll have noticed just how diverse the content can be. But these millions of videos can easily be split into five main categories.

Covered in this lecture:

• 5 types of videos you'll see on TikTok.

• Examples of each video type.

• How to figure out the best type of content for your account.

Follow Darius as he sets up a personal TikTok account and decides which kind of content to focus on.

Covered in this lecture:

• How Darius chose his account type.

• Why he chose a combination of funny and educational videos.

Wondering what TikTok looks like and how to use it? Instead of spending hours figuring it out for yourself, we'll walk you through the app's layout and features.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to navigate the TikTok app.

• How to use the main menu: Home, Discover, Inbox and Me.

• How to interact with other users' videos.

Before you dive into creating your own account, take a look at all the important elements that make up a brilliant TikTok profile.

Covered in this lecture:

• The vital parts of a TikTok profile, including usernames, bios and profile pictures.

Your TikTok profile will have two names: a regular name and a username. Here, you'll find out the difference between the two.

Covered in this lecture:

• The difference between a TikTok profile name and username.

• How you can use both to your advantage.

Your username is the first thing people will see, so you need to make sure it makes a good impression. Here's how to do just that.

Covered in this lecture:

• Rules to follow when picking your username.

• What kind of username you should use, based on your account type.

If someone's taken your username and you're struggling to find an alternative, listen up.

Covered in this lecture:

• Tips for obtaining your dream username if someone already has it.

• What to do if it's not possible to secure the perfect username.

• How important search terms are when it comes to usernames.

Your bio can persuade people to follow your TikTok account. Here are some tips and tricks to make it super engaging.

Covered in this lecture:

• The 3 main types of bio and examples of each.

• How long your bio can be.

• The importance of emojis.

Still not sure what to write in your bio? Well, we've got a few tips and tricks to help you craft the perfect one.

Covered in this lecture:

• Everything you need to consider when writing a TikTok bio.

• How to ensure your bio suits the theme of your account.

One of the best things about TikTok is you can direct followers to other platforms, including websites, Instagram and YouTube accounts. Here's everything you need to know about TikTok links.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 types of links you can include in your bio.

• Which links are available for certain account types.

• How to get followers to click on your link.

Although you can link to other social media platforms in your TikTok bio, one question remains: Should you bother?

Covered in this lecture:

• When you should and shouldn't link to another social media account.

Which link should you include in your bio? Do you have to include a link or can you go without? All your remaining link questions are answered here.

Covered in this lecture:

• Which link to include in your TikTok bio.

• When it's appropriate to not include a link.

Your profile picture may be small, but it's definitely mighty. Here's the lowdown on which image to pick for your account.

Covered in this lecture:

• The difference between profile pictures, logos and videos.

• How to choose a good profile picture for a personal account.

• The importance of using a simple logo for a business or aggregate account.

Want to make your TikTok account look super professional? Then spend time perfecting your profile picture or logo with this list of tools.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to take and edit a great profile picture.

• How to design a logo without spending too much money or time.

If you're still wondering whether to put effort into your TikTok profile picture, we explain just how important this feature really is.

Covered in this lecture:

• The effect of a good profile photo.

• The basic elements you should try to include in your picture.

Business users may find choosing a profile photo trickier than personal users. Here, we lay out the simplest options.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why business accounts should favor a symbol.

• Other ways to make your logo as simple as possible.

So you know what goes into creating a great TikTok account. Now it's time to put it all into practice. Watch Darius as he creates a TikTok profile from scratch.

Covered in this lecture:

• Signing up for TikTok.

• Creating a username and bio.

• Uploading a profile picture.

If you already have an account, you may be considering starting all over again. Find out if you really do need to delete that pre-existing profile.

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether you should delete an old account or use it to your advantage.

You've done it — the first big section is complete. Give yourself a pat on the back for learning how TikTok works and how to create your very own account.

Covered in this lecture:

• A round-up of all the things you should have learnt in this section.

• What the next section will cover.

So your account is all set up and ready to go. This batch of lectures will help you improve your TikTok profile.

Covered in this lecture:

• What section 3 of this course will cover.

TikTok Pro is one of the most helpful features TikTok has to offer. But what is it? And how will it help you?

Covered in this lecture:

• What TikTok Pro is.

• Benefits of a Pro account.

• How to apply for TikTok Pro.

Not sure if TikTok Pro is worth your while? Here's a deeper insight into this analytical feature.

Covered in this lecture:

• A more detailed look at the advantages of TikTok Pro.

Many dream of being verified. But receiving that shiny blue mark next to your TikTok username is a bit of a mystery.

Covered in this lecture:

• What TikTok verification means.

• 3 ways you can become verified.

The verification badge may not be as important on TikTok as you think. Here, we explain why.

Covered in this lecture:

• How important being verified on TikTok really is.

• More insight into the verification process.

Staying on top of TikTok's upcoming features can help you grow your account. And it's easier than it sounds.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to track TikTok's future features.

• 6 features that are likely to appear on TikTok soon.

TikTok determines your location differently to other social media platforms. It's important because your location determines who sees your content. Here's everything you need to know.

Covered in this lecture:

• How TikTok sets your location.

• How your location affects your viewership.

• How to change your location.

Altering your location can help ensure the right people see your videos. Thankfully, you don't have to move countries to do it.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you may want to change your TikTok location.

• 2 ways to pick your preferred location.

Well done for making it to the end of section 3. You're well on the way to a successful TikTok account.

Covered in this lecture:

• 4 things you've learnt during this section.

• What the next section will cover.

Creating your first TikTok post can be a bit of a minefield. This section of the course will guide you through the process.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you'll learn during section 4.

What makes a brilliant TikTok post? From sounds to hashtags, here's the answer.

Covered in this lecture:

• 5 things that make up an effective TikTok post.

• Real world examples of each element.

When creating your first TikTok videos, you may be stuck between picking an original idea and following a trend. Here's the best route to go down.

Covered in this lecture:

• The kinds of content new accounts should focus on.

• How to put your own spin on a TikTok trend.

Creating a good TikTok video can take time. But should you put more effort into filming or editing?

Covered in this lecture:

• The importance of filming versus editing.

• How long you should spend doing each.

Video is vital when it comes to TikTok. Here are the most important things to take into account when shooting your content.

Covered in this lecture:

• The types of videos you can create.

• Lighting tips and tricks.

• How to use TikTok's camera and posting functions.

• How to create some of TikTok's most popular effects.

Sound is the second most important thing to consider when posting a TikTok video. Whether it's a TV clip, popular song or your own voice, here's how to make the most of sounds on the app.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 ways to use sounds on TikTok.

• How to find the right sound for your video.

• How to save sounds on the app.

What's the point of effects? When should you use them? And how can you use the same effect as your favorite TikTok account? Everything is explained right here.

Covered in this lecture:

• What effects are.

• How to use effects to grow your following.

• How to save your favorite effects.

A title can add a lot of value to your video — especially when you're trying to attract a global following. Here's the lowdown on this nifty piece of text.

Covered in this lecture:

• What titles are.

• Benefits of using titles.

• How to add titles to TikTok videos.

Shooting video, adding sound and creating effects are at the front of every TikToker's mind. But you shouldn't forget about titles.

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether you should use titles on TikTok.

• When titles are particularly effective.

So you've filmed and edited your video. To increase your post's viewing potential, don't forget about the all-important description and hashtags.

Covered in this lecture:

• How TikTok's description and hashtag features work.

• How to write an effective description.

• How to choose the right hashtags.

With so many hashtags to choose from, picking the right one can be tricky. From banned hashtags to language options, here are a few more tagging tips and tricks.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to determine whether a hashtag is relevant to your account.

• Whether you can post hashtags in the comments.

• Whether TikTok bans certain hashtags.

• How videos go viral without hashtags.

• Whether you should include hashtags in multiple languages.

Follow Darius as he creates a TikTok post from scratch.

Covered in this lecture:

• Watch the process of creating and posting a TikTok video.

• How to import a pre-recorded video.

• How to add a background sound.

• How to add multiple titles to a video.

• How to add a description and hashtags.

• Posting options to consider.

After watching the TikTok video creation process, you probably have a few questions. Here, we explain all about the TikTok grid aesthetic and the many effects on offer.

Covered in this lecture:

• How important TikTok thumbnails are.

• Whether you should be using stickers and effects.

Is watermarking your TikTok videos a waste of time? Or is it a good way to protect original content?

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether you should watermark videos on TikTok.

• The best way to watermark content.

Take part in challenges and trends, and watch your TikTok following grow. Whether your account is personal or business-focused, here's how you can use these fun videos to your advantage.

Covered in this lecture:

• The difference between trends and challenges.

• Why you should participate in both.

• How to post a trend/challenge video that people will want to watch.

What song should you choose for your TikTok video? Another tough question, but we have some handy hints.

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether you should choose a song based on its popularity.

• How to find popular songs.

• If you can upload your own music.

You've probably noticed TikTok videos popping up on Facebook and Instagram. Here's everything you need to know about promoting your content on other platforms.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you should cross-promote your content.

• How to post your TikTok videos elsewhere.

The beauty of TikTok is it can suit any niche, whether you're a vegetarian chef or orthodontist. If you need some industry inspiration, look to these top examples.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to make TikTok a success for your business or personal interest.

• Effective TikTok accounts to pay attention to.

So you've spent a lot of time and effort creating videos. But they're just not getting the attention you'd hoped. Here are a few reasons why.

Covered in this lecture:

• Common reasons why posts don't receive views.

• Quick ways to fix the problem.

Congratulations on creating your first TikTok post. Next up: growth strategies.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you've learnt about TikTok in this section.

• What the next section will cover.

Growing your account is the next thing you'll want to do. And we've got an entire section dedicated to just that.

Covered in this lecture:

• What this section's lectures will teach you. 

Now is an ideal time to grow your TikTok account. Here's an easy-to-follow formula that will kickstart that growth process.

Covered in this lecture:

• 6 simple steps that will grow your TikTok following. 

Posting multiple videos a day can feel like a drain on your creativity. But we've found several ways to break through this mental wall.

Covered in this lecture:

• Tips and templates to help you stay creative.

Understand the TikTok algorithm and you'll understand how to optimize your content and, more importantly, how to grow your following.

Covered in this lecture:

• How TikTok's algorithm works.

• 4 variables TikTok's algorithm takes into account.

• What makes this algorithm different from ones used by other social media platforms.

Comments, likes and shares are signs that people are engaging with your content. But do they really matter?

Covered in this lecture:

• The importance of comments, likes and shares on TikTok.

• Which engagement metric you should be focusing on.

Ready to boost the quality of your videos? Here are a few tools to consider investing in.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you should consider buying professional equipment.

• 4 types of equipment that will upgrade your TikTok videos.

Just because TikTok allows you to record videos inside its app doesn't mean you have to. There are plenty of reasons to record elsewhere.

Covered in this lecture:

• Benefits of recording outside of the TikTok app.

• Alternative video recording and editing apps.

Growing your account means posting more videos, but not all of them will be a success. Here's how to combat a TikTok flop.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 things to do when your video doesn't perform.

Here, Darius takes you through a few videos that performed well when he was new to TikTok.

Covered in this lecture:

• Successful video examples from a new TikTok account, and why they worked so well.

To work toward TikTok stardom, you'll want to prepare. A content plan will keep you on track and ensure you don't miss a day of posting.

Covered in this lecture:

• What a content plan is.

• How far in advance you should plan your TikTok videos.

• 2 effective ways to create a content plan.

Quantity or quality: it's the question everyone wants an answer to. We dive into what works best on TikTok.

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether you should focus on quantity or quality when creating TikTok videos.

To speed up your account growth, why not collaborate with other TikTok users? Working together could even make you go viral.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you should partner up with other users.

• How to build relationships with TikTokers.

When your follower count is low, it can be tempting to use a bot. Automated services, however, come with a few major downsides.

Covered in this lecture:

• What bots are and why people use them.

• 3 reasons why you should avoid using bots for your TikTok account.

You now know you shouldn't use bots to grow your TikTok account. But what about buying followers?

Covered in this lecture:

• Whether buying followers is ever a good idea.

Feeling low on creativity is a common problem for TikTok users. But inspiration can be found in so many places.

Covered in this lecture:

• 5 ways to find ideas for your TikTok videos.

You've completed section 5, meaning TikTok account growth should be much less of a minefield. Now, you're on the way to making a profit.

Covered in this lecture:

• 4 account growth tips you've learnt in this section.

• What the next section will cover.

Everyone wants to make money through social media. And TikTok offers plenty of ways to do it.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you'll learn during section 6 of this course.

Some users live entirely off their TikTok income. Whether you want to  reach those heights or bring in a little extra cash, here's how to make a profit from your TikTok audience.

Covered in this lecture:

• 7 major ways to make money from TikTok.

• Real world examples of users generating revenue.

Promoting people's products can be a huge source of TikTok revenue. If you're longing to be an influencer, there's a few things you need to know before you rake in the big bucks.

Covered in this lecture:

• What influencer marketing means.

• How much you can get paid for an influencer campaign.

• How to get started on the influencer path.

There's more than one way to find work as an influencer. Here, we round up the main options so you can decide what works best for you.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 ways to find an influencer gig.

• How many TikTok followers you need to start working with brands.

• How the influencer job process works.

Darius takes you through his influencer journey with Red Bull, from approaching the company to obtaining social media sponsorship.

Covered in this lecture:

• How Darius became a Red Bull influencer.

• How to approach a company as an influencer.

• The type of work you may be expected to do.

To understand more about the influencer world, all you need to do is check out a few real-life case studies. Here's a deep dive into a couple of notable campaigns.

Covered in this lecture:

• 4 major influencer campaigns on TikTok and what you can learn from them.

Affiliate marketing is yet another way to earn money on TikTok. And it can be the perfect option for anyone who wants to steer clear of influencer marketing.

Covered in this lecture:

• What affiliate marketing is.

• How affiliate marketing works.

• How much you can earn through this type of marketing.

There are two different ways to get involved with affiliate marketing. Each category comes with pros and cons.

Covered in this lecture:

• 2 types of affiliate marketing.

• Benefits and disadvantages of each type.

• Examples of each program type to help you get started.

If you've been looking to make money from TikTok, you're now in the best place to start boosting your bank account. Want to sell your own products through TikTok? Head straight to the next section.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you've learnt during section 6.

• What the next section of this course will cover.

TikTok isn't just a way to grow a personal platform. It can also be used to boost your business.

Covered in this lecture:

• What the next few lectures will teach you.

• An introduction to TikTok's current business opportunities.

Now is the best time for business owners to branch out into TikTok. Watch to find out why.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 ways to use TikTok as a business.

• Examples to prove why TikTok is the biggest marketing opportunity right now.

• The benefits of opening a TikTok ads account.

TikTok's e-commerce capabilities are currently limited. But the future looks much, much brighter.

Covered in this lecture:

• 5 e-commerce features that are likely to appear on TikTok.

• How to take advantage of these business opportunities.

To expose your business to millions of TikTok users, you may need the help of an influencer or two.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you should work with TikTok influencers.

• 3 ways to approach influencers.

The song "Old Town Road" held the number one spot for the longest time after going viral on TikTok. Here's how the music industry can benefit from this new social media platform.

Covered in this lecture:

• How Lil Nas X used TikTok to push his song to number one.

• How music professionals and other business owners can use TikTok in a similar way.

TikTok influencer Avani has been using the platform to sell merchandise for quite some time. Thankfully, it's a strategy you can easily copy.

Covered in this lecture:

• A real-life example of how to sell merch through TikTok.

• What you can learn from a teenage influencer.

You don't have to run TikTok ads to sell your own products. Here's how two companies drive business on the platform.

Covered in this lecture:

• 2 ways to encourage product sales as a business.

• Real-life examples of each.

Fast food company Chipotle takes a different approach to other businesses on TikTok. Here's how its strategy works.

Covered in this lecture:

• How reposting user content can boost your business.

• Real-life example to follow.

Want an inside look at how TikTok influencers work with companies? Zach King is one user who has secured several campaigns with his creative content.

Covered in this lecture:

• How influencers work with businesses on major campaigns.

• Deep dive into one influencer's strategy.

Yet another look at yet another influencer campaign. This time, we're examining it from the business perspective.

Covered in this lecture:

• How a business organized a TikTok influencer campaign.

Some companies have skyrocketed with the help of just one TikTok user. Here's how one game accidentally became a mega hit.

Covered in this lecture:

• How businesses can organically benefit from TikTok.

• Real-life example to follow.

Soon, TikTok users will be able to add links to specific videos. Take a look at how one account is taking advantage of this new e-commerce feature.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to use TikTok's upcoming social commerce feature.

• Real-life example to follow.

A round of applause for mastering how to use TikTok as a business. If you want to learn more about ads, head to section 8.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you've learnt about TikTok for businesses.

• What the next section of this course will cover.

This section is all about running TikTok ads. Ads require money, so only watch the following lectures if you have a marketing budget.

Covered in this lecture:

• What TikTok ads are.

• Who can advertise on TikTok.

• What section 8 will teach you about TikTok ads.

Not every user can advertise on TikTok. To start running ads, you'll need to apply for a special account.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to apply for a TikTok Ads account.

• How to ensure your business is accepted.

• What to do if your application is rejected.

If you want to see exactly what the ads application process entails, you can follow along here.

Covered in this lecture:

• Step-by-step walkthrough of how to open a TikTok Ads account.

• The information TikTok requires you to give.

• How long you'll have to wait to be accepted.

TikTok ads work the same way as an auction. The more you're willing to pay, the better quality customers you'll receive.

Covered in this lecture:

• How the TikTok ads auction process works.

• The variables that affect the price of ads.

• How to calculate your bid.

The TikTok ads manager may look confusing at first. Get to grips with it to make the most of your campaign.

Covered in this lecture:

• What the TikTok ads manager looks like.

• The function of the 4 tabs: dashboard, campaign, library and reporting.

Social media ads work in a similar way, no matter which platform you use. Understand the basic structure and you'll master them all.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 parts of a TikTok ad campaign.

• Examples of each.

• How TikTok's algorithm works with your daily ad budget.

Get your ad objective wrong and your campaign is likely to suffer. Here's how to determine the best objective for you and your business.

Covered in this lecture:

• 4 tasks you'll have to complete at the campaign level.

• 5 main ad objectives to choose from.

• How to choose the right ad objective.

Next up is the ad group level. Here, customer targeting is your main focus, and it's the place where many people make mistakes.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 ways to target your dream customers.

• How to create custom and lookalike audiences on TikTok.

There are a bunch of other settings to play around with at the ad group level. Find out which ones you need to pay attention to.

Covered in this lecture:

• 6 additional ad group settings.

• The importance of each setting.

• How to use the various settings to boost campaign performance.

To sell your business, you'll need a batch of effective videos. Here's the winning formula to rely on.

Covered in this lecture:

• 2 types of creatives you can use for TikTok ads.

• What makes an effective ad video.

Time to put the theory into practice. Follow Darius as he creates an ad campaign from the very beginning.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to create an ad campaign from beginning to end.

• How to make a campaign that suits your business needs.

Tracking the performance of your campaign is the only way to see if your efforts are paying off. That involves keeping an eye on a series of figures.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to determine if your campaign is doing well.

• How to work with TikTok's ad algorithm.

• How long to wait for your ad prices to stabilize.

Happy with your campaign? You'll probably want to take things up a notch. Scale up the right way and you'll avoid denting your ads' performance.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to scale your ad budget and keep your cost results.

• How to ensure your campaign is always spending its daily budget.

Of course, there's always the chance your campaign won't work so well. If you find yourself in this position, all hope is not lost.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 reasons your campaign may not be performing.

• How to boost campaign performance.

TikTok allows you to focus on individual numbers, but it also gives you the chance to create a much more detailed ad report. Use it to make better business decisions.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to generate a custom or template report.

• How to use reports to evaluate your ad campaign.

From opening an ads account to running an entire TikTok campaign, you now know how to do it all.

Covered in this lecture:

• 5 things you've learnt about TikTok ads.

• What the next section will cover.

You've got the basics down, but now it's time to dig a little deeper into TikTok ads. After spending more than a million dollars on ad campaigns, Darius has tons of tips to share.

Covered in this lecture:

• What you'll learn about TikTok ads throughout section 9.

One way to make a campaign work is to utilize the skills of micro-influencers. After all, real people tend to trust real people.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to use micro-influencers for ad campaigns.

• 3 reasons why this strategy works so well.

A successful ad campaign could involve running up to 100 ads. And although only a few of them may work, the scale is the magic ingredient.

Covered in this lecture:

• Why you need to scale up your campaigns.

• How to stay within your budget while scaling.

Running lots of ads means producing a lot of content. Don't be put off by the number, for there's a simple way to get things done.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to create content in 3 easy steps.

• Who to hire to help generate content.

When the process runs smoothly, you can get enough content for your campaign within a day or two. Here's exactly how it works.

Covered in this lecture:

• A walkthrough of the 3-step content creation process.

• See how influencers are contacted, deals are negotiated and videos are edited.

You don't have to use influencers for your campaign content. From hiring freelancers to recording your very own videos, other options exist.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 alternative ways to create content.

• 4 types of ads you can produce.

• How to determine which method works best for your business.

Checking out ads from your competition is surprisingly easy. Learn from their mistakes to create a better campaign.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to see ads produced by your competition.

• How to take inspiration from other companies' videos.

Don't have a huge budget for content creation, but don't want to shoot your own videos? Fiverr is one of the most affordable ways to create highly effective ads.

Covered in this lecture:

• 3 things to remember when hiring freelancers on Fiverr.

• How to find the right Fiverr freelancer.

UpWork is a huge freelance platform. Know how to use it, and you can hire a wide range of people to boost your business.

Covered in this lecture:

• How to hire a content producer on UpWork.

• 3 pitfalls to avoid when hiring on UpWork.

You've made it to the end. Now, you know how to create the very best content for your TikTok ad campaign and who to hire to make life easier.

Covered in this lecture:

• Advanced TikTok ads strategies you've learnt during this section.