Welcome to our Creator Coffee Chat: Presented By the TrendTok App where you get to learn about the very best tips, tricks and advice for growing your TikTok account from viral creators! We know that growing your TikTok account can feel overwhelming at times, so we’re breaking down the strategy that these creators used to help you through the process! Whether you’re a new creator on the platform that hasn’t chosen their username yet or a creator with a huge following behind you, we believe that this series will provide you with some new insights that you can apply to your TikTok strategy!
Today’s coffee chat is with Liz Hilton! Liz (@swaddelini). Liz is a millennial Mompreneur one woman show who invenst, designs, makes, educates, encourages and inspires! On her page she shares content about being an entrepreneur, a mom, and about her company Swaddelini!
We asked Liz to share some advice, tips and thoughts with us that could help creators with their TikTok journey!
How did you first get into TikTok?
My friend told me to join so we could learn the shuffle dance. I must have downloaded it, deleted, and redownloaded it several times because I found the app so irritating…and then. BOOM. It clicked. I was addicted. I got so addicted that I created a business tiktok account for my product based business Swaddelini. I thought this would help with my addiction because then I would view tiktok as “work”. 2 days after posting several Swaddelini videos (same ones I posted on Instagram a year prior) went viral! 1 million views in 1 day and over 10 million in 1 month! I received more orders in that one day than in all of 2020!
What was the process behind creating your first video on the platform? How did it feel?
I just uploaded several videos I had posted to Instagram a year prior. Nothing was special about them. But right after posting I noticed I got more attention than on Instagram. I knew it was different.
How did your first video perform? What was your reaction to it’s performance?
My first video had hundreds of views within minutes. So I kept replying and I noticed everyone was asking for a “how to” video. I posted a video of me putting on the swaddle on my newborn son (video taken a year before and uploaded to Instagram but got 0 exposure) and that was the viral video.
How did you decide what kind of content you wanted to post on your platform or what audience you wanted to reach?
How to use videos and anything baby related. I have an extremely new and innovative product. People are curious about it. They want to know how it works.
What advice do you have for creators that are still trying to find their niche on TikTok?
OWN YOUR HATE!!!!! I believe I am successful because I did the one thing my competitors are scared to do--- I own my hate comments! My competitors just delete them. But I own them!
What advice do you have for brands that are trying to figure out what to post on the platform?
Everything. The secret is… there is no secret.
How many videos did you post before you had your first “viral video”?
4 or 5 I think. Not many.
What did it feel like when you realized your video was going viral?
An answer to prayer. This is obviously a God thing. I worked for 3 years to get this product off the ground, and nothing worked. I tried everything! My viral tiktok experience restored my faith in my business and in myself.
What happens when one of your videos does not perform how you expected? Do you ever recreate or repost the video?
Yes. I try to recreate my most successful videos but it is important to the other stuff as well.
What advice do you have for creators on creating the TikTok videos? Any there any tools or softwares that you use?
No. Because if it looks like an ad—It’s crap and is not worth posting. You don’t want it to look too professional. Just get good lighting.
Do you ever get nervous posting on TikTok? If so, how do you deal with it?
I just post more.
Are there any tricks/tips that you have used to boost your posts that you’d like to share with creators?
I host giveaways on my Live feed and in order to enter they have to tell me why the LOVE my product on my most recent post and say hi in the live chat. This is great for engagement! But be sure to advertise it a day or 2 leading up to it!
How do you keep your community/followers engaged with you and your content on TikTok?
Giveaways, Lives (I need to do more of) and I respond to comments a lot.
How do you handle the negative comments on the platform?
OWN IT!!!!! Sarcasm is always a good device—but do not be mean! Just be funny and entertaining.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were first starting out on the platform?
Not to scroll for pleasure. I have recently flushed who I follow so I can be sure I only follow my supporters and potential customers/collaborators.
Who are some of your favorite TikTokers or accounts to follow?
For advice: socialpourover
For laughs: firsttimemamadrama
What is next for you on the platform, anything we should be on the lookout for?
I am doing a 2 for 1 sale at the end of the month April 30th
I also did a soft launch of an Adult baby swaddle. The response was overwhelming I had to increase the price, end the promotion and remove my tiktok video that had 50k views (I private it for when I am ready to release the promo again) I need to build up inventory before marketing it again.
I also have had hundreds of requests for a toddler Swaddelini. That is in the works right now also.
I recently got my nephew in Canada set up to ship in Canada! So any Original Swaddelini purchased in Canada can receive it within 2-5 business days!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
TRENDTOK is 20% off all Swaddelini Products!
Where can our readers connect with you?
Tiktok! Liz@swaddelini
If you want to collaborate you can email be at hello@swaddelini.com
I’m also on clubhouse Liz@knitit I host a smart Textile club there.
This series is presented by the TrendTok App, the platform for TikTok Analytics that helps creators go viral! Check it out here!