About this Event
TikTok remains one of the only platforms where small businesses can still earn meaningful organic reach without an ad budget. Despite this, most owners either avoid it entirely or approach it without a system, burning time on content that doesn't compound. This session breaks down a practical, low-gear approach to TikTok built for time-strapped small business owners: how to structure a video that actually holds attention, which formats fit your comfort level and bandwidth, what to track (and what to ignore) in your analytics, and how to turn views into findable, credible leads rather than just vanity metrics. Participants will leave with a format they can film this week, a repeatable video structure, and a clear first goal for getting started or leveling up their existing account. This in-person workshop is free to attend, but registration is required.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Identify at least three TikTok video formats suited to their own comfort level and time constraints, including options that require no on-camera talking or editing.
2. Apply the Hook → Hold → Ask structure to plan a video from first second to caption, using a real example as a model.
3. Distinguish between vanity metrics and the engagement signals (views over time, shares, saves) worth actually tracking.
4. Connect TikTok content to business outcomes by reframing "monetization" as lead generation and credibility-building rather than platform payouts.
5. Set a concrete first (or next) goal for their account, including the practical milestone of reaching 1,000 followers to unlock a bio link.
About the Speaker:
Jessica Cloud, CFRE, is a fundraising consultant, trainer, and founder of Real Deal Fundraising. She works with nonprofit leaders and boards who are tired of working hard without a structure that makes the effort add up. Her approach is practical, direct, and grounded in real experience working inside fundraising teams at organizations of all sizes.
Her track record speaks for itself. At Starr King School for the Ministry, she led a 10-year increase in giving that more than doubled overall fundraising totals (up 134%) and boosted unrestricted giving by over 140%. Earlier in her career at The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, she increased total dollars raised by more than 300% in a single year. Over three years, she grew the first-time donor base by 285% and tripled the number of annual donors – from about 3,000 to over 8,000. She also launched USM’s first faculty-staff giving campaign, raising employee participation from 10% to 32% in just three months.
Jessica holds a master’s degree in English Literature and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She’s a sought-after speaker and trainer whose sessions blend hard-won lessons with humor and encouragement – leaving her audiences both inspired and equipped to take their next step. When she’s not working with fundraisers, she’s writing poetry, watching documentaries, or traveling with her husband and two kids.
Event venue & nearby stays
University Place Building, 142 North Dargan Street, Florence, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.