With over 150 million users from the US alone, TikTok has always been a pro-shopping platform. If not organically, users on TikTok have consistently used the platform as a huge source of product and purchase inspiration.
Creators on TikTok use the platform to share thoughts and opinions on various subjects. Including new findings or products they find helpful. This is a common practice on TikTok, making it a significant platform for businesses and consumers alike.
No matter how cumbersome, this arrangement led to the official launch of TikTok Shop in the US – an organic way for businesses to sell their products within the platform.
Let’s understand more about the term.
What is a TikTok Shop?
As the name suggests, TikTok Shop is a feature by TikTok that provides users the accessibility to shop products directly within the platform. It allows businesses to create their digital storefronts and showcase their products for selling.
Through TikTok Shop, brands can sell products through in-feed videos, live shopping streams and through the TikTok Shop tab.
Where is the TikTok Shop Available?
TikTok Shop is an integral feature within the TikTok platform, providing users with a convenient way to discover and purchase a wide range of products directly through the TikTok app. Users can leverage this feature by going to the ‘TikTok Shop’ tab and exploring the various products available to shop by sellers.
Businesses who want to become merchants can register as businesses on the app and list their products seamlessly through the provided CMS platform available on the app. Businesses can upload their product catalogs and add product tags into in-feed videos or host live shopping streams.
This integration has more efficient features provided by the platform. Let’s learn about them in detail in the section below.
What are the Features of TikTok Shop?
TikTok Shop has impressive features that seamlessly integrate e-commerce into the TikTok platform, delivering substantial value to both businesses and consumers.
This feature by TikTok comes with more features that are designed specifically to change the way users engage with products and brands completely.
1. Availability To Shop Ads
TikTok Shop offers the opportunity for businesses to create and promote product ads and enable customers to shop directly from them. This feature is highly effective for businesses as it can considerably improve the shopping experience, making it more frictionless.
Not just that, users can also boost their product’s visibility and awareness through these shoppable ads, and boost conversions more effectively.
2. Designated Shopping Tab
Statistically speaking, approximately 34 million videos are posted on TikTok every day. It is easy to get lost on a huge platform like TikTok, but with the designated TikTok Shop tab on the platform, consumers can easily discover products and purchase them seamlessly in a much quicker way.
This designated shopping tab by TikTok is also helpful for businesses as they can segregate their shoppable videos from their usual promotional or collaborative content.
3. Live Shopping Functionality
TikTik Shop also enables businesses to host live shopping streams so customers can shop from brands in real time. This interactive feature allows businesses to engage with viewers and form connections with them.
By communicating with them in real-time, customers can answer questions and facilitate immediate support to the customers, making the purchase decisions quicker.
4. Fulfilled By TikTok
TikTok Shop also provides improved services to their sellers where the company handles various aspects of the final selling process that happens post checkout. This includes services like processing orders, warehousing, and shipping. This can help businesses streamline their operations and ensure efficient order processing and delivery.
These features collectively make TikTok Shop a powerful and comprehensive e-commerce platform, offering a range of tools and capabilities for both businesses and consumers.
What are the TikTok Shop Seller Requirements?
If you are a business looking to leverage this feature, you can become a TikTok Shop seller in only a few simple steps.
- Begin your selling journey by signing up as a seller on TikTok Shop Seller Center. If you are a new user, create an account on the platform. For existing users, you can connect your existing profile to TikTok.
- After your account is created, set up your business profile. Add a bio, your business logo, or profile picture, and you can start posting on your account.
- Now, you can turn your content into shoppable by uploading your product list through a CMS platform. After your product list is uploaded, you can display products available for purchase in your in-feed videos, LIVE shopping streams or create a separate Shop Page.
TikTok Shop’s launch in the US is unlocking many new possibilities, such as for brands to open up their business to a global audience. This opportunity is enabling brands to present their products in a more genuine way, helping consumers to seamlessly transition from discovery to purchase.
But that’s not all! TikTok Shop has various benefits for e-commerce businesses.
Let’s explore some of them.
What are the Benefits of TikTok Shop For eCommerce?
TikTok Shop offers several benefits for eCommerce businesses that are making it an efficient platform for businesses looking to tap into a large and engaged user base.
Here are a few benefits of TikTok Shop for e-commerce businesses.
1. Open to a Global Audience
TikTok is one the most populous social media platforms in the current times with a major percentage of the audience being millennials and Gen Zers. By leveraging TikTok Shop, e-commerce businesses can reach out to a more potential audience on a global level.
This vast reach also lets businesses promote and sell their products to a diverse customer base. All in all, TikTok Shop is an excellent opportunity for e-commerce businesses looking to expand their customer reach beyond the local market.
2. Real-Time Shopping
Another benefit of investing in TikTok Shop for e-commerce businesses is TikTok Shop’s capabilities to facilitate real-time shopping through LIVE shopping streams.With this feature, businesses can connect with potential customers in the moment and make their shopping more interactive.
Businesses can showcase products, answer questions, and address user concerns during LIVE shopping streams, leading to immediate sales. This real-time interaction can foster trust and build stronger customer relationships.
3. Frictionless Shopping Process
TikTok Shop allows customers to shop for products directly within the platform. This streamlined shopping process can eliminate many barriers and friction between product discovery and purchase.
With this frictionless process, users can seamlessly go from discovering a product in a video to exploring its details and making a purchase in just a few steps. The seamless nature of TikTok Shop simplifies the buying process, reducing cart abandonment rates and boosting conversion rates.
4. Improved Customer Engagement
TikTok’s engaging short-form video content naturally captures users’ attention. This high level of engagement extends to TikTok Shop, where e-commerce businesses can create quirky and engaging content.
Businesses can use this content to showcase their products and enable customers to purchase them directly from various touchpoints, such as, in-feed shopping and LIVE shopping functionality enhances customer engagement by allowing real-time interaction between businesses and consumers.
TikTok Shop is not just a brilliant feature but also a great tool for e-commerce businesses to leverage their social presence more effectively. Businesses can boost their visibility, awareness, and, with it, sales and conversions.
Conclusion
As we move ahead into a world that is dominated by social media, technology, and convenience, TikTok Shop is a great addition. The feature helps businesses to reach their potential audience more quickly and authentically while improving the consumer experience.
As it continues to evolve and expand, TikTok Shop holds significant promise for businesses seeking to grow, as well as consumers looking for more than just a transactional relationship with customers.
