How do they do it? How do other Creators build that buzz on TikTok and Instagram without throwing money at ads?

We get it. You’re putting in the work and crafting awesome digital products. You deserve to see your hard work pay off and get your digital assets in front of an audience that truly gets what you offer.

So, what’s the secret? An organic Instagram and TikTok marketing strategy that connects and converts.

In this guide, we’ll show you why organic marketing is so effective and walk you through three proven strategies to build a community that resonates with your message, trusts your expertise, and is excited to support what you offer.

Let’s jump right into it!

Why Organic Marketing Works on TikTok & Instagram

An organic Instagram and TikTok marketing strategy often delivers better results than paid ads. This is because it helps you build real connections and trust with your target audience.

Still skeptical? Let’s take a look at why organic marketing proves so effective.

The Algorithm Rewards Authenticity

Instagram and TikTok are designed to promote engaging, authentic content to as many people as possible. If you create content that educates, resonates, and entertains, the algorithm works in your favor. As a result, you can reach more users, connect with new audiences, and boost conversions.

In particular, the viral potential for smaller accounts on TikTok is huge. Well-crafted, organic TikTok videos can easily get thousands, even millions, of views in a matter of days. This means you can market your digital products to a massive pool of TikTok users without spending a cent.

Builds Trust and Connections

Ads are a good way to get your product in front of potential customers. However, trust is what truly turns a follower into a paying customer.

Organic marketing content allows you to build trust by:

• Showcasing your personality
• Sharing your journey
• Providing helpful tips and insights

When you create engaging content focused on genuine connection rather than just promotion, your audience feels seen and valued. In turn, they’re far more likely to trust your brand and buy your product.

Cost-Effective and Sustainable Growth

It’s no secret that ad campaigns can get super expensive, especially for solo Creators. On the other hand, organic marketing relies on consistency and creativity, not cash.

When you craft valuable posts, share your story, and engage with your community, you create a sustainable growth strategy. Essentially, you take your success into your own hands without having to worry about fluctuating ad budgets.

Higher Engagement, Better Conversion Rates

This may surprise you, but organic content often gets higher engagement rates than paid promotions.

Why? Well, because social media users are very good at sensing when content is authentic versus when it’s a paid ad.

Organic posts and videos lead to genuine interaction (comments, shares, and likes) that ads struggle to replicate. This engagement drives visibility, expanding the reach of your Instagram and TikTok presence. Plus, engaged users are far more likely to trust and buy your products, boosting your conversion rates naturally.

3 Pro Instagram & TikTok Marketing Tips

Now that you understand just how effective organic Instagram and TikTok marketing can be, it’s time to show you how to make it work. So, here are three expert tips that’ll help you scale your Creator business without spending a cent on ads.

1. Share Your Authentic Story

Often, your personal journey is your most powerful marketing tool. If you think about it, people follow your accounts because they connect with your aspirations, struggles, and experiences.

This is why so many of the most successful social media marketing strategies focus on creating a narrative that your audience can relate to.

You can achieve this by sharing where you started, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Here’s what a post or video using this framework might look like:

• Starting point: Describe your initial situation and the problem you wanted to solve.
• Highlight the journey: Share the steps you took to create your product, the obstacles you encountered, and the lessons you learned along the way.
• Outcome/Solution: Show where you are now and how your product or service played a role in the transformation. Then, tell your followers how it can help them achieve a similar result.

This storytelling approach builds an emotional bond, making followers eager to support your offerings.

2. Lead With Value

The key focus of your Instagram and TikTok marketing strategy should be to provide value.

So, instead of pushing your products, focus on:

• Sharing useful tips
• Teaching your followers how to overcome common issues
• Walking your audience through step-by-step solutions

You should do all this before transitioning into promoting your product or service.

Here’s a concise roadmap you can use:

• Educate: Share tips, tutorials, or insights related to your niche.
• Engage: Encourage interaction by asking questions and prompting discussions.
• Introduce: Present your product or service as a natural extension of the value you’ve already provided, positioning it as the ideal solution to the pain points you’ve highlighted.

By delivering value first, you position your product as a trusted, must-have resource.

3. Let Your Customers Sell for You

Testimonials and user-generated content (UGC) serve as powerful endorsements when marketing your offerings. Sharing real customer experiences builds trust and provides social proof that your products actually deliver on your promises.

When you identify positive UGC about your products, be sure to share it with your followers. This takes very little effort and is almost guaranteed to increase sales.

You should also collect testimonials by asking satisfied customers to share their experiences. Then, showcase them via screenshots and short-form videos.

Pro tip: Aim to post this type of social proof at least once a week.

Stan Store: The Easiest Way to Make Money Online

Once you’ve mastered organic Instagram and TikTok marketing, you need to give followers an easy path to purchase.

Enter Stan: The all-in-one platform designed to help Creators effortlessly monetize their content.

Here’s why Stan is the perfect solution for you:

• No need for extra platforms: With Stan, you don’t need to waste time creating your own ecommerce store on platforms like Shopify. You simply set up a Stan Store and link to it from your Instagram or TikTok bio.
• Sell with ease: You can sell digital products and services and book calls, all in one place.
• Seamless checkout: Visitors can browse and purchase directly through your Stan Store for a smooth customer experience.
• Analytics and tools: Stan features a built-in analytics tool you can use to track customer behavior and gain insights into your sales.

Ready to turn your Instagram and TikTok audience into loyal customers? Start your free 14-day trial today and see why Stan is the go-to for Creators just like you.

Pro tip: When directing your followers to your products, say something like “Visit my Stan store” rather than “Check the link in bio”. TikTok often filters or removes videos and comments using this phrase.

Authentic Marketing Wins Every Time

The three tips we’ve laid out in this guide will help you build a winning Instagram and TikTok marketing strategy—no paid ads required.

Remember, while Instagram and TikTok ads can give your products more visibility, they don’t build trust among your target audience.

Instead, focus on being consistent and being authentically you. If you combine genuinely valuable content with a tool like Stan, you’ll create an engaging and seamless experience for your followers, and gain high value customers in return.

FAQs

Is TikTok influencer marketing a good way to promote digital products?

Yes, influencer marketing is a good way to promote digital products on the TikTok app and other social media platforms. Influencers tend to have highly engaged audiences who trust their recommendations.

So, collaborating with them gives you access to a large audience within your niche who’s likely to be interested in your products.

Do I need a TikTok business account to sell digital products?

Yes, you need a TikTok business account to add a link to your Stan Store in your bio, but only if you have less than 1,000 followers on your personal TikTok account.

Is the Instagram algorithm different from the TikTok algorithm?

The Instagram and TikTok algorithms have some similarities, but they also have some key differences. For example, TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes personalized content discovery, whereas Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content from accounts that users already follow.