With an estimate of over 1.1 billion users, TikTok has become the goldmine for businesses. According to TikTok, even SMBs are benefiting from its massive growth. While some people are prejudiced that it’s an app for Gen Z, some fully developed businesses are flourishing through it!
TikTok’s large number of users helps showcase different visual aspects of home services, boosting your customer base. After all, home service contractors thrive on exhibiting their projects. This simple guide to TikTok for home services contractors equips you with tips to propel your business.
Let’s get started!
Why Use TikTok for Your Home Service Business?
If you’ve been running your home service business for over a decade, you may be enamored of other social marketing platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. And you’re probably wondering why you should put much effort into TikTok while these platforms are still running.
TikTok has numerous advantages that can leave a great impact on your business. So, why invest in TikTok as a home-service contractor?
Massive User Growth
In November 2018, TikTok had 680 million monthly active users. According to DataReportal, the platform hit 800 million active users in May 2020. Quite a massive user growth, right? The number is growing rapidly, and App Annie expected it to be over 1.2 billion in 2021.
As a result, TikTok has promoted the visual aspect of home services, making it one of the top local marketing tools. For instance, thousands of local users can view stunning images of your remodeling projects, roofing products, or home decor.
User-Friendly App
As a business person, you don’t want to spend much time familiarizing yourself with a marketing platform. So while it’s essential to ensure you know about a marketing tool, you need one that fits your schedule flawlessly.
Thanks to TikTok, you don’t have to spend hours downloading videos and following multiple instructions. Instead, this App allows you to create videos within a short time and catch your meeting on time!
The Age Factor
Is TikTok just for Gen Z? Is your target audience on TikTok?
47% of TikTok’s America’s audience is between 10 and 29 years old. This spreads across Gen Z and millennial generations. Consequently, it eliminates the fear of most businesses because you can reach your target audience.
So, whether you offer patio, HVAC, painting, or plumbing services, you can connect with your prospective clients on TikTok. Remember, you don’t have to stay up all night to figure out how it works.
TikTok 101 for Home Services Contractors – 5 Tips to Get Started
1. Pick Your Niche Topic
TikTok users have distinct tastes and likes! As a result, they like to follow accounts that focus on specific subjects. You can leverage this by choosing a niche topic that will attract the right audience.
Envision this: you create multiple contents on remodeling and even pay for local marketing software to enhance it. Then you attract an audience between the age of 10 and 15 since you’ve not specified the niche topic.
Even with big numbers, you will have wasted a marketing opportunity. To avoid this, it is essential to select the niche topic that focuses on the home services that you provide.
Besides the target audience, selecting a niche offers you other benefits. For instance, you enjoy more flexibility to identify gaps for your company to make an impact, be creative, and have fun!
As a home service contractor, your TikTok videos can be loaded with remodeling projects. So, why is this the right approach?
When sharing multiple clips of renovation, you fascinate and satisfy numerous viewers who are interested in remodeling. But, the excitement does not stop there; any time they need an overhaul service, you will be the first contractor that comes to their minds.
Moreover, they will refer you to their relatives or friends who need remodeling services! TikTok is also a great small business marketing platform since it offers you much freedom. Consequently, you can explore a certain area or focus on specific spheres of your brand.
For instance, if you provide home decor services, you can focus on the decor theme and how it transforms your space. You could become popular on TikTok for all decor theme needs!
2. Create Your Content Calendar
Like any other social media marketing tool, TikTok requires adequate planning. Why? If you post inconsistently, your home service business may endure spontaneous fluctuations in your customer base.
With a content calendar, you can develop ideas and plan the sphere you will cover next week or month. How frequently should I post? When starting, stick to a posting cadence that’s manageable for you.
Don’t pressure yourself with 3 posts a day while you have to attend to other fundamental responsibilities in the company. Like any other platform, TikTok rewards consistency. So, starting with 3 to 5 posts a week as you work your way up will do great.
With a Pro Account, you can also access TikTok analytics, allowing you to track your progress. It can help you decide when and how often you should post!
3. Create Authentic Content
Wondering how you can create incredible content that will gather much attention? You don’t have to purchase expensive gadgets to make pro-like videos. TikTok allows you to add your brand’s personality to your clips, even with a smartphone!
You can record your patio services and connect with your viewers using your phone or camera. That doesn’t mean you overlook clarity; nobody wants to strain their eyes trying to view blurred clips in this era!
TikTok is among the top small business marketing tools since it offers content that relates to its users. You can utilize the magic ingredients in this platform to connect and engage more viewers.
For instance, you can create humorous or entertaining videos that integrate a hashtag dance challenge of a happy client after receiving impeccable renovation services. This will go a long way to prompt users to engage with your company. Remember, TikTok is all about authentic humor and entertainment!
Struggling to come up with fresh content? TikTok is the local marketing platform you need. Why? It allows you to spin existing content. This platform entails community engagement and hashtags, so you can find what’s trending and let your business thrive on it.
Get involved in a hashtag challenge or trending song as you sell your brand. Identify trends in the home service industry focusing on productive morning routines and showcase yours. Your individual brand story and personality will make you outstanding!
4. Utilize User-Generated Content (UGC)
Since TikTok entails fun and casual acts, you need to develop creative approaches to flourish your business. However, before you come up with content for your home service business, evaluate users’ behaviors and triggers.
It will help you sell through their content at no extra cost! Nike gives an exemplary illustration of this; the company attracted 929 million viewers on the hashtag #nike in February 2021, and users created videos and GIFs dancing in Nikes or painting them.
Although Nike is an established company, this doesn’t rule out SMBs. With a hashtag that relates to users, you can enjoy great returns. For instance, if you are an architect, creating a hashtag like #mydreamhouse and sharing stunning house designs can fascinate users interested in your niche, making videos around their favorite design.
5. Influencer Marketing
Planning to expand your reach on TikTok? Influencer marketing can help you hit your objective! Like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, influencers on TikTok have distinct numbers of followers, consequently, varying degrees of influence.
Although you may have to pay more for those with more followers, your ROI can be immense. As a home service brand, you can approach fitting influencers and initiate a working relationship.
So, what should you consider before you approach an influencer? First, search for influencers within your niche and learn about their impact on other companies they’ve worked with. Then settle for the best in terms of pay and returns.
Depending on the pay you consent with the TikTok influencer, below are some services they may offer:
- Link to your company in the description
- Talk about your services in their videos
- Post your services in the video description
Like other social platforms, working with the right TikTok influencer can tremendously boost your home service business!
BONUS: Run Ads on TikTok
Can I run paid ads on TikTok? TikTok offers monetized ad services that allow your brand to be viewed by users. Below are four ways you can pay for ads through your App:
- Native Ads
These ads play amid user content and run between 9 to 15 seconds. However, they have buttons, and users can skip them.
- Sponsored Hashtag Challenges
Hashtags are a hefty issue in TikTok and attract massive numbers. Every time there’s a new challenge on the Discover page, millions of users view it and can join.
You can sponsor a hashtag and secure a custom banner across the Discover page. This will promote your brand!
- Brand Takeovers
Brand takeovers appear on user’s feed before they view any other content. They are also linkable to your landing page, although they show one content for specific categories per day.
- Branded Lenses
This option allows you to design a TikTok filter linked to your business, and your video is live for 10 days. You can select the lens you prefer; 2D or 3D.
Final Thoughts
When used right, TikTok can help you expand your home service business! All you need to do is pick your niche, schedule your content, create authentic content, utilize UGC, influencer marketing, and ads. With these, you will enjoy enormous returns! TikTok also offers unique advantages to its users. So, you’ll enjoy an easy time making videos, access numerous viewers and your target audience. Need a little direction? Reach out to our team at Surefire Local today!