How to Make TikTok Videos for Business

Making TikToks for your business doesn't require a Hollywood budget or a team of professional dancers. It’s about showing up authentically and offering real value through short, engaging videos. This guide will walk you through exactly how to make TikTok videos for your business, covering everything from brainstorming ideas to hitting that Post button with confidence.

Forget Polished Ads: Find Your TikTok Vibe

Before you even think about filming, it’s important to understand the culture of TikTok. Unlike Instagram's polished aesthetic or LinkedIn's professional tone, TikTok thrives on authenticity, entertainment, and relatability. Overly corporate, salesy, or perfectionist content often falls flat.

Think of TikTok as a giant, energetic conversation. Your goal as a business isn't to interrupt with an advertisement but to join the conversation in a meaningful way. Your "vibe" should be human. Show the people behind your brand, share your process, be funny, or teach something genuinely useful. The most successful business accounts feel less like a brand and more like a creator you enjoy following.

Three Golden Rules for Your Brand on TikTok:

• Be a Human, Not a Logo: Show faces, share stories, and don't be afraid to be a little messy. People connect with people.
• Entertain or Educate: Every video should either teach your audience something valuable or make them smile. The best videos do a little of both.
• Participate, Don't Preach: Join in on trends, use popular sounds, and engage with other creators' content through features like Duet and Stitch. Don't just broadcast - interact.

The Content Blueprint: What Should Your Business Post on TikTok?

Staring at a blank screen wondering what to create is the biggest hurdle for most businesses. The trick is to stop thinking about what you want to sell and start thinking about what you can share. Here are four reliable content pillars that work for almost any industry.

1. Educational & "How-To" Content

This is your chance to showcase your expertise in a bite-sized format. Think about the most common questions your customers ask and turn the answers into short videos. This builds trust and positions your brand as a helpful authority.

• Examples:
• A financial advisor could make a 30-second video on "3 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting to Invest."
• A coffee shop could share a quick tutorial on "How to Pour the Perfect Latte Art at Home."
• A software company could create a series of "did-you-know" videos showing off underrated features of its product.

2. Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Glimpses

People are naturally curious. BTS content pulls back the curtain on your business and makes your brand feel more personal and transparent. It turns a faceless company into a group of real people working on something they care about.

• Examples:
• An e-commerce brand that sells handmade candles could show the satisfying process of pouring wax or a video of them packing an order.
• A marketing agency could share a "day in the life" clip showing a team brainstorming session.
• A restaurant could post clips of their chefs prepping ingredients in the kitchen before service.

3. Ride the Trend Wave

Trends are the lifeblood of TikTok. Using trending sounds, challenges, or editing formats is the fastest way to get your content in front of a wider audience. The key is to adapt the trend to fit your brand's message, not just copy it mindlessly.

• How to Find Trends:
• Scroll through your "For You" Page (FYP) and take note of sounds or formats you see repeated.
• Tap the "Add sound" button when creating a video to see a list of what's currently "Trending."
• Watch what other creators in your niche are doing.
• Example: A small bakery could use a popular, dramatic audio trend to show the "tragedy" of their last croissant being sold for the day.

4. Spotlight Your Community and Reviews

Sometimes the best content isn't made by you, but by your customers. Highlighting user-generated content (UGC) or glowing testimonials is a powerful form of social proof.

• Practical Ideas:
• Use TikTok's "Stitch" feature to add your reaction to a customer's positive video review.
• Share screen recordings of positive tweets or comments you’ve received while a motivational sound plays.
• Repurpose video clips from happy customers (with their permission!) into a montage showing your product in the real world.

Ready, Set, Film: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your TikTok

You don't need a fancy camera or complicated editing software. Your smartphone is all you need to get started. Here's a simple workflow for creating your first business TikTok.

Step 1: Get an Idea and a Simple Plan

Don't overthink it. Pick one idea from the content pillars above. Before you film, create a "shot list" with 3-5 short clips you need to capture. A plan could be as simple as:

• Clip 1: Show the problem (e.g., a messy desk).
• Clip 2: Show my product that solves it (e.g., our desk organizer).
• Clip 3: Show the "after" shot (a clean, organized desk).

Step 2: Film with the Basics in Mind

The "don't overproduce" rule doesn't mean you should ignore the basics. Good quality video is still important.

• Hold Your Phone Vertically: Always film in portrait mode (9:16).
• Find Good Lighting: Natural light from a window is your best friend. Avoid filming in a dark room or with a bright light directly behind you.
• Keep it Steady: Rest your phone on a stable surface or use a simple tripod. No one likes shaky footage.
• Clear Audio Matters: If you're talking, make sure you're in a quiet space so you can be heard clearly. Using the microphone on your simple earbuds can produce much clearer audio than your phone's built-in mic.

Step 3: Edit Inside the TikTok App

The native TikTok editor is surprisingly powerful and has all the tools you need to create an engaging video. Open the app, press the + button, and either record your clips or upload them from your camera roll.

Getting Comfortable with the Editor:

• Trim Your Clips: After uploading, select "Adjust clips" to tap on each video segment. You can drag the ends of each clip to shorten it and remove any awkward pauses or mistakes. Keeping clips short and fast-paced is a signature of TikTok's style.
• Add a Sound: Tap "Add sound" at the top of the editing screen. You can search for specific songs or scroll through the "Trending" tab. The right sound can completely change the feel of your video and greatly increase its chance of being seen.
• Add Text On-Screen: Use the "Text" tool to add text overlays. This is super important! Many people watch videos with the sound off, so text helps get your message across. Use it to create a strong hook, call out key points, or add captions.
• Explore Effects: Tap the "Effects" button to browse timers, transitions, and visual filters that can make your video more dynamic. Don't go overboard, but a simple transition or two can professionalize your edit.

Step 4: Craft Your Caption and Hashtags

Your work isn't done after the editing is complete. The caption page is where you prime your video for the algorithm.

• Your Caption: Keep it short and engaging. Ask a question to encourage comments (e.g., "Has this ever happened to you? Let us know!"). You can also briefly explain the video or provide extra context.
• Your Hashtags: Use a mix of 3-5 relevant hashtags.
  • Broad Hashtags: One or two popular tags related to your overall industry (e.g., #smallbusiness, #marketingtips).
  • Niche Hashtags: Two to three specific tags that describe exactly what your video is about (e.g., #packanorderwithme, #contentstrategy, #ecofriendlycleaning). Don't use spammy tags like #fyp or #foryou - the algorithm knows who to show your video to.

Step 5: Hit Post with Confidence!

Once you’ve selected your cover image (the thumbnail people will see on your profile), you're ready. Tap "Post" and let it go! Don't obsess over the initial view count. Be ready to reply to comments as they come in, as this engagement signals to the algorithm that people are interested in your content.

Final Thoughts

Creating effective TikTok videos for business is more about consistency and creativity than perfection. Focus on providing value and connecting with your audience, one short video at a time, and you'll find that it's a powerful way to organically grow your brand and build a real community.

Once you get into a rhythm with video creation, keeping everything organized across multiple platforms becomes the next challenge. To stay on top of our own posting schedule, we use Postbase to plan our content on a visual calendar. It allows us to schedule our short-form videos across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts all at once and manage all the comments from one unified inbox, turning a chaotic process into a streamlined workflow.