Taking Your Ecommerce Business to TikTok 101

If you’re not using TikTok ads or optimizing your presence on this growing platform, you’re missing out on brand awareness & increased revenue potential. Studies show that 72% of users find ads on TikTok more inspiring than any other social platform. Nearly half of U.S. TikTok users also have a household income of over $100,000, giving them the disposable income to spend more while browsing your ecommerce store.

Not sure how to make the most of the platform? We put together a guide to help you take your ecommerce business to TikTok & crush your sales plateaus.

Figure Out If Your Audience Is On TikTok

TikTok may be a wildly popular social media platform, but that doesn’t mean your target market is on it. Currently, 57% of TikTok users are female, & 43% are male. Around 43% of its users are between 18 & 24 years old. Another 32% of TikTok users are between 25 & 34, but less than 4% of the audience is older than 55.

You may realize TikTok isn’t the most effective way to spend your ad dollars. There’s no reason to be actively spending on the platform unless you’re going to connect with the customers you want to target the most.

Create Your Account

The first step on your TikTok journey is creating an account & visiting the Ads Manager signup page. Fill in all the required information, which will prompt the system to send you a code to verify your account.

Add Your Online Store Information

As you build out your profile & account, enter your online store information, including your location & currency preference. You’ll also need to add your business name & details. Make sure your store’s URL is entered correctly, or TikTok won’t be able to verify your account.

Select Your Payment Preferences

Select your payment preferences for your ads account & select whether you want manual or automatic payments. To date, you won’t be able to change that preference once you set it, so make sure you choose wisely. 

Wait for Approval 

Once all of your business information is entered & ready to go, it’s time to submit your account. You should hear within 24 hours whether or not your account is approved & if you can start running ads for your ecommerce business. If you are rejected, it’s usually due to one of the following reasons:

• Your URL is incorrect
• Your online store doesn’t sell the products or services you indicated
• Your product or service is prohibited by TikTok

Some landing pages are prohibited by TikTok, like those that aren’t mobile-friendly, require users to download programs or input personal information or content focused on hte military, anything discriminatory, or restricted categories like gambling & alcohol. Get a full run-down of why your TikTok account or ads may be prohibited here.

Review TikTok Ads Manager & Dashboard

Now is the time to browse your TikTok ads manager & dashboard. Spend time exploring the platform & the different features & options available. TikTok offers several options for your business, including agencies, small business, larger enterprises, & content creators. 

Stay on Top of the Trends

TikTok trends change swiftly & require keeping your pulse on the action. Carve out time every week to see what’s going on with TikTok & monitor what your competitors & favorite influencers are doing. From how the content they create to the way they respond to comments, you can gather valuable information on paying attention & folding it into your own TikTok campaigns.

Staying on top of the trends is also about changing up your inventory to see what your audience wants. Print-on-demand (POD) makes it easy to customize dozens of products, from hoodies to color-changing coffee cups & artwork. Just upload your latest designs to CustomCat’s library, & we’ll produce, fulfill, & ship everything out when you make a sale. When the trends shift, you can upload new ideas & start testing them all over again.

Learn how to get started on CustomCat here.

Create an Ad Campaign on TikTok

Once you feel comfortable with the Ads Manager & Dashboard, start creating your first ad campaign. You have a few ad types to choose from, including: 

• In-Feed Ads
• Spark Ads
• TopView Ads
• Brand Takeover Ads
• Branded Hashtag Challenge Ads
• Branded Effects

If you’re not sure where to start in your TikTok ad journey, check out what your competitors are doing & how their audience responds. Is their content funny? Educational? Surprising? Carefully study what works (and what doesn’t) in your industry to create more effective ads.

Check Your Reporting & Analytics

Once you have your TikTok ads up & running for your online store, keep an eye on your reporting. Monitor which ads convert the best & adjust accordingly. At the same time, you want to keep an eye on your website analytics. As you post content on TikTok or run more ads, you may see an influx in traffic or unusual spikes when your ads run, or someone mentions your products & services on TikTok.

Work with Other Content Creators

TikTok ads aren’t the only way to earn more attention for your online store. Work with content creators to create sponsored content. Make sure the creator’s audience is similar to yours to increase conversions. Although it’s wise to share your goals & any specifications of what features or items you want to promote, give the influencer room to experiment & create. After all, their loyal fan base is there for a reason & resonates with their specific brand of content.

Manage Your TikTok Presence

Beyond your TikTok ad strategy, your online store also needs a solid TikTok presence. Create engaging videos for your audience to show off what you’re working on, what’s going on with your business, & fun moments during the day. Remember to offer value & shift focus away from the promotional once in a while. When prospective customers look at your TikTok channel, they should have a strong sense of your business, branding, & what you offer.

 

How are you leveraging ecommerce for your online business? Let us know by leaving a comment below!