As a savvy business owner ready to elevate your brand, you’ve recognised the transformative potential of TikTok. You know that it’s not merely a hub for dance videos or memes. Rather, it’s a dynamic marketing tool that has evolved significantly, boasting over 1.5 billion users in 2023 and currently offering the highest organic reach amidst all social media platforms.
Read: 7 Reasons to Start Using TikTok for Your Business
As you’re creating your TikTok account, you’re stumped. You have to choose between a TikTok Business account and a Personal account. The quick answer is: use the Personal account to leverage on the platform’s high organic reach. A Business account has its limitations which hinders your reach.
If you’re still wondering which account type you should use for your business, let’s delve into the distinctions between the two.
Table of Contents:
- TikTok Creator Account
- TikTok Business Account
- Choosing Between TikTok Business and Creator Accounts
- Switching to a Business Account on TikTok
- Switching to a Creator Account on TikTok
1. TikTok Creator Account
TikTok Creator Account: The default TikTok account is the Creator or Personal account.
Pros:
- Access to a broad range of sounds, including both Sounds and Commercial Sounds
- Privacy settings flexibility, allowing the option to set accounts to private
- Verification eligibility for enhanced credibility
- Utilisation of the Promote feature for advertising
- Limited ability to add a link in bio
- Participation in exclusive TikTok development programs for creators
Cons:
- Limited access to analytics with in-app views
Best for: General TikTok users, influencers, and most public figures.
2. TikTok Business Account
TikTok Business Account: Tailored for brands and businesses, the Business account provides an array of advanced features:
Pros:
- Compatibility with third-party platforms like Hootsuite for efficient account management
- Verification for increased visibility
- Access to the Promote feature for advertising
- Integration with TikTok Shop feature for direct product display and sales
- Ability to add a link in bio for accounts with over 1,000 followers
- Full access to analytics, including downloadable data
Cons:
- Limited access to sounds, restricted to Commercial Sounds
- Exclusion from TikTok’s exclusive development programs
Best for: Brands and businesses of all sizes.
3. Choosing Between TikTok Business and Creator Accounts
Here is a consolidated table of the key features of each account type:
| Account Type | Best For | Privacy Settings | Verified Accounts | Access to Sounds | Access to Promote Feature | Access to Analytics | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creator Account | General TikTok users, Content creators, Most public figures | Public or private | Yes | Sounds and Commercial Sounds | Yes | Yes (in-app only) | Free |
| Business Account | Brands, Businesses of all sizes | Public only | Yes | Commercial Sounds only | Yes | Yes (in-app and downloadable) | Free |
To sum it up, especially if you’re a small business owner, you should consider using a Personal Account. Personal Accounts offer access to all sounds — not just the commercial ones.
Almost all of the top 100 trending sounds on the TikTok Trend Discover page are non-commercial. This means that using a Business Account would cut you off from tapping onto trending sounds, which can limit your reach.
The only real benefit of a Business Account is having access to TikTok shop.
4. How to Switch to a Business Account on TikTok?
- Tap ‘Profile’ in the bottom right to access your profile
- Tap the three-line icon in the top right for settings
- Navigate to ‘Settings and Privacy’
- Select ‘Manage Account’
- Choose ‘Switch to Business Account’ and follow the provided instructions
5. How to Switch to a Creator Account on TikTok?
- Tap ‘Profile’ in the bottom right to access your profile
- Tap the three-line icon in the top right for settings
- Navigate to ‘Settings and Privacy’
- Select ‘Manage Account’
- Choose ‘Switch to Personal Account’
While TikTok advises against frequent switches between Business and Personal accounts, the process is straightforward if needed. However, reverting to a Personal account results in the loss of Business features.
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