Top 3 Tips to Boost Yearbook Sales with TikTok

TikTok is a constantly evolving video-sharing app that has grown in popularity over the past decade. Users share and post videos containing content that ranges from choreographed dances to live video streaming to educational tips and tricks. According to The Social Shepard, 49.4% of TikTok’s users in the United States are ages 10-29. With over 1 billion active users, TikTok is used all over the world by celebrities, companies and even yearbook classrooms. Here at Walsworth, we believe that utilizing social media platforms to promote the yearbook can be extremely beneficial. Here are three ways you can use TikTok in your yearbook classroom.

1. Quantity vs. Quality

An ongoing debate exists regarding quantity vs. quality content. While content frequency can determine brand growth, content quality attracts your target audience. Find the balance between both the quality and quantity of your posts to reach your goals efficiently. And no, you don’t need a high-dollar camera to make quality content. Gone are the old YouTube days in which creators had to purchase expensive equipment to produce content. Thanks to technological advances, we have access to high-definition cameras right on our phones. Use what you already have to create the content you want. 

To help with the issue of quantity, Walsworth releases a social media calendar full of content ideas for your social media accounts each year. Our social calendar serves as a great tool for TikTok newbies who may not be sure about what and when to post. This helps take away the guesswork and pressures that come with navigating social media. To access more social media resources, visit our Social Media page. 

2. Student Involvement 

Since most teens are well-versed in all social media platforms, why not let them manage it? Appoint a student or group of students (depending on the size of your staff) to oversee your classroom’s social media accounts. This gives students a sense of responsibility, allowing them to bring their own personal interests into the classroom. Not only is this beneficial to students, but it can also increase account engagement. Keeping students at the forefront of school accounts keeps the content consistent and authentic. It also attracts prospective staff members. 

3. Mastering TikTok’s Algorithm

Although TikTok can be tricky, learning how to “crack the code” can be even more of a task. The science of boosting your engagement on TikTok has to do with the app’s algorithm. By utilizing software like Hootsuite, you can take the guesswork out of potentially going viral. Hootsuite is a popular social media management software that helps users create and schedule content and gain followers. Christina Newberry at Hootsuite explained, “User interactions, video information, and device and account settings are the main factors influencing the TikTok algorithm.” That means hashtags, sounds, language, topics, device type and more all come into play when boosting your account engagement. However, it does not stop there. In addition to these elements, timing remains important. According to Sprout Social, these are the best times to post:

• Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
• Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.

While it may seem daunting at first, these three approaches can offer a great solution to yearbook marketing. As always, Walsworth is here to help you every step of the way. We want to equip you with everything you need to succeed. 

Social media proves one of the best ways to connect. Stay ahead of the game and be informed of all your options. Not only is Walsworth here to offer solutions, but there are also large communities of people on social media to help as well. In fact, there are already students out there who have managed to successfully launch their own social media platforms. Here are some of the ways Walsworth schools use TikTok as a tool to market their school’s yearbook while increasing sales and engagement. 

Burges High School, El Paso, Texas (@burgesyrbk)

Burges High School’s videos do well on TikTok because they utilize popular TikTok sounds and trends. This effectively boosts content in the algorithm queue, broadening your audience. For example, this video from Burges High School revealing their school’s yearbook cover got over 12,000 views.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRoTbE5M/

Madison High School, Rexburg, Idaho, (@mhsbobcatbeat)

Madison High School’s videos stay consistent in their content as well as how often they post. Not only do they utilize popular TikTok sounds and trends, but they also create content involving the entire school, not just the yearbook. This attracts an audience that extends past the student body. This video from Madison High School follows a student who goes around asking male students who they think the prettiest girl in school is and interviews the girls chosen. This video got over 42,000 views.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRoTnoHo/

Hagerty High School, Oviedo, Florida (@hagertyjourn)

Hagerty High School’s videos feature yearbook content and utilizes both popular TikTok sounds and trends, as well as content featuring the entire student body. Hagerty High School does an excellent job combining all the elements that make a great yearbook TikTok account. This type of content has the potential to go viral by using hashtags and content made specifically for their target audience. This informative video from Hagerty High School tells students how they can download an app to have their photos featured in the yearbook. The video got over 1.7 million views.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRoTH8eM/

Don’t worry about being too professional with your TikTok account. Just have fun and find the things unique to your student body that you can explore. Let us know what works for your school in the comments below!