Written by
Mackenzie TaylorPosted 5 months ago
You’ve been thinking and thinking about it and now it’s time for you and your biz to join the world of TikTok! You know it’ll help grow your business, but the big question is when creating an account—do you choose a TikTok Business vs Creator account?
While it might sound easy to know exactly which one to choose from, however, knowing all the benefits of both will help you choose which version is the best one for you.
What are the different types of TikTok accounts?
Okay, first things first. What the heck are the different types of TikTok accounts?
There are two (used to be three but TikTok recently rolled one of the account types back!*): Creator/Personal and Business.
*Back before 2021, Creator was its own business account type, but TikTok merged the personal and creator accounts together so all users could have access to creator-specific tools.
What is a TikTok creator account?
A creator and a personal TikTok account are the same thing. It’s the TikTok account you get when you first create an account, so if you’re just getting started on creating your own identity in the app, this is the account you’ll start off with.
So why would you keep this account type? There are a few reasons.
Pros of a TikTok creator account
Music:
This is one of the biggest reasons you’d want to keep a creator or personal account—you have access to all of the sounds on TikTok without worrying about the sound being removed or your video being taken down for copyright issues.
Verification:
Yes, just like Instagram and other social media accounts, you can still be verified on TikTok with a personal or creator account.
Privacy:
Want to make your account private? You can only do that with a creator or personal account.
Creator Programs:
With a creator or personal account, you’ll have access to the creator-specific programs that TikTok has like Creator Next, which allows creators to monetize as they grow, and the Creator Fund, which TikTok created to pay content creators for creating content on the app.
Analytics:
With a Creator account, you’ll have access to basic analytics for your account to help you figure out what kind of content your followers like to engage with.
Cons of a TikTok creator account
Link in bio:
With a Creator/Personal account, you don’t have access to adding a link in your bio unless you meet certain requirements (like 1,000 followers on TikTok).
No Third-Party Platforms:
With a creator or personal account, you can’t connect your account to third-party social media management apps like Flick. So if you’re looking to plan your content, schedule videos, and more, you’ll need to switch to a business account.
What is a TikTok business account?
If you’re a business or brand, chances are you’re going to be using a business account for TikTok. It gives you access to more advanced features and analytics for your account. And the best part? You can upgrade your account for free—and if you don’t want a business account any longer? You can easily change it back to a personal or creator account.
Pros of a TikTok business account
Use of Third-Party Platforms:
This is a pretty obvious pro. If you are a business, you have a lot to do during the day, and posting on social media can be the last thing on your list. With a business account, you can easily connect your TikTok to a social media management app, like Flick, to schedule all of your videos.
Flick tip: Sign up for a FREE trial of Flick as we will be adding TikTok scheduling to our platform SOON!
Verification:
You can be verified on your TikTok with a badge, which will help give you an authority on the app that others might not have.
TikTok Shop:
Business accounts can link their Shopify website and directly sell their products on TikTok through TikTok Shop. You can also live stream and sell your products.
Link in bio:
If you have over 1,000 followers on your business account, you can add a website link to your TikTok bio. This is a great way for you to drive traffic to your website after someone has engaged or viewed your video.
Want to add a link to your TikTok bio? Here’s exactly how to do that.
Cons of a TikTok business account
Limited sounds:
One of the biggest disadvantages for business accounts is they only have access to Commercial Sounds. You can’t access any other sounds because of copyright.
@target woke up and chose justice for fellow social managers @Bed Bath & Beyond @Nick Trawick #CorporateVPWarmth @shortyawards ♬ original sound – target
No Creator Platforms:
Because you’re not a creator and TikTok wants you to SPEND money on its platform rather than take it, business accounts don’t have access to the Creator Next or Creator Fund programs.
How do you switch to a business account?
Now that you have your TikTok account, how do you update it to a business account? It’s very easy:
- Tap profile in the bottom right to go to your profile
- Click the hamburger menu to go to settings
- Click Settings and Privacy
- Click Manage Account
- Click Switch to Business Account
- Go through all the steps to create a business account and you’re done!
But, oh no! You’re not enjoying being a business account? That’s okay! You can easily switch back to a personal account.
How do you switch to a personal account?
While TikTok doesn’t really recommend that you switch back and forth, you still can if you need to! Here’s how:
- Click profile on the bottom of the screen to go to your profile.
- Click the hamburger menu to go to your settings.
- Click Settings and Privacy
- Click Manage account
- Click Switch to Personal Account
Ta-da! That’s it.
Should you have a TikTok business or a creator account?
Honestly? It depends on what your overall goals are. If you’re selling products and want people to go to your website, do a business account. It’ll help because you can have your storefront linked, can boost sales, and have the ability to have your followers click links in your livestreams‚ which is HUGE for a business selling items.
If you’re just wanting to get views and post here and there, then a creator account is the perfect one for you. So think about what your goals are and go from there.
Need help with making engaging TikTok videos? We’ve got you. Click here to learn different ways on going viral on TikTok. Want to schedule your TikToks? Sign up for a FREE trial of Flick today!
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