TikTok Publishes Guide to Selling for Brands

While TikTok’s ever hopeful that it’ll be able to make in-app shopping a thing, it hasn’t really caught on with Western consumers as yet.

In China it has, with the Chinese version of the app generating some $US375 billion in in-app sales in 2023, which is expected to rise significantly again this year. But for whatever reason, Western consumers remain wary, likely due to the preference for in-store sales, as well as concerns about TikTok’s links back to the Chinese Government.

But even so, TikTok’s overall sales volume is rising, even at a lower rate. TikTok users spent $3.8 billion in the app throughout 2023, up 15% year-over-year, and while a lot of that has gone towards in-stream donations for creators, there is rising potential for sellers as well.

And if you’re interested in trying out TikTok shopping for your business, then this guide is for you.

TikTok recently published a new 94-page guide on how to set-up and utilize TikTok Shops, which covers all aspects of building a retail presence in the app.

I mean, at 94 pages, it would want to, and if you are considering this option, you need to check out this overview, in order to understand your various options on this front.

You can download the full guide here, but in this post, we’ll take a look at some of the key notes.

The guide first looks at TikTok’s policies and documentation, so you can ensure that you have all the necessary details locked in.

It then covers off on account set-up, and how to manage each element of the selling process.

It also looks at how to make the most of your sales opportunities in the app, including live-stream selling and partnering with creators.

There are also in-depth explainers on analytics, affiliate programs, and more, providing a complete overview of your various TikTok Shop options.

It’s a good guide, and again, a must-read for anyone considering TikTok shopping as a promotional option.

And with the holiday push coming up, it should at least be on your radar for this year.

You can download TikTok’s shop playbook here.