With over 1.5 billion monthly active users spending an average of 59 minutes daily on the app, TikTok and TikTok Shop are must-haves for businesses.
Many companies have already started to flourish on TikTok by reaching out to a younger audience and promoting their brand. But still, it’s easier to grow on TikTok than on Instagram. If you already know how popular TikTok is and how influential it can be for your business but are unsure how to sell on TikTok, this ultimate guide is for you.
Here, I will guide you through the essentials of selling on TikTok. This step-by-step breakdown will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in today’s dynamic and fast-paced TikTok shop. So, let’s get started.
How To Sell On TikTok
Wondering how to start selling on TikTok? Here’s your ultimate guide, broken down into clear, straightforward steps.
1- Create Your TikTok Account
To create a TikTok account, download the app and sign up. Enter your details, and pick a username. This username will be visible on your TikTok account and in your comments.
2- Switch to a TikTok Business Account
The first step to selling on a TikTok shop is to switch from a personal to a business account. To do so, proceed as follows:
- Go to your profile.
- Click the three tabs in the top right corner.
- Next, select ‘Settings and privacy.’
- Click on ‘Account.’
- Choose ‘Switch to Business Account.’
- Click ‘Next’ to confirm. Also, choose a category and select ‘Next.’ That is it. You successfully converted to a TikTok business account.
3- Sign Up for the TikTok Shop
Having switched to a TikTok business account, now it’s time to set up a TikTok shop to sell your products. To start selling on TikTok shop, simply follow the steps below:
- First, go to the Seller Center over TikTok Shop and register for an account.
- Next, Select your business type. If you are not a registered business, you can select Individual.
- The next step in selling on TikTok is to verify your information by uploading your driver’s license or passport. After that, enter your shop name and product category, and confirm your phone number. Finally, submit your information.
- Now, you must wait for approval. If denied, don’t worry. Reapply as needed. Make sure that files are not blurry or unclear, and re-upload them if necessary.
- Entering your shipping information is the next crucial step in selling products at the TikTok shop. Enter the address of the location from which you will ship your items.
- Next, add your first product and connect your shop to your TikTok business account. Make sure you switch your personal TikTok account to a business account to set up your TikTok shop.
- Next to ‘Connect your shop to a TikTok account’, click on the ‘Get started’ button.
- From there, go ahead and click on ‘Link official account.’
- Lastly, open your TikTok app and click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of your profile. Select ‘My QR Code.’ You need to scan that QR code. Click on ‘Authorize.’ All you have to do now is get approved as a seller on TikTok, upload as many products as you can, and make videos for them.
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Boost Selling on TikTok (8 Effective Ways)
Now that you have set up your TikTok shop, it’s time to answer the question: how do you sell on TikTok and grow your business with the TikTok shop?
1. Create Engaging TikTok Videos
Creating top-quality content is the key to learning how to sell stuff on the TikTok Shop. Therefore, get creative with TikTok videos to show off your brand. Skip the polished look; opt for fun and original. Browse the ‘For You‘ feed for ideas, jot down all your thoughts, and avoid sounding too salesy. Engage viewers with humor or trending sounds. In short, try to keep the content brief and entertaining to boost shares and views.
Are you too busy making engaging and trendy TikTok videos to increase sales? Try AiGrow’s content creation service. AiGrow offers design, post-creation, and managed scheduling to boost growth and engagement with high-quality content. Get custom plans and a professional social media manager who keeps you updated every week on the progress of your TikTok account.
2. Connect with Your Audience
Staying connected with your TikTok audience is crucial to boosting sales. Engage with your audience to show you’re not just selling but also building a community. Recent research done by Hootsuite indicates that 21% of users feel closer to brands that interact with them. This active engagement fosters trust and loyalty, leading to more Tik Tok sales.
3. Make use of TikTok’s Resource Center
If you are a new seller and have no idea how to start selling on TikTok, the ‘Small Business Resource Center’ can be of great help. It provides ad templates, expert webinars, and success stories. The TikTok Pixel tool helps you track customer interactions and analyze your performance.
4. Leverage TikTok Influencer Marketing
Influencers, especially those aligned with your target audience, can dramatically boost brand awareness and sales on TikTok. Influencers excel at creating engaging content like unboxing and product-related videos that generate buzz and draw attention to your products.
Via TikTok’s Selling Center, you can launch an affiliate program and partner with influencers in your niche market. This way, influencers or creators post content with affiliate links to your website or TikTok Shop to promote your products. So, each time a user clicks their link and buys your product, the creator earns money. Win-win strategy!
To find the right influencers for your brand, use Ainfluencer. It’s the best platform to connect with niche influencers and increase TikTok sales.
5. Encourage User-generated Content
When it comes to promoting products on TikTok, getting fans to create UGC content can be of great help. The hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt is one of the most popular hashtags on the platform. Creating a hashtag or challenge encourages users to share videos about your products, providing free advertising.
With 77.8 billion views on #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, UGC is powerful word-of-mouth marketing. So, leverage UGC to foster engagement and boost TikTok sales.
6. Invest in TikTok Ads
Investing in TikTok ads is crucial for promoting products and boosting sales. Therefore, TikTok offers diverse ad types and targeting tools to reach your target audience effectively. With a vast user base and engaging content, TikTok ads can enhance your brand’s visibility among potential customers.
The following are 4 types of TikTok ads and their key characteristics:
- In-Feed Native Video
- Blends seamlessly with user content.
- Users can skip it.
- They are up to 60 seconds long, but it’s best to keep them under 15 seconds.
- Full-screen format, under 500 MB.
- It can include shoppable links.
- Metrics to track for this ad: clicks, impressions, views, click-through rate, average view time, likes, comments, and shares.
- Brand Takeover
- Appear when users open the app.
- Shows at the top of the ‘For You‘ feed.
- Includes animations or videos with links.
- It’s great for starting hashtag challenges.
- They are highly exclusive and expensive ads ($50,000-$100,000).
- Hashtag Challenge
- As part of this ad, hashtags are used to create interest and boost engagement.
- Hashtag challanges builds community and brand trust.
- Popular example: #IFeelWeightless by Bobbi Brown.
- Branded Lenses
- Branded lenses are ideal for smaller budgets. These AR filters, like those on Snapchat and Instagram, boost brand awareness effectively.
- Overlays on users’ faces or environments.
- Effective for brand awareness and user-generated content.
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7. Add Links to Your TikTok Profile
TikTok users can now add a clickable link to their profile, linking to Instagram, YouTube, or external sites. For example, adding Instagram to TikTok can expand your reach and improve your sales on both platforms.
This feature benefits retailers with TikTok Business accounts, allowing direct links to e-commerce platforms. It is also a key strategy for driving traffic from TikTok to your website.
8. Use TikTok Live Shopping
TikTok Live Shopping is crucial for learning how to sell on TikTok more effectively and boost sales. It lets retailers connect with their audience in real time, offering an engaging way to promote products. Imagine hosting live streams where you present items, demonstrate features, answer viewer questions, and offer exclusive discounts.
This interactive format taps into TikTok’s massive user base, enhancing product visibility and driving sales. In addition to increasing engagement and promoting products in real-time, live shopping events are an effective way to sell items on TikTok.
Wrapping Up
Throughout this guide, we discussed how to sell on TikTok and explained 8 effective ways to boost TikTok sales.
It’s now your turn to take advantage of the TikTok Shop. When it comes to selling on TikTok, stick to the basics: be authentic, post consistently, and engage with your audience. On your journey to becoming an excellent TikTok seller, stay agile, creative, and true to your brand. There’s still a lot to learn, so embrace your challenges and celebrate your victories as you connect to new audiences on TikTok.
FAQs on How to Sell on TikTok
Now, let’s answer some of your frequently asked questions on the topic.
Q1. How Much Does It Cost to Sell on a TikTok Shop?
Registering for a TikTok Shop seller account is free, but commission fees apply to each transaction. In the UK and US, the commission is 1.8% for the first 90 days, and then it increases to 5%. Shipping fees, based on package size, weight, and destination, are added at checkout. These costs help to ensure a smooth delivery process.
Q2. Do I Need 1000 Followers to Sell on TikTok?
No. You do not need 1000 followers.
Q3. How Old Do You Have to Be to Sell on TikTok Shop?
To sell on the TikTok Shop, you must be at least 18 years old. TikTok also requires you to provide valid tax and bank information. You must not be under investigation or be subject to enforcement actions.
