Table of Content
What is TikTok
Why is TikTok so popular?
What makes TikTok an excellent hub for eCommerce?
How can eCommerce merchants maximize the potential of TikTok for business?
- Using the eLearning platform
- Setting up your storefront
- Use hashtags
- Partner with content creators and influencers
- Monitor metrics 3
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a social media platform where users can add and share short videos (up to three minutes in length) talking about anything, vlogging a personal experience, sharing hacks, and participating in challenges like choreographed dance videos, lip-syncing, you name it.
If you are on the shier side of life, don't sweat it, you don't have to share anything. All you have to do is watch videos from your discover page, look for hashtags, and join communities until your 'for you page,' popularly known as your FYP, is curated to content you will love!
Why is TikTok so popular?
One might wonder, why is TikTok so popular, seeing as its features (filters, stickers and background music) are not that different from those on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter? Here's why.
First, TikTok videos do not have to be picture-perfect, dreamy and ideal. People love the authenticity and relatability of ordinary people doing ordinary things. Safe to say, you don't need that ring light or perfect 'golden hour' picture.
Secondly, you don’t need a million followers to go viral or get discovered! Of course, once your followers and viewership grow, it is much easier to get TikTok famous, but mostly, there is no algorithm for going viral.
Like any other social media platform, founders realized its potential to merge entertainment and eCommerce and decided in 2020 to launch an eCommerce feature similar to Instagram Shopping, Facebook Shop, and TikTok for business. Since then, TikTok has evolved into a platform for merchants to reach new audiences and increase sales.
What makes TikTok an excellent hub for eCommerce
- According to eMarketer, the US social ecommerce market increased by nearly 38% in 2020 to $26.77 billion, and it is expected to exceed $50 billion annually by 2023. And, given the high level of impulse buying among millennials and Generation X-ers, its primary demographic, it's only natural that TikTok would jump on the social shopping bandwagon.
- In 2021, 47 percent of TikTok users said they purchased something they saw on TikTok, and 39 percent said TikTok introduced them to a new product or brand they'd never heard of.
- TikTok reported 1 billion monthly active users in September 2021, adding it to the list of the world's top 10 most popular and addictive social networks. In addition, in April 2020, TikTok ranked first in overall and app store revenue, easily outshining big-wigs like YouTube and Netflix.
How can eCommerce merchants maximize the potential of TikTok for business?
By allowing business owners to link their online store to their TikTok Business account, it is the perfect app to add to your list of channels to market your products. These features include: analytics tools, product links, ad creation, budgeting tools, audience targeting mechanics, and campaign data analysis
1. Using the eLearning platform
As we mentioned before, TikTok thrives on original and organic content. Anything too salesy usually doesn’t get many results. For this reason, TikTok has a helpful e-learning center where advertisers can learn how to create ads on the Ads Manager platform.
The site aims to assist online brands in unlocking their inner creativity and artistic spirit by instructing them through the process of creating authentic ads that will earn them views, engagement, and brand recognition and ultimately drive sales and revenue.
2. Setting up your storefront
TikTok for business allows you to set up a storefront with product descriptions, titles, high-quality images and even links. With these links, you can direct viewers to products or your store using product links that you can share on your videos.
PS: The best way to boost your brand awareness is through consistency. Post as often and consistently as you can while adding links to your store or CTA.
3. Use hashtags
With over 1 billion monthly active users, it is safe to say that your content can get lost in a sea of videos. To increase the chances of new users finding your brand, use hashtags. In addition, users sometimes want to find a specific product or community, so they will use hashtags to find them easily—for example, makeup tutorials, workout routines, skincare products, etc.
When you add hashtags to your videos, they appear when a user types them into their discover page. Several of 2021's fastest-growing hashtags were explicitly created as brand promotional efforts, such as Bobbi Brown's #IFeelWeightless challenge and Chips Ahoy's #ChipsGotTalent challenge.
4. Partner with content creators and influencers
According to 53% of internet users, influencer content significantly influences their purchase behavior. The great news, TikTok has millions of them. You can start by launching an affiliate program that allows you to collaborate with creators and influencers to show off new products and drive traffic to your storefront or business profile.
TikTok's Selling Center is a fantastic tool to use. You can develop your marketing strategy and use the collaboration feature to find creators in your niche market, satisfy your requirements, and post organic content with affiliate links to your online store.
Note: The Creator Marketplace is also a honeypot of influencers.
5. Monitor metrics
Do not just post content and leave it at that. Instead, use the analytics tools to find how your videos, hashtags, and influencer content is performing. For example, you can assess the volume of interactions, likes, reposts, views, sales and store visits.
With TikTok, you don’t have to separate entertainment and making money. You can comfortably do both from your personal profile and your business page. There’s no such thing as too much brand awareness or money. So even if you already have a couple of storefronts on other social platforms, give TikTok for business a try. It just might outperform the rest!
At Shoplazza, you can link your TikTok business account to make browsing and shopping from your catalog easier, faster and more convenient for your customers!
