TikTok Trends: Why and How to Jump In

Have you ever wanted to try TikTok and thought, “Nope, not doing it”? Or maybe you’re just curious about what’s happening in the world of TikTok. Well, this week, I’m focusing on TikTok for the entire month. I’ll be talking about everything from Instagram Reels to YouTube Shorts and even going live.

So, let’s start with the basics. TikTok was originally a fun app called Musically, created by ByteDance, a Chinese company, in 2016. It became super popular with its fun videos. Musically eventually merged into TikTok, and now we use TikTok on our mobile devices.

How many of you actually create video content on social media? For me, I’ve embraced Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, LinkedIn videos, and I also stream live. Back in the day, you couldn’t have paid me to do video or speak in front of anyone, but now, it’s a different story.

Let’s talk about how the next generation is using TikTok, who’s using it, why they’re using it, and then I’ll give you some secrets. You might want to go back and watch my videos on the basics of TikTok and how to post a video.

What if I told you this is where the next generation gets their news? One of my kids, who’s part of Gen Z, gets all of her news from TikTok. While I still watch the news on TV, Gen Z is learning and shopping on TikTok. They’re getting their news, learning new things, and shopping, often through the TikTok shop.

Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, are currently between 18 and 24 years old and are the largest group of creators on TikTok. Now, think about that. If you’re not posting on TikTok, you’re missing out on an opportunity. The median age of a first-time home buyer is 36, and these younger creators are educating their audience.

If you’re in real estate, this is huge. You can educate first-time home buyers and work with them. I’ve been in real estate since 1997, and I see a significant opportunity here.

Let me share some insights from Pew Research. 62% of 18 to 29-year-olds use TikTok, 39% of 30 to 49-year-olds, and 24% of 50 to 64-year-olds. I’m in the over-50 group, so I have a great opportunity to educate the next generation.

The average TikTok user: 70% have filled out an account name, 49% have never received likes, and 70% have never filled out their bio. If you’re a real estate agent, you must fill out your bio. Posting regularly and maintaining a consistent schedule helps keep your audience engaged.

Let’s talk about the secrets of TikTok. First, focus on trends. TikTok’s algorithm favors trending content, pushing it to the For You page. Consistently post content to engage your audience. Content must be relatable. My son, who has 300,000 followers on TikTok, says I need to be more entertaining and consistent.

TikTok users need relatable content. For real estate agents, this means figuring out how people search for real estate and creating content around that. TikTok is competing with Amazon, so there’s a huge opportunity if you’re selling something.

To get started, search the For You page often, watch what others are doing, and create content around what you’re known for in real estate. Invite your network to follow you on TikTok, create your own challenges, and be careful not to get sucked into endless scrolling.

I’m Carrie J. Little, the designated managing broker of CarMarc Realty Group. Follow me on TikTok and Instagram, where I go live every Friday at 9:05 AM Central. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, and I look forward to helping you learn and earn with me.

Follow me on my social media channels for more tips and updates:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/CarrieJolittle
• TikTok: @carriejolittle
• LinkedIn: Carrie J. Little
• Podcast: Real Estate Moments with Carrie