How to sell on TikTok: Beginners guide

Create a TikTok business account

If you’re new to the platform, download the TikTok app or head to the browser page and create your account. Follow the guidelines, fill in your business and login information, and finalize the registration. 

Your profile will be Personal by default, so you’ll have to switch to the TikTok Business account to list products, run TikTok ads, and access detailed analytics.

To do so, go to Settings, click on Business account or scroll down to the section, and activate the toggle to switch your TikTok account.

This will direct you to the TikTok Business Suite, where you’ll have to pick your active category and finalize the registration.

Create your TikTok shop seller account

Head over to the TikTok Seller Center and choose your region. You can sign up using your previously created TikTok account; however, we recommend starting from scratch. It’s always possible to link existing accounts to your Seller account later on, but if you sign up using your one Business account, you won’t be able to unlink it in the future. 

1. Sign up with your phone number or email address.
2. Choose a business type.
3. Provide the required documents for TikTok user verification.
4. Type in your address and taxpayer number.
5. Comply with terms and conditions.
6. Add your shop name.
7. Finish the registration.

Your store will be in the review process for up to 48 hours (but it usually only takes a few hours to be verified). In the meantime, you can prepare your products and create content for your potential buyers.

Connect your TikTok account to seller center

On your Seller Center homepage, scroll down and click Get started on the “Connect your shop to a TikTok account” section. 

Simply log in to the account you created. This will sync both accounts for a streamlined selling experience and promotions. 

Remember, the approval process takes up to two days, so be patient. In the meantime, browse other brands and popular creators to explore their targeting options and strategies for securing an engaged audience.

Upload your products to TikTok shop

In the Seller Center, you’ll find the Products tab on the left-side menu. That’s where you can manage your product catalog, update prices and photos, and follow purchase data and ratings. 

Click Add new products. This will open a tab allowing you to create listings like on any other marketplace or platform. Start adding products individually, uploading quality photos, setting prices, and writing keyword-filled quality descriptions.

Click the Submit for review button in the top-right corner and await approval.

Generate content and start promoting your products

Now that your TikTok Shop is set up, it’s time to create organic content in the form of short videos that showcase your products and grab viewer’s attention.

• Use popular songs, trends, and hashtags relevant to your products to increase visibility, engagement, and follower count. 
• Showcase your products in various ways, such as daily vlogs, product demonstrations, life hacks, tutorials, user-generated content, or behind-the-scenes videos. 
• Incorporate humor, creativity, and authenticity to intrigue your target audience and encourage them to explore your shop.

When posting TikTok videos, don’t forget to select the Tag Products option and link the relevant items to your content. This allows users to easily shop for the products they see in your videos, maximizing your sales potential.

Additionally, your TikTok Shop store page will be displayed on your account, making it convenient for users to explore and purchase items while browsing your content.

Partner with TikTok influencers

Influencer marketing is a powerful strategy for TikTok, since they have significant sway over their followers. Partner with popular TikTok influencers to enhance your brand’s credibility and reach a wider audience.

• Seek out influencers that fit your niche. Have them promote your products by creating videos and interactive content – increasing your website traffic and sales.
• Use sponsored posts and reviews. Let them convince TikTok users why your shop and products are the best.

Encourage user-generated content

Ask followers to create and share content featuring your products and repost it on your own account. This builds credibility and trust, as potential customers see real people enjoying your products.

• Share feedback and reviews. Repost what other TikTok users have said about your business.
• Create hashtag challenges. Combine trending hashtags with your own niche and encourage customers to participate, sharing feedback on your products.

Use TikTok resource center

The TikTok Resource Center offers valuable tools and insights to help merchants optimize their presence and boost sales on the platform.

• Tutorials and guides. Access step-by-step guides on creating effective TikTok videos and leveraging platform features.
• Analytics and insights. Utilize in-depth analytics to track your performance, understand audience behavior, and identify trends.
• Ad Manager. Learn how to use TikTok’s Ad Manager to create and manage TikTok ads.
• Creator Marketplace. Connect with TikTok influencers to collaborate on content.
• Access templates. Use customizable TikTok video templates to create viral videos, ads, and promotional content.

Advertise on TikTok

Advertising on TikTok is a powerful way to increase brand visibility, reach a larger audience, and drive sales for your products – all for a small fee.

Use TikTok’s advanced targeting options to reach your ideal audience based on demographics, interests, and behavior. This ensures that your ads are seen by users who are most likely to be interested in your products, maximizing your return on investment.

• Try various ad types. Experiment with various formats such as In-Feed Ads, TopView Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects. 

These creative formats allow you to showcase your products in unique ways and capture the attention of TikTok users.

Run contests and giveaways

By offering incentives for participation, you encourage TikTok users to interact with your brand and generate excitement around your products and services. There are different kinds of contests to promote and increase brand awareness and sales rank.

• Trivia and quiz contests. Encourage users to participate by answering questions in the comments or creating videos showcasing their knowledge.
• Creative challenges. For example, challenge users to create unique dance routines, lip-sync videos, or product demonstrations.
• Giveaways. Hold random giveaways that users can enter by following your account, liking a post, or tagging friends.

Get inspired by other sellers

Don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from other successful sellers on the platform. Pay attention to their content strategies, engagement techniques, and promotional tactics. Analyze what works well for them and adapt those strategies to fit your own brand and target audience.

Analyze your performance

This is crucial for refining your strategy and maximizing your sales potential. By monitoring key metrics, you can identify what content resonates most with your audience and which tactics drive the most engagement and conversions – or the opposite – which videos and promotions flop and need refining.

1. Track engagement metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and views to measure the effectiveness of your content and audience interaction.
2. Monitor follower growth over time to assess the impact of your marketing efforts and identify trends in audience acquisition.
3. Analyze conversion metrics like click-through rates, add-to-cart rates, and purchase conversions to measure the effectiveness of your product promotion strategies.
4. Use TikTok’s analytics tools to gain insights into your audience demographics, including age, gender, location, and interests, helping you tailor your content and targeting accordingly.
5. Experiment with different content formats, hashtags, and posting times to see what resonates best with your audience and drives the highest performance.

Maintain shop health

Shop Health refers to your TikTok shop’s overall quality and compliance, including factors such as customer service, product quality, and adherence to TikTok’s guidelines. You can monitor your status and violation points on the TikTok Seller Center.

Maintaining Shop Health is essential for ensuring the long-term success of your business on the platform. 

1. Respond promptly to customer messages and inquiries to provide excellent customer service and build trust with your audience.
2. Review and update your product listings regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance, including updating product information, prices, and availability.
3. Monitor customer reviews and feedback to promptly address any issues or concerns and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.
4. Follow TikTok’s community guidelines and policies to avoid violations that could negatively impact your shop’s reputation and visibility.
5. Stay informed about TikTok’s latest updates and changes to policies and guidelines to ensure ongoing compliance and reduce any potential risks.