TikTok was without a doubt the most downloaded social media app in the first quarter of 2022.
Though it began as a music-focused app that encouraged users to sing along to their favorite songs, the platform already has over 1 billion active users, and there is now a wide variety of material featuring more original videos from users.
In 2022, it will be common for brands to use video in particular to interact with their communities and display their personality.
Brands may communicate with their customers more through social media apps like TikTok, which boosts both brand awareness and customer loyalty.
Why therefore wouldn't TikTok shopping be the next is a simple question.
But First: The TikTok Phenomenon
The defunct social networking app "Vine," which was removed from the app store in 2016, is comparable to an updated version of TikTok.
Users of Vine might upload seven-second videos, with content resembling some of the TikTok videos now being submitted.
Studies have shown that Gen Z and millennials have attention spans of roughly 8 and 12 seconds, respectively, therefore the popularity of short video clips made sense.
ByteDance, a tech business, recognized a window of opportunity and seized it to launch TikTok.
The "For You" page, which promotes videos that are most likely to match your interests and grab your attention, is the first item you are taken to when you start the app.
In contrast, the posts on other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram come mostly from the brands and people you follow.
The algorithm behind TikTok is made to keep users browsing and interested by showing them new posts from random users.
You can see how this success leads to the next stage of the social platform: TikTok purchasing. The "For You" tab may be TikTok's most successful feature on the app because it creates material for each user's particular interests every second.
What Is TikTok Shopping?
TikTok commerce makes it simple for users to buy the goods they see on the app without ever leaving it (very similar to Instagram Shopping, which you can learn more about here).
TikTok facilitates the e-commerce industry for shops by highlighting goods and services that customers may buy directly from the platform.
TikTok shopping is useful since it allows users to take advantage of the items that influencers are currently promoting on the app and skip the step of visiting the product's website.
On TikTok, a lot of firms use influencers in their marketing campaigns by providing their goods to users who have large followings and asking them to spread the word about them.
The majority of the time, influencers are paid to push favorable feedback on whatever the firm wants them to promote. Occasionally, reviews are unpaid and sincere.
It's easy for people to buy products:
- They see a product they like and then search for the brand's TikTok page (or find some while browsing the app!) Businesses that promote their items on TikTok will get a dedicated shopping page on their profile.
- The buyer can then look through the many products available by the company and select the specific goods they desire.
- When they are through shopping, TikTok users can purchase the things directly from the app, or it will instantly redirect you to the company's website to complete your purchase.
Below is an example from Kylie Cosmetics, one of the first brands to adopt TikTok shopping, that shows both the link to the TikTok shop and what occurs when you click on the link.
Again, the interface is identical to Instagram, making it a simple transition for marketers looking to reach a new audience, as well as consumers who use both platforms:
Screenshot from TikTok, June 2022
How To Setup Your Own TikTok Shopping Experience
If you're in the United States and you're reading this, it's likely because you can't seem to locate any information on how to begin anyplace.
This is due to TikTok shopping not having been launched in the United States yet (Kylie Cosmetics was, unsurprisingly, part of a trial).
Although some sites claim that this function is available to everyone in the United States, it will actually be implemented over the coming months.
When the time comes, we'll post an update here and help you through the setup!
Currently, if you Google "TikTok Seller Central," you'll be directed to this page, where you can see the seven Asian regions and the one in the United Kingdom that offers TikTok shopping.
Screenshot from TikTok, June 2022
TikTok Shopping Best Practices
Start monitoring the companies and accounts you follow in the interim; the bigger names will probably open their stores first.
So that you are prepared to go when the time comes for your firm, keep an eye on their films and strategies.
What we suggest is as follows:
1. Post Authentic Content That Shows Your Sense Of Humor
Posting brief videos of actual consumers using your product and assembling them into a montage will not only appear more genuine, but will also motivate users to interact with your business.
2. Take Advantage Of Existing Trends And Audios
The brands who take advantage of participating in popular trends—whether it's a popular dance or song that is trending throughout the world on TikTok—are the successful ones.
3. Collaborate With Influencers
Working together with other influencers will help your brand become more well-known and bring in new clients.
Teens trust influencers more than traditional celebrities by a margin of 70%, therefore when they promote your products, the influencers have a significant influence on the decisions made by their audience.
4. Give Users Full-screen Focus (Vertical Video)
Unlike other social media apps like Youtube and Twitter, where you can turn your phone sideways and the content still fits on the screen, TikTok's software is designed to display only vertical videos.
It's critical to post videos on TikTok that allow users full-screen focus if you want to keep your videos looking tidy and professional to viewers.
