The Art Of Creating Viral Content On TikTok For Marketing Apps

Published on: 30 September 2023 Last Updated on: 05 October 2023

Did you know that TikTok users spend an average of 90 minutes daily on the app? Making it a perfect platform for those wondering how to market an app successfully.

Whether you’re a content creator or a brand aiming to expand your reach, TikTok offers a vast pool of potential users. Particularly for mobile app marketers.

Consider this:

Over 60% of TikTok users belong to Gen Z, a tech-savvy generation that prizes authenticity and creativity.
The gender distribution on the platform is almost even, offering a broad spectrum for targeting.
A whopping 90% of TikTok enthusiasts access the app daily on their mobile devices, emphasizing the synergy between TikTok users and potential mobile app consumers.

Numerous apps, such as the popular Duolingo, have harnessed TikTok’s power, witnessing exponential growth after trending on TikTok. If you are looking to launch your app or are simply looking to find new users then it is crucial to master the nitty-gritty of TikTok content.

Understanding the Art of Creating Viral Content

The statistics speak volumes about TikTok’s potential for mobile app marketing, especially if you’re figuring out how to market an app. But the question remains: how can one truly harness this potential?

To get the answer, we turned to Inigo Rivero, Managing Director at a reputed TikTok Agency. House of Marketers is a powerhouse in TikTok marketing. Their illustrious track record showcases successful campaigns for industry giants like Jodel, and Euroleague Basketball. They specialize in influencer marketing and paid media campaigns, as well as more.

We reached out to them to ask:

What makes TikTok content truly authentic, and how do you ensure this authenticity when crafting content for brands?
How do you prioritise engagement over direct promotion on TikTok, and what strategies have proven most effective for you and your partners?
What is the importance of storytelling in TikTok content, and how do you weave a brand’s narrative seamlessly into the platform’s ecosystem?
With the ever-evolving trends on TikTok, how do you strike a balance between leveraging what’s trending and maintaining a brand’s unique voice?

Let’s dive deep into the strategies behind content that not only trends but also leaves a lasting impact on TikTok.

The Blueprint for Viral TikTok Content for Marketing Apps

Here are the insights they shared with us:

In our years of experience at House of Marketers, we’ve found that the heart of TikTok lies in its authenticity. When we collaborate with brands, our primary focus is to craft content that feels genuine and resonates with the TikTok community. It’s not just about promoting; it’s about creating a narrative that TikTok users can connect with.

We agree TikTok isn’t the platform for hard sells. When you showcase genuine user experiences, behind-the-scenes looks, and real stories, your ideal user naturally gravitates toward your content. Instead of trying to follow a formula, let users see the humans behind the app.

Can you reverse-engineer viral content? The answer is yes and no. The thing is that creating or re-creating viral content on any platform requires a bit of trial and error and a lot of dedication. But fear not, we asked the experts to help us figure out the blueprint for viral content.

But how do you create content that not only entertains but also serves a marketing purpose? Let’s delve into the anatomy of viral content, starting with understanding the cogs that power this massive platform.

Engagement Over Promotion

TikTok thrives on spontaneity and real moments. Unlike other platforms where polished aesthetics are the key to success, TikTok values raw, genuine interactions. This is the platform’s unique strength and the key to crafting content that stands out.

While leveraging trending sounds or challenges is effective, it’s vital to infuse your unique brand voice. How does the trend align with your app’s value proposition?

Whether it’s a challenge related to your app, a poll, or a Q&A session, interactive content boosts engagement and fosters a sense of community.

Highlight the problems your app solves, but in a fun, TikTok-friendly manner.

“Whenever we strategize for our partners, we focus on achieving entertaining the audience, whilst seamlessly (but directly) promoting the brands. TikTok isn’t the place for hard sales. It’s a platform where brands can build genuine relationships with their audience. We always advise brands to be a part of trending challenges, use popular sounds, but most importantly, to be authentic.” – House of Marketers

Understanding the TikTok algorithm is the cornerstone of creating viral content. Over recent years, the platform’s algorithm has evolved, reflecting a deeper commitment to user experience. Brands like Gymshark have optimized their approach by posting consistently and using trending sounds, thus amplifying their visibility.

Read the in-depth case study on the House of Marketers website, here.

The TikTok algorithm functions primarily on the ‘For You Page’ (FYP), a curated feed personalized for each user. A few factors heavily influence content visibility:

User Interaction: This includes likes, comments, shares, and even the account follows stemming from your content.

Video Information: Details like captions, sounds, and hashtags play a role. Using trending sounds and relevant hashtags can boost your content’s discoverability.

Account and Device Information: Although lesser-known, TikTok uses device type and account settings to serve content.

In a nutshell, the more engagement your content garners, the higher its chances of being propelled to many more FYPs. But remember, it’s not just about visibility; it’s about striking a chord.

Storytelling: The Backbone of TikTok Marketing

Interactive content, like polls, Q&A sessions, and challenges, boosts engagement and fosters a sense of community. It’s about making the audience a part of the brand’s story.

“At House of Marketers, we believe in the power of storytelling. Every app has a unique story, and our job is to tell that story in a way that captivates the TikTok audience. Whether it’s showcasing user testimonials, behind-the-scenes looks, or the journey of the app, it’s all about creating a narrative.” – House of Marketers

If there’s one golden rule in marketing, it’s this: Know your audience. While global trends can be tempting to jump on, local nuances play a critical role. For instance, while a dance challenge might be viral globally, regional humor or cultural trends can offer a unique spin, making your content more relatable to a specific audience segment.

Defining Your Users: Are they teenagers looking for entertainment, or professionals seeking productivity apps? Understand their interests and behaviors to fine-tune your content strategy.

Content Alignment: Ensure that your content speaks directly to your target audience. If you’re marketing a fitness app, trending dance routines can be an apt choice, showcasing app features while keeping it fun.

A clear vision of your audience is akin to having a compass. It might not dictate every step, but it ensures you’re heading in the right direction.

Read House of Marketers’ in-depth guide on how to use storytelling for your app growth here.

Strike a Balance between Trend and Originality

While it’s essential to tap into trending challenges and sounds, it’s equally crucial to infuse content with a brand’s unique voice. It’s about finding the perfect balance between what’s trending and what’s true to the brand.

“At House of Marketers, we often say that riding the wave of trends is essential, but it’s your unique touch that makes the ride memorable. While trends provide momentum, it’s originality that ensures your brand leaves a lasting imprint. Every time we collaborate with a brand, our goal is to intertwine the essence of the brand with the pulse of TikTok’s trends, creating content that’s both relevant and distinctive.” – House of Marketers.

Originality and authentic ideas stand out. Be genuine and let your brand’s unique voice shine through. Jump on trending challenges or sounds, but always with a twist that aligns with your app.

An engaging story keeps users hooked. Even if it’s a short video, build a storyline that captivates. Crisp visuals and clear audio can make a significant difference. Invest in good equipment and editing tools.

While there’s no fixed formula for virality, mixing these ingredients with a pinch of creativity can help you craft content that drives success.

Read more about how to market to your audience in this guide.

Harnessing TikTok’s Tools for Maximum Impact

TikTok isn’t just about 15-second clips; it’s a platform brimming with features that can amplify your message. But the trick lies in knowing which tools to use and when. With TikTok now allowing videos up to three minutes in duration, brands have a larger canvas to tell their story. It’s crucial to keep abreast of such updates. For instance, longer formats might be ideal for showcasing a detailed app tutorial or a user testimonial.

Optimizing with TikTok’s Inbuilt Features

Effects & Filters: TikTok constantly releases new effects. For app marketers, this is a golden chance to frame their content innovatively. For instance, use the ‘green screen’ effect to showcase your app’s interface or features in an engaging backdrop.

Music & Sound: TikTok is as much about listening as it is about watching.

Leverage trending sounds: Often, trending sounds are synonymous with viral content. Embed these in your videos, making sure they align with your message.

Create your sound: Originality can set you apart. If it fits, consider producing a catchy jingle or soundbite related to your app.

TikTok’s array of tools can be overwhelming, but master them, and you’ll be a step closer to crafting content that resonates and reverberates.

Amplifying Your App through Engaging Narratives

Direct selling on TikTok is a no-go. The audience seeks engagement, not advertisements. Every story has a hero. In the context of app marketing, the hero could be the user benefitting from the app. Crafting narratives around user transformation, say, someone becoming fit using a fitness app, can create a more personal connection. How then, does one subtly introduce an app?

Integration over Promotion: Rather than overtly showcasing your app, weave it seamlessly into popular formats. If it’s a meditation app, maybe a calming 60-second morning routine video could subtly highlight its benefits.

TikTok Challenges: Create or tap into existing challenges. Challenges are TikTok’s crown jewels, and they can virally promote your app if executed right. For example, if your app is about photo editing, launch a challenge where users transform an ordinary picture into art using your app.

Celebrate User-generated Content: Encourage satisfied users to share their experiences with your app on TikTok. It adds authenticity and relatability.

Every app has a story. It’s not about selling; it’s about sharing that story in the most engaging way possible.

Tapping into the Power of Collaborations

No man is an island, and in TikTok’s universe, collaboration can be the bridge to wider audiences. Collaborations not only boost visibility but also ensure the brand’s ethos is communicated effectively.

Influencer Partnerships: Identify and collaborate with TikTok influencers whose audience matches your target demographic. Their endorsement can lend credibility and expand your app’s reach exponentially.

Duets and Shoutouts: Engage with the community. Duets can be a fun way to interact with popular creators or users, while shoutouts (especially from larger accounts) can offer significant visibility boosts.

Sponsored Content: While organic reach is golden, don’t shy away from sponsored collaborations. They’re a guaranteed way to place your app in front of a vast audience.

In TikTok’s ecosystem, collaborations aren’t just beneficial; they’re often essential for rapid growth.

Beyond TikTok: Cross-Promoting Your Content

While TikTok is a potent tool, combining its forces with other platforms can amplify your impact. Platforms like Instagram have different user bases and algorithms. While TikTok thrives on spontaneity, Instagram values aesthetics. When cross-promoting, tweaking your TikTok content to match the platform’s vibe can yield better results. Here’s how you can cross-pollinate your content for broader reach:

Integrate with Other Social Platforms: Share your TikTok videos on Instagram Stories, Facebook, Twitter, or even LinkedIn, depending on your audience. This not only drives traffic to your TikTok profile but also increases the chances of your app being noticed.

Embed in Blogs & Websites: If your business maintains a blog or website, consider embedding popular TikTok videos. This offers an interactive way for visitors to engage with your content.

Newsletter Inclusions: Regular newsletters? Highlight engaging TikTok content or campaigns. It adds a fresh element to your communications and drives subscribers to your TikTok page.

Engage with Communities: Join forums or groups related to your app’s niche. Share your content there, but ensure it adds value to the community discussions.

In the vast digital universe, your TikTok content is a star. Make sure it shines across the galaxy.

Success Stories: Analyzing & Iterating

The digital landscape is rife with stories of brands that changed course based on feedback. Coca-Cola’s ‘Share a Coke‘ campaign, which began as a small test, exploded in popularity. TikTok is no different. Brands that heed feedback and aren’t afraid to iterate, often find greater success in the long run. Now that you’ve crafted and shared your content, how do you measure its impact?

TikTok Analytics: Dive deep into your profile’s analytics. Observe metrics like video views, followers, and engagement rate. This data is a goldmine, offering insights into what’s working and what’s not.

Feedback is Gold: Engage with comments on your videos. They are raw, unfiltered feedback. Users might even share suggestions or desires related to your app.

Adapt and Evolve: Digital landscapes, especially TikTok, change rapidly. Stay adaptable. If a strategy isn’t working, pivot. If a new trend emerges, consider how you can align it with your app.

Remember, success on TikTok isn’t just about virality; it’s about sustained growth. Regularly reviewing and iterating is the key.

Final Thoughts on Viral Content on TikTok

On TikTok, where trends come and go with the wind, the art of creating content that resonates lies in striking the right chords of authenticity, engagement, and originality. As we’ve journeyed through the intricacies of TikTok content creation, one thing stands clear: if you want to learn how to market an app, you need to learn to strike a balance between leveraging trends and maintaining a brand’s unique voice.

A special shoutout to the experts at House of Marketers for their invaluable insights and proven strategies. Their mastery in blending the art and science of TikTok marketing serves as an inspiration for brands aiming to make a mark on this platform.

If you’d like to work with House of Marketers, then this is your chance. Get your free app marketing campaign proposal here.

Read Also:

Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

View all posts

Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Web Marketers

Getting along with a web marketer is about as easy as negotiating your client’s settlement over a picnic outside the courthouse. Some people are that easy to work with, but they’re about as common as an 8-1 ruling in the Supreme Court. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] image credit:localang.com[/caption] For lawyers, web marketing is what the French call a devoir — a “have to.” Most of us would rather wash our hands of it. After all, we went for a JD, not an MBA or a marketing degree. We have a whole desk full of case files and ethical obligations demanding our time. Marketing is hitching for a spot in the backseat, at best. But the Web is where the clients are. Internet marketers are the new rainmakers. We need them to keep the soil moist, so to speak. In today’s marketplace, Google is the ground from which law firms grow. The trick is to find a marketing firm that can get the job done at the right price… while keeping our blood pressure below the call-an-ambulance level. That’s easier said than done, but here’s some advice. Five Commandments for Keeping the Peace with a Web Marketer 1. Slow and Steady You know what they say — it wins the race. SEO is not an impatient person’s game. Top 10 search results are not achieved overnight. Sure, you might see a blip here and there, but if you’re looking for instant gratification, you’re searching in vain. Think of it as the stock market. You’re investing for long-term gain. 2. Micromanagement is a killer: Attempting to micromanage your marketing will put you and your marketer in that blood pressure danger zone. You’re the lawyer. They’re the web gurus. You each have jobs to do, so stick to those. It’ll do wonders for the relationship. 3. Know what you’re paying for: Legal web marketing isn’t exactly inexpensive. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Just know what you’re paying for. A good marketing firm will offer itemized transparency for their services, and that’ll keep you from feeling resentful about any “phantom charges.” 4. Don’t get emotional: This isn’t “Dr. Phil.” Your relationship with your web marketer means everything, but that relationship should be built on performance, dependability, and communication — not personality. Trust is important, and it takes time, but you should assess the firm’s effectiveness in the services they provide, not the extent to which you “like” them as people. Oh, and the Golden Rule applies here too — treat your marketers with the courtesy and respect you expect from them. 5. Work with good people This is especially important in the legal arena. So much of web marketing is content-based; but as attorneys, we have to be careful about whom we allow writing about the law on our behalf. Stick with experienced and highly credentialed marketers, preferably those who are able to have your content written by licensed attorneys. The State Bar will thank you for it (in the form of zero discipline for marketing blunders). Here again, you get what you pay for. Need Web Marketing Advice for Attorneys? Ask. As the old saying goes, you don’t know what you don’t know. If you need web marketing advice for attorneys, ask around. Maybe some of your law school friends practicing in other jurisdictions can share their experiences. A simple conversation can shed real insight. You might be surprised by how much you’ll learn from the web marketers themselves. Ask them to educate you. Most are more than willing to elaborate on their history, their best practices, and their approach to client management. Working with web marketers isn’t always easy, but take these tips to heart and you’ll see long-term success (instead of simply seeing red). Kaplan Lawyers PC is a New York City personal injury law firm that helps victims of personal injury and their families in Bronx, Queens, and Kings Counties, as well as all of New York City.

7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using a CDN with WordPress

What is CND? CDN is the short form of Content Delivery Network. It helps in creating a baseline for the functionality of the internet. When an individual visits your site, his browser queries your web server for the information it needs to load. The web server will then respond with all the necessary data required to render your site in the browser. There is a difference between the necessary infrastructure for hosting CDN and a site. Below are some of the reasons that will make you use CDN. Speed Speed is the aspect that most people consider as a selling point for CDN. Many individuals believe that using the CDN will improve the loading speed of the site. Speed improvement is the aspect you need to concentrate on as it goes from fifteen seconds to six seconds when loading. Improving from six to seconds will be a greater improvement, and it fully attributes to the addition of the content delivery network. The configuration and capabilities of your web host are also vital. Nowadays, many premium web hosts possess an internal setup that looks like CDN for serving up your static sites on the file servers. Traffic amount your site can hold Performance and speed are different but go hand in hand. Your site loading fast when with visitors is one thing and your site loading fast when without visitors is another thing. If you want your site to load fast when it is under heavy load, you will have to scale out the pressure needs that require several servers to handle. You can implement content delivery network as a redirect static resource so that your site loads from the CDN servers and not the host server. This will involve changing the structure of the DNS for it to point to the service you will be using. You can also use CDN as a reverse proxy that requires small DNS changes that will make your name to point to the CDN server rather than the host. The host servers will receive traffic after it hits the CDN servers. The bulk of loading activity will be the sole role of the first servers that receive the traffic. Your site will handle more traffic than normal when CDN is in place. Security Content delivery network companies recommend and implement mechanisms which make sites secure. Fixing hacked WordPress sites is not an easy task and installing defender applications on your site will enhance its security. Embedding CDN in your site is also advantageous as it has built-in mechanisms that deal with malicious traffic. Prevents your site from going down What happens when your site is under a DDoS attack? This attack will bring down your site for as long as it is under attack. This attack occurs when an army of servers and computers flood traffic to your site making it gets overwhelmed. Hackers might attack you when they want you to pay them or when your competitor wants to ruin your income, brand, or reputation. Implementing WordPress on CDN is easy Implementing CDN is easy on WordPress. This system is easy to apply as it is not complicated. The best CDN will offer plugins that will make setting it up to take a few minutes. You can decide either to get a free or a paid version of the CDN. Read also: The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Successful Blogger Uses You will get access to global audiences Most services of CDN possess a Singapore data center and makes people visiting your site enjoy the experience throughout the world. CDN will make sure that your site becomes pleasant to all your audiences. You will enjoy SEO ranking CDN does not promise to get you to the top instantly, but the SEO friendly content you post on your site will take you a step further once you have CDN servers. The bottom line is that your site will experience improvement regarding performance when it implements CDN. With a lot of free CDNs in the market, you do not have a reason for not starting to serve your data from the global delivery system. Read also: How To Maintain WordPress Website For Free? 4 WordPress Plugins To Make Your Blog More Powerful

Tips to Make a Solid Start with Fiori Development

SAP Fiori, the all-new UX from SAP offered a new opportunity for the SAP developers. Besides allowing unprecedented access to some of the most used SAP processes, this new UX strategy for the first time will allow focus on design more than anything else. When usefulness and user engagement remains to be the primary driving factor for the majority of app development and design processes, this new UX strategy will address both these aspects of the SAP environment. The key value propositions of SAP Fiori are performance and speed, productivity and cost advantage. Before offering some experience-driven tips for SAP Fiori developers let us familiarize ourselves with few of the guiding principles concerning SAP Fiori implementation. Start from business objectives and business process Fiori is delivered by SAP to add simplicity to your business apps and thus to elevate user experience. Thanks to Fiori apps the users can gain deeper access and engage with the business processes more. It is almost a reinvention of the business process with user-friendly apps. That sounds great and quite impressive. But the main challenge remains to implement this UX as a means to add value to the business process. This is why we are focusing here so intently on implementation part. Fiori Development with a 5D Approach 5D approach consisting of Define, Discover, Design, Develop, and Deploy can play a really effective role in SAP Fiori development. Basically, this approach simplifies the entire process and helps to create focus areas. Define: In this step, you can describe the objective, your target audience and desired impact from the app. Discover: In this step, you need to find ways to simplify user experience and user interface to ensure usefulness and user satisfaction. To find out or discover such ways you can take other Fiori apps or case scenarios as the reference. Design: In this step, you need to optimize user experience with design elements. You can create wireframes and introduce visual design elements, mock-ups, etc. You can follow some best app design principles or can consult users to make navigation, layout, typography, color scheme, and content flow look better and useful. Develop: Now this is the execution step involving actual coding. In this step, you need to develop the workable version of the app and then allow integration with the back-end system. Deploy: In this step, you will deploy your Fiori app after going through extensive unit and integration testing. Useful development tips that helps to build robust apps Finally, the journey of a developer with SAP Fiori app projects will invariably have some unique learning scopes. Let us offer below some useful tips from the developer’s point of view. 1) Know SAP Fiori design guidelines Go to the website of SAP Fiori Design Guidelines and read it to understand the design principles that this UX strategy works upon. There are few design-oriented aspects that you need to remember. SAP Fiori design elements are not accidental by any means. All design attributes are deliberate in character. By making use of different design controls, patterns and filters you can achieve your desired design for the app. 2) In-depth knowledge of sap.m and sap.ui library is necessary The Fiori developers of SAP were the first customers of the UI5 toolkit that includes a sap.m library with a range of controls. For the first few Fiori apps, these first batch of SAP internal developers used these controls for app design needs. For building clean and visually engaging apps they took the building blocks from this toolkit. Till date, this toolkit along with its sam.m library and controls offer a robust pool of tools for designing Fiori apps. Besides that, there are other useful libraries like sap.ui.layout. A Fiori app is designed by visual building blocks and they are only available at sap.m library. The letter's’ stands for "mobile", referring to controls for mobile-friendly responsive design. Another extensively used and helpful library is the sap.ui.layout library which offers grid controls to develop simple and engaging app layout. To know about the sap.m library controls go to the Explored app section in the UI5 SDK and the resource will give you a clear idea of how each control works with real app examples. You can also see the codes used in each case. 3) Understanding UI5 toolkit components and routing Obviously, as a Fiori app developer, you would like to include your app in the Fiori Launchpad to allow navigation to your app from other Fiori apps. Without understanding and integrating the UI5 toolkit components and without routing, you cannot do that. UI5 components and routing allow outreach to other Fiori apps. With these two elements, you stand at par and on the same platform with other Fiori apps. 4) Get help through MVC and XML MVC technically speaking is inseparable with Fiori development. There is a wide range of implications of an MVC based development approach and all of them are good. First of all, know how the app structure is built through invisible and some screen-sized controls. Then know-how within the structure various views relate to each other. Most of the lovable SAP Fiori apps used XML for producing definitive views of their apps. Through XML you can create declarative views in a crisp, efficient and clean way. 5) Manipulating both Chrome Developer Tools and UI5 Support Tool In this new arena of SAP Fiori development, both Chrome Developer Tools along with UI5 Support Tool offer an excellent debugging option to ensure glitch-free app performance and speed. Chrome offers the most developer-friendly editing tools. Having this tool will take many of your concerns as far as meticulous monitoring and editing are concerned. Manipulating Chrome Developer tools with support tools of UI5 can ensure superb development and consistent debugging and trace features. 6) Gain expertise in data binding Data binding is the specialty that allows frontend meeting the backend of an app. To master this skill set you need to focus on a few aspects. Let us have a look at them. Know the nuances in an object. Understand property and aggregation bindings. Understand and learn the intricacies of complex embedded binding syntax. Learn to specify factory functions, sorting, filtering, grouping, formatting, etc. 7) Learn from other Fiori apps Finally, it can be revealed to study other Fiori apps and the design practices they adhered to. Though it may sound generic, it actually works as an eye-opener and helps you learn things that you cannot learn otherwise. Learning from existing app instances, you can gain insights on the best practices and the aspects that you still need to master. Often by looking at other people’s code, you come across solutions that were otherwise invisible.

The Art Of Creating Viral Content On TikTok For Marketing Apps

Understanding the Art of Creating Viral Content