The TikTok Experiments, Volume 9: Using Trending Sounds on Every Video for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Volume 9: Using Trending Sounds on Every Video for a Week

In an effort to understand TikTok’s mysterious algorithm, I regularly conduct experiments to learn which tactics help videos gain traction. I’ve experimented with 3 minute videos, CapCut templates, an SEO hack, and more. In September, I experimented with a core component of TikTok videos: trending sounds. I don’t use trending sounds often; they’re not usually conducive to the kind of content I make. But trending sounds are supposed to be important in getting your videos seen, so for one week, I used trending sounds on every video I shared. To be frank, the results were surprising. 

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The Rise of Unhinged Marketing on Social Media (& How Your Brand Can Try It)

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The Rise of Unhinged Marketing on Social Media (& How Your Brand Can Try It)

This year, things have gotten unhinged on social media. The internet has always been a strange place, but it’s extra unusual lately. Recently, there’s been a shift to brands creating weirder and weirder content. No, I’m not talking about the snarky Wendy’s Twitter from the mid-2010s; I’m talking about the unhinged chaos of brands on TikTok and beyond. Today on the blog I’ll define ‘unhinged,’ explain the origins of the madness (and the rationale behind it), share examples, and offer guidance for when and how to try it. Let’s dive in!

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 8: Posting Only 3 Minute Videos for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 8: Posting Only 3 Minute Videos for a Week

All year long, I’ve been conducting a series of TikTok experiments in order to understand what kind of content the powerful TikTok algorithm prioritizes. I’ve tried an SEO trick, CapCut templates, shorter videos, a higher posting frequency, and more. In July, I experimented with longer videos, sharing only 3 minute videos for one week. The result? It worked better than I anticipated! Here’s what I learned from sharing longer videos on TikTok for a week.

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A Conversation with Megan Prather: Why Vulnerability on TikTok is Worthwhile

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A Conversation with Megan Prather: Why Vulnerability on TikTok is Worthwhile

This is the 16th post in the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview smart humans about their experiences in marketing and social media. You can read past features here.

This month, I interviewed Megan Prather, a certified coach who shares vulnerably about difficult parent relationships on her TikTok, where she has a following of 21,000. In this blog post, we dive into her approach to TikTok, why it’s worth getting vulnerable online, and how to balance content creation with caring for your mental health. 

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 7: Using an SEO Trick in All My Videos for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 7: Using an SEO Trick in All My Videos for a Week

Throughout 2023, I’ve been experimenting on TikTok with the goal of better understanding their mysterious algorithm. I’m hoping to determine which commonly-promoted tactics are worthwhile and which are overhyped. In June, I experimented with an SEO trick that I’ve seen circulating the platform: hiding keywords in your video so the TikTok algorithm knows what your video is about and who to serve it. The results of this experiment were mixed. Today I’m sharing exactly how to do this SEO trick for TikTok and what I learned from the experiment.

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How to Schedule Posts Natively on LinkedIn

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How to Schedule Posts Natively on LinkedIn

Throughout my career as a social media strategist, I have long advocated for folks to 1) be more proactive and 2) utilize a scheduling tool. Scheduling your content in advance is helpful for increasing your efficiency, establishing a consistent posting cadence, and saving your sanity. I’ve tried both third party tools and built-in schedulers for each platform. LinkedIn was one of the few platforms that did not offer a way to schedule posts natively. I briefly tried Hootsuite for scheduling LinkedIn posts, but found it cumbersome and returned to posting in real time. Excitingly enough, LinkedIn recently added the ability to schedule posts right on the platform! I’ll walk you through the steps for scheduling your LinkedIn content to go live at a later time.

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 6: Posting Only CapCut Templates for a Week

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The TikTok Experiments, Vol. 6: Posting Only CapCut Templates for a Week

This year, I’ve been running a series of TikTok experiments in an effort to learn more about the enigmatic TikTok algorithm. My goal is to assess which tactics help you reach and engage more viewers. I’ve learned a lot from my past experiments! In May, I decided to experiment with sharing only CapCut templates for a week to see how that would impact my content’s performance. If you’re not familiar with CapCut templates, here’s my handy explainer. The results of this experiment surprised me: CapCut templates were even more effective than I anticipated! Here’s what I learned from this experiment.

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What are CapCut Templates and How Do I Use Them on TikTok?

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What are CapCut Templates and How Do I Use Them on TikTok?

CapCut templates are taking TikTok by storm! Even if you’ve never heard of CapCut, if you spend time on TikTok, I’m sure you’ve seen a CapCut template before. Videos using CapCut templates are supposedly prioritized by TikTok’s algorithm, so they tend to spread like wildfire. CapCut templates are a low-effort and fun way to produce more relevant content and potentially increase your reach on TikTok. I’ll walk you through what exactly CapCut templates are, the value of using them, and how to actually use a CapCut template on TikTok. 

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Celebrating 4 Years of Serve Me the Sky Digital

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Celebrating 4 Years of Serve Me the Sky Digital

This May marks four years of running my own business full-time. A four year anniversary may not be a big deal to some, but it feels important to me. Four years of successfully running my business, even through an unprecedented global pandemic and economic turmoil? It is a big deal!

As I said in my newsletter this week, running Serve Me the Sky Digital is the most satisfied I’ve ever felt in my work life. I spent four years in higher education and earned a master’s degree in educational administration, then pivoted to nonprofits and worked in marketing at a startup incubator. I learned a lot at those jobs, but both were not a great fit for me.

Since diving into self-employment full-time, I’ve had opportunities I never would’ve guessed would come my way and have been happier all around. Glowing testimonials from clients I love working with make me proud of how far I’ve come and thankful to be where I am in my career right now. 

Let’s get into some of my favorite projects, lessons I’ve learned, and a glimpse ahead!

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How to Use Instagram Collab Posts

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How to Use Instagram Collab Posts

In their efforts to stay relevant and serve many audiences, Instagram keeps adapting quickly and adding new features. Instagram Collab posts were announced in late 2021, but I still see a lot of confusion surrounding this feature. This feature is particularly useful for brands and influencers, especially when partnering IRL and are looking to increase their reach online. Today, I’ll walk you through what exactly an Instagram Collab post is, when to use one, why they’re beneficial to your social media strategy, and how to create one. Let’s dive in!

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