Essential Tools for TikTok Marketing

by charlisaysin Social Mediaon Posted on

TikTok is hitting the headlines again this week due to its possible ban in the USA. As TikTok remains alive and well in Europe, I’m looking at tools for TikTok marketing, including VPNs to access TikTok from restricted geographies.

Working Around The Ban

TikTok officials say it’s possible that on Jan 19, when US users try to open the app, a prompt will show up indicating the service is no longer available in the country. EEEK!

Assuming that happens, one of the most discussed workarounds is a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts users’ location data and makes it look like they are accessing content from another country. They are commonly used in countries with strict internet restrictions (ironically China) to access blocked social media platforms, streaming services and other geographically limited content.

Here’s a list of popular VPN services US citizens can use if the TikTok ban goes ahead:

NordVPN

  • $3.99/month (2-year plan)
  • $11.95/month (monthly plan)

ExpressVPN

  • $6.67/month (12-month plan)
  • $12.95/month (monthly plan)

CyberGhost

  • $2.19/month (3-year plan)
  • $12.99/month (monthly plan)

ProtonVPN

  • Free plan (limited features and speeds)
  • $5.00/month (Basic plan)
  • $8.00/month (Plus plan)

Surfshark

  • $2.49/month (2-year plan)
  • $12.95/month (monthly plan)

Of course, US marketers must also question the benefits of using a VPN to create TikTok videos if the rest of the USA cannot access them. It makes more sense if their target audience is elsewhere.

Now let’s continue forward to look at some essential tools for TikTok marketing.

#1 Video Editing Tools

TikTok is a platform where creativity is key, and video editing tools are essential for producing content that stands out. These tools allow you to transform raw footage into engaging, polished videos by adding transitions, effects, text, and music that resonate with your target audience. With TikTok’s algorithm favouring high-quality, eye-catching content, video editing tools help ensure your videos capture attention within seconds.

TikTok In-App Editor

  • Use: Basic video editing, adding music, filters, and effects.
  • Cost: Free.

CapCut

  • Use: Advanced editing, including transitions, speed adjustments, text overlays, and effects.
  • Cost: Free with optional paid features.

InShot

  • Use: Trimming, merging, and adding text, stickers, and music to videos.
  • Cost: Free with watermarks (removable via paid version).

Adobe Premiere Rush

  • Use: Professional-grade video editing with templates, transitions, and colour correction.
  • Cost: Paid, with a free trial.

Final Cut Pro (macOS only)

  • Use: Advanced video editing for professional-quality videos.
  • Cost: Paid.

#2 Design and Graphics Tools

In a place where viewers scroll rapidly, strong visuals make all the difference. Design and graphics tools are essential for creating striking overlays, custom thumbnails, and on-brand visuals that capture attention instantly. These tools enable marketers to add logos, creative text, animations, and branded elements that enhance the professionalism and appeal of their videos. By using these tools, you can ensure your content stands out, aligns with your brand identity, and leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

Canva

  • Use: Creating custom overlays, graphics, and thumbnails.
  • Cost: Free with paid Pro features. The paid version is worth the extra spend IMHO!

Adobe Photoshop

  • Use: Advanced image editing and creating custom graphics.
  • Cost: Paid.

VistaCreate

  • Use: Custom designs for social media content.
  • Cost: Free with premium options.

#3 Music and Sound Tools

Music and sound are at the heart of TikTok’s appeal, and using the right audio can significantly boost your video’s engagement and visibility. Music and Sound tools allow you to tap into trending songs, sound effects, and audio clips that resonate with the platform’s audience, helping your content stay relevant and discoverable. Whether it’s choosing a viral song to join a trend or using sound effects to enhance comedic timing or emotion, these tools are key to creating videos that grab attention and increase interaction.

TikTok Sound Library

  • Use: Access to trending sounds and music directly within TikTok.
  • Cost: Free.

Splice

  • Use: Adding royalty-free music and sound effects.
  • Cost: Free with in-app purchases.

Epidemic Sound

  • Use: Access to a vast library of royalty-free music.
  • Cost: Paid.

#4 Analytics and Trend Tracking Tools

TikTok analytics and trend tracking tools are crucial for understanding how your content resonates with your audience and for keeping up with this ever-evolving platform. These tools provide insights into vital metrics like viewer engagement, watch time, and follower demographics, enabling you to gauge what works and what doesn’t. By monitoring trends, you can quickly identify viral challenges, sounds, or hashtags that are gaining momentum, allowing you to create timely content that taps into these trends for greater reach. With analytics, you can refine your content strategy, optimise post timing, and make data-driven decisions that boost your visibility and help your brand stay relevant in the fast-moving TikTok landscape.

TikTok Pro Analytics

  • Use: Measure video performance, audience demographics, and engagement.
  • Cost: Free (requires a TikTok Pro account).

TrendTok Analytics

  • Use: Discover trending sounds, hashtags, and content ideas.
  • Cost: Paid.

Pentos

  • Use: Track competitor performance, hashtags, and trending content.
  • Cost: Paid, with free trials available.

Agorapulse

  • Use: Monitor TikTok engagement and growth statistics.
  • Cost: Paid.

#5 Enhancement Tools

TikTok enhancement tools are essential for refining the visual and auditory elements of your videos, ensuring they capture the attention of viewers. These tools offer advanced features like filters, effects, and colour adjustments that can improve the overall production quality of your content. Whether you’re enhancing lighting, adding creative transitions, or applying unique filters to fit your brand’s style, these tools allow you to create visually striking videos that stand out in a crowded feed.

VSCO

  • Use: Advanced filters and photo/video editing tools.
  • Cost: Free with a premium subscription option.

Lightroom Mobile

  • Use: Fine-tuning colours and lighting in videos.
  • Cost: Free with paid Pro features.

Prequel

  • Use: Adding creative effects, filters, and transitions.
  • Cost: Free with premium options.

#6 Influencer and Campaign Management Tools

TikTok influencer and campaign management tools are important for running successful influencer marketing campaigns. These tools allow you to identify the right influencers who resonate with your target audience and can amplify your brand’s message. They simplify the process of managing multiple influencer relationships, tracking campaign progress, and measuring the effectiveness of each partnership. With built-in analytics, these tools help you monitor key performance indicators such as engagement, reach, and conversions, enabling you to adjust your strategy for optimal results.

Upfluence

  • Use: Find and manage TikTok influencers for campaigns.
  • Cost: Paid.

Heepsy

  • Use: Search for TikTok influencers and evaluate their performance.
  • Cost: Paid.

Mastering TikTok marketing requires both creativity and the right tools but that’s not to say you need to pay for all of them. I know tons of creatives killing it on the platform with just the free tools available. What is needed is attention to detail, trend following and a flair for creativity.

Drop me a message to talk about your 2025 content and social media marketing.

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