Did you know that TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform in 2021. Are you wondering how your school district can engage audiences on TikTok?
Have you been afraid of venturing onto the platform?
In this article, I discuss six ways you can engage moms on TikTok.
Females Influence on Social Media
Although many fathers take part in the decision-making process regarding their child’s education, studies show that mothers have a strong influence on household decisions, including where their child attends school. There is also a greater chance that your school district and school social media accounts have a higher engagement rate amongst your female audiences.
I know in my previous district, seventy percent of our audience on Facebook were females. High female engagement is probably the case on most of your social media platforms, including the popular TikTok.
Searching on Social Media for Parental Help
It might be hard to believe, but one in four millennials now have children. Once defined as elitist teenagers, the generation is now growing up and becoming responsible adults with children attending school. And these parents are relying on social media to raise their children.
According to the book Millennials with Kids, 70% of parents read mommy blogs and social media to help raise their kids and make parental decisions. Curious parents searching online for help is a tremendous opportunity for school districts to become the trusted source on social media regarding parenting and education. And TikTok is no exception.
Should my School District be on Tiktok?
In 2020, TikTok emerged as the most talked-about social media platform, with many school communications experts questioning its merit. Much like the early days of Facebook in schools, TikTok has been criticized and stereotyped based on rumors.
With any new social media platform, you need to be comfortable creating and releasing content. If you are frightened, don’t create content on the platform. However, let us not forget Facebook in 2005. Many school districts across the county prevented using this now powerful platform to interact with our parents. TikTok could have the same potential for reaching parents in our school districts.
Engaging Parents on TikTok
If your district is ready to take the plunge into TikTok, there are fantastic ways to engage an older demographic. TikTok is starting to evolve as older generations create accounts on the app.
According to TikTok, the platform functions as a safe space for parents to connect, reassure each other, and celebrate big and small achievements. They offer tips, tricks, and in-depth knowledge to one another and reveal unfiltered family insights unlike anywhere else. Creating a place for parents to connect is a vital aspect school districts can use to drive engagement on TikTok.
Here are six ways to engage moms on TikTok:
1. How to Prepare for Kindergarten Tips
Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are some of the scariest transitions for moms. Kindergarten is the first time for many children to be involved in a structured learning environment. Moms are looking for help. School districts should help moms feel comfortable dropping their children off each day at school. TikTok is a perfect place to offer moms help.
Schools need to create a safe space for parents to connect. Posting content from your kindergarten teachers on Tiktok is a great place to start. Especially by engaging built-in audiences around specific hashtags on the platform.
According to TikTok, there have been 44 billion views of the hashtag #momsoftiktok, and 20 billion views of the hashtag #momlife. Using these hashtags when you post content is a perfect way to engage with a thriving audience.
Your school district can create kindergarten tips ranging from “How Does Carpool Work” or “What Does a Typical Day of Kindergarten Look Like” to engage moms. Any helpful content you can create will help a mom who is new to kindergarten. The best way to start this content is to ask your moms and ask your kindergarten teachers.
2. Utilize Popular Demo Hashtags
As I mentioned above, there are numerous popular hashtags for older generations on TikTok. The app list there top hashtags as:
- #family– 67B views
- #familytime– 8B views
- #parenting4B views
- #momsoftiktok– 44B views
- #dad– 25B views
- #momlife– 20B views
Just like Instagram, hashtags are a great way to search for content on Tiktok. It is by far the most popular way to find content that will resonate with specific topics or groups. By using popular hashtags, you can grow your audience quicker. You can type hashtags into your description before you post your video. TikTok gives suggestions that relate to your content as well.
3. The Wisdom of the Crowd Approach
Do not try to create this content yourself. Utilize your teachers, counselors, parents, and students to help you make content that will resonate with your audience. Finding influencers that have an established presence on TikTok will help launch your account.
You can also bounce ideas off your younger teachers for guidance on TikTok. Let’s face it; they are probably hipper than you. Use that to your advantage. Let them create the content, or at the very least, have them review the content before you post it on the platform. Teachers can also probably help you create a list of the most prevalent concerns amongst young parents. Use that list to create content. The more you can help your parents, the more you will become the trusted source for parental help.
4. Stress Reliever Tips from Veteran Moms
New moms are very stressed. Being a parent is hard work. Help them with their stress by offering stress reliever tips from your counselors or school nurses. From breathing techniques to exercise advice, Tiktok could be a perfect platform to help parents manage their stress. The key is to help your parents.
I can’t state this enough. The more you help, the more trust you will gain from your audience. What a great way to engage young moms by assisting them to be less stressed. The wellness culture is at the height of its popularity. Utilize this popularity to gain traction with moms in your school district.
5. Children Book Reviews by Teachers
Help on TikTok does not have to be complex. Simple tips are just as powerful as elaborate parental help. Some parents need a starting point to feel comfortable educating their children. Children’s book reviews could be an excellent place to start.
Find energetic teachers in your school district that could create 60-second book reviews for parents. Book reviews allow parents to find books that will resonate with their children. With teachers putting a stamp of approval on a book, parents are more likely to purchase that book to read to their children. I am sure teachers can find creative ways to engage moms on TikTok. You might even find authors on TikTok that you can share to do it for you.
6. Homework Help for Parents
Do you know who dreads the word homework more than students? Parents! Much of the new teaching techniques for math and other subjects are confusing for parents who are used to traditional learning methods. By creating content on TikTok to help parents with homework, could be powerful.
Teachers could solve a problem or explain an assignment in more detail to help parents engage their children. Homework help can easily be done on TikTok. It will probably become your most popular posts. Especially with eighth-grade algebra. The more you can help, the more parents will love you.
Conclusion
TikTok can be a powerful tool to engage parents if done correctly. The more you use the app, the more comfortable you will become.
There are several ways you can engage parents. Use these tips, but also ask your teachers. They have contact with students and parents every day. Teachers know what resonates with these groups.
