TikTok is on the brain. It is one of the first social media platforms we have seen that has been able to create such an engaged and expansive audience with such a simple formula to gain exposure. With the click of a button, your restaurant has a key into a world that is constantly aching for new content, and that may just help push your brand over the edge. Check out our three tips on how your restaurant can utilize TikTok to boost engagement.
- Leverage TikTok influencers.
TikTok influencers have taken the platform by storm, gaining brand sponsorships that have changed the game for social media. They have become so popular, that they are now featured on television shows and popular brand commercials. Influencers are vital to boosting engagement for your restaurant because they are the easiest, most accessible way to reach an active audience. There are several benefits to having a TikTok influencer promote your brand:
- Large followings that reach an extensive and relative audience.
- Familiar with popular TikTok trends.
- High-quality skills in video creation and editing.
- Highly accessible and easily appear on TikTok’s “For You Page” due to their popularity
If your restaurant is new to the TikTok world, it may seem daunting to begin your search for influencers that match your restaurant’s brand and values. The good news is, there are several platforms that help make the search easy, and will give you what you are looking for.
- Keep an eye on audio and video trends.
TikTok is special in the sense that much of the content that is on the platform is successful because users participate in the trends that are currently active. There are certain songs, dances, and comedy routines that blow up very quickly, and it is important for your restaurant to utilize that. For example, you can make a TikTok of your head chef creating your restaurant’s signature dish, and put it together with a song that is currently trending on the platform. Because that song is popular, the video of your chef will automatically have a better chance of getting noticed, because people are searching for that song. It will automatically put your video at the top of a lot of peoples “For You Page,” automatically giving your brand more traction.
Your restaurant can also make your own trend. Maybe there is a dance your waiters like to do after a long night, or a funny bit your hostess does of relatable restaurant-worker content. Here are some tips to help you identify top TikTok trends, and how to make your own. Check out Shake Shack’s awesome use of a popular TikTok audio trend.
- Incorporate popular hashtags.
Another way your restaurant can boost engagement on TikTok is through utilizing popular hashtags, as it will ultimately enhance your restaurant’s discoverability. With the way the TikTok algorithm works, hashtags are heavily taken into account when choosing which videos are displayed most often on users’ “For You Page.” This means that if your restaurant chooses to partake in a popular hashtag, it is more likely that you’ll see increased engagement. Also, there are several hashtag challenges on TikTok, ones that your restaurant can take advantage of that will enhance your brand. You can easily find them by going to TikTok’s Discover Page, as they are organized by the most popular hashtags.
One hashtag collection that is on top of everyone’s mind is #foryou, #foryoupage, and #fyp. This is in reference to TikTok’s “For You Page,” which is content catered to the users algorithm. If you put a combination of any three of those hashtags in the caption of your video, you’ll be more likely to get views on the video because the hope is that it appears on audiences’ pages. Here’s some insight on how you can get on a user’s FYP.
Now that you have learned how your restaurant can utilize TikTok to boost engagement, remember to have fun in the process! Your restaurant is a creative, exciting place filled with new ideas, tasty food, and devoted customers. Have your staff do that TikTok dance they’ve always wanted, or participate in a trending cook-off challenge and then TikTok can be a tasty ride!
Learn more about restaurant marketing from The Cyphers Agency here.
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