Want to start selling on TikTok? With over 1 billion active users, TikTok is a powerful platform to reach new customers and drive sales. This guide will show you how to sell on TikTok, covering practical steps and proven strategies to grow your brand and boost revenue.
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5 Key Benefits of selling on TikTok
Selling on TikTok offers unique advantages that can help businesses reach wider audiences and drive sales. Here are some key benefits that make TikTok an ideal platform for growing your brand:
- Reach Millions Effortlessly: With 1.04 billion monthly active users, TikTok connects you to diverse audiences worldwide. The algorithm pushes content beyond your followers, giving even small businesses a chance to go viral and attract new customers.
- Budget-Friendly Marketing: You don’t need a huge budget to succeed. TikTok’s algorithm rewards creative, authentic content, allowing businesses to gain visibility without spending big on ads.
- Simple Setup, Fast Start: Launching a TikTok Shop or ad campaign is quick and easy—even for beginners. With user-friendly tools, you can upload products, create engaging content, and start selling in no time.
- Interactive Features Drive Engagement: From duets to live streams, TikTok’s interactive tools let you engage with potential customers in real time—building trust and turning viewers into loyal buyers.
- Viral Potential Means Sales Explosion: One trending video can skyrocket your sales overnight. TikTok’s viral nature means brands of any size can reach millions and grow fast without relying solely on paid ads.
How to sell on TikTok? (A step-by-step guide)
Selling on TikTok involves more than just setting up an online store. It’s about leveraging the platform’s unique features to create engaging content and build a loyal audience. Follow these steps to know how to sell on TikTok:
Step 1: Set up your Business Account
First things first—create a dedicated TikTok business account to keep your personal and professional content separate. Here’s how:
- Download the TikTok app and sign up, or create a separate account if you already have a personal one.
- Choose a recognizable username that matches your brand across other platforms, making it easier for customers to find you.
- Optimize your profile by adding a clear logo, a short and engaging bio, and links to your website, Instagram, or YouTube.
Tip: Keep your bio simple but informative. For example: “Trendy fashion for every mood. Shop now!
Step 2: Switch your account to “Pro”
TikTok offers users the choice between a “Personal” account or two types of “Pro” accounts: “Creator” and “Business.”
By default, new accounts are set as Personal, but switching to a Pro account offers additional perks like access to analytics, and it’s completely free. Here’s a quick overview of each account type:
- Personal: Ideal for casual users who primarily watch videos from others.
- Creator: Suited for users posting regularly and growing their following. This account provides in-depth analytics, including audience demographics, and allows access to the Creator Fund after reaching 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the past 30 days, enabling you to monetize your content.
- Business: Designed for those seeking advanced analytics. While you won’t have access to the Creator Fund, you can still track performance, add a bio link, display business contact information, and leverage unique engagement and advertising tools.
If you’re promoting a brand or business, a Business account is the ideal choice. A Business account gives you access to advanced features like the TikTok Shop and Ad Manager, which are essential for driving sales.
If you want to switch your account to a business account, go to Settings → Manage Account → Switch to Business Account. Then, select a category that fits your business (e.g., fashion, beauty, electronics).
Step 3: Create content
With your account ready, it’s time to start creating content! Spend some time browsing the TikTok’s FYP to get a sense of the platform. You’ll quickly come across viral dances, challenges, comedy skits, and a variety of other popular content.
TikTok is all about creativity, so your content should be fun, engaging, and relevant to your brand. Here are some tips for creating TikTok content:
- Keep it light: Focus on making fun and entertaining videos without being too promotional. Keep viewers engaged so they’ll want to rewatch or share your video. More views and shares increase the chances of TikTok recommending your content to others.
- Engage quickly: Capture attention within the first few seconds to prevent viewers from scrolling past. Explore hashtags like #smallbusiness, #smallbusinesscheck, and #entrepreneur to see how other brands are promoting themselves.
- Be original: Add your unique spin to each video and avoid copying others. You don’t need perfection. TikTok encourages frequent posting, so aim for 1-3 videos daily to increase your chances of going viral.
- Use sounds: Select music or sound from TikTok’s Sound Library when creating a video. Using trending sounds boosts your chances of going viral.
Step 4: Engage with your audience
Engagement is key to building a loyal customer base. The more you interact with your followers, the stronger your community grows. Here are some simple ways to stay connected:
- Respond to comments: Answer questions about your products and thank users for their support.
- Use interactive features: Host Live streams to showcase your products in real time or create Duets with customer videos to boost engagement.
Regular interaction will show potential buyers that there’s a real person behind the brand who values their input and make your shop more trustworthy.
Step 5: Utilize influencer marketing
Collaborating with influencers is a powerful way to amplify your reach on TikTok. Partner with influencers whose audience aligns with your target market. These influencers can introduce your products to new audiences in an authentic, trustworthy way, driving both awareness and sales.
To find a TikTok influencer who falls into your niche, use the TikTok Creator Marketplace, an official platform that connects brands with TikTok creators. The Marketplace allows you to search for influencers based on industry, audience demographics, engagement rates, and more. It’s a streamlined way to identify creators who are the best fit for your brand and establish direct collaborations for impactful campaigns.
Or just simply search keywords that apply to your niche or product category within TikTok to see if there are any influencers you’d be interested in working with. For instance, if you’re in the beauty industry, search for “beauty” and look for creators who share content that complements your brand.
Step 6: Promote user-generated content
Countless brands go viral on TikTok just because regular users post videos praising their products. Many of these viral clips aren’t even paid ads. They’re simply organic content that spreads across the platform, and soon enough, nearly everyone on TikTok knows about the product.
To tap into this, encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products by creating hashtag challenges or offering rewards. This serves as free promotion for your business while boosting brand awareness and getting your products in front of a wider audience.
Step 7: Take advantage of TikTok’s resource center
If you’re new to selling on TikTok, the Small Business Resource Center is an invaluable tool. It provides merchants with advertising templates, access to webinars hosted by industry experts, and insights from brands that have run successful TikTok ad campaigns.
Additionally, the resource center includes TikTok Pixel, a tool that gathers data on customers interacting with your content, allowing you to track and analyze ad performance effectively.
Tips to boost your sales on TikTok
You already know the basics of how to sell on TikTok. Now you’re ready to learn strategies that will catapult your TikTok selling to the next level.
1. Capitalize on trends (While staying authentic)
TikTok’s algorithm rewards content that taps into trending sounds and challenges. But simply copying a trend isn’t enough—add your own brand twist to stand out. Here’s how:
- Spot Trends Early: Use TikTok’s Creative Center to identify rising trends and popular hashtags before they peak.
- Integrate Products Naturally: Rather than a hard sell, show how your product fits into trending formats. For instance, a skincare brand can join a “Get Ready With Me” trend while highlighting a best-selling moisturizer.
- Hashtag Challenges: Create a branded hashtag challenge (e.g., #UnboxWithUs) and encourage followers to share their experiences with your product.
2. Use the right hashtags
Hashtags on TikTok do more than categorize content, they directly influence search visibility and algorithm placement. You can use TikTok Search Autocomplete to find real-time trending hashtags related to your industry, then follow this hashtag optimization strategy:
- Mix Broad and Niche Hashtags: Use a combination of high-volume hashtags like #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt and niche-specific ones like #EcoFriendlyFashion to target both mass and specific audiences.
- Leverage Product Keywords: Include hashtags that describe your product’s use or benefit (e.g., #VeganSkincare or #WirelessEarbuds).
- Refresh Regularly: Don’t reuse the same hashtags for every post—update them to match seasonal events (e.g., #HolidayGiftGuide in December).
3. Optimize your Bio for conversions
Don’t expect visitors to your profile to already know your brand. A well-optimized bio tells people who you are and nudges them to take action.
- Be Clear and Concise: Describe your brand’s unique value in one or two punchy lines (e.g., “Custom Jewelry for Every Moment – Shop Now!”).
- Include a Strong CTA: Add a clear call-to-action that directs users to your store link or latest collection.
- Use Emojis Strategically: Emojis draw attention—use them to highlight key actions.
4. Partner with creators through Affiliate Marketing
By launching an affiliate program, you can collaborate with TikTok creators and influencers to promote your products and drive traffic to your store. Using TikTok’s Selling Center, you can easily set up a promotion plan and partner with influencers who align with your niche.
Creators then share content with affiliate links to your website or marketplace, earning a commission each time someone clicks their link and makes a purchase. It’s a mutually beneficial strategy for both parties!
>>> Read more: Unleash the power of Affiliate Marketing on TikTok to boost sales
Wrap-up
In conclusion, learning how to sell on TikTok can be a game-changer for your business. By leveraging TikTok’s unique features, creating engaging content, and connecting with your audience, you can boost brand awareness and drive sales. I hope that these tips have given you a solid foundation to start your TikTok selling journey successfully.
