TikTok is creating developments for their app and incorporating new elements to keep up to date with changes in the social media world and consumer behaviours, to help marketers and content creators reach their audience and improve engagement.
Keep reading to find out everything you need to know!
TikTok and Amazon
Here’s an update for the US TikTok users.
TikTok has announced a partnership with Amazon in an attempt to encourage more in app purchases from their users.
This partnership is rolling out in the US and means that users will begin to see products and services which they are interested in being advertised across the platform.
The ads will be seen on users “For You” page for Amazon products and users will be able to purchase it directly on the app, without leaving. This is achieved by linking your TikTok profile to your Amazon account “through a secure, quick, and easy one-time set-up”.
The introduction of this partnership has been developed to encourage users to purchase more from within the TikTok app which can be achieved more seamlessly as the partnership has removed the friction of links within ads.
It can be noted that the relationship between brands and consumers is the biggest factor influencing buying behaviours. By providing a stress-free shopping experience all on one site, it will help build the relationship and create loyalty to the TikTok and Amazon partnership.
Video Length
Now this is not an update as such, but it is something to be aware of if you are an active user of TikTok and want the most from the videos you post.
Longer videos are growing in popularity both in the number of people uploading them as well as consuming them, potentially making them a useful tool in getting your brand noticed.
TikTok has introduced the ability to upload videos of up to 30 minutes long! This has meant that many users are beginning to see clips of TV programmes on TikTok and forgetting that they are even on the platform.
It is known that people’s attention span can be very minimal, so if you can grab their attention during the first couple of seconds of your video, consumers are more likely to stay for the entirety of the video, which can be extremely beneficial if the video is 30 minutes long!
Do not forget about short videos!
Despite longer videos growing in popularity, short clips still remain very popular. Videos between 30 seconds and two minutes are seeing sustainable growth in uploads and viewer engagement.
Thoughts
TikTok is introducing a similar feature to Instagram notes called thoughts.
This new update allows users to share a short snippet of text called a thought. This is then displayed in a speech bubble above your profile picture in the stories feed, found on the inbox section of your app or on your profile page.
This update is very similar to Instagram notes which has been a proven success for Instagram’s user audience, so will it be the same for TikTok?
AI Update
All social media platforms are beginning to leverage the use of AI to enhance their platforms and encourage engagement from their users.
TikTok has used AI and developed an update of AI voices. Creators on TikTok can now use this feature to create an AI voice of themselves to use for voice overs and program it to sound like your own voice.
Therefore, when text is added to your video on screen the text will be in your own voice, without having to do a separate voice over as the app does it for you.
This update will streamline your video creation process!
DM’s
DM’s are also experiencing a change in the way they work. TikTok has introduced two new updates for DM’s:
- You are now able to upload graphics and stickers in a DM
- Group chats can now have up to 32 people
Brands can leverage the use of group chats as another version of broadcast channels which can be found on other social media platforms.
For example, these group chats can be used for people who want to know first about deals and the newest brand updates, with the addition of graphics to enhance the user experience and encourage engagement from the consumers.
TikTok Spotlight
Finally, TikTok spotlight is the last update for this series.
TikTok spotlight is a new feature that allows promotional content to be created across the platform for brands that operate within the entertainment industry.
Spotlight allows brands to utilise the power of fan communities across TikTok to promote films, TV shows, and franchises.
Consumers can now take direct action after seeing promotional content of entertainment they are interested in.
Anchor links are now included in fan content about your tv show, for example, which a consumer can now directly click on the attribution link and be taken to a page which provides more information like cast and official accounts.
Users can then take action such as buying tickets, discovering streaming services, and adding to a favourites list.
There is also an analytics dashboard which allows brands to understand their user engagement and emerging trends within the industry.
To Wrap Up
TikTok is developing ways to improve their platform to encourage engagement of different types, focusing less on short form videos, and incorporating the ability to generate longer content.
TikTok’s updates are making it easier for marketers and content creators to leverage their tools and increase user engagement. Contact ExtraDigital and discover how we can help you gain the most from these updates to see your business succeed!
