Author: Jenna White | San Francisco Hairstylist
February 13th, 2021
February 13th, 2021
Like many people forced to shelter indoors during COVID, I became interested in TikTok. That inspired the following post, where I break down for hairstylists and barbers curious about the platform some of the key things to understand about using it to elevate your brand, plus gather inspiration.
Getting Started
(1) Create an account to set up a channel for posting videos (similar to YouTube).
(2) Set up your TikTok bio. When viewers see your video they may want to learn more about you. They can do that here.
(3) Think about the following for your bio:
Editing Your Videos
(1) Each video can be between 15 - 60 seconds long.
(2) Keep it simple. The best videos make their point quickly.
(3) Videos can be spliced together via software outside of TikTok (like iMovie) or within the app itself. Great YouTube clip by Katie Steckly on how to edit TikTok videos here.
(4) TikTok Transitions - a great way to blend different video clips. YouTube video on this here, also by Katie Steckly.
Ideas for Video Content
(1) Focus video content on branding and/or sharing information on your business/skills. Try topics like:
(2) Behind-the-scenes clips
(3) Unboxing - try a new product and capture your original reaction from start-to-finish after opening and using it
(4) Repurpose videos from Instagram or YouTube, edit them into shorter clips that are suitable for TikTok
(5) Check out more tips on creating great video content here: The Ultimate Guide to TikTok Marketing
Searching for Hair Inspiration on TikTok
The TikTok discovery page is a major source of inspiration. There you'll find trending hashtags based on your geographic location and popular videos sorted by category. Linking your own brand with current trends will improve your visibility. Use trending hashtags and songs to increase video views. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Sharing Your Content
(1) Work with TikTok influencers (i.e. folks who have a large following) to spread content to a broader audience. A key way to do this is by collaborating on video content of, for example, giving them a haircut.
(2) Use paid business advertising on TikTok to share your videos and expand your influence even further.
(3) Post your TikTok videos on Instagram.
Sample Hair Pro TikTok Accounts
Check out these hair pros that have mastered TikTok:
(1) Create an account to set up a channel for posting videos (similar to YouTube).
(2) Set up your TikTok bio. When viewers see your video they may want to learn more about you. They can do that here.
(3) Think about the following for your bio:
- A funny tag line to catch the viewer's attention (examples to help you brainstorm here). Your bio only allows for 140 characters, so you'll need to be creative on how you do this.
- Adding a link via the Milkshake App or LinkTree to share your:
- website and ways to book with you
- other professional social media sites (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
- Create a shortened link to fit the 140 character limit via services like TinyURL or Bit.ly
Editing Your Videos
(1) Each video can be between 15 - 60 seconds long.
(2) Keep it simple. The best videos make their point quickly.
(3) Videos can be spliced together via software outside of TikTok (like iMovie) or within the app itself. Great YouTube clip by Katie Steckly on how to edit TikTok videos here.
(4) TikTok Transitions - a great way to blend different video clips. YouTube video on this here, also by Katie Steckly.
Ideas for Video Content
(1) Focus video content on branding and/or sharing information on your business/skills. Try topics like:
- Weekly hair care tips and/or hair hacks
- Stylist-focused educational videos
(2) Behind-the-scenes clips
- Shoot step-by-step footage of your services in short bursts, around 5-10 seconds per step
- Put your best takes into your favorites folder or “heart it” (makes it easy to put together within TikTok or other video editing apps like Videoleap)
- When putting the final video together, do a voice over talking through the steps in each take (done via a screen recording with the microphone on)
(3) Unboxing - try a new product and capture your original reaction from start-to-finish after opening and using it
(4) Repurpose videos from Instagram or YouTube, edit them into shorter clips that are suitable for TikTok
(5) Check out more tips on creating great video content here: The Ultimate Guide to TikTok Marketing
Searching for Hair Inspiration on TikTok
The TikTok discovery page is a major source of inspiration. There you'll find trending hashtags based on your geographic location and popular videos sorted by category. Linking your own brand with current trends will improve your visibility. Use trending hashtags and songs to increase video views. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Use these to find topics to mention in your TikTok bio
- Hair-related TikTok trends to try here (post by The Right HAIRSTYLES)
Sharing Your Content
(1) Work with TikTok influencers (i.e. folks who have a large following) to spread content to a broader audience. A key way to do this is by collaborating on video content of, for example, giving them a haircut.
(2) Use paid business advertising on TikTok to share your videos and expand your influence even further.
(3) Post your TikTok videos on Instagram.
Sample Hair Pro TikTok Accounts
Check out these hair pros that have mastered TikTok:
