Wondering how to sell on TikTok Shop? The social media platform has over a billion active users globally, making it useful for businesses looking to showcase their brand and market to a younger audience.
In fact, a New York Times study found that 40 per cent of consumers are using TikTok as a search engine \u2013 which goes up to 64 per cent when you only take into account Gen Z.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as with all ecommerce platforms, there\u2019s a few considerations. Some small businesses selling on the TikTok platform haven\u2019t received payments, while consumers have complained about poor quality products.
Thinking of selling on the platform? Keep reading to learn how to set up a TikTok Shop \u2013 plus tips on how to promote your products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TikTok Shop advertises that you can \u2018grow your business\u2019 with a shopping experience driven by video content. Brands and influencers are encouraged to advertise their products through videos, live streams, and a product showcase as a way to boost sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can register as a merchant<\/a> for free and start marketing products to a captive audience. And TikTok says users are 1.5x more likely to immediately go out and buy something they discovered on the platform<\/a> compared to other platforms’ users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth noting that the TikTok shopping feature is different to just making money on TikTok<\/a>, which is where influencers get paid for creating popular content through the app\u2019s advertising model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes TikTok Shop different from other selling platforms is how naturally users can discover new products. Unlike other platforms where users search for what they want, many buyers on TikTop Shop discover products through the algorithm or from their favourite creators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s just a few reasons why TikTok Shop has the competitive edge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n live shopping:<\/strong> sellers can host shopping livestreams to engage with their audience and build rapport<\/p>\n\n\n\n TikTok is raising seller base commission fees<\/a> to nine per cent in September 2024 as part of a commitment to building the \u201cmarketplace of the future\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n UK sellers can reduce these fees by completing \u201cseller missions\u201d, which involve creating a \u201ctarget number of TikTok live or shoppable videos\u201d. Sellers are even able to partner with TikTok creators to reach these targets.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n TikTok also launched a new co-funded shipping model to help sellers benefit from free shipping. TikTok Shop orders will qualify for Co-Funded Free Shipping if they meet the following requirements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to offer TikTok shopping, you\u2019ll need to set up your shop through the TikTok Seller Center<\/a>. To fully set up a TikTok Shop, you\u2019ll need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll then be able to start selling on the platform and can start thinking about how this ties in with your overall marketing strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s plenty of things you can do to make your TikTok Shop more successful. TikTok is a visual app, so optimising your product listings with high-quality videos and images is key. Show your products in action or ask for videos from your customers, let people get a real feel for how they\u2019ll use your products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Live shopping streams are another great way to entice customers. These allow for real-time product demonstrations, so you can answer specific questions from potential customers which may encourage them to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, remember that TikTok is all about trends. The latest viral audios or meme formats can give you a boost in the algorithm and keep your shop visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are just a few of the tools that are useful for TikTok Shop sellers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key to promoting your shop on TikTok is to understand the algorithm. This means creating content that\u2019s engaging, relevant, and enjoyable. To achieve this, you should focus on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n But is TikTok Shop worth it? One small business owner who found success on TikTok Shop is Mitchell Halliday, founder of cosmetics brand Made by Mitchell (MBM). MBM was founded in 2020 but didn\u2019t start selling on TikTok Shop until 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MBM\u2019s TikTok Shop launch<\/a> focused on collaborating with top creators whose viewers were the prime audience for the product, plus creating product bundles exclusive to the platform. The brand also hosted a series of livestreams to engage with their new audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In just three months, the brand saw a 106 per cent increase in campaign sales, as well as a x4 increase in brand following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInteracting in a live on TikTok Shop feels less like watching a sales pitch and more like chatting with a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mitchell Halliday<\/strong> We had a look at some online reviews to see what buyers and sellers are saying about TikTok Shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The picture on Trustpilot doesn\u2019t look great for the app, with 91 per cent of reviewers giving a one star rating \u2013 many of whom are sellers on TikTok Shop. Many TikTok Shop reviews cite problems with items not turning up or the company not responding when an issue is reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform is trying to improve, though. TikTok has partnered with Shopify, one of the world\u2019s most popular and trusted online shopping platforms<\/a> \u2013 which could be a turning point for the platform\u2019s reputation. This partnership allows Shopify sellers to connect their store to a TikTok store through a new specially designed app. This will give Shopify sellers the same marketing opportunities as TikTok sellers \u2013 such as selling through videos and live streams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to note that there are many genuine sellers and small businesses selling on TikTok. A NY Mag reporter even managed to sell a used pencil on the app<\/a> \u2013 after their livestream advertising the product reached 1,200 viewers (on an account with only 34 followers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the main reasons people wonder about the legitimacy of TikTok Shop is how cheap the items can be \u2013 and if you\u2019re looking to sell on the app, you may be worried about the amount of competition from other sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many items for sale on TikTok Shop are so cheap because they\u2019re sold via dropshipping<\/a> \u2013 which is when the seller is never actually in possession of the item and instead orders them from a third-party supplier to be sent straight to the customer\u2019s address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If dropshipping is a part of your business model, TikTok Shop could be a way for you to reach more customers (especially if you take into account the video and livestream advertising opportunities).<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if your business focuses more on handmade goods and you\u2019d struggle to make a profit selling your products so cheaply, perhaps a platform like Etsy<\/a> could work better for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TikTok is not end-to-end encrypted, meaning messages and chats are read by the company \u2013 and could be read by third parties. This could leave you vulnerable to computer hackers and scams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n End-to-end encryption changes any data into scrambled text so it can only be read by you and the person receiving the message. Without this layer of security, it\u2019s even more important not to share personal information on TikTok. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of this, there\u2019s been warnings about TikTok\u2019s data collection practices<\/a> and how that information is shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to learn more about keeping yourself and your business secure, read our guide to cyber security<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When the US announced a TikTok ban<\/a>, sellers around the world were worried about losing a major part of their customer base. And while the future of TikTok in the US is still uncertain, sellers worldwide are left wondering what it means for their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if only a small portion of your customer base is from the US, it\u2019s still hard to deny the impact US TikTok users have on the rest of the world. There are over 170 million monthly active TikTok users in the US, which helps control what\u2019s trending for the rest of us (Backlinko<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing this market could affect everything from the products you sell or the trends you use to promote them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re worried about the future of TikTok, check out some other online business ideas<\/a> you could consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking to make money by selling products online, there are plenty of other apps available with a better reputation for small businesses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our step-by-step guide has more information on how to set up an online shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could also make money by exploring passive income streams<\/a> or affiliate marketing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Whether or not selling on TikTok Shop is your full time job or a side hustle<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to make sure you\u2019re aware of the tax and legal responsibilities of making money online. Our guide to paying tax when you have a side hustle<\/a> is a good place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re selling products to customers then it\u2019s a good idea to protect yourself with business insurance<\/a>. For example, if one of your products is damaged or faulty and causes injury to someone (or damages their property) then you could be liable. Product liability insurance<\/a> is designed to support you and your business if something goes wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no science to going viral on TikTok \u2013 but there\u2019s things you can do to increase your chances. Keep an eye on TikTok trends to help market existing products, as well as identifying market gaps when looking for new products to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the most popular items that sell on TikTok Shop are fashion and beauty products. This has a lot to do with TikTok\u2019s user demographics as well some of its most popular creators: fashion influencers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not optimising listings is one of the biggest mistakes new TikTok Shop sellers make. Using keywords, writing thorough descriptions, and using accurate imagery will help more people find your products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TikTok are rumoured to be releasing an in-app AI called Genie. In theory, Genie should be able to answer questions about your products in real-time, much like a chatbot can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever online platform you\u2019re selling your products on, online retailer insurance<\/a> can help keep you and your products protected \u2013 especially as your business may not be covered by your existing home insurance policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow TikTok shop has a competitive edge over its competitors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How much does selling on TikTok Shop UK cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to set up TikTok Shop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to set up a successful TikTok Shop UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TikTok Shop UK selling tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How to use TikTok\u2019s algorithm to benefit your shop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Example: TikTok Shop UK success story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Founder of Made by Mitchell<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIs TikTok Shop legit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is TikTok shopping so cheap?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is TikTok Shop safe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How did the TikTok ban impact the TikTok Shop?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TikTok Shop UK vs competitor selling platforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Legal responsibilities if you sell on TikTok Shop UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do you need business insurance if you sell on TikTok UK?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TikTok Shop for small businesses: FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How can I get my product to go viral on TikTok Shop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are certain product categories better suited to sell on the TikTok Shop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the biggest mistakes new sellers make on TikTok Shop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are TikTok\u2019s future plans for integrating AI into TikTok Shop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Useful small business guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Need help protecting your online shop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n