How to Sell on TikTok in 6 Simple Steps

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has continually expanded into new regions and is among the most popular social networks worldwide. In January 2024, TikTok had 170M monthly active users in the US alone. To put that into perspective, that’s more than half of the American population. 

These are highly engaged users, with the average American user spending more than 45 hours on the TikTok app monthly.

Source: Statista

At this point, it’s clear that the platform is transitioning from a purely social media platform to a thriving social ecommerce environment. Features like shoppable TikTok videos, live broadcasts, influencer marketing, and branded filters give sellers many targeting options to reach their target audience.

Today, we’ll be covering what and how to sell on TikTok. But first, let’s answer a crucial question.

Is TikTok good for selling?

Yes, TikTok is excellent for selling because it has a huge, engaged user base and an algorithm that promotes viral content. You can sell a wide range of goods, from beauty products to ebooks and fitness accessories. Plus, you can access different ad types to build brand awareness and increase sales.

Source: TikTok Shop

How to sell on Tiktok in 6 simple steps

Before we get into the steps, let’s briefly cover what you can sell on your online store. TikTok is wonderful for selling print-on-demand merch, but what else? Here are a few ideas:

• Handmade crafts and jewelry

• Beauty and skincare products

• Home decor items

• Fitness equipment and apparel

• Tech gadgets and accessories

• Digital products like ebooks and courses

• Pet supplies and accessories

• Clothing and accessories

• Kitchen gadgets and utensils

Cross-reference your ideas with the restricted and prohibited categories of the items you plan to sell to ensure they comply with the TikTok Shop Prohibited Products Policy. 

For example, you can sell beauty and skincare products only if they comply with US laws and regulations and don’t contain restricted ingredients or unlicensed medical claims.

Depending on the products you choose to sell, you may have to go through a qualification process. In that case, you’ll be asked to provide the necessary documentation, like certificates, reports, or images.

Now that we’ve covered the legal aspect of selling on TikTok, let’s discuss how you can use your TikTok presence to make money.

Step 1: Create your TikTok account

To sell products on TikTok, you first need an account. You can either log in with your existing account or register a new one.

If you have a personal TikTok account you want to use for your shop, go to Step 2 and switch it to a Business Account.

If you don’t have a TikTok account, here’s what you do:

1. Sign up using a phone number or email address

2. Once logged into the TikTok Shop Seller Center, complete this setup process by providing legal documents

   1. Individually owned businesses must provide a citizen passport, national ID, or driving license with the same name used to create the TikTok account

   2. Corporations must provide a certificate of incorporation, business license, or company registration

3. Connect your bank account

4. When your identity gets verified, finish setting up your TikTok Shop 

For additional information and guidance, you can visit TikTok’s Policy Center.

Source: TikTok Policy Center

Step 2: Switch to TikTok Business Account

Anyone whose primary goal on TikTok is to promote their business (either a product or service) should use a Business Account.

Source: TikTok for Business

Here’s how to switch your account from personal to business:

1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom

2. Tap the Menu button at the top, then select Settings and privacy

3. Tap Account

4. Tap Switch to Business Account, then follow the instructions provided to switch your account type

TikTok influencers and creators who don’t want to build dropshipping or other types of businesses don’t have to switch accounts. They can use their personal accounts to access monetization features like the TikTok Creator Marketplace and Creator Rewards Program.

This article focuses on sellers who already have or want to build a business to promote on TikTok. So, once you have your Business Account up and running, it’s time to launch your store.

Step 3: Set up your TikTok store

The first and one of the most important steps in creating a store is choosing your store name. You can’t change the name of your TikTok store once it’s approved, so take time to think it through. Here are tips from TikTok.

Source: TikTok Shop Academy

Next, you have to set up your TikTok store, so you must decide which products to sell and how to organize your inventory. 

Valuable read: 21 Trending Products to Sell Online in 2024

To connect your products, you must ensure your ecommerce store complies with TikTok Shop guidelines and policies and link your product catalog. We highly recommend visiting TikTok Shop Academy to read the guidelines you must follow.

Source: TikTok Shop Academy

Valuable read: Step-by-Step Guide to Connect Printful to TikTok

Shopify

If you’re using Shopify, the integration process is straightforward. Shopify’s TikTok channel allows you to sync your products, create ads, and track performance directly from your Shopify dashboard. This integration simplifies managing your store and running marketing campaigns.

Valuable read: Sell your products with TikTok® + Shopify

Other ecommerce platforms

For other ecommerce platforms, you’ll need to follow their specific integration instructions to connect with TikTok Shop. Platforms like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento offer various plugins and tools to help you list and manage your products on TikTok.

Step 4: Create content

TikTok sellers can create different types of content to engage their audience and promote their products effectively. Here are 5 most popular content types:

1. Product demonstrations: Showcasing how a product works, its features, and its benefits in TikTok livestream

2. Customer testimonials and reviews: Sharing positive feedback and experiences from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility

3. Tutorials and how-tos: Offering step-by-step guides on how to use products or achieve specific results using the products

4. Interactive challenges and contests: Engaging the audience with fun challenges or contests that encourage user participation and sharing

5. Behind-the-scenes: Providing a look at the process of creating products, packaging, or design process in the form of daily vlogs

Behind-the-scenes videos. Source: TikTok

All the content you put out must comply with TikTok Shop Content Guidelines. We recommend reading the guidelines to ensure your posts adhere to community standards, avoid prohibited items, and maintain a positive user shopping experience. That’ll help you avoid content removal and potential account penalties.

Step 5: Promote your products with TikTok Ads and organic content

To get more views and sales, you can use TikTok Ads. Here are the 7 most popular TikTok ad types:

1. In-Feed Ads: These appear in users’ For You feed and can include likes, comments, shares, and a call-to-action button​

2. TopView Ads: These are the first ads users see when they open the app, offering full-screen, high-impact visibility​

3. Video Shopping Ads: These are shoppable, short videos that integrate seamlessly into the TikTok feed

4. Catalog Listing Ads: These display a list of products, allowing users to browse and shop directly from the ad​

5. Live Shopping Ads: These direct viewers to live broadcasts where they can purchase featured products

6. Branded Effects: These include custom stickers, AR filters, and lenses to get more engagement through creative content

7. Carousel Ads: These allow users to swipe through multiple images or videos within a single ad, ideal for showcasing a variety of products

To create, manage, and optimize your ad campaigns, you’ll be using TikTok Ads Manager. It’s an all-encompassing ad platform for publishing and measuring campaigns. You’ll be able to access detailed analytics and get data-driven insights to make informed decisions about your business.

Source: TikTok for Business

You can also choose not to use ads and instead focus on creating high-quality, engaging content. You can organically reach potential customers by:

• Following popular trends and jumping on the ones that align with your brand

• Using relevant hashtags

• Engaging with your audience through comments

Or, you can get the best of both worlds—create engaging content and run ads. Consistency and creativity are key to maintaining and growing your presence on TikTok without relying solely on paid advertisements.

Step 6: Encourage user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) on TikTok is seen as highly authentic, and TikTok users value genuine and relatable content. UGC includes photos, videos, comments, and reviews.

A recent report by Sprout Social shows that diverse and creative UGC on TikTok and other platforms helps build brand loyalty, drive repeat buys, and grow business.

Here’s why you should encourage and use UGC:

• Customers love it: By featuring user content, you make customers feel valued and part of a larger community, fostering brand loyalty and repeat purchases

• Algorithms promote it: UGC typically receives more likes, shares, and comments, and TikTok’s algorithm favors content that generates high engagement

• It doubles as social proof: Seeing real people enjoying your products can influence potential buyers and build credibility

• You don’t pay for it: You can repurpose videos created by your users, saving on production while getting a steady stream of fresh content

For example, Benefit Cosmetics reposted a video in which a makeup artist, Colleen Milner, uses their products to create “strawberry and pumpkin makeup.” 

What are the requirements for selling on TikTok?

To sell on TikTok, you need a TikTok Business Account and access to TikTok’s Creator or Business tools. Plus, you must comply with TikTok’s Commerce policies, which include having a verified business, adhering to community guidelines, and meeting regional requirements.

How much does it cost to sell on TikTok?

The cost of selling on TikTok depends on what you’re selling but can include Marketplace Commission, Transaction, and Shipping Fees, as well as costs for third-party integrations and paid ads. If you choose to run paid ads, the advertising costs, typically start from $10 per 1K impressions.

Final thoughts

TikTok continues to grow every year and presents an exciting opportunity to make money. One reason this platform is so enticing is the potential for virality, which can skyrocket your business.

Whether you launch a business with print-on-demand or otherwise, you have a clear roadmap for doing it right. All that’s left to do is apply these 6 steps. Happy selling!

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