With 500 million daily active users TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms of the decade but with so much else on the marketing agenda in business, why and how should we use it?

Here AD: VENTURE ambassador Sophie Mei Lan also shares why she has stopped “messing about dancing” on the platform and is starting to use it to grow her business, while still having fun.

Sophie also speaks to some local businesses who have made it ‘big’ on the platform.

Why is TikTok important for businesses?

It is not all about dance moves, it’s a subtle marketing strategy whether it be for your brand, driving a cause or selling products, paid for advertising doesn’t always make an impact.

• 36% of consumers use ad-blockers

This is a more natural and organic way of growing a community, building your audience and connecting with your customers.

As a start-up brand and micro-business (which makes up most of the businesses in the UK) it can be hard to compete to make a noise but your strength is your authentic voice and skillset.

Larger brands have to try mimic more personable ‘raw’ content whereas smaller brands tend to have less red tape and can experiment using TikTok.

Here are a few statistics, from Social Pilot, that show why a business cannot afford to ignore TikTok:

• It has

TicTok tips for business