TikTok Shop is growing for users around the world. With TikTok Shop, users are able to purchase and pay for products directly from a video or livestream, without having to leave the app.
For some, it’s the revolution of the year; for others, an exciting new playing field. What does the arrival of TikTok Shop mean for you as a new entrepreneur? And how can you adapt your online store to this trend? In this blog, we’ll walk you through it and explain everything!
The opportunities
The biggest advantage of TikTok Shop is that you don’t have to start from scratch. Your products are immediately shown to an audience that actively uses the platform and is interested in this type of video. The barrier between discovery and purchase has never been lower: see a cool gadget or trendy outfit? Just tap the product tag and it’s already ordered!
The downside
Although the reach is appealing, TikTok Shop also comes with strict regulations and costs:
- The commission: Of course, TikTok doesn’t offer this for free. The platform commission in Europe and the UK has been 9%. In America it is around 6%. That’s a significant chunk of your profit margin.
- Quick turnaround: TikTok’s algorithm can reward you with thousands of orders today and ignore you tomorrow. Can your logistics handle that sudden spike in orders? TikTok penalizes online stores that deliver late or make administrative errors!
What about Webador and TikTok Shop?
At this time, we don’t have a direct, built-in integration with TikTok Shop. TikTok often requires a platform that uses a public API to synchronize products and inventory in real time for an official live integration.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it! If you use Webador, there are still two smart ways you can capitalize on the TikTok hype:
Method 1: The Link-in-Bio
Instead of letting users check out directly within the TikTok app, you redirect them to your own online store.
- Business Account: Switch to a TikTok Business account for free. This allows you to include a clickable link to your website in your bio.
- Call-to-Action: Create videos about your products and always end with a call-to-action. For example: “Click the link in my bio to order.”
Method 2: Selling manually through TikTok Seller Center
Are you eager to use TikTok Shop? If so, you can manually create a shop through the TikTok Seller Center.
- Manual entry: You manually enter your current products, images, and prices on the TikTok platform.
- Keep an eye on your inventory: Since there is no automatic integration, your inventory will not sync. If you sell something on TikTok, you must manually update the inventory in your Webador online store!
Opportunity or Risk?
Is TikTok Shop a goldmine? Or more of an e-commerce pitfall? The answer is probably somewhere in between.
By using TikTok to create content and direct visitors to your own website via your bio, you can expand your reach without having to deal with the platform’s associated costs.
