How I’m Using TikTok for Business Without It Becoming a Time Suck & Addiction

Oh, TikTok. It’s like the wayward kid sister that you can’t quite cut off completely, but boy howdy are you going to set some serious boundaries. Suffice it to say I AM still on TikTok, however, I’m posting a lot less and my scrolls are basically nonexistent. That said, it does still have some praises that need singing, so without further ado…5,6,7,8

In case this is your first time tuning in, let me introduce myself. Reporting from my laundry office in small-town Illinois, this is Virginia Kerr. And I’m here to help you stand out and make money by leveraging and up-leveling your social media videos. I’ve been in the TV and video industry for more than 20 years. Four TV newsrooms, hundreds of videos, blogs, and podcasts later, I’m here to share what I’ve learned with women ready to get the most out of their hard work. 

Does video intimidate you? Make you want to hide? I’m excited to help you push through your limiting beliefs and show you that you can shine on video! I’m closing the gap by teaching you easy systems and sharing templates that help your videos get in front of your ideal clients. 

Welcome to This is Virginia Kerr, The Podcast! Let’s get started!

TikTok, the Redemption Tour

One thing I appreciate about TikTok is the fact that its content is a lot more creative than anything you’ll find on Instagram or reels. Reels are the same tired trends over and over and over; it’s kind of like the royal advisor who says things like “but we’ve always done it this way” once the new Queen tries to shake things up. It tries, and it’s heart is in the right place, but its boring. 

It’s also THE place if you want to set the trend on Reels. The cool/viral trends are always found on TikTok first, so if you’re looking for something truly original to bring to the world of Reels, TikTok is the ticket.

It also has a much more relaxed feel as opposed to Instagram where everything can feel like curated flex shots on a balcony in Tulum and that’s it. It can be hard scrolling through others’ lives that feel perfect, and in terms of sales, relatability is a powerful tool. On TikTokyou can be real and look like a human; not only that but you can share real, hard issues, and be embraced for your “realness”. 

It also features a more diverse and welcoming community, and while this can also be a negative, it can expose you and others to communities you might otherwise not tap into.

Still Not Great, Though: the Bottomline

All the above being said, I’m still not a huge TikTok fan. The lack of security is still a huge sticking point, as well as the double-edged sword of reachability. I was a victim of some pretty major bullying, mostly because people who weren’t meant for them viewed my videos and decided it’d be a gas to be cruel. I’m an adult and I had to take 2 months off; imagine if that happened to a kid?! 

As I mentioned last episode, it’s also detrimental to our mental health and attention span, which is why lately, I only use TikTok to inform trends I use on reels and Youtube. It’s a good resource, but I’ll never again make it the sole focus of my branding. It’s just not worth it. 

If you liked what you learned here, head on over to Instagram and share it on your IG stories and tag me, @thisisvirginiakerr

For more information about the podcast, or to learn more about This is Video School, visit my website. I would love to connect with you more on social media! You can find me on Instagram or join my free Facebook community, This is Video and Content Strategy, to help you level up your branding, messaging and video so you can grow your audience and convert followers into customers.

I look forward to seeing you there!