The Top TikTok Creators of 2020 Mastered These Marketing Tactics
If the business of social media is your business, then you’re aware of the incredible year TikTok has had. From founding a Creators Fund to establishing itself as a formidable competitor to other long-standing platforms to avoiding a ban by the Trump administration, the app that started as Music.ly has evolved into so much more. Today, it’s considered a must-have social media account for influencers and business owners who want to take their brand awareness to new, potentially record-breaking heights.
Yesterday, the app released its list of the top creators, trends, hashtags, and sounds to grace users’ For You pages in 2020. If you’re a content creator looking to get your foot in the TikTok door, or a current user hoping to go viral in the new year, taking a look at this year’s trends may inform what you choose to create in 2021. The extensive end-of-year report highlights top viral videos, tops trends/hashtags/challenges, top celebs, top songs, and various top creator lists broken down into sub-categories (“rising stars,” beauty, food, niche communities, etc.). Whether you’re new to the app or not, this very long list is proof that there are so many ways to take advantage of TikTok and have some fun along the way.
We zeroed in on some of the top female creators and immediately noticed some of the marketing tactics that consistently boosted their views and overall success. Keep scrolling for a few takeaways and try applying one to your next video. We promise, there’s more to the app than popping and locking—but if that’s your thing, more power to you!
@iamtabithabrownLobster mushroom salad❤️ #tabithabrown #vegan #lobstermushroom♬ original sound – Tabitha Brown
Tabitha Brown
You may remember Tabitha is one of our favorite mental health advocates and this year, she parlayed her much-deserved TikTok fame into a burgeoning empire. Her recipes are delicious and her videos feel like a much-needed hug.
The TikTok Takeaway: Tabitha identified her content niche (recipe videos) and committed to it. Now, her super easy, delicious, and vegan recipes are taking the TikTok landscape by storm. Consider spending some time honing your content niche and experimenting with different tags. Consistency is key.
@hellotefiSHE’S TRICKYYYYYY ##fyp ##fypシ♬ original sound – T ✨
Tefi Pessoa
Tefi is an NYC-based influencer and TikToker known for her empowering relationship advice, quippy sense of humor, and perfect pop-culture breakdowns. Tefi has taken it upon herself to make sure every Gen Z on the app knows the nuances of pre-Y2K moments in celeb history—and I am truly here for it.
The TikTok Takeaway: Tefi nurtured her TikTok presence while promoting her YouTube channel, Tefi Show, as well as her own Instagram, podcast appearances, her own podcast “Que Pena,” and now, merch (I’d like a hundred “Hot Girls Meditate” stickers, please.) She is living proof that staying hungry and humble pays off, and that success on one platform can mean success on all your platforms if you’re intentional about your promotion strategy and activate it everywhere.
@mikkzazonThat’s more like it ❤️ ##fyp ##normalizenormalbodies ##bodypositivity♬ POV for my vain girlies – Joychar
Mik Zazon
Mik Zazon is best known for “normalizing normal bodies” on TikTok, Instagram, and beyond. She sparked a movement on the app alongside other creators by showing what her body looks like posed in photos as opposed to unposed, and encourages other users to do the same. Her hashtag #NormalizeNormalBodies has over 274M views on the app alone.
The TikTok Takeaway: An easy way to get more eyes on your video noticed is by paying attention to trending hashtags and sounds. Mik’s own hashtag coupled with her use of already popular audios allowed her content to be seen by the right people and effectively helped her spark an inclusive movement across multiple social platforms. Leading with authenticity is always the best policy, and Mik’s success is a shining example of this.
@charlidamelioit’s christmas season and u know what that means….holiday pjs!!@amazonfashion ##pajamajam ##founditonamazon ##ad♬ Pajama Jam (feat. Wiidope) – Amazon Fashion
Charli D’Amelio
The teenage queen of the ‘tok continues to reign, coming in as the number one creator of 2020 according to the app. While Charli got her start with dancing and lip-syncing content, she’s utilized her in-app fame to gain herself (and her family members) a hefty following on other platforms like Instagram, landing sponsored contracts along the way.
The TikTok Takeaway: Make sure followers can find you easily on other platforms when they click on your profile. TikTok allows you to connect your Instagram account, which means users can get to your Instagram page directly from TikTok. I’ve also gained followers this way. In one instance, a reporter asked if she could include me in an article about dating during the pandemic after discovering my video on her FYP. It just goes to show that making it easy for fellow users to reach out could lead to some surprising and mutually beneficial connections.
Have you found success on TikTok? Comment below to share your tried-and-true tips with our community.
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