SBA and TikTok Collaborate to Elevate Global Brand Marketing for SMEs

The Seoul Business Agency (SBA), led by CEO Kim Hyun-woo, announced on May 14 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TikTok Korea to strengthen the global brand marketing capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Seoul. This collaboration demonstrates the urgency for local companies to leverage digital platforms for international expansion.

SBA and TikTok Korea have previously partnered to facilitate the first direct entry of a South Korean single brand into the North American market by a public institution, underlining their longstanding commitment to fostering business relationships. This new agreement is set to solidify this partnership further and enhance SMEs’ preparedness for the global digital landscape.

Central to this cooperation is the enhancement of brand marketing capabilities through TikTok, which offers a comprehensive platform combining short-form content-based brand marketing and e-commerce via TikTok Shop. This initiative represents a crucial starting point, equipping SMEs with hands-on skills necessary for effective digital marketing.

To achieve these goals, the 'SBA×TikTok Korea SMB Marketing Academy' will provide practical training aimed at Seoul SMEs looking to harness TikTok for brand promotion. The curriculum will cover essential areas such as basic TikTok advertising, performance solutions, creative strategies, and data analysis for ad optimization, structured over eight weeks with 16 hours of content.

The program is tailored for Seoul-based SMEs without prior experience in TikTok advertising. Interested companies must apply online through the SBA website by May 26 at 3 PM. The cohort size is expected to include around 40 companies, with participation costs fully subsidized, enhancing access for smaller enterprises.

The training sessions, facilitated by TikTok Korea, will ensure participants gain reliable insights directly from the source, coupled with subsequent support such as Ad Credits and promotional assistance for graduating companies, which will significantly bolster the program's effectiveness.

Kim Hyun-woo, CEO of the SBA, remarked that this partnership aims to solidify the relationship with TikTok Korea and ultimately enable Seoul's distinguished SMEs to share their unique brand stories on a global stage through this robust platform. This initiative signals a significant strategic shift towards integrating advanced digital marketing tools in local enterprises' operational frameworks.