5 Ways Brands Should Leverage the New TikTok Creative Challenge

At this point, who doesn’t have TikTok? 

The popular social media platform is a marketing juggernaut. With hundreds of millions of users on the platforms, savvy brands know they need to leverage it when trying to build their online presence—but, exactly how can they do that? 

The thing about TikTok is that trends are always changing. Part of its appeal is how often new sensations appear, keeping things exciting. However, that can leave brands and businesses feeling as if they’re trying to hop onto a speeding train.

Have no fear: the newly-launched TikTok Creative Challenge is the perfect entry point. It’s a unique opportunity for brands to connect with their target audience and generate buzz with the help of top content creators. What’s not to like? 

Keep reading to learn how it works and how to leverage it! 

🤷 What Is The TikTok Creative Challenge? 

TikTok Creative Challenge is an in-app feature that allows content creators to create video ads for brands through “challenges.” Each challenge comes with a brief that details the reward as well as the video requirements. Advertisers can get up to 30 video ads within 10 days, all of which will be original content posted as ads on the For You feed.

Not only is it an easy way to gain authentic, high-quality content, but it’s also a shortcut to influencer marketing. As a brand, you get more straightforward access to content creators who understand how TikTok works, from engaging with their audience to working with filters, sounds, and hashtags. It’s a seamless collaboration that helps advertisers scale up their reach while giving creators creative freedom over their video ads.

At the moment, the beta version is only available to US-based account holders with at least 50,000 followers on TikTok and who are 18 years old or older. 

🏃 Tips To Hit The Ground Running 

Navigating a new app feature can be a headache, especially in a platform like TikTok where new trends start every day. You may be struggling to get a grip or even figure out where exactly to begin with all this. 

Well, we’re here to help you out. Here are our five best tips to maximize your challenges and get the results you want for your brand! 

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🎯 Set Clear Objectives

Define your objectives before launching a TikTok Creative Challenge. Determine what you want to achieve through the challenge, whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving more sales, or increasing engagement with your audience. 

Clear objectives will guide your strategy, content creation, and measurement of success. By setting key performance indicators, you can track the impact of your challenge and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns. Think about it this way: how can you know if you were successful if you haven’t defined what success looks like? 

🧒 Know Your Target Audience 

Your TikTok strategy should focus on aligning content with brand values. Create a challenge that is unique and stands out from the crowd, capturing the attention of both content creators and viewers. Incorporate elements that resonate with your target audience—you should have some idea of what they like! 

Given how important music is to TikTok, consider setting recommendations based on what your target demographic might like. For example, a beauty brand marketing to millennials should probably choose Taylor Swift over Led Zeppelin.

🎆 Choose Engaging and Authentic Content 

The success of a TikTok Creative Challenge relies on the quality and authenticity of the content. Collaborate with content creators and influencers who understand your brand and can deliver engaging videos that will resonate with their followers. 

Encourage creators to infuse their unique style and personality into the challenge, making it relatable and shareable. Authenticity is key on TikTok. By showcasing genuine experiences and emotions, your brand can build trust and foster a loyal community.

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🌐 Use Branded Effects and Trending Hashtags 

Branded effects add a fun and recognizable element to your challenge, allowing creators to incorporate your brand’s visuals into their videos. They add an extra level of charm and personality to your content. 

At the same time, incorporating trending hashtags relevant to your challenge can increase its discoverability and reach. By tapping into popular trends, you can ride the wave of viral content and amplify the impact and reach of your challenge.

📲 Promote Challenge Participation 

Use your brand’s existing social media channels and other marketing platforms to create awareness and encourage users to join the challenge. One of the reasons TikTok rules social media is because it’s so collaborative—leverage this!

Collaborate with exciting micro-influencers who have a strong presence and loyal fanbase on TikTok to further amplify your challenge’s reach. By actively promoting and encouraging participation, you can generate a snowball effect of user-generated content. 

Source: Canva

😎 Go Beyond The TikTok Creative Challenge

There you have it: five ways your brand can leverage the TikTok Creative Challenge. 

However, as you might expect, leveraging this challenge is the beginning. TikTok should be front and centre in all your online marketing campaigns—and the experts at The Influence Agency are here to help! 

Our team of experts can help you design and execute a compelling TikTok Creative Challenge that aligns with your brand’s goals and resonates with your audience. From developing a unique challenge to collaborating with content creators and promoting participation, we can guide you through the process to ensure a successful campaign. 

Contact us today to get started!