Where do you go when you want to do some online shopping? People’s first choice is usually Google. However, social media platforms are also becoming an increasingly popular place to get your favorite products.
In 2024, TikTok was the platform with the third-best social commerce experience in the world, after Facebook and Instagram. Products go viral on TikTok pretty often. The Clinique Black Honey Lipstick, Stanley Cup, and Dyson Airwrap are just a few examples.
Users look through what hot new products the TikTok algorithm has brought on their For You pages, then go to the e-commerce store and purchase for themselves. It’s how the popular hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt ended up with over 12 million posts and counting.
It’s also why TikTok knew it was a smart move to introduce their own shop into the platform. Now, not only can brands promote their products, but they can sell them directly in-app. This makes shopping easier for customers and running an online store more efficient for sellers.
Let’s take a closer look at how you can set up a TikTok Shop and start selling on it.
Streamline your marketing with an efficient social media strategy template.
Short summary
- TikTok Shop lets brands sell products directly on the platform through videos, live streams, their Shop page, and the Shop tab.
- As a TikTok Shop seller, you can set up a storefront, upload products, and manage sales through the Seller Center.
- TikTok Shop is for businesses, creators, and partners in select countries, allowing sellers to list products, creators to earn through affiliate links, and partners to offer marketing services or integrations for running ads campaigns, syncing your product catalogs, and more.
- To set up your TikTok Shop, create a TikTok Business account, apply to become a Seller, provide the required business documents, and add products to your Shop.
- Keep product titles under 34 characters, focusing on key features. Add details like size, color, and features in the product description to help customers make informed choices and reduce returns.
- Partner with influencers to reach a bigger audience and boost engagement. TikTok creators can promote your products and link directly to your Shop.
- Use consistent, high-quality product images with a cohesive aesthetic for a professional and visually appealing TikTok Shop.
- Promote your TikTok Shop by mentioning it in your content and explaining how followers can shop.
- Increase your TikTok Shop’s visibility with paid ads. Video Shopping Ads make it easier for customers to shop directly from the ad.
- Create TikTok playlists to organize product videos so that viewers can find product demos, reviews, or promotions in one place.
- Create TikTok filters for fun, interactive product promotions, allowing users to engage creatively, like trying on virtual products.
What is TikTok Shop?
TikTok Shop lets businesses and creators sell products right on the platform. You can tag items in videos, live streams, or a shop tab on your profile. With features like in-app checkout and affiliate options, it makes shopping online simple and lets people buy without leaving the app.
There are four ways to sell products through your TikTok account:
- Through shoppable videos.
- During TikTok Lives.
- On your own Shop page.
- In the Shop tab.
How does TikTok Shop work?
As a seller on TikTok Shop, you can set up your digital storefront, upload your products, and use your TikTok Seller Center account to manage your sales.
TikTok allows you to tag products in videos and live shopping ads, so the users can simply tap on them and get straight to buying. These tags are also great for influencer and affiliate marketing.
Users will find your product through a video, a live, or on the Shop page, they will add it to the cart, and purchase without ever leaving the app. The shopping feature integrates with payment processing, shipping options, and performance tracking, to make everything smoother for you and your customers.
Who is TikTok Shop for?
TikTok Shop can be used in a few select countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam. If you’re located in one of these countries and have a TikTok Business account, you can set up a shop as a seller, creator, or partner.
Sellers
Sellers are businesses or individuals who list their products on TikTok. To become a TikTok Shop Seller you need:
- Documents that show you have a legal business (e.g. company registration information)
- Government-issued identification document
- Tax details (e.g. employment identification number)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Street address of either your warehouse or pick-up location.
Once approved you will be able to manage all of this information from the TikTok Seller Center home page.
Creators
As a Creator, you can make money through TikTok Shop Affiliate. Instead of creating a Shop page, you’ll create a Showcase page with the products you link to in your videos and lives. There is a whole explore page for you to find products to promote.
Every time someone buys a product through your links, you’ll earn a commission.
To apply as a Creator, you must follow TikTok’s community guidelines, have over 5000 followers, and be at least 18 years old.
Partners
Partners offer professional services to Sellers and Creators. They are usually agencies or platforms that help TikTok users sell their products more efficiently through marketing, direct integrations for ad campaigns or product catalog syncing, or other capabilities.
Partners also make money, either by charging a fee for their services or by taking a cut of the sales.
Why should you set up a TikTok Shop?
You should set up a TikTok Shop because it offers an all-in-one solution for selling online, paired with great data insights and perks such as easy shipping solutions. Opening a TikTok Shop is easy, especially for an individually owned business that doesn’t want to invest a lot of capital into opening an e-commerce store.
It’s also easy to see how a TikTok Shop can drive results by looking at the numbers. More than 58% of users have admitted to using TikTok for shopping inspiration, and 55% have purchased after seeing a product on the platform.
TikTok Shop enables brands to take away the additional step of having to switch tabs to go from interest to final purchase, increasing the chances of a finalized sale. And with over half of users already eager to buy what they see on their For You page, there is a lot of revenue at stake.
How to set up your TikTok Shop
To set up your TikTok Shop, create a TikTok Business account, apply to become a Seller, provide the required documents, and add products to your Shop.
1. Connect to or create a TikTok Business account and apply
You can’t set up a Shop unless you have a TikTok Business account. You can create an account from scratch or switch your existing TikTok account to Business. To change a personal account into a business one, go to your profile settings under “Manage account” and switch the “Business account” toggle to on.
Once you have your Business account, apply to become a Seller using the following link: TikTok Shop Seller.
2. Receive confirmation and join TikTok Shop (if you are eligible)
To be eligible for TikTok Shop you must be able to provide all the documents that TikTok requests, such as personal ID, business license, and tax information.
Once everything is submitted, you’ll receive an answer from TikTok in one or two days. If accepted, you’ll have access to all of TikTok’s shopping features.
3. Add products to your TikTok Shop account
Now that you are officially a TikTok Seller, you can link your bank account number and start adding products to your Shop. You can choose to either add your product catalog manually or import it from another e-commerce platform.
To add a product to TikTok Shop manually, start by going to the TikTok Shop Seller Center. Navigate to the Manage Products tab and click the Add New Product button to begin.
Next, fill in the product details by uploading clear images (at least five), providing a detailed description, and including the product name, category, brand information, and attributes.
After that, add sales information by setting up variations such as size or color and configuring prices and stock for each SKU.
Provide shipping information by entering the package weight and dimensions to calculate shipping costs accurately.
Finally, you can either save the product as a draft to edit later or publish it for review and approval.
To sync product catalogs using the Quick Listing tool, start by accessing it in the TikTok Shop Seller Center. On a desktop, go to Add New Product and select Quick Listing Tool.
If you’re using the mobile app, open the Seller Center app to begin.
Search for the product you want to clone by using keywords, the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number, a unique international identification number for a product), or UPC (Universal Product Code).
Once you find the desired product, select it and click Apply to preview its details. If everything matches your requirements, use Apply Info to copy the product information into your new listing form.
Next, complete any remaining details that aren’t pre-filled, such as product images, videos, pricing, quantity, or compliance information.
After verifying all the details, submit the product for review to finalize and publish the listing. The process works the same way for both desktop and app versions.
Moving forward, you’ll be able to manage everything from product inventory to customer service from the Seller Center.
4. Start promoting
With everything set up, you can shift your focus to selling your products. For starters, mention them in your videos. This will organically grow awareness of what you’re offering. In terms of paid promotion, TikTok ads are also a great strategy to boost sales.
To expand your audience even more, partner with Creators. Find voices that are trusted by your target audience for your affiliate marketing strategy.
7 best practices to help you sell more on TikTok
Now that your TikTok Shop is up and running, it’s time to learn some tips to make it successful. From optimized product listings to influencer marketing and paid ads, there are many things you can do to up your sales on the TikTok app.
Here are seven best practices for a successful TikTok Shop:
- Write engaging product titles and descriptions.
- Partner with influencers.
- Use high-quality product images.
- Mention your TikTok Shop in your content.
- Promote your products with TikTok Shop ads
- Make TikTok playlists showcasing your products.
- Create filters to promote your products.
1. Write engaging titles and descriptions
The title of your product is one of the first things a customer will notice. Keep it short and include the most important information. As general rules:
- Keep the title under 34 characters to avoid it being cut off.
- Say exactly what the product is/what it does.
- Mention a unique feature or key selling point.
A good example of a title could be “Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds”. It’s short, it tells you exactly what the product is, and by adding “noise-canceling” you also highlight an important feature.
The description can be longer, so here is where you should include everything missing from the title. By being specific and mentioning things like size, color, important features, and use cases, you lower the probability of returns.
2. Partner with influencers
A lot of people have gone viral and built a following on the app since TikTok launched, whether they’re making funny videos, sharing beauty tips, or creating educational content. They know how the platform works and can help brands create content that fits in and promotes products in a smarter way.
Engagement is also much higher on TikTok compared to other selling platforms. According to the Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report, an influencer with one million followers on TikTok will have an engagement rate of 10.53%, compared to 0.95% for Instagram accounts with the same following.
When TikTok creators post about your product, they bring it in front of an audience that already trusts their judgment and is more likely to try what they recommend. And, because they can directly link to your Shop and gain commission, it is a win-win situation.
This TikTok influencer promoted Shark Beauty’s hairstyling tool by using it to get ready for a date. It was a relatable way to show her followers how they could use the product in their own routines. And we can’t ignore that she gained over half a million likes in the process.
3. Use high-quality product images
Potential customers get their first impression of your products from the images listed on your Shop. First of all, your TikTok store should reflect your brand and have a cohesive look. Make sure your product images all follow the same aesthetic, so the overview of your online store is visually appealing.
Second, each listing should look great when a user clicks on it. Opt for a picture of your product front and center with a muted or neutral background for a professional look.
4. Mention your TikTok Shop in your content
Be vocal about your TikTok Shop. Tell people you’ve created one, and make TikToks explaining where to find it and how people can shop from your store like the creator below did.
Also, introduce your audience to your products organically by mentioning them in your content. It’s a good strategy to present their use cases. For example, if you’re selling cooking appliances, include them in a recipe video and show their top features in action.
PRO TIP
After you’ve just launched your TikTok Shop, you’ll want to post about it consistently to keep people interested. However, staying on top of your content strategy can be time-consuming if you do it all manually.
Use SocialBee to schedule your TikTok content and organize it into categories, so you always have a diverse mix of videos. Add your posts about your TikTok Shop in the Promotional category, give it a time slot in your content schedule, and let SocialBee handle the rest.
Promote your TikTok Shop consistently by scheduling your content in advance with SocialBee!
5. Promote your products with TikTok Shop ads
Creating TikTok ads is a great way to increase the visibility of your Shop. While reaching customers organically is possible on this platform thanks to its algorithm, paid ads are sure to expand your audience faster.
Your ads will appear in people’s feeds just like normal videos but with a small “Ad” disclosure on the bottom.
Video Shopping Ads are one of TikTok’s best shopping features. They allow you to make your in-feed video ads shoppable, making it even easier for buyers to make the purchase.
6. Make TikTok playlists showcasing your products
Creating a TikTok playlist for your products is a smart move when you have a TikTok Shop. It keeps all videos related to certain products in one place, so viewers can easily find what they are searching for.
For example, the Ordinary has playlists to highlight some of their most popular skincare products. If you’re interested in adding hyaluronic acid to your routine, you can find some great info about their serums all in one place.
You can showcase product demos, reviews, or tutorials in one place, which keeps people watching and builds trust. Playlists also help highlight bestsellers, new arrivals, or promotions, giving shoppers a smooth browsing experience. It’s a simple way to keep viewers engaged and make it easier for them to shop for your products.
7. Create filters to promote your products
Creating TikTok filters for your products is a fun and engaging way to promote your brand. Filters let users interact with your products in creative ways, like trying on virtual makeup, clothing, or accessories. This builds excitement and encourages sharing.
A great example is Fenty Beauty’s viral filter which helps users find their shade match before purchasing their Profilt’r foundation.
Another example is the popular “This or That” filter format that has been consistently trending on the platform.
If you’re a perfume brand, you can create a filter that allows users to choose between different smells (“sweet” vs. “fresh, “vanilla” vs. “floral”, etc.) to get a perfume recommendation at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to set up your TikTok Shop and start selling?
If you’re a small business with not much money or experience to put into an online shop, TikTok makes everything easier, from set-up to promotion. A TikTok Business account, up-to-date company documents, and some well-optimized product listings are the only things you need to become a TikTok Seller.
With your TikTok Shop application approved and some best practices up your sleeve, all that’s left for you to do is promote your products and start making some sales.
To keep people invested in what you have to offer, make sure to post content regularly. A consistent online presence ensures your audience remembers your business. To keep them entertained, use SocialBee to create a diversified content mix and schedule it ahead of time. Start your 14-day free trial today!
