We all know TikTok is massive, as it is one of the most popular social media platforms. It has more than 1.5 billion users worldwide, according to Statista, TikTok generated $16.1 billion in annual revenue in 2023. In the US, adults spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the app. With numbers like these, TikTok Shop can put your products in front of a huge audience. As a result, more and more people are eager to set up their TikTok Shop. Since its launch in the United States less than a year ago:
Key TikTok Shop Statistics
- 23.7 million TikTok users in the U.S. have made purchases.
- In 2023, TikTok Shop achieved $11.09 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV).
- In February 2024, TikTok Shop contributed to 68.1% of social shopping GMV in the U.S.
- In the last quarter of 2023, the iOS app revenue from TikTok in the U.S. reached $65 million.
- TikTok Shop has generated $363 million in consumer spending since its U.S. launch.
If you’re looking to tap into the dynamic world of TikTok to sell your products, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you can set up your shop with ease and start reaching a broader audience and gaining customers.
What is TikTok Shop and How Does It Work
TikTok Shop is a feature on TikTok that lets users buy products directly within the TikTok app. It’s like setting up a mini store right where your followers are already hanging out.
Launched in November 2022, this feature quickly became popular. And TikTok isn’t just about viral dances and funny videos anymore.
According to Statista, around 23.7 million TikTok users in The United States have made purchases in 2022. And, by 2026, this figure is expected to increase 67%, reaching a number of 39.5 million. Obviously, It is a huge number.
But why there are so many viewers turn into customers and how does it work? Let’s break it down.
Shoppable videos
Shoppable videos are a good way to turn your content into sales. Imagine you create a fun video showcasing your product in an attractive and unexpected way. Maybe it is a tutorial on how to use it or a clip of how good it is.
If customers are interested in the product featured in the video, they can tap the product link and basket icon to view the product and make a purchase.
Through shoppable videos, the shopping process becomes seamless and fun. Just with a few taps, viewers could turn into customers.
Live shopping
Live shopping is another fantastic way to sell on TikTok. You can host live streams where you can showcase your products.
During the live stream, a basket icon appears with a list of products, unlike shoppable videos which usually contain one item being showcased. Viewers can browse this list and purchase items directly from the live stream.
This often makes the shopping experience interactive and engaging. You can interact with the viewers in real-time and answer their questions. It is like having a live TV shopping channel but on TikTok, isn’t it?
Product Showcase
Your TikTok profile can also serve as a showroom. You can display and categorize all your products on your profile page.
Make sure to keep everything organized and easy to navigate, so that followers can quickly find and buy what they are interested in.
Having a product showcase on your profile ensures that your shop is always just a click for your followers. It also helps build your brand by giving customers easy access to all your products in one place.
Is TikTok Shop Legit?
Whether you’re a seller or a customer, legitimacy is crucial for your personal security.
Is TikTok Shop legit? Let’s dive to analyze this question from the following angles.
Data Protection
TikTok Shop uses advanced security measures to protect user data and transactions. Encryption and regular security updates ensure a safe shopping environment for both buyers and sellers.
Seller Verification
TikTok Shop requires sellers to go through a rigorous verification process.
Sellers must provide documents to verify their identity, business type, and store eligibility. TikTok then thoroughly reviews these applications. Once approved, sellers enter a probationary period with certain restrictions.
If sellers breach policies, TikTok Shop can remove their products and freeze their accounts, preventing them from selling.
Trusted Payment Method
TikTok Shop supports secure and widely used payment methods: credit/debit cards, credit card installment, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and Affirm. These payment methods ensure transactions are processed safely. Both sellers and buyers can gain an extra layer of trust.
Buyer Protection Policy
TikTok Shop has strong buyer protection policies. These cover situations like non-delivery of items or products that don’t match the description. Buyers can request refunds through the platform. This protection makes shopping safer and more trustworthy.
Now go back to the question: Is TikTok Shop legit? My answer is: YES. TikTok shop is a legitimate and reliable platform for e-commerce.
Why set up a TikTok Shop
Setting up a TikTok Shop can revolutionize your business. Here’s why it’s worth considering:
Massive potential customers
TikTok has over a billion users worldwide. That’s a billion potential customers right at your fingertips. Whether you’re a small business or a large brand, TikTok provides an enormous audience that you can tap into.
With so many users spending hours on the app, the chances of your products being seen are incredibly high. Even a small percentage of engagement can result in significant sales.
Direct Consumer Interaction
One of the best things about TikTok is how it allows you to interact directly with your consumers. You can go live, answer questions in the comments, and even respond to direct messages. This kind of interaction builds a sense of community and trust. When customers feel connected to you, they’re more likely to buy from you.
Fun and Seamless Shopping Experience
Shopping on TikTok is fun and easy. TikTok Shop eliminates the barrier of switching to another app to make a purchase. For customers, discovering new products and purchasing them could all be done within the app.
You can also showcase your items in various ways, like shoppable videos, live streams, and product showcases. This keeps users entertained while they shop, making the whole experience seamless and enjoyable.
Access to younger audiences
TikTok is super popular with younger audiences, particularly Gen Z. According to Statista, 36.2% of TikTok’s audience is aged 18-24.
By setting up a TikTok shop and staying current with the latest trends, you can reach and engage with this trendsetting age group. Younger consumers are loyal to brands they love and often share their favorite finds with friends. This can spread your reach even more.
Requirements of Selling on TikTok Shop
Source: Envato elements
For different countries, the requirements will vary a little.
I will take the United States as an example. For UK sellers, Singapore sellers, Indonesia Merchant, Malaysia Merchant, Thailand Merchant, Philippines Merchant, and Vietnam Merchant, you can click the link for more specific information.
Individual sellers
For individual sellers, the necessary documents contain the following:
- A US-issued passport or driver’s license
- A US address
- A selfie image of yourselves holding your identity document
（note: the applicant must be 18 years old)
Business sellers
For business sellers, the necessary documents contain the following::
- An accurate company registration information
- Business owner’s passport or driver’s license
- A US residential address
- Registered business address
How to Set up a TikTok Shop
Step 1: Create your TikTok Shop Account
1. Navigate to the TikTok Shop Seller Center and sign up.
Before entering your phone number or email, you should choose the country where you want to sell.
Currently, the countries allowed to register TikTok Shop include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Note: Make sure the country you choose is the one where you are going to sell. You won’t be able to change the country after you register.
2. As soon as you select the country, enter your email and verification code. Then, it’s time to choose your business type.
There are four types: individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, and partnership.
If you are an individual seller, you should upload your passport photo or driving license photo.
If you are a business seller, you should provide detailed information about your business, such as legal business name, EIN, registered business address, and so on.
3. After uploading the necessary documents, you need to complete your shop information, including the shop name and primary product.
If you haven’t decided on your shop name and what types of products you want to sell, don’t worry, you can change them later, and this won’t affect your future business.
4. Click the submit button and confirm your information. Then, wait 2-3 days for your application to be approved. Congratulations, you will own your first TikTok Shop!
Step 2 Add products to your shop
Once you’ve set up your TikTok Shop, it’s time to add your products. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:
1. Head over to the TikTok Shop Seller Center and log in
2. Choose your method to add products: You have 5 options here:
- Manual Upload: If you have just a few items, you can add each product one by one. Just click “Go” next to this option and start entering your product details.
- Sync with Your Online Store: If you already sell on platforms like Shopify or Amazon, you can sync your existing products. This saves you the hassle of re-entering all your product info.
- Bulk Upload: If you have a lot of products, download a template, fill it out with your product info, and then upload it to add multiple products at once.
- Mobile App: You can manage your products via the TikTok Seller Center app.
- Integrate Tiktok Shop with SUP: If you don’t have another online store, SUP is a good choice. Sup helps you find trending products, lists them with one click, and handles order fulfillment. This makes managing your shop much easier and more efficient.
3. Review and Submit: Make sure all your product details are correct. Once everything looks good, submit your products for approval.
Step 3 Link your TikTok account
Now that you have your products added, it’s time to link your TikTok account to your TikTok Shop. Here’s how to do it:
1. Log In to the Seller Center
2. Click My Account> Linked TikTok Accounts
3. A page will appear with a QR code. Use TikTok app to scan the QR Code.
4. Follow the prompts to authorize and link your account.
Now you can manage your shop and promote your products directly through your TikTok profile.
6 Essential Tips for Success on TikTok Shop
After setting up your TikTok shop, do you want to make the most of your TikTok Shop? Here are six essential tips to help you succeed. Let’s dive in!
1. Create engaging content
To grab viewers’ attention, creating engaging videos matters.
Know who you’re creating for and understand them. What are their interests, and preferences? Then, think about what makes your product unique and outstanding, and how to showcase them in a fun and interesting way.
But, how to create an engaging video?
- Use catchy music and sounds. Music is a big part of your content. Popular songs or sounds that fit your content sometimes could bring an unexpected effect.
- Keep your video short. TikTok is all about short videos that hook viewers fast.
- Set a good story. A good story can make your product more reliable and shareable.
- Be authentic. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid of showing your personality. You should share your genuine thoughts, feelings, and experiences. People appreciate authenticity and love real content.
- Keep an eye on trending challenges and hashtags. If you run out of all the ideas, it is a good way to participate in trends and try to incorporate them into your content. This also increases your visibility and makes your content discoverable.
2. Post consistently and regularly
Set up a content calendar to help you plan and organize your posts in advance. Schedule specific days and times for posting, and outline the type of content you’ll share. This helps you stay consistent and ensures you always have content ready to go.
Posting regularly keeps you top-of-mind for your followers. Additionally, viewers may be attracted by your consistent and high-quality posts, leading them to follow you and eventually become your customers.
3. Engage with your audiences
Engaging with your audience plays an integral part in building a loyal community. Here are tips to connect with your followers.
- Take time to reply to comments on your videos. Whether it’s answering questions or responding to compliments, replying positively shows that you take them seriously. A simple thank you or a thoughtful response can go a long way in building relationships.
- Encourage interaction in your videos or live stream. Questions like “What do you think?” “Leave your comments below” makes the audience more engaged. And live interactions feel more personal and immediate, even just causal chats allow you to connect more deeply with your followers.
4. Join the TikTok Affiliate Program
Joining the TikTok affiliate program can help you reach more customers.
You can use the TikTok Creator Marketplace to find and connect with influencers. They will promote your products for a commission. Partnering with popular TikTok influencers can drive more traffic to your store.
But be careful to select the right influencers who can produce high-quality, authentic content. Meanwhile, ensure influencers’ audience aligns with your target market.
5. Use TikTok Shop Ads
Ads can significantly boost your product visibility and drive sales. Use the TikTok ads platform to reach your ideal audience. These ads appear in their feeds and can drive direct traffic to your shop.
While TikTok Shop Ads can be incredibly effective, it’s important to consider the cost involved. Advertising on TikTok can be very expensive, especially if you’re aiming for high visibility.
Last, don’t forget that people don’t want to watch ads that are obvious ads. Instead, engaging and entertaining content may let people stay and watch to the end.
6. Analyze and optimize your strategy
Finally, always analyze your performance and optimize your strategy. Use TikTok’s analytics tools to track all the features, including views, likes, shares, and sales. Analyze which types of content are most popular. Use this information to refine your content strategy.
FAQ:
What countries are the TikTok shop available in?
There are 8 countries now available in TikTok Shop: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
How many TikTok shops can I have?
An individual seller account can hold 1 TikTok shop. That means you can open one TikTok shop per person per identity; For a verified business account, you can register up to 5 TikTok shops.
How to promote TikTok shop?
By joining the TikTok Affiliate Program to work with influencers who can showcase your products to their followers. Also, use TikTok Shop Ads to create fun and engaging ads that attract a wider audience to your shop.
Conclusion
Setting up a TikTok Shop in 2024 is straightforward and offers a fantastic way to reach a large audience. By understanding how it works, meeting the requirements, and following the setup steps, you can start selling effectively. Don’t forget to use the six tips for success to maximize your shop’s potential.