If you have a product or service to sell, you need to start thinking about TikTok’s eCommerce strategy. TikTok is no longer a place to learn trending dances and watch Gen Z content. It’s also the place where millions of people visit to discover particular products.
TikTok has hit a billion users faster than any social media app in history, and the growth continues to skyrocket, with thousands of new users per day. The explosive growth of the addictive video platform has carved a whole new niche in the social selling market. Brands are recognizing the importance and jumping in for excellent growth.
That’s because no other social media platform has the engagement level that TikTok provides its users. So, TikTok is worth the investment, whether you are a business owner, an influencer with a personal brand, or an affiliate entrepreneur.
Learn why TikTok eCommerce brand strategy is important and how you can boost your products to success.
What is TikTok eCommerce?
TikTok eCommerce refers to selling products or services through the TikTok app. The app has various tools that allow you to easily view and buy products quickly. TikTok also has options to build its own TikTok storefronts that let users browse and purchase products directly within the app.
Moreover, you can also integrate TikTok with Shopify, Square, and other eCommerce platforms that let sellers create web stores quickly. Moreover, sellers can integrate product links directly into their videos and bios so users can instantly click and buy things they have seen on their feeds.
Why your Business should be on TikTok?
TikTok is part of a larger trend of social commerce. The industry is expected to reach $80 billion in the US by 2025, and TikTok has made a unique and significant contribution.
Here are the reasons why it’s worth investing your time and effort in TikTok’s eCommerce marketing strategy.
Increase Sales
TikTok has become the first place for users to learn about the scope of the new products. Studies have shown that people view TikTok as authentic, genuine, unfiltered, and trendsetting. Things on TikTok are less picture-perfect and over-filtered, unlike what you will see on other platforms like Facebook and Instagram ads.
The realness signals to users that they are not being sold something they don’t need, which translates to more trust and, ultimately, more sales and more TikTok followers.
New Audience
TikTok is the best platform to promote your product and services to a younger audience. As of January 2024, 60% of the audience is aged between 16-24, and 26% is between the ages of 25-44. The numbers are significantly higher than other social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.
So, TikTok eCommerce strategy takes your message to a younger audience that may have never seen your brand before.
How to Boost Your Brand on TikTok eCommerce Strategy?
TikTok is a unique social commerce platform that relies on storytelling. If you scroll through your feed, you’ll find videos of users telling unfiltered stories about embarrassing or funny moments, and viewers dig this kind of content. It does not rely on perfect airbrushed content.
That’s why most successful brands are the ones that are authentic and unafraid to show their true self.
So, if you are new to TikTok, start by learning about the platform, post organic content to make yourself comfortable with features and tools, and don’t be afraid to have a little fun. While creating, make sure to direct viewers to your TikTok business account to start building a fan base.
If you want your products to go viral, drive traffic, and generate sales. Here are a few TikTok eCommerce marketing strategies to ensure success.
1. Use #Hashtags and Keywords
Hashtags and keywords tell the algorithm about your post and help users find it. TikTok has become a search engine for Gen Z. A huge number of younger internet users skip search engines like Google and browse Instagram and TikTok to search for things like what books to read, the best place to eat, where to find dresses, etc.
Keywords and Hashtags train the algorithm and take your content to people who are not even following you. So, whenever posting a video, always incorporate top trending hashtags and keywords in your video description.
To find trending keywords and hashtags, open the app and type the primary search term into the search box. The dropdown list of suggested keywords will appear before you click “search.” These are the essential words; note them down and use them in your content.
2. Invest in Ads
Being a highly visual platform, TikTok is ideal for running ads that draw attention to your products. TikTok users carve authenticity and humor, unlike Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. So, you have to be yourself if you want to get your brand noticed.
All you need to get started is a TikTok business account and TikTok ads manager. The manager has a lot of valuable tools to create and manage all types of ads. You will see TikTok has a variety of ad formats available. Each with a different price, offering unique benefits
Here are all the TikTok ad formats.
- Dynamic Showcase Ads: The ads leverage your synced catalog and show relevant products to interested users. The ad type is well-optimized for large catalogs.
- Collection Ads: It is a combination of product cards, video ads, and a full-screen landing page to drive immediate purchases.
- Spark Ads: These are the native ads that allow brands to show organic TikTok posts and features in advertising.
- Lead Gen Ads: As the name suggests, the ad format is used to collect leads. It uses customizable forms and can integrate CRM partners to help qualify and convert leads.
3. User-Generated Content
User-generated content includes reviews and testimonials about the product. It is an incredibly influential method, as 43% of TikTok users say the videos posted by other users about a brand or product played an active role in people’s buying decisions.
UGC boosts brand awareness and builds credibility by showcasing real customer experience, and your brand is seen as relatable, appealing, and authentic.
As a brand, you can encourage user-generated content from your buyers in the following ways. Such as:
- Create a hashtag for your brand and make it visible on your TikTok account and packaging. This will let buyers know what to use when they post on social media.
- Make an effort to deliver a memorable unboxing experience. It can inspire them to share their purchase with their followers and friends.
- Incentivize your buyers, offer discounts, run contests, and give rewards in exchange for user-generated content.
4. Partner with Influencers
The beauty of TikTok is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money, effort, and time to go viral. Many brands blow up overnight because a creator found a product, talked positively about it in a video, and shared it with their followers.
Influencer marketing is highly beneficial, considering 53% of social media users say that influencer posts played the biggest role in the purchase decision. Not always did the post come from a well-known influencer; many of them were created by ordinary TikTok users who simply wanted to share about the product they love.
You can partner with creators and influencers using two methods.
- Directly pay influencers for your product marketing.
- Launch an affiliate program.
It promotes new products and brings traffic but has a different payment mechanism. Once you find the right creators, you ask them to paste the link in your video caption. So, whenever a user follows the link and buys products, the creator gets a small portion of the sale.
TikTok has also created a great source to find influencers. The Creator Marketplace is an official collaboration to connect brands and creators. It has thousands of profiles to provide you with the best creator that fits your needs.
5. Add Product Links to Videos and Your Bio
TikTok now has the feature to add eCommerce links directly to the videos. If you are using it, make sure to always link to the products referenced in your videos so users can immediately purchase.
Unfortunately, the feature is only available in selected regions for now, so if you don’t have the feature, be sure to add a link to your store in your bio and video caption.
6. Connect with Potential Customers
The platform has several features that can benefit your TikTok eCommerce strategy. It helps you develop a direct communication channel with you. Allowing you to learn more about the viewers and build a meaningful connection.
- One of the features is Q&A, which allows your audience to directly ask questions through your profile. It can be about anything from your product to your personal goals and life.
- Another great feature is TikTok LIVE. It allows you to interact directly with your audience and potential customers. You can even show a live demo of your products to a broad audience.
Best Examples of Organic TikTok eCommerce Strategy
Organic TikTok eCommerce strategies harness the platform’s natural user engagement without relying on paid advertising. Here are some effective examples:
Purple: Branded Theme
Bed and mattress company Purple employs a branded marketing strategy. They aim to make their brand memorable, so you will see the color purple in their videos.
Aside from aesthetics, Purple naturally incorporates products, avoiding being too promotional.
GymShark: Relatable and Engaging Content
Challenges are one of the biggest trends on TikTok; many brands have used them to earn great success and build a reputation with the community. GymShark is a premier example of transforming its TikTok presence with various challenges.
In just 66 days, GymShark was able to earn over 3.7 million followers and 57 million likes. Moreover, people in the videos were wearing GymShark clothes, which also gave exposure to their products.
FAQs
Is TikTok a good platform to sell products?
Social commerce is rising rapidly, with more users discovering and buying products in the TikTok shop. It is an effective channel for eCommerce businesses looking to sell products. It has a massive young audience, and companies can use tools like influencer marketing, entertaining content, and product links embedded ads to boost sales using TikTok.
What is a TikTok Shop?
TikTok shop is a new feature that allows brands and creators to sell products directly on the app. It has many features like live shopping, and you can also access your ad account through TikTok for business. It is an innovative and quick way to convert viewers to buyers.
Can I integrate TikTok with Shopify?
Yes, TikTok has an app for Shopify that enables you to make your TikTok profile shoppable. It also allows you to promote and optimize the latest products and TikTok ads from the Shopify admin page.
Conclusion
TikTok is no longer just for cute dog videos and funny dance challenges. It is a space for brands and merchants to raise brand awareness and expand their reach. Every business must dive into TikTok marketing to grow their business. As you build your TikTok eCommerce strategy, remember to be yourself and have fun with your content. Produce entertaining content that relates to your audience. Work to build relationships with your audience and key influencers. And benefit from valuable tools and features.
