How To Sell On TikTok In 8 Simple Steps [Beginner Guide 2024]

TikTok is more than just a platform for dancing and lip-syncing; it’s also a valuable tool for businesses. With over 1 billion active users, TikTok has the potential to reach a vast and diverse audience. Lucky is you don’t have to be an expert to sell on TikTok.

In this blog, we will guide you through eight simple steps to sell on TikTok. From defining your target market to leveraging TikTok’s commerce tools, we’ve got you covered. This guide will help you turn TikTok into your next sales powerhouse, so, let’s get started!

Why you should try selling on TikTok? 

TikTok is currently one of the most effective platforms for selling products. It not only offers businesses numerous support options but also presents many opportunities. Let’s explore some of the key advantages you can enjoy: 

Have a large user base

TikTok has rapidly become one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. According to Demand Sage, as of 2023, TikTok boasts a staggering almost 1.7 billion active users, and this number is expected to grow to 2 billion by the end of 2024.

A significant chunk of TikTok’s user base, approximately 41%, falls within the age group of 16 to 24. This makes TikTok a highly promising market for businesses, offering the potential to reach a wide audience and gain insights into the newest trends.

Don’t require a great budget 

TikTok is an excellent platform for reaching potential customers and boosting sales. TikTok statistics show that 43% of users have tried something new, and 53% have explored new places after seeing them on the platform at least once. This means you don’t necessarily require a large initial investment; TikTok can still be a highly effective marketing tool.

Even if you want to promote products on TikTok, it doesn’t have to break the bank. TikTok provides a variety of advertising options for businesses, ranging from simple but highly effective ads like In-feed Ads to more advanced choices. This means you can begin promoting your products on the platform even if you’re working with a limited budget.

Equal chance for virality 

You don’t need a massive following or prior fame on TikTok to land on users’ For You Page. What matters more to TikTok is the quality of your content and how well you present it to users. TikTok’s algorithm actively hunts for fresh and engaging content to share with users. So, your primary job is to create compelling content, and TikTok will handle the rest. This way, you can reach a wide audience without burning through too many resources.

8 simple steps to sell on TikTok

Selling on TikTok is a smart move for businesses, especially e-commerce companies looking to significantly increase sales. It isn’t overly complicated; you can begin with basic marketing activities on this platform. Let’s break down 8 steps to start selling on TikTok, from the simplest to slightly more advanced strategies:

Step 1. Define target market and product selection

First off, you need to define your target audience. While the TikTok audience is massive, it’s necessary to consider whether the people that your target are being or about to be on TikTok or not. Though TikTok is currently occupied by Gen Zers, most of the popular social media started off with a predominantly younger audience.

Besides, spend time researching what products are on trend and discover how competitors win sales on TikTok. You can look at TikTok’s successful business case studies and explore the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt hashtag for more ideas.

Step 2. Create a TikTok business account

To bring your brand presence to TikTok and start selling, you need to set up a TikTok business account. If you already have a personal TikTok account, simply switch to a Business account by clicking on Account > Switch to Business Account. 

A TikTok Business account gives you access to amazing TikTok marketing strategies and commercial-focused tools as shown below. 

• Advertising: Promote your products via various types of TikTok ads like Top View, In-Feed ads, Spark ads, etc 
• Measurement: Get insights into your videos, audience behavior, TikTok campaigns, etc
• Creative: Get access to the Commercial Music Library of over 1 million commercially licensed songs and sounds
• Commerce: Turn entertainment into shoppable experiences via TikTok Shop, Live Shopping, Product Links, Collection Ads, etc 

Having access to all of these features is a great way to promote your products, get in front of the right audience, and monitor your performance.  

Step 3. Create creative content videos 

Once your TikTok Business account has gone active, it’s time to create engaging TikTok videos to promote your products. TikTok users are highly interactive and engaged with creative videos. Thus, you have no better way to drive engagement and conversion on TikTok than by creating great content that piques their interest. 

To make your videos stay in front of the right audience, you should circle back on your niche research and participate in trends and challenges from within that realm. Keep in mind that you only have 3 minutes max to grab your viewer’s attention so making your content funny and entertaining will be the best.

If you ever struggle with coming up with creative and appealing content ideas, don’t stress out. You can find inspiration in the viral trends on TikTok, as the platform offers plenty of free resources. TikTok Creative Center is one such resource where you can explore the latest and trendiest hashtags, songs, and viral TikTok videos, all brimming with ideas that are going viral.

Alternatively, if you’re using a TikTok Business account, you can access the Creative Hub by going to your Business Suite. There, you’ll discover the most popular ideas from accounts in your industry. You’ll also find trending hashtags and music to include in your videos, increasing your chances of gaining popularity on the platform.

Remember that your content should not be too promotional even though its purpose is to promote and sell your products. To encourage more people to replay or even share your video with their friends, you should make it as natural and enjoyable as you can. The more views that your video gets, the more likely it displays on many users’ For You pages. 

Step 4. Connect to TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is the e-commerce solution that TikTok provides in order for users to sell and buy directly on this platform. Selling through TikTok Shop increases your sales opportunities and provides a seamless experience for customers. They can tap on a product in your video to learn more and purchase on TikTok. It’s fast, convenient, and efficient for both sellers and buyers.

So, how can you start selling on TikTok Shop? First, you have to be over 18 with a TikTok business account. Next, create a new account on TikTok Seller Center and fill in all the required information, including your Location, Business type, and contact. After that, just submit all the relevant documents and wait for your application to be approved.

If you receive approval, you’ll have the ability to sell your products directly on TikTok, complete with payment and shipping functions. One thing to keep in mind is that selling through TikTok Shop does incur a small transaction fee, typically ranging from 1% to 2.5% of the total order value. However, it’s still an appealing option, especially considering the potential for significant sales growth on this platform.

Step 5. Utilize TikTok commerce tools 

User experience plays an important role in the buying decision process of consumers. The release of TikTok Shopping has created a seamless shopping experience on TikTok with a suite of solutions designed for brands to drive sales.  

People now can easily browse & purchase your products right on your brand’s TikTok profile, videos, livestreams, etc. – all in one place. Learn more about how TikTok commerce solutions can help you leverage sales. 

• TikTok Shopping: Showcase your products on a separate tab of your TikTok profile. 
• Product Links: Make your videos shoppable by adding a product link that directs viewers straight to a checkout page, without leaving a TikTok account.
• Live Shopping: Show off products in real-time during a TikTok LIVE and close sales in the process. 

Step 6. Utilize influencer marketing through TikTok Affiliate

Influencer marketing is nothing new on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok as well. Unlike other mediums, TikTok gives you more choices of which influencers you partner with. It is because TikTok influencers are not necessarily superstars or celebrities, they might be micro influencers or creators with specific audiences. 

TikTok influencers can make branded content feel organic, rather than like obvious advertising. Plus, influencers who match your target audience help to increase your reach and drive conversion significantly. 

Try searching on TikTok for words or phrases related to your products to see if any relevant influencers come up. You can also look through the top videos to discover the ones that fit your niche. Another way to find influencers is through TikTok Creator Marketplace – an in-house hub to connect influencers and brands. 

Step 7. Leverage UGC 

User-generated content (UGC) effectively broadens your product’s reach and drives sales on TikTok. It is a video created by regular people raving about a specific good or service. Compared to videos where brands market themselves, UGC is more likely to go viral and get high engagement.

To leverage UGC, you should create your branded hashtag or challenge to entice your audience to share videos of themselves using your products on TikTok. It’s a great way to transform consumers from passive onlookers to active participants.

Consider The Ordinary – a beauty brand as an example. It had a TikTok user share a before and after video using their AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. The video went viral, garnering over 650k likes and 15k shares, as well as rumored sales of more than $1 million.

Step 8. Run TikTok Ads 

Running TikTok Ads is also a great way to increase brand awareness and drive sales you should not overlook.

TikTok offers brands an ad platform with different ad types and targeting options to choose from to get your product or service in front of the right people. There are many types of TikTok ad formats you can choose from, some examples can be: Top-view ads, In-feed ads, Hashtag Challenges, Brand Takeovers, and Branded Effects.

However, when it comes to small businesses, in-feed ads are the most suitable option. This format is both affordable and accessible, making it a great choice for those looking to advertise on a budget.

For those who are new to advertising on TikTok, NestAds, a TikTok ads management app, could be a helpful tool to launch a successful ad campaign. This app is designed to assist users in launching their first TikTok ad campaign by providing them with tools and guidance.

Therefore, if you are a small business looking to sell on TikTok, it may be worth considering in-feed ads and NestAds to get started.

3 tips to effectively sell your products on TikTok

So, there you have it — 8 steps to get started with selling on TikTok. Your initial journey might not be a breeze as you get accustomed to engaging with your target audience and navigating the platform. Therefore, to aid your TikTok selling endeavors, here are three fundamental yet highly effective tips to keep in mind:

Don’t over-promoting the product

One of the mistakes beginners often make is over-promote when they’re trying to sell on TikTok. Instead of just pushing your product, focus on creating valuable and engaging content that users will want to interact with. The goal is to make your content feel like it’s part of the community, not just an intrusion. 

To do this, embrace the opportunity to tell a short, compelling story and encourage users to participate in campaigns and create their own TikTok for your brand. It’s also important to make your content feel real and genuine, rather than overly polished.

Keep up with the trends

TikTok is a great platform to showcase your products and engage with your audience in a fun and creative way. By jumping on trends and creating entertaining content, you can increase your brand visibility and attract new customers. 

Plus, TikTok’s algorithm favors content that is engaging and trending, so it’s a great way to boost your reach. So, don’t be afraid to show off your personality and hop on the latest dance craze or viral challenge, just remember to keep it authentic and on-brand!

Keep your video short and informative

TikTok users have a short attention span and prefer watching quick videos that are exciting and engaging. If your video is too long or slow, they may lose interest and scroll away. Also, remember that TikTok videos play on a loop, so a short and snappy video will make a better impression and encourage users to watch it multiple times. We recommend the optimal length for your video should only be from 21 – 34 seconds to maintain the hype.

Lastly, fast-paced videos with dynamic visuals and catchy music have a better chance of going viral and reaching a wider audience. So, ensure your video is short, yet high-quality and engaging for viewers.

So, how to get the most sales on TikTok?

TikTok is getting very big, with so many users and so much content, it can be challenging to get your brand noticed. So, how can you make your business stand out and capture more customers? The answer is simple: TikTok Ads.

By using TikTok Ads, you can reach a larger audience, increase brand awareness, and ultimately boost your sales. And the good news is that you don’t need to be a marketing expert to get started.

TikTok Ads Ultimate Free Course for Beginners is an excellent resource that can help you understand the basics of TikTok Ads and how to implement them effectively. So why not check it out today and see how you can take your business to the next level?