A Guide to Selling on TikTok

Facebook ads? Check.

Youtube ads? Check. 

Google ads? Check. 

Selling on TikTok? Say what??

If you think TikTok is just a platform for the younger generations to make videos of themself lip-synching, we have some news for you. TikTok has serious business potential. 

What is TikTok?

With 89% of Americans recognizing the brand, we bet you have at least heard of this rapidly growing social media platform. But just in case, allow us to give you a quick rundown. 

TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create, share, and watch clips up to 3 minutes long. 

It’s held the title of “most downloaded social media app worldwide” since 2019 and recently announced that one billion people were using the app each month (50 million daily in the US!). 

Who’s using TikTok?

 Available in more than 155 countries and 75 languages, users spend an average of 52 minutes on the app, with an open rate of 8 times per day.

While most users are between 10 and 29 years old, around 21% of 30-49 also utilize TikTok. 

Why sell on TikTok?

People worldwide find and share new trends, products, and services every day using TikTok. What does this mean for you? Selling on TikTok can be a key component in getting your products/services in front of millions (or should we say billions) of potential customers. 

TikTok also offers TikTok for Business, an all-in-one tool to help promote businesses on the platform. Signing up for this guides your business through the entire process of creating advertisements, from establishing budgets and reaching your target audiences to analyzing campaign data. 

In addition, TikTok’s integration with Shopify in summer 2021 has made it even easier for eCommerce companies and brands to sell online.

However, selling on TikTok isn’t just for clothing companies and technology brands to create viral content. You simply need to create a unique twist on the trending sounds to build brand awareness with users, whatever your business is.  

Ways to sell on TikTok

Before we get started on how, let’s chat about your options for promoting your products/services and developing a brand presence for your business on TikTok. 

• Create your own channel 
• Pay for running ads 
• Work with influencers 

Setting up an account to sell on TikTok

Step one: Sign up for TikTok

To sign-up for an account, you can go directly to TikTok’s website or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. (Register with your phone number, email address, or an existing social media account)

Helpful tip: Sign up with your business email and create a password you are comfortable giving your marketing or social media person.

 Congrats! You are officially signed up for TikTok! But there’s more….

Step two: Switch “type” of TikTok account 

By default, all new accounts are tagged as personal accounts. Be sure to switch to a business account. 

Why? A TikTok business account allows you to sell products. It also gives you access to performance and audience data, a business content guide, a video showcase, a commercial library of over 150,000 sounds, and a web business suite. 

Step three: Create your business’ bio 

When users click on your profile, your bio and picture are the first things they will see. And we all know what they say about first impressions…

So when it comes to creating your bio, keep these things in mind:

• Describe what your company does and provide accurate information about your brand. 
• Think about using keywords in your social media profiles to help boost your SEO.
• Don’t be scared to use emojis! Remember, a majority of users are under the age of 35; you want to speak their language.  
• Add a call-to-action (CTA). Your bio should end by telling visitors what you want them to do next, whether by visiting your website, going to another social media profile, or directing them to your eCommerce site. 
• Brand consistency is KEY when putting together any social media profile, including what you put in your bio and the picture you use.

Start selling on TikTok

Create killer content

You might want to sit down for this one. Around 96% of consumers don’t trust advertising. Gone are the days of flashy ads with absurd promises and overly pushy tones. People don’t want to be sold to. Therefore, you need to get creative on how you market to your audience.

When it comes to creating your videos, we suggest taking these things into account:

• Keep up-to-date on TikTok trends and adapt your content to fit them.
• But be authentic – Don’t jump onto every.single.trend. If it doesn’t align with your brand, skip it. 
• Make your content fun and playful without being too focused on selling.
• Provide value that aligns with your brand and industry.
• Answer questions your customers are asking.
• Consider doing a tutorial.
• Deliver content that is educational and entertaining.
• Create a branded hashtag challenge and encourage followers and users to join in. (not-so-top-secret-info: TikTok’s Hashtag Challenge Plus allows users to shop for products related to a sponsored hashtag)
• The first seconds are supercritical- You want to grab the viewer’s attention so they will watch it and not scroll to the next video

Remember: the more people who see your content = the more people who share your content = the more TikTok’s algorithm will share your content with other users. 

Engagement and consistency 

Two things remain a top priority with your business’s social media platforms: engagement and consistency. Together, these build a strong brand that’s credible, relatable, and recognizable. 

As users comment on your TikTok videos, you should engage with them. Looking for some ideas?

• Thank them for sharing your content
• Share some of their content
• Reply to their comments

In addition, be consistent with posting new content. We know this is easier said than done, especially when running a business. But the more active you are, the better the results will be. If you can’t commit to a posting schedule, it might be time to look into having a digital marketing team help take this task on for you!

Utilize shoppable videos

Now that business owners can connect their Shopify with their TikTok business accounts, selling on TikTok has entered a whole new ballgame.  

You sell directly through in-feed shippable videos and ads. This means you can grow your number of TikTok followers and your online store at the same time! 

Partner with influencers

You don’t need the hottest A-list celebrity. But you may need a TikTok influencer. 

Now before you go sliding into your favorite influencer’s DMs, hear us out. A marketing strategy should always be thought out and planned. It should make sense for your business. Right? 

The same goes with partnering with an influencer. Ask yourself:

• Does this person fit with your product/service category?
• Do they align with your brand/mission/values?
• Is their audience part of your target market?

Take your time with this one. Research niches and get to know the TikTok community. You may find that the most famous influencer on TikTok right now doesn’t meet the needs of your business.  

Final thoughts 

Although extremely popular, TikTok is still a newer social media platform with plenty of opportunities to evolve. Therefore, the options for businesses to sell on TikTok will only continue to grow.

With that being said, promoting your online store or your company’s services on TikTok should be part of your marketing strategy. 

If you are unsure how to use TikTok to its full advantage or are looking for a solid social media plan for your business, Firon Marketing has your back!