TikTok was intended to be a social media platform where users could post short clips of everything they were doing or were interested in. The platform has now become much more than that. Its growth has made it the most downloaded app in the world, surpassing the likes of Facebook and Twitter in the first quarter of 2022. This growth has seen the platform add more features, one of its most innovative ones being TikTok shopping. So, what is TikTok shopping, and how can you successfully leverage it for your business or brand?

What is TikTok Shopping?

TikTok shopping is a new shopping feature that allows users to purchase products directly on TikTok and for merchants, creators, and brands to showcase and sell their products to millions of users on the platform.

TikTok shopping eliminates the need for a user to leave the platform to purchase a product on a seller’s website. This makes for a better user experience, increases sales for brands that leverage this feature, and increases the amount of time people spend on the platform. It is a win for everyone involved.

So, what strategies can you use to succeed with TikTok shopping?

Post Authentic Content

The majority of users on the platform, Gen-Zers, and millennials are highly sensitive to inauthentic brands. They can tell when you are faking and when they do, they will not engage with your business.

Create authentic content that shows real people using your products. Then, create montages using this content to come off as authentic. Remember to be as diverse as possible and not to be too pushy as that raises questions.

Work With Influencers

According to numerous studies, over 70% of TikTok users trust the influencers they are familiar with more than traditional celebrities. When you collaborate with influencers, you are leveraging the trust they have built with their audience. This increases the chance someone will buy from your brand when they come across it.

Additionally, collaborating with influencers remains one of the best ways to reach a new audience, attract new customers, increase conversions, and grow both brand awareness and revenues.

Take Advantage of Trends and Audios

Trends such as songs, dances, and various audio are key to making viral content on TikTok. Brands that can leverage these trends, again in an authentic way, will see a lot of successes as TikTok shopping takes off.

Optimize Your Storefront

Even though TikTok offers integrations through other partner software and platforms and APIs, it also allows you to create a storefront directly on the platform. You need to optimise this storefront if you are to have a successful one.

Start by establishing your style. This will dictate how the products appear to people who visit the storefront. Next, ensure you use high-quality photos. You want your products to look appealing to your customers while making your business seem and feel professional.

Lastly, ensure the titles are not more than 34 characters in length, you fill out all product details, and do not add any links as TikTok does not allow them to be clickable.

TikTok shopping is yet another way for businesses to put their products in front of a massive audience. Brands and businesses that take advantage of this new feature as it rolls out, learn, and iterate will see lots of success.