TikTok just released what's on the menu for trends in 2023 and you've been booked a seat for the grand opening. Take your seats, first course is on it's way. FIRST COURSE: Effective Entertainment - Two words that have a big meaning in the TikTok realm. Effective Entrainment is the combination of expression and action. TikTok has become the haven for combining business with pleasure. As of 2023, 4 in 5 users say TikTok is very or extremely entertaining - meaning brands should be creating ads that have a goal of entertaining. They should be playful, personable and simply, just funny. This will encourage off-platform action with the brand as entertaining content produces positive emotions, which results in interacting with the brand in more ways than TikTok. Among people who took an off-platform action as a result of a TikTok, 92% say they felt a positive emotion that ultimately resulted in an off-platform action. Now that’s some serious results all from being a little bit silly.  SECOND COURSE: Create more Joy. - Creating TikTok content that helps people carve out joy for themselves - or even provides joy through humour, relaxation and relatable points of view - could be the difference for brands in 2023. There is an overload of wellness-based content on TikTok, and for good reason. We are all burnt out. There is something subconsciously so satisfying to see someone clean their house in a matter of seconds, especially if you just had a stressful day. With the move to a more mindfulness-based connection in society, Joy based content is here to stay. An example of this is a ‘life hack’ video, an everyday strategy that empowers people to make space for themselves whenever they need it.  THIRD AND FINAL COURSE: We’re in it together - Community Creation. - TikTok is not a school assembly. It’s more like the space in the cafeteria where everyone has their clique and pocket where they feel most comfortable. By niching down on a large scale, it creates a worldwide bond-based environment where new ideas can be shared and trust can be built within sub-groups. Compared to other social media platforms, TikTok has double the power in introducing people to new topics that they didn’t know they liked. People will look to their most relatable creators for new ideas, inspiration and confidence to step out and embrace their individuality. Knowing that there is a space and a seat for everybody on the TikTok table will help your brand push the envelope on ideas that will have ripple effects on the community. 

TikTok has made a home for itself in the digital marketing world, we all know it's the number one tool to grow your business in 2023…But how can you leave that memorable first impression, without sacrificing your authentic brand message? With over-saturation and constant change on the app, it’s important to not get sucked into trending videos and audio as a haven. So, here are my hot takes on how to show up and stand out in 2023, and not regret it in 2024. 1. The art of subtlety - There is nothing worse when can see someone forcing a video on you or a product for that matter. We have all become attuned to the smallest speckle of a sale and therefore we need to become conscious of how we may over-act and over-sell to be seen. Take a deep breath, relax, and remember that being yourself is the best way to show up! 2. How do you want to be remembered? - This might sound a little deep, but really, you deserve to leave a mark on the world. The same reason you started your business, is the same reason that you should be seen. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with choice, so coming back to your WHY will help you focus your video content to not just align with the app, but so the app is aligned with you. 3. It’s okay to be a little vulnerable - Being intimate with your audience on the internet is a fairly new practice, but boy does it make a difference. People are becoming more and more comfortable with sharing parts of their stories and journey that they wouldn’t have dared to five years ago. By remembering that we are all human at the end of the day, and connection is the number one way to build trust, you can start building content that comes from the heart. You can practice by writing, making draft videos to get comfortable or by starting a conversation that opens the door to this topic within your company. 4. And for the corniest of them all - Be Yourself. I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again… just be yourself. Doesn’t that feel good? You can feel your shoulders drop, the pressure subsides, and the expectation vanishes. You know yourself best and trust that what you have to put out there will be found by the right people! You are the niche that the world needs! I know we’ve heard it before, but that’s why it works. So next time you’re stressing about how to show up, take a break and go do something that feels completely YOU before filming or coming up with ideas. Once your return I assure you, it will feel easier and you’ll be in a better state to create!