Part of the challenge of being a Social Media Manager is keeping up with the constantly changing world of social media and digital marketing. Graduates of our certificate program have the option of keeping up with the changes throughout the monthly meeting via Zoom. Two of the new and important players that have arrived on the scene include Tik Tok, launched in 2016, and Clubhouse, launched in 2020. We want to review some things we think are key for Social Media Managers about Tik Tok and Clubhouse here.
TIK TOK
Tik Tok is based on really short videos that draw a massive young following. It took off in 2018 and quickly became the choice of the hyper-influential Gen Z. It is like a bite-size version of YouTube, with the creators having access to an assortment of filters and effects, as well as to a massive music library. The difference as compared to Instagram is that Instagram started an image-based platform and Tik Tok started a vertical or portrait video platform. As Tik Tok grew, Instagram started integrating many of Tik Tok’s features.
CREATING A TIK TOK ACCOUNT
After downloading the Tik Tok app from Google Play or the App Store, you can create an account by choosing a method to sign up e.g. through your Facebook profile or through your email.
SETTING UP YOUR PROFILE
- Add a photo or change a photo (at least 20 x 20 pixels) by clicking “change photo”, then selecting “take a photo or upload photo.”
- Add a video or change a video by clicking “change video”, then “select from your gallery” (NOTE: Profile photo will not be visible on your profile once a profile video is set)
- Your username can only be changed once every 30 days. Usernames can only contain letters, numbers, underscores and periods. However, periods can’t be put at the end of the username.
- To link your social media accounts, select “Add Instagram” or “Add YouTube” to your profile.
- To change your language preference, tap the 3-line icon in the top right to go to your settings, tap “language”, and then select your preferred language from the list.
- To create a new video:
- Tap + at the bottom of the screen.
- Upload content from your device’s Library or use the Tik Tok camera.
- Add Sounds, Effects, Filters, or use other camera tools.
- Start your video by pressing the Record button.
- Record your content.
- Tap the check mark.
- Make additional edits on the post page.
- Post your video!
USING TIK TOK FOR CREATING VIDEOS: You can jump to the sub-sections below:
- Under the subsection “Stitch”, you will be able to combine a video on Tik Tok with the one you are creating. If you allow another person to Stitch with your video, they can use a part of your video as a part of their own video.
- Under the subsection Duet, you will be able to post your video side-by-side with a video from another creator on Tik Tok. (A Duet contains two videos in a split screen that play at the same time). Keep in mind that you must have a public account to allow others to Duet with your videos.
- To “like” videos, tap the heart on the panel of the video or double tap on the video (NOTE: Heart will change from white to red on liked videos).
- To “unlike” a video you previously liked, tap the heart again to “unlike” and the heart will go from red to white (NOTE: If you don’t like a video, you can long-press on the video and tap NOT INTERESTED and similar videos will be shown less).
- You can share trending sounds, creators or videos with friends, family and your larger community.
LIVE GIFTS ON TIK TOK
LIVE Gifts is a feature that, if enabled in your account, allows your viewers to respond to your Tik Tok videos and show their appreciation for your content. LIVE GIFTS is a way of collecting diamonds at Tik Tok. Diamonds can be exchanged for cash with Tik Tok.
To collect diamonds through LIVE gifts, you must meet certain conditions:
- You must be part of the “Creator Next” program.
- LIVE gifts must be available in your area.
- You must be 18 years or older.
- You need at least 1,000 subscribers and your account must be at least 30 days old.
- Your account must be properly managed, meaning compliance with Tik Tok’s Community Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
- Corporate accounts are not eligible to participate.
(How to Live gifts on Tik Tok: Go to profile in the bottom right, then settings, then creator tools, then tap Live Gifts and follow the on-screen instructions)
Clubhouse
Clubhouse is a social audio app for iOS and Android where users can communicate in audio chat rooms. It has the quality of being part of live phone audio chat where, by default, you are only able to listen if the moderator responds to your request to join the conversion, then you can talk. It is like a live podcast where you can be invited to join the discussion or just listen.
STEPS TO SETTING UP A PROFESSIONAL PROFILE IN CLUBHOUSE:
- Download the App.
- You no longer will need an invitation to join. Anyone can singup now.
- Open the App, confirm your password and Biometric.
- Enter your phone number for verification.
- Choose a unique username which represents your personality well on Clubhouse.
- You can choose to use your name or use a creator-alias (to do this, click on your name, this will bring to you 3 options: i. Use my correct, legal name
- Add my creator alias
iii. Never mind
-
- Add a photo which will represent you well with size 110 x 110 pixel.
- Select your interests and people you wish to follow. Use the search button to search for new people to follow.
- Set your Bio:
- The first three lines (125 characters) of your Bio must be kept short, detailed, powerful and within the preview length as this is what people will see when they see you in the clubhouse.
- Your Bio should contain: who you are, what you do and who you help.
- It should also have “Social Proof” (past projects or companies you work with).
- You should include your Intent (how you intend to add value to the platform, topics you wish to discuss/address).
- Verify your account. Tap “@,” which is at the top of your profile, enter your email and tap verify.
- Add your Instagram and Twitter by tapping “Add Instagram” and “Add Twitter” on your profile.
CLUB HALLWAY
- In the club hallway, you will see and be able to join rooms that are available for you based on who you follow.
- To join a room, tap “event” and then you will be able to start listening.
- You can contribute by tapping on the hand icon at the right corner below (You will be the speaker on top and the listeners will be shown below).
- To leave the room, tap “leaving quietly”.
TO START A ROOM IN CLUBHOUSE
- Tap “Start a room icon”. You will be given three options to choose from which are:
- Open – tap “open” for a public room
- Social – to start a room with ONLY people you follow, tap “social”
- Closed – To start a room with ONLY specific people, tap “closed.”
- Give your room a descriptive heading by tapping “Add a topic here”.
- Tap “Let’s go” to go live or you can choose people to invite who you want to your private room.
- In the room, you can give people access to the conversation by tapping the “hand icon” located at the right corner, and then inviting them to speak.
- To end the room, tap on the three-dots, then tap on “End room”.
Clubhouse attracts people that enjoy being part of a conversation without having to show their faces on video, and Tik Tok attracts people that want something quick to watch that entertains or informs them, as well as content creators that make a living by video entertaining and/or educating.
By the time this is published, I am sure something will already have changed. If you see that something important has changed or you see something that should be added, please put it in the comments below. In the class, we say that this world is like being on an island that has random earthquakes changing its terrain constantly — your job as a social media manager is to stay grounded and up-to-date with the core changes that are relevant to your responsibilities.
Learn more about our Social Media Management and Marketing training at https://mysocialmediamastery.com/
– Martin Brossman
Follow Martin Brossman on Social Media