TikTok is on its heels to offer more money to creators. Its new ecommerce and in-stream seller tools allows users to add them into their videos, profiles, and livestreams.
The latest update is a new education portal called TikTok Shop: Seller University, currently in its testing stage in Indonesia.
“…a training hub to help you do business on TikTok. We offer a full suite of lessons on seller tools, policies and the latest updates to the shop. Start to learn and sell big!” says TikTok about the new education platform.
Users can then sign-up to sell products on TikTok .
“If you choose to sell through your personal page, you can then display products via livestreaming or short videos, with product anchors embedded in your content. When customers view your content, they can be re-directed to the corresponding product detail page by clicking on the product anchor.”
TikTok says those who sign up can showcase their products on a different tab on their profile page.
The program also has an affiliate feature. It allows brands to connect with popular TikTok creators to promote their offers.
“If you choose to sell through Affiliate, you can upload your products to the Seller Center, set your promotion plans, and collaborate with TikTok influencers to promote your products,” says TikTok.
That also ties into TikTok’s Creator Marketplace, which provides a listing of platform influencers that brands can partner with for promotions.
Ecommerce is key for TikTok to evolve, as it builds an ecosystem for creators to make money for their efforts. Otherwise, they will post their content to Instagram or YouTube. And if TikTok loses those influencers and top creators, it will lose to the competition.
TikTok parent ByteDance has leaned into ecommerce through its Chinese version Douyin. It now has most of its revenue from in-stream shopping.
TikTok is closing in on one billion users. If it can effectively release money-generating tools for creators, it can turn into a major challenger for big social media companies and ad dollars in the long term.
To sell products on TikTok, you must sign up for a TikTok account.
“Once you’ve signed up to TikTok, you can then join the TikTok Shop through the Seller Center. Please follow the instructions below:
- First, sign up as a TikTok Shop seller and enter your basic information such as where you are based, your phone number, email address, and more. Please note that all fields must be completed.
- Next, enter your basic business information such as shop name, where your shop is based, warehouse address, and more.
- Complete or provide the required documents (such as your business registration information or personal information). The TikTok Shop reserves the right to verify the information that has been submitted.”
Seller Center is not available for sign up yet.
