TikTok for Business: A Guide for Australian Businesses

By Sean McCoy25 March 20225 min read
Grid of TikTok For You videos showing people talking, dancing and cooking

TikTok for business is TikTok's set of free tools for brands: a business account with analytics and contact details, a library of music cleared for commercial use, and TikTok Ads Manager for paid campaigns. It suits businesses that can film short videos regularly and want to reach people who don't follow them yet. You don't have to dance.

What is TikTok for Business?

TikTok is a short video app where most viewing happens in the For You feed, a stream of videos picked for each person based on what they watch. A tiktok business account is a free profile type for brands. TikTok for Business is the umbrella name for that account plus the advertising tools behind it.

A business tiktok profile gives you:

  • Analytics on views, followers and who is watching
  • A business category and contact details on your profile
  • Access to the Commercial Music Library (sounds cleared for business use)
  • The option to run ads through TikTok Ads Manager

TikTok's Australian business site explains the ad products and has the sign-up for Ads Manager.

How can TikTok be used for business?

Use it to show your work, your people and your know-how in short videos. The formats that work for small businesses are simple:

  • A job or product from start to finish
  • Behind the scenes: the kitchen, the workshop, the vineyard, the packing shed
  • Quick answers to the questions customers ask you every week
  • Someone wearing, using or tasting what you sell
  • Before and after shots

When we plan short video for regional businesses, the clips that are easiest to keep making are the ones filmed during normal work. A 20 second phone video of a finished job is enough. Our social media content creation team can plan and film a batch if that's the hard part.

What are the benefits of TikTok for business?

The main benefits of tiktok for business are reach and cost. Because the For You feed recommends videos by interest, a new account can be seen by people who haven't heard of you yet.

Other advantages of tiktok for business:

  • Low production cost: phone video with natural sound fits the platform better than polished ads
  • Search: people use TikTok to look up places to eat, things to do and how to fix things, so clear captions help you get found
  • Personality: showing the people behind the business builds trust before anyone calls
  • Ads when you want them: boost a video that's already working, or build a campaign in Ads Manager

The trade-off is effort. TikTok rewards a steady flow of new video, so it's a poor fit if you can only post once a month.

How do I create a TikTok account for my business?

You create a normal TikTok account, then switch it to a business account. Here's how to set up a TikTok account for business:

  1. Download the TikTok app and sign up with a business email address, not a personal one.
  2. Choose a username that matches your business name, so customers can find you.
  3. Go to your profile, open the menu (three lines), then Settings and privacy, then Account.
  4. Tap Switch to Business Account and pick the category closest to what you do.
  5. Add your profile photo (your logo), a short bio that says what you do and where, and your contact details.

That's all it takes to create a tiktok for business account. To make TikTok account business from an existing personal profile, follow steps 3 and 4: your videos and followers stay.

If you plan to advertise, also set up TikTok Ads Manager from TikTok's business site and link it to the account. The steps can move as TikTok updates the app, so check TikTok's Help Centre if a menu has changed.

Is TikTok for business worth it in Australia?

For tiktok for business australia, the answer depends on your customers and your capacity, not on the app's size. It's worth it when your buyers skew younger, your work is good to watch, and someone can film new video every week.

If your customers are mostly older or other businesses, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn may do more for you. Our guide to TikTok vs Instagram compares the two side by side, and our guide to posting frequency helps you set a pace you can keep.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a TikTok account a business account?

Switch it in Settings. Go to your profile, tap the menu, then Settings and privacy, Account, and Switch to Business Account. Pick a business category and add your contact details. Your existing videos and followers stay, and you gain analytics and the Commercial Music Library straight away.

How do you verify a business account on TikTok?

You can apply for TikTok's verified badge, but TikTok decides who gets it. The badge is meant for authentic, notable accounts, and TikTok looks for an active, complete profile. Apply from Settings and privacy, then Account and Verification if your account shows the option. Advertisers may also be asked to verify business details in Ads Manager.

Can I have a personal and business TikTok account?

Yes. You can keep a personal account and a business account and switch between them in the app without logging out. Each account is either personal or business, not both. Keep your business account on a business email so someone else can take it over if staff change.

Can TikTok business accounts use music?

Yes, but only from TikTok's Commercial Music Library. Those sounds are cleared for business use, which protects you from copyright claims. Many trending songs available to personal accounts won't appear for business accounts. Original audio, like your own voice-over, is fine on any account.

Can you change a TikTok business account to personal?

Yes. Go to Settings and privacy, then Account, and choose Switch to Personal Account. You'll lose business analytics and the business tools, and any ads you're running should be paused first. You can switch back to business later if you need to.

A TikTok business account is free to start and cheap to run if you can keep filming. Set up the business account properly, post short videos of real work, and watch which ones bring enquiries. If you'd rather hand it over, our social media management plans include short video, and our social media marketing team in Mildura can help you decide whether TikTok belongs in the mix.

About Rock Solid Marketing

A marketing team that has helped businesses across Sunraysia and the Mallee since 2017, from our office on Deakin Avenue in Mildura.

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