3 Strong TikTok Content Marketing Alternatives for DTC 2025
- mrpapri1
- Jan 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 30
Honestly, people saw the TikTok ban coming. But the devastation after?
It's real especially when it comes to DTC brands.
It's like when the Evergreen ship blocked off the Suez Canal in 2021.
Why is TikTok important?
1 billion users use TikTok globally, making it one of the most popular platforms. Estimated to account for more than 18% of all global internet video traffic...
It's crucial.
Quick Summary
The blog explores the potential TikTok ban and its impact on Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, offering TikTok content marketing alternatives in an uncertain digital landscape. Key points include:
TikTok Controversy
1 billion global users
U.S. security concerns about Chinese ties
Potential national security risks
Content Strategy
Create powerful hooks to stop scrolling
Use storytelling to engage viewers
Follow and create trends
Transition smoothly from narrative to product pitch
Content Diversification
Leverage long-form content (blogs)
Optimize for SEO
Use AI for draft creation
Target 2500-3000 word blog posts
Alternative Platforms
Instagram Reels (25-34 age group: 35%)
YouTube Shorts (15-25 age group: 50%)
Diversify traffic sources
Conclusion
View platform changes as growth opportunities
Adapt content strategy across multiple channels
The core message: Be flexible, creative, and ready to pivot your digital marketing approach in response to platform changes.
TikTok Alternative 1: Tapping into long-form content
When short-form fails, don't panic.
Always remember there are other ways to do content marketing, and sometimes... Long-form is far more effective than short-form.
And if that doesn't make any sense to you, let me explain...
Even though the graph above shows that short-form is growing in popularity, it's still only 30.2% in 2024.
Here's the kicker:
Long-form content provides a depth of information simply unattainable by doing short-form videos. (such as TikTok content markting)
Long-form text-based content
Yes, people can retain information from videos much better than text.
But at the same time, long text allows you to do many things that are impossible to do otherwise.
there's more space to do storytelling
if viewers commit, they're more invested
much larger SEO impact
Blogs
Being the backbone behind massive SEO traffic, this content type often aims to educate the reader as much as possible.
When I first started Copyscale, I was focusing mainly on cold email. Little did I know, there was something much more effective that drove long-term growth.
Blogs that truly bring value.
This, in pair with SEO, can create a powerful strategy.
Writing captivating blogs that leave your audience baffled
If you write unique content that will provide genuine knowledge, you will have tremendous success.
But here's the deal...
Have blogs that have already been covered, and it will look regurgitated.
Blogs with the highest traffic focus 50% on user value and 50% on SEO.
The point is... don't just try to get the highest amount of SEO possible. Think about the readers, too.
Know your audience
Instagram, X, Reddit, you name it. Get a taste of what they're interested in currently, and create a blog curriculum. (it has to be recent, or else your topic might have already been covered by other people)
Use AI
Create a rough first draft using AI, then human-edit it.
Trust me, I've been there. If you've ever written a 1000-3000 word blog post, you've experienced some kind of reader's block. AI can help you generate fresh ideas, but watch out...
Make sure you control AI, not the other way around. Always human-edit what AI spits out.
Optimal length
Aim for 2500-3000 words for the highest engagement.
Optimizing
Come back a day later and optimize it with fresh eyes. Read it out loud.
Here's a guide on how to optimize copy.
SEO Optimizing Your Blog
This part is just as important.
Above, I covered how to make your blog human-friendly. Now it's time to give the robots some grease.
SEO is essentially like WD-40.
If you don't know what that is, it's just a lubricant for when some metal is overly squeaking.
Keyword Research
Use keyword research tools such as Ubersuggest or ChatGPT to know what to put in your blog for maximum effect.
Headlines that draw clicks
Make your headline a question / emotional
Headline under 60 characters; Meta description under 160 chars.
Lower bounce rates
Move important info to the top; create a quick summary of the blog
Source: Backlinko Title tag modifiers
Take a short title tag. Add "How to...", or "2025", "Best", "Fast", "Easy", or "Simple" and you've got yourself a boost in opens.
(e.g. Coffee Machines: The Definitive Guide ---> Coffee Machines for Aeropress: Guide)
Snippet bait sections
Questions like "Is coffee bad for you?" appear on featured snippets in Google. If your snippet gets featured, you are auto-ranked number 1 in search results.
Source: Mangools
Leverage Content Recycling
Repurposing proven content into blog posts can be huge. This method saves you time and re-engages audiences where they are most active.
By repackaging content, you keep the conversation alive, everywhere.
What is content recycling?
Repurposing previously published marketing content across different platforms after a period of time.
Using powerful hooks to command attention
As mentioned many times in this blog, who's there to read if it doesn't get people's attention right away?
Attention has been declining.
So in turn, knowing how to craft good hooks is essential.
Strategy 2: Assuming TikTok survives
Assuming TikTok still lives for a long time, here's the best strategy for content.
"BE DIFFERENT" TikTok Copywriting
Start the video with a powerful hook, to grab the attention.
Hooks are important elements in a TikTok video. Let me explain exactly why.
Just imagine brainstorming an original idea for content, just to come back and see it has 50 views.
Here's the kicker:
You need hooks because:
a) it stops the scroll
b) without a hook, you can have valuable content go to waste
Ex. Your way of exercising is inefficient, and here's why.
Lean into a narrative to keep watchers engaged.
Using storytelling is an unfair advantage your competitors might be using. It's when you write a story either about the brand or the customer to connect with the viewer.
It's:
memorable
maintains attention
humanizes your brand
Transition into how your product will change their life
Yes, knowing how to twist and turn stories is a powerful skill. But even more important is transitioning from a story to getting them to buy.
Without this section, your content is incomplete. You need to be able to engage them with your story, and then transition into your pitch in a smooth way.
And if done right...
It's going to be flawless.
Ex. So the key takeaway? "There are always people who will be angry no matter what." So if you want to keep angry people at an all-time minimum in your life, consider joining our community full of chill people.
Following trends
Be always in the know about trends. Do so, and your brand will look up-to-date.
And at the end of the day, you want that.
Trending sounds and songs
Just scroll through your FYP, and find audios that keep repeating. Other than having these songs stuck in your head, it gives you a grasp of current trends.
e.g. Use a relaxing audio clip, together with skincare unboxing
Participate in challenges
Find a challenge that fits your brand, and there you have it. Your brand will stand out.
Thus, with this, you are emphasizing what's unique about your brand and making all your competitors look like fools.
Start your trends
According to Wisernotify, trendsetting allows businesses to stand out from the competition.
When done correctly, this is the most powerful strategy. By creating your own trend on TikTok, you are marketing your DTC brand in an organic way.
And if it's good...
Other users will jump on the trend, further increasing your visibility by using it.
Allegations against TikTok
A majority of the Supreme Court is willing to ban TikTok. But why?
The U.S. thinks the app has ties with China, and making the app accessible could mean:
China could access U.S. users' data for intelligence, and surveillance
China could force propaganda into the platform
It gets worse:
The ban was scheduled on January 19th, a day before Donald Trump's inauguration. And it did. For a whopping 12 hours, users would see this message on their phones:
But 12 hours later, the ban was lifted and delayed for 75 days.
Will I say, with confidence, that TikTok is going to get saved in the future? Not sure. These privacy allegations look pretty bad from a historical perspective.
Similar accusations toward Huawei
Smartphone company Huawei was accused similarly, and it's banned to this day. And even Google stopped supporting the brand.
The U.S. was concerned that:
it could pose a national security risk
it could spy on important infrastructure
it could steal sensitive data
But again, it was also accused of other things. Some that I despise. There were cases of forced labor and bank fraud.
Shhh... Are you sure your copywriting isn't costing you sales?
Find out if your copywriting is leaving money on the table.
TikTok Alternative 3: Other short-form platforms
TikTok is getting banned? No problemo.
There are plenty of other channels just waiting to be discovered. And each boasts a unique benefit.
View the ban as an opportunity to diversify where your traffic comes from.
Instagram Reels
This is another social media giant that always stands close to TikTok.
If your DTC brand already has a social media presence on Instagram, it would be even better. By having short-form content directly next to your posts, you are making it easy for users to switch between your content.
25-34 age group: 35%
18-24 age group: 30%
A more diverse age range
Balanced gender distribution
YouTube Shorts
Having a massive audience, this is an opportunity just waiting to get taken.
15-25 age group: 50%
Broader age spread
Strong male user base (60%)
The path ahead
While a TikTok ban may seem scary for DTC brands, it can be a chance for growth. By diversifying platforms, fostering genuine engagement, and exploring new creative avenues, brands can thrive in alternative platforms.
But wait a second...
Are you willing to make your DTC business stand out using my unique process?
