“Is TikTok still worth it in 2025?” Our September QOTM!
Let’s talk about about what TikTok can (or can’t) do for you in the first edition of our “Pillars of Kelzana” series. Pillar 1? Social Media.
Kelsy: I used to be skeptical of TikTok, but as I've learned more about how it works and the type of audiences that live on the platform, I've come to see it as a useful tool for artists to iterate and find fans. We frequently tell artists to use TikTok as a content testing ground. Compared to Instagram, it's a much more low stakes, raw platform to try things out, see what works, and adapt. I've also found that going Live on TikTok can be an excellent way to engage fans, find new fans, and even make a little bit of money, thanks to the built-in monetization features. I think it's important in 2025 for every artist to explore TikTok as a crucial piece to their overall marketing and fan engagement strategy.
Tori: Are you interested in finding your audience for free if it were to come at the cost of a bit of time and effort?
If so, then yes, Tiktok is 100% worth it in 2025 but we are dealing with an interesting phenomenon, which is the over-saturation of content. What that means for you, as an artist, is that you are competing not only with other artists but with other forms of attention-grabbing media (Netflix, Youtube, Reels, Facebook Shorts or whatever they call them on Facebook, etc).
That said, to break through isn't impossible, but it will take patience and studying what is working for artists in a similar genre and what is working for you as you continue to post. One piece of advice: don't overcomplicate by trying to reinvent the wheel. Not every type of content will work for you, but the more you study what is and is not resonating, the better at the social media game you'll get and the less time you will spend thinking of ideas and executing on them. Sure there are ways to batch content and structure it and even schedule it out. But the number one thing that will help you on Tiktok is being okay with flopping over and over, not taking it personally. And once a video gets a little more views than usual, question why? Was it the overlay text, the time you posted, the hook you included, the part of the song you chose? Then double down and get better at the answer to the "Why."
Once you start simplifying and being a bit more strategic in what you are posting (but NOT overcomplicating it), you will see that TikTok is worth it in 2025 for almost all genres. If you want a more personalized answer, reach out to Kelzana and we can walk you through strategies that can improve your own Tiktok presence.
Would you like help navigating what to post on TikTok? Set up a consulting session with us here or become a member of Kelzana’s Creative Collective to ask us a question through our monthly Q&A and get a members-only discount on consulting.