Staying relevant on TikTok takes more than luck. It demands strategy, creativity and a deep understanding of what local audiences want. As the network expands into new types of content, brands that move with intent, not guesswork, win.

With millions of TikTok users active across the UK each day, there is ample opportunity to increase visibility, boost engagement and improve social media ROI for your brand. But reaching the right audience starts with knowing what to post.

This guide is your key to unlocking that potential. We’ll give you proven TikTok video ideas your brand can use to stay relevant, tap into cultural trends and drive measurable results. You’ll find creative prompts, local insights and performance strategies designed to help you succeed.

Why TikTok is a smart play for British brands

TikTok isn’t just about dance challenges and lip syncing—it’s actively shaping how we shop, discover and connect. As the third-largest social network in the UK (behind Facebook and Instagram), TikTok offers huge potential for your brand to grow.

And the best thing is, anything goes. UK consumers want brands to offer authenticity and entertainment above polished, product-focused content.

A post from Merchants Fish and Chips in Bewdley with their owner and staff member known as ‘Chip Shop Diva’

(Source: TikTok)

From British TikTok creators sparking viral soundbites to consumers expecting personality, TikTok is now a must for your digital marketing strategy. It’s where discovery meets entertainment, customer service feels informal and even a supermarket meal deal review can rack up millions of views.

9 TikTok video ideas for UK businesses

Here are nine fun, flexible and locally relevant TikTok ideas to stop the scroll and build real connections with your target audience.

1. Behind the scenes of your UK operation

Let your followers see what makes you unique. Take them into your workspace by offering a sneak peek of your Yorkshire bakery prepping sausage rolls before sunrise or a look at your Devon gift shop wrapping orders with care.

Highlight the small, relatable details: tea breaks, rainy morning routines or how you choose local suppliers. Let your team speak on camera for an extra touch of charm and realness. Behind-the-scenes videos humanise your brand, build authenticity and show the pride and personality behind what you do.

Beth’s Bakes in Newport shares BTS videos with its TikTok audience, giving the full rundown of the bakery space and workers

(Source: TikTok)

2. A day in the life: From commute to closing time

DITL videos are engaging, intriguing and insightful—and amongst the strongest types of TikTok content. “Day in the life” TikToks get 2.2x more shares than standard lifestyle videos.

Give followers a look at your real workday. Whether you’re navigating the London Underground or locking up your high street shop in Bristol, showcase the rhythm of your routine.

Small business JT Cleans shares DITL videos, taking viewers along on different cleaning expeditions

(Source: TikTok)

Use vlog-style storytelling to give your brand a face and build trust with your audience. Wave in dry humour, relatable workplace mishaps or a beloved takeaway break (chippy anyone?), and remember to use local hashtags to boost reach and draw in nearby customers.

3. Let your intern try a TikTok takeover

TikTok has a notably young user base in the UK, with 74% of young people aged 15–24 engaged with the network. That means it’s a prime place to speak directly to the next generation.

Give interns and junior staff the reins—they often have an instinctive feel for content creation and TikTok trends. Let them take over for a day and show the business from their POV.

P Louise Makeup Academy often has its staff go rogue on TikTok, letting them create vibrantly fun and outrageous content

(Source: TikTok)

They could film a desk tour, reveal new product launches, answer FAQs or take on trending challenges. Turn takeovers into a recurring series, like #internFridays, to spotlight your work culture through a fresh lens.

Set some basic brand guardrails and let them experiment. And if you’re hiring, this idea doubles as smart employer branding that resonates with young talent.

4. React to British telly moments

“Gogglebox” is one of the UK’s most beloved shows for a reason—audiences here love to ogle at the TV. Whether it’s a shocking “Love Island” exit or a dramatic “EastEnders” reveal, British TV provides endless jumping-off points for video content.

Create short reaction clips, memes, duets or brand-relevant commentary connected to the moment. Your bakery could react to “Bake Off” mishaps, or your fashion brand might chime in on “Drag Race UK” runway looks. There are countless creative ways to tap into pop culture and link it with your brand.

Use TikTok telly tie-ins to make your brand feel more plugged in, timely and human. Just be sure to strike the right tone—playful, not snarky—and stay aligned with your audience’s tastes and humour.

5. Collaborate with UK-based micro-influencers

You don’t need celebrity-level budgets to partner with TikTok influencers who get results. Even micro and niche influencers can make a big impact, especially since 32% of Gen Z expect brands to collab with influencers on social networks.

Find a smaller, more relevant TikTokers in your region—maybe a Midlands-based vegan foodie or a London stylist—and co-create content that blends your products with their local authority.

Influencer collaborations drive awareness and engagement by tapping into audiences that already trust their recommendations.

JD Sports often works with local fashion and streetstyle influencers to film UGC marketing content for TikTok

(Source: TikTok)

6. Only in the UK… series

There’s no shortage of quirks that come with British life (for better or worse).

Build a series around uniquely UK moments—like apologising when someone bumps into you, kettle obsession or panic-buying bread when it snows.

Greggs shares a TikTok poking fun at the way people in the UK act when the weather is above 14 degrees Celsius

(Source: TikTok)

Use these shared experiences to inject relatability and humour. The format can be super simple: a voiceover listing the moment paired with your team acting it out or quick sketches that dramatise these very British situations.

This idea gives your brand personality, encourages shares and stitches and shows you truly get your audience. Add a trending song or create an original audio using a free, recognisable jingle for even more traction.

7. Things customers say

If there’s one thing nearly every business owner can relate to, it’s dealing with customers and clients.

Dial up the regional personality by highlighting the unique slang, humour or quirky questions that come from customers across the UK.

Turn real or exaggerated customer interactions into light comedy skits with videos that celebrate regional identity in a way that builds connection.

Acai Berry Foods in London pokes fun at the way city customers are always rushing for their order

(Source: TikTok)

Keep it respectful and fun—leaning into stereotypes with self-awareness and affection can drive strong engagement without offending. If your business operates in multiple regions, turn this into a series that highlights each location’s charm while reinforcing your connection to local culture.

8. Celebrate UK events: Bonfire Night, Pancake Day and Glastonbury

Your content calendar should reflect the UK’s key cultural moments. Create themed content that celebrates national days like Burns Night or local faves like Notting Hill Carnival.

Boots Chemist posts a TikTok with their staff competing in a fun challenge for Pancake Day

(Source: TikTok)

Try a DIY recipe, show off office decorations or offer on-the-ground event coverage. You could also recreate these moments internally by hosting themed staff parties and filming the shenanigans.

Timely content shows your brand is tuned in to what your audience cares about and gives your TikTok videos a better chance of being swept up by the algorithm and dropped in front of the right eyes at the perfect time.

9. How we grew on TikTok as a UK brand

Everyone loves a success story, and your TikTok tips could be a real help to other entrepreneurs and digital marketers.

Share an honest and detailed breakdown of what’s worked for your business, whether it was a viral post, a challenge that took off or steady audience growth over time.

Don’t shy away from what didn’t work, either. Showcasing challenges builds credibility and can inspire other small businesses to jump in.

How UK brands create viral TikTok content

Creating viral content has more to do with consistency than chance. Sure, some posts go viral accidentally—but recreating that success is where the real challenge lies. Positioning your TikTok videos for impact starts with understanding UK culture and audience nuance.

Use a social listening tool to track regional trends, slang and sentiment in real time. This lets you tune into what people are actually talking about in specific areas, so you can craft content that feels hyper-relevant and timely.

Sprout Social’s listening tools let you build sophisticated listening queries around multiple key topics

(Source: Sprout Social)

Then, tailor your humour and messaging to suit different UK audiences—because what resonates in Liverpool might flop in London. Regional wit, references and accents all influence how your content is received.

It also pays to find local UK TikTok influencers who reflect your brand tone and target demographic. Their voice can bring a sense of authenticity and relatability that larger, less connected influencers might lack.

Sprout Social’s TikTok Analytics allow you to stay on top of important comments, messages and engagements

(Source: Sprout Social)

Lastly, use Sprout Social’s TikTok Analytics to keep a close eye on what’s working. You can easily track your engagement, reach and growth all in one place so you can double down on what’s landing—and shift away from what’s not.

Elevate your TikTok strategy with Sprout Social’s AI-powered tools

With Sprout Social, UK brands can ditch the constant guesswork, stress and time drain of running TikTok campaigns by taking a data-backed approach to content. 

Use Sprout’s AI Automation to brainstorm localised video ideas and craft captions in seconds, keeping your content fresh and relevant without burning out your team on trend-chasing or competitor research.

Using Sprout Social’s AI automation delivers a 233% ROI

(Source: Sprout Social) 

Plan your posts, add internal notes and objectives and collaborate across departments with the Sprout Social Calendar. Then, let ViralPost® handle timing—automatically scheduling your videos to go live at the best time for engagement.

Experiment with different types of content, then dig into social media reporting tools to get a clear view of what’s performing. You can even check how your TikTok content ranks against competitors. Monitoring metrics means you’re not just chasing likes, you’re building a strategy that scales with time.

Use ViralPost® to ensure your posts have the maximum potential to go viral, factoring in timing and distribution details

(Source: Sprout Social)

Ready to grow your brand with smarter TikTok content?

Reaching UK audiences on TikTok isn’t about chasing every trend—it’s about knowing which ones matter. With the right ideas, tools and insights, your brand can cut through the noise and connect with the customers who count.

Whether you’re a UK marketer, a small business or a creator, Sprout Social gives you everything you need to build a smart and sustainable TikTok strategy.

Just starting out or looking to scale? Sprout makes it easier to:

  • Discover and vet British TikTok creators who align with your brand voice and goals
  • Track performance with advanced TikTok analytics, so you can double down on what works
  • Stay ahead with a built-in social media calendar that keeps your content timely and relevant
  • Craft content that reflects the culture, humour and interests of audiences across the UK

Try Sprout Social free for 30 days, and start creating TikToks your audience actually wants to watch.