TikTok is emerging as a major social media platform for small business owners. Whether you’re looking to build brand awareness or get started with social selling, this everyone’s favorite social media app is a powerful weapon in your marketing arsenal. In this article, you’ll learn how to start selling on TikTok and some proven tips to increase your sales.
Let’s dive in:
Should you create a TikTok account for your small business?
TikTok has quickly become one of the leading social media platforms with around 78.7 million users in the USA. About 37.3 million users of the total belong to Gen Z, with a high level of education, digital nativism and social awareness.
Being on TikTok can help you reach Gen Z, which is becoming a very influential group of shoppers and shoppers.
What are the advantages of selling through the TikTok app?
Here are the top benefits of selling on TikTok:
- You can target Generation Z, who make up more than 40% of global consumers
- Videos increase conversion rates. As a video hosting platform, TikTok can offer your business attractive conversion rates. In fact, 37% of users go straight to purchase as soon as they spot it in a TikTok video
- You can easily find local TikTok influencers to promote your products/services
- You don’t have to be an expert to start selling products on TikTok as it’s super easy to have an online store on TikTok
- Users are not passive on TikTok due to its immersive experience – users not only watch content but also hear the audio. So, you can grab their attention by creating interesting and entertaining content
In addition, 38% of TikTok users convince their friends and family members to buy products they saw in TikTok videos.
How to sell on TikTok
So you have decided to sell your products to the TikTok community.
Here is the step-by-step process to start selling on TikTok:
1. Create a TikTok account
If you already have a personal TikTok account, you should consider creating another account for your business. Go to TikTok website or download the app from App Store or Google Play to create an account. You can register with your email address, phone number or an existing social media account.
When choosing a username for your TikTok account, keep your account on other social media platforms in mind. You may want to have the same or a similar username on different social platforms. This way your audience can easily recognize you. Once your account is live, add a profile picture.
2. Upgrade to a Pro account
By default, TikTok creates a personal account. You need to upgrade it to a Pro account, which has two types – Business and Creator. To use TikTok for business, you should upgrade your account to a business account. This allows you to access detailed analytics and add your business contact information to your TikTok bio.
Additionally, the TikTok business account gives you access to a variety of engagement and advertising solutions to thrive. After updating your account, you should optimize your TikTok profile. Make sure to define your business in your TikTok bio and use an appropriate call to action.
Also, you should connect TikTok with other social media accounts like Instagram and YouTube accounts.
3. Link your eStore to TikTok
To start selling on TikTok, you need to integrate your ecommerce store with TikTok. TikTok allows integration with Shopify, Square, Ecwid, BigCommerce, and PrestaShop. Other platforms will soon join the list.
You should speak to your eCommerce infrastructure provider to learn how to integrate your eStore with TikTok.
4. Start creating content
The only way to engage your audience is to create engaging content. Instead of creating tons of branded content, focus on creating TikTok content that is engaging and playful.
You should look for viral videos on the Discovery page and in your TikTok feed (For You section) for content ideas. See what your competitors are doing and try to understand TikTok trends.
Some popular content ideas include how-to videos, song parodies, and before and after videos. If you lack creativity, these TikTok content ideas can help you to make videos for TikTok.
Posting content at the right time is crucial to the success of your TikTok channel. So you should find out when is the best time to post on TikTok.
5. Interact with TikTok audiences
Quality organic content gets good engagement on TikTok. So if you create entertaining short videos, your audience will see your content and leave likes and comments. Instead of doing nothing about it, engage with your audience. Reply to their comments and likes.
Your goal should be to gain fans. If more users engage with your content once you publish it, TikTok’s algorithm will likely increase the reach of your videos and show them in others’ In-Feed videos.
6. Collaborate with influencers
Partnering with influencers gives you social proof and extensive exposure. You can search for influencers on the TikTok Creator Marketplace, where you can see data-driven insights to find the right influencers for your business.
7. Encourage user-generated content
If you want to make TikTok one of the top-performing sales channels, you should encourage user-generated content. Ask your audience what they want, create the TikTok hashtag challenge and engage TikTok creators. These are some popular ways to encourage users to create content for your brand.
8. Use TikTok advertising solutions
Running TikTok ads is an excellent way to introduce your products to your audience. But before you start creating ads, you should understand the different types of paid ads on TikTok. This will help you determine the right ad type for your business.
In feed ads, branded hashtag challenges, top view ads, branded lenses, and branded takeovers (that take up the entire screen) are popular options to run ad campaigns on TikTok. It’s better to track ad performance to find out what works best in your niche.
Using paid TikTok ads to promote discount codes can be a good marketing strategy to increase sales.
Selling tips for TikTok users
Here are some proven tips to increase your sales:
- Study viral videos to learn what’s working in your niche
- Focus on creating frequently shareable content and encourage user-generated content
- Collaborate with micro-influencers to increase your awareness and brand positioning
- Strategically craft your video ad content to engage your audience
- Use popular hashtags
Also make sure you use the right music in your videos.
Can you sell products through TikTok?
Yes, you can sell products through TikTok. You can integrate your ecommerce platform with Open API to sell your products to users. It works with Shopify, Square, Ecwid, and PrestaShop. And more platforms will soon join the list.
How do I set up a shop on TikTok?
Setting up a shop on TikTok depends on the platform used. Shopify users should add the TikTok app from the dashboard and follow the steps to complete the process. If you’re using Ecwid, the process is the same. You should contact your ecommerce platform to learn how to set up a store on TikTok.
How to become a TikTok seller?
Open a TikTok account and convert it to a business account. Then you need to integrate your ecommerce platform with your TikTok account to become a TikTok seller.
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