TikTok launches Follow Me programme targeting SMB growth

Entertainment platform TikTok has launched a six week programme called "Follow Me" for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Asia. According to TikTok, Follow Me will serve as a guide for SMBs looking to turn their stories into creative videos and build their own community on the platform. SMBs will be introduced to new consumers through discovery.

To help SMBs access the resources, TikTok is creating a dedicated page on 7 July, which will include tutorials from other small businesses from the region. These brands will be sharing their personal journeys on TikTok and provide tips on how to tap into the power of community and entertainment. The splash page will curate different learning roadmaps based on visitors' goals. TikTok will also provide SMBs with a six-week email series that will outline the best practices for running their first TikTok campaign as well as integrating their brand's story into their videos. This will include directions to set up a free business account, access to the creative centre for content inspiration, and insights into how to leverage TikTok's ads manager and promotion features to further reinforce campaign outcomes.

Esme Lean, head of small and medium businesses, TikTok APAC explained that SMB owners carry out numerous roles within their companies “from CEO to head of marketing to being a friendly neighbour and pillar of support to their peers.” “We recognise that many of them have a lot to juggle, and Follow Me will provide SMBs with the knowledge and understanding they need of TikTok to effectively utilise it as a launch pad to supercharge their growth," she added.

Other than TikTok, other corporations have been helping SMBs grow their businesses. March this year, Meta had launched a regional campaign across APAC to build awareness of its tools that can help businesses connect with audiences. Consisting of a series of ads, the videos centred on revealing the product of a small business in a creative way. The campaign is built on the insight that there are millions of good ideas out there, but running a business and making it stand out to customers can be difficult.

In Hong Kong, Carousell had launched a special HK$968 CarouBiz SMB Pandemic Relief Package to support ecosystem and assist SMBs in their business continuity planning due to the pandemic. Carousell had also forged partnerships with various brands to upgrade the package with complementary services, including an exclusive offer to new GOGOBusiness merchants with 10% rebate for every delivery order, and a free Club Sim with one-month no contract period monthly plan that included 20GB local data and unlimited voice minutes valued at HK$58. 

Separately, a few days ago, TikTok had partnered up with Warner Classics to  releasing an album titled “TikTok Classics - memes & viral hits” carrying 18 of the biggest TikTok viral hits. The hits were re-recorded by the internationally renowned Babelsberg Film Orchestra of Germany with a classical twist.

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