You may think TikTok is just an app for watching the latest viral dance trend, but more and more businesses are having success leveraging the social media outlet to reach new audiences. Take, for example, Kevin DeNike, a flooring contractor in Upper Saddle River, NJ who has gotten millions of views on his TikTok posts since joining the app in 2020.
“I definitely didn’t think people would be that into polyurethane being coated on a floor,” Denike says in a Wood Floor Business article featuring his success on TikToc. As it turns out, “people are more interested in the process—not just the glory shots that are put on Instagram, but how you get that.”
People spend tons of time on social outlets watching this “oddly satisfying” content, and it’s often just a matter of documenting your normal process. It doesn’t take a professional videographer to do it either. You can shoot the videos and splice them together all on your phone, within the app, with very little technical knowledge or experience.
Not feeling convinced? We’ll walk you through some tips for getting started.
Successful Wood Floor Contractors on TikTok
It starts with some inspiration! Take a look at what others in your industry are doing on TikTok. Here are some accounts that have done a great job at posting engaging flooring content:
@gionahardwood
@nikkihardwood
@heritagecustomflooring
Tips for Getting Started on TikTok
Create an Account
You’re hopefully feeling inspired now, so it’s time to download the TikTok app. Head to the app store and follow the instructions to create a new account. TikTok does offer a suite of tools specifically for business accounts, but if you are just getting started, it’s recommended to start with using a personal creator account. More instructions for getting started on TikTok.
You’ll need to create a username. Choose something that represents your business well or matches the handle that you use on other social media networks.
Make Your First Video
Every video starts with an idea. Some initial ideas include:
- A sped-up timelapse of pulling finishing or sanding
- A slideshow of before and after photos
- A day in the life of a contractor video that walks through single or multiple projects
In terms of length, shorter is often better. TikTok once limited videos to 15 seconds, but you now have the option to upload up to 10 minutes of content.
The app will walk you through adding sounds, effects, and filters, but visit the TikTok help section for more information on creating your first video.
Reach Your Audience
Just like with any other social platform, you’ll have to put in some work to reach new audiences. You can start by following other relevant accounts in your industry or connecting with people you know already.
Some other tips:
- Add Hashtags: Use these or other similar hashtags when publishing your content: #refinishingwoodfloors, #woodfloor, #hardwoodfloors, #woodflooring. This can help you target curious homeowners looking for inspiration and connect with other pros on the app.
- Follow The Trends: Use trending sounds or music in your video for a chance to go viral and end up on the “For You” page. The For You page is essentially the “home page” for each user. TikTok curates this feed based on content that matches the user’s interests.
- Engage: If you get a comment on a post, be sure to respond! Engaging with other users will help naturally grow your reach and lets TikTok know that people are interested in your content.
- Repost on Other Networks: You went through the trouble of creating the content, so now download it and post it to Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere else you have an audience to connect with existing followers.
Learning a new platform takes time, and so does reaching a wide audience. But, sometimes, one great video goes a long way. Plus, you might actually enjoy putting the content together.
For more online marketing strategies, download our free ebook, 11 Ways to Advertise Your Contracting Business Online, and follow City Floor Supply on TikTok!
