Is it worth selling on TikTok? Yes, it is!
And we’re not the only one that thinks it is worth selling on TikTok, but also 31+ thousand shop owners, solely in the US are on the same side!
From its affordable seller fees to the possibility of going viral, we consider TikTok Shop is among the most potential marketplaces, where social and commerce align.
Here are some key takeaways as you scroll down our TikTok Shop reviews:
- Your potential customers are likely to be young and stay from 18 to 24 years old.
- This sales channel is a legitimate one.
- You’ll be leveraging highly interactive shopping features once you sell on TikTok.
Are you eager to know more? Keep reading our post to find out “Is selling on TikTok Shop worth it?”
What is TikTok Shop?
TikTok Shop is an eCommerce feature of TikTok, which serves as an online marketplace. How does TikTok Shop work? Simply put, TikTok Shop allows merchants, brands, and creators to display and sell items directly on this short video platform.
In other words, people can either sell or shop with TikTok via video feeds, live streams, and product pages. All items and services are promoted in video format on TikTok. Accordingly, this makes shopping more fun and casual on this platform.
More about selling on TikTok Shop, it goes heavily on social commerce experience, which is a huge difference from conventional marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. This results from TikTok itself first serving as a social media platform.
Another thing you may notice if you choose TikTok Shop as your sales channel is that its community is trend-driven. What does this mean for sellers? We can say that if you can create great content, and possibly a trend, TikTok Shop is a real game changer for you.
How to create a TikTok shop? Check out our How to Set Up TikTok Shop article now for a detailed guide with easy steps!
Who Can Sell on TikTok Shop?
Up to this point, TikTok Shop availability is still limited. To be exact, only sellers from the following regions can sell on TikTok:
- The United States
- The United Kingdom
- China
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Indonesia
When signing up for TikTok Shop to earn money, you can choose to be in one of these four categories:
- Sellers: Companies or individuals that directly sell products through their TikTok profiles.
- Creators: Influencers or content producers who promote products and items to their followers.
- Partners: Businesses assist sellers and creators with eCommerce services on TikTok Shop. If you have an eCommerce solution to ease the selling process on TikTok, you can sign up as a partner.
- Affiliates: Affiliates refer to marketing channels where sellers find influencers or creators and earn a commission by referring sales. If you already have a seller or creator account, you can sign up for this program.
More about TikTok Shop reviews, here is a small note if you are going to sell on this social commerce platform soon:
- If you are a licensed business, you can start selling on TikTok Shop as a seller. You can learn more about TikTok Shop guides for business via this article about how to use TikTok Shop for business.
- If you want to become a TikTok creator, you need to have at least 1,000 followers and 50 videos posted within the last 28 days.
Who Buys from TikTok Shop?
One of the biggest factors that answer “is it worth selling on TikTok?” – Who is going to buy your products on this marketplace?
Here are some highlights we’ve rounded up:
- Your potential customers on TikTok are likely to be in the age group from 18 to 25. This is a young audience speaking the fact. And more about them? The keyword “Gen Z” is coming to the scene. More than that, Gen Z spends even more time on TikTok than Instagram. (Source: Sprout Social)
- Shoppers use TikTok as a search engine whenever they want to look up a product. Many of them also stay updated by scrolling through TikTok feeds.
- You can be sell to a quite equal market if you choose to become a TikTok seller. We believe this should be the case since up to 52% of the total TikTok users are female, and the 48% remained are male.
- Your customers will likely buy products from engagement content. And for TikTok, the product view is delivered through videos or a series of images. Make sure you’ve got some great content to actually make a sale.
Have you cleared some ideas about your potential customers on TikTok? Let’s move on and see if is selling on TikTok worth it. We’re about to get our POV straight right below!
Is It Worth Selling on TikTok Shop?
To fully answer our big question, you should consider your business goals, targets, products, and many other aspects. However, we believe the advancement of TikTok Shop opens up new possibilities for eCommerce businesses with various advantages.
Indeed, we cannot tell if TikTok would win sellers over other eCommerce giants like Amazon or eBay. But is it worth selling on TikTok? We’d let you decide that based on the 5 top benefits of TikTok Shop:
- Expanding reach and high brand visibility
- Increasing customer engagement
- Having higher conversion rates
- Gaining insights from data-driven marketing
- Delivering a seamless shopping experience
1. Expanding reach, brand visibility, and overall engagement
Unlike Amazon or eBay, TikTok Shop brings a whole new breeze into commerce. There is so much more engagement within the platform itself. And our first prominent reason indicating it is worth selling on TikTok is that the platform can really help with reach, brand visibility, and overall engagement. Let’s now go through some supporting points:
- Vast user base: With over a billion active users spending an average of 58 minutes and 24 seconds daily on the app, TikTok offers businesses a broad audience and potential for virality (According to Exploding Topics).
- Interactive shopping environment: TikTok’s creative tools enable interactive product demonstrations, enhancing user engagement.
- Influencer collaboration: Partnering with TikTok influencers can significantly expand brand visibility, and the platform gives excellent encouragement towards this.
- Engaging content: The platform’s design fosters highly engaged audiences, while its global reach allows businesses to connect with diverse demographics.
2. Increasing customer engagement
TikTok has become very effective at driving customer engagement. Unlike other social networks, TikTok understands that human attention spans are limited. So, the platform focuses on short, entertaining videos. This TikTok shopping feature helps viewers immerse themselves in continuous cycles.
For businesses, this high engagement makes TikTok very effective for converting interested customers into sales. If you are a seller or creator, you need to catch up with the TikTok shopping trends that users often search for. You can use the TikTok tool and create something interesting with trending filters, effects, and soundtracks. That will help you connect with desired viewers.
For example, a clothing store can create videos showcasing how their items can be mixed and matched in style. These videos can feature trendy and catchy songs along with captivating transitions. This approach will help attract users to engage with the brand and its products.
3. Having higher conversion rates
Is it worth selling on TikTok? With high chances of conversion, we firmly believe it is!
If you already have ideas for viral TikTok products to sell in mind, you may wonder how to get sales from them. Here are three effective TikTok features that can help you get higher conversion rates compared to other platforms:
- Immersive content experience: TikTok Shop’s power lies in leveraging videos for higher conversion rates. Videos are more emotional than photos or words. So, selling on TikTok helps merchants make sales because customers feel more involved.
- Shoppable ads and product tags: As mentioned previously in this “What is Tiktok Shop” guide, brands can tag specific products right on their in-feed videos and shop ads. That means if viewers love the products they showcase in the videos, they purchase right away with just a click. This convenience generates higher sales compared to other ad types.
- Personalized recommendations: Understanding individual profiles and behavior, TikTok uses algorithms to recommend personalized product suggestions that are highly relevant to each user. This relevance surely drives up conversion.
4. Gaining insights from data-driven marketing
We think sellers can gain valuable insights and manage their stores with extremely rational decisions. Backing up our statement, they get to leverage data-driven seller tools on TikTok Shop. More detailedly, check our following highlights:
- TikTok Shop analytics tools: Detailed sales reports, product performance analysis, customer behavior tracking, and time & seasonality analysis are available. From those inputs, TikTok sellers like you get comprehensive insights into sales performance, product popularity, customer engagement, and seasonal trends.
- Third-party tools: TikTok has been encouraging its sellers through partnerships with many third parties. When selling on this platform, sellers can utilize third-party analysis tools like Shoplus for advanced reporting, data visualization or LitCommerce for multichannel inventory listing and management.
Launch Your Business on TikTok with LitCommerce Today
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5. Delivering a seamless shopping experience
Our last reason why is it worth selling on TikTok – TikTok Shop delivers a seamless shopping experience. By integrating commerce directly into the app, this sales channel allows users to transition effortlessly from content consumption to product purchase with just a single tap.
This integration creates a captivating and interactive shopping experience, removing the barriers between content and commerce. As a solid belief, it has been redefining the concept of seamless shopping by offering a fluid and natural extension of content consumption
Is TikTok Shop Legit?
Yes, it certainly is. We firmly believe that TikTok Shop is legitimate, and it empowers a transparent shopping environment. And why are we pleading this case? Based on our observations and experience with TikTok Shop, we realized that:
- For sellers:
- TikTok Shop enforces strict product guidelines, requires legitimate business verification, and ensures secure payment gateways to maintain safety standards.
- Before you can sell on TikTok, the whole system requires you to go through a seller vetting process, which can involve a background check.
- When selling on TikTok, be cautious with your delivered content. TikTok Shop invests heavily in AI, machine learning, and algorithms to detect potential instances of fraud, infringement, and unsafe content.
- For shoppers:
- TikTok provides protections such as refunds, purchase protection, and a reporting system to address issues with orders or suspicious sellers.
- Shoppers on TikTok Shop can check seller ratings, avoid non-branded generics, and use buyer protection when making purchases.
- The platform presents an exciting opportunity to discover and purchase products, but exercising caution is always recommended.
Now, tell us: Do you think TikTok Shop is legit? We can’t wait to hear your point of view!
What Tiktok Shopping Feature Can Sellers Use?
TikTok Shop provides sellers, influencers, and partners with shopping features and ad tools to connect with customers. This “What is TikTok Shop” guide will show you what TikTok shopping feature you can use to successfully sell on TikTok. Below are nine main features that this social commerce feature currently offers to its sellers:
- In-feed videos
- LIVE shopping
- Product page
- Shop shopping center
- Affiliate program
- TikTok Shop ads
- TikTok fulfillment
- Secure Payment
- TikTok shopping app and service
1. In-feed shoppable videos
In-feed videos are common things you can find on the TikTok app. When TikTok launched its TikTok, it launched a new feature called shoppable video. They are videos with product links. That means TikTok shop merchants and creators can add links to their videos. Then, users can click to those links and shop right from their watching content.
2. LIVE shopping
As its name suggests, LIVE shopping means customers can shop your products directly on the live site. When you go live on TikTok, you can display your products and answer customer questions. Like Amazon Live, TikTok allows merchants to highlight products within the user interface using the pin feature. So, those interested in your products while watching can add items to their TikTok shopping cart. They can instantly pay or wait until after the live video ends to complete their purchase.
3. Product page
What is TikTok Shop’s product page? This is where viewers can access your product selection within your TikTok profile by tapping the shopping button shaped like a bag. This TikTok shopping feature opens up a showcase displaying your products with photos, titles, and customer reviews. As a TikTok shop merchant, you have the ability to feature custom collections of merchandise directly on your profile page for customers to easily browse.
Some profiles on TikTok may feature item selections without being an official TikTok Shop. These are usually affiliate accounts where the user does not own the brand or products themselves. Instead, they showcase products and earn commissions if viewers make purchases through affiliated links.
4. TikTok shopping center
In 2023, TikTok recently launched a new shopping feature called the TikTok shopping center. When users tap the Shopping icon, they can view products from multiple brands all in one place, like a marketplace. Note that this marketplace is currently only available to certain TikTok audiences.
5. Affiliate program
What is TikTok Shop’s affiliate program? This new feature allows influencers to monetize their creativity while giving sellers flexible options to promote their brands. Creators are able to earn money by featuring sellers’ items in their videos and livestreams. At the same time, TikTok shop merchants have a way to reach wider audiences in an engaging format. It provides a win-win solution for all involved parties.
6. TikTok Shop ads
TikTok is introducing new ad types to help businesses on the platform. These ads allow people to discover products and purchase directly on the TikTok shopping app.
TikTok offers different types of ads to promote products:
- TikTok video shopping ads: allow brands to create engaging ads that people can watch and immediately add their favorite items to TikTok shopping cart.
- TikTok catalog listing ads: present collections of related items organized in an easy-to-browse list format.
- TikTok LIVE shopping ads: help attract more users to tune into the brand’s live stream and conveniently shop featured goods without leaving the platform.
7. TikTok fulfillment
Next on our “What is TikTok Shop” topic, let’s talk about its fulfillment. TikTok Shop offers a logistics solution to help merchants streamline order fulfillment. With this TikTok shopping feature, businesses can concentrate on selling their items while leaving the storage, order picking, packaging, and shipment tasks to TikTok Shop.
Compared to other top online marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy, the fulfillment feature of TikTok Shop is more advanced. This is because those marketplaces require their sellers to handle fulfillment. Although Amazon has Fulfillment by Amazon, sellers still need to send products to an Amazon fulfillment center. In contrast, TikTok Shop merchants don’t need to do anything except promote their products on the platform and prepare the products to be picked up.
For more information about Etsy, check out our detailed Etsy review with 6 key factors!
8. Secure payment
TikTok collaborates with reliable third-party payment systems like Credit/Debit Card, Paypal, or Apple Pay to make transactions on TikTok Shop swift and secure.
Plus, user data from TikTok Shop is safeguarded, stored, and managed within the United States by USDS. This ensures data protection and efficient checkouts.
9.TikTok shopping app and service
As more companies utilize TikTok’s services, the platform expands its offerings to help these businesses. Let this “What is TikTok Shop” guide tell you about new partners with which this selling feature currently works.
- eCommerce platform partner
TikTok understands businesses use various platforms to promote their online sales. Therefore, it provides integrations and connections between TikTok Shop and other popular eCommerce systems. Shopify merchants, for example, can access and control their TikTok store directly through Shopify’s interface, thanks to the TikTok shopping app.
In addition, TikTok allows direct integration with other platforms like WooCommerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, BigCommerce, and Magento. If you’re using a different commerce platform, you can still integrate your TikTok Shop using connector apps such as AfterShip, Silk, or SKUIQ.
- Multichannel partners
Many companies sell through multiple online venues. To help these omni-channel sellers, TikTok collaborates directly with major multi-platform management services like LitCommerce, Channeladvisor, Feedonomics, Productsup, and more. You can find these apps right on the TikTok Seller Center.
- Additional service partners
TikTok also partners with various application providers experienced in supporting eCommerce needs. These include:
- Customer service apps like Zendesk, Gorgias, and 1440.
- Print-on-demand merchandise platforms like Printful, Printify, and NovaTomato.
- Shipping services like WeeBee, Flowspace, and Easyship.
These apps contribute to a seamless and efficient eCommerce operation, catering to various aspects of the business. What is TikTok Shop’s app working best for your business? It depends. However, if you find a solution for multichannel selling, you can consider our solution.
Is Selling on TikTok Shop Worth It: FAQs
The most appealing part of the TikTok Shop is that it is required at no cost for any business or brand to get started. You can list your products for free and pay nothing for a business plan. However, TikTok does deduct a 5% fee from the proceeds of items sold, which is much lower than 6.5 % of Etsy or 8-15% of Amazon Marketplace. TikTok Shop provides sellers with various features to showcase and promote their products. Businesses can customize their storefront right on the platform and tag products on videos and TikTok video shopping ads to encourage users to purchase. TikTok Shop and Seller Center differ in their functions. TikTok Shop focuses on promoting and selling products. Meanwhile, Seller Center provides an online management hub accessible via TikTok Shop. Through this interface, merchants control store operations and product inventory. Yes, absolutely. TikTok started its eCommerce feature in the United States first. Hence, there is no doubt that you can find TikTok Shop USA on the platform. If you want to open a TikTok Shop US, you can visit the TikTok shop seller center USA to register an account. Yes, it is. Selling on TikTok Shop lets you tap into a massive audience of 1+ billion users on the platform, leverage highly interactive shopping features, and enhance your overall chances of conversion.
Don’t Miss a Chance to Sell on Tiktok Shop!
Is TikTok Shop worth it? Yes, it is!
TikTok Shop shows promise as a potential selling platform for all sellers, from business owners to individuals. Especially, the chances of you earning from the platform stand even higher when you can create high-quality content. We don’t know if you are going viral any time soon!
We hope that this guide has helped you answer the question: “Is it worth selling on TikTok” and learn more about its features. If you need some tips to thrive on this platform, we also have suggested some useful ones that any TikTok online store can make use of.
Should you require any assistance with your TikTok Shop or want to integrate it with other top marketplaces for selling products, contact us anytime.
Besides, we have a Retail Blog section where retailers can access valuable eCommerce guides and strategies. Happy reading!
