Here at TBA Global, we’ve recently embarked upon an exclusively partnership to provide our renowned compliance services for sellers looking to sell on TikTok Shop! 

What is TikTok Shop?

It’s likely you’ve heard of TikTok already – the social media platform taking the world by storm.  It’s well known for its eye-catching and addictive short-form video content that has kept people scrolling, and has already amassed over 3.4 billion downloads worldwide, with more than 1 billion active monthly users.  

TikTok Shop is one of the newest online marketplaces, but this time it’s powered by social media – unlike traditional storefronts, you can advertise and sell directly to users, as they are browsing their TikTok feed. 

Whether you’re a business looking to expand into new markets, or a social media influencer seeking additional revenue streams, TikTok Shop opens up exciting opportunities for growth and engagement in the ever-evolving digital landscape.  Selling has never been more interactive and personalised!

In addition to TikTok Shop revenue, income can also be earned from the Creator Fund, which allows content creators to monetise their content.  When combined with TikTok Shop, there are a vast array of different opportunities to make money!

How do customers shop on TikTok Shop?

There are four different ways for sellers to sell directly to their customers:

1. ‘Live’ shopping – sell to your viewers whilst hosting livestreams
2. Shoppable videos – attach product links to video posts
3. Product showcases – create a brand/seller profile with a personalised storefront
4. Shop tab – a more traditional online marketplace for TikTok users to browse, linked to published video content

It is up to sellers to choose how they sell – it can be any one of the four options, or even all of the above!

What are the most popular videos?

Short-form videos are not only useful for social media, but is one of the best ways to instantly attract attention.  As a seller, you’ll need to know which video categories are the most popular, and how they could be monetised.  Here are 16 of them:

Beauty

This type of content is quite common, with few very original videos. Most are reposted. If it’s a personal display, you can monetise through the creator fund or via live-streaming to sell clothing or other products.

Fitness

Fitness videos are a niche category, covering topics like fitness routines, yoga, and more. You can convert followers into personal training clients or sell related products like fitness equipment and supplements.

Lifestyle Products

Whether it’s home goods, fashion, or small appliances, the more niche the content, the better it performs in terms of monetization. This category is great for those looking to cash in through e-commerce.

Movies/TV

Edited movie clips are always popular, but different regions have varying preferences. You can earn from the creator fund, and it’s a great way to gain followers. However, it can often involve copyright issues.

Food

Food is a universal favourite! Food content grows followers fast and is great for attracting ads. Whether you’re sharing recipes, taste tests, or restaurant reviews, how you position your content is key.

Parenting

Content in this category mainly focuses on daily parenting routines or cute baby moments. In addition to earning from the creator fund, you can monetise through products related to early childhood education or parenthood.

Comedy

Comedy short videos are common and attract followers easily, though monetisation options are limited. You can earn from the creator fund, and with a large enough following, you might also land ads.

Pets

If the content isn’t original footage of personal pets, reposted videos are common in this category. Monetisation comes through the creator fund, ads, or selling pet food and toys.

Curiosity

This type of content grows followers quickly but often runs the risk of not being recommended or even being removed. Monetisation channels are limited, mainly relying on the creator fund.

Magic

Magic videos tend to have high view counts and can quickly grow followers. You can earn from the creator fund and potentially sell magic-related products.

Makeup

From makeup tutorials and reviews to beauty tips, this category offers multiple ways to monetise. The more niche and focused the content, the better, with e-commerce as a solid avenue.

Handicrafts

Handicraft creators can showcase their work, which often has artistic value. However, unless they mass-produce items, monetisation is limited.

Sports

Activities like hiking, bungee jumping, and skiing are great for gaining followers fast, and you can monetise through the creator fund. If you build a personal brand, live-streaming offers further monetisation opportunities.

Gaming

This category depends on the type of content you create, such as highlights or game guides. Besides the creator fund, you can also get ads.

Celebrities

Post content about celebrities that foreign audiences love. This type of video gains followers quickly but has weaker monetisation potential, making it suitable for earning through the creator fund.

Special Effects

These videos have a certain technical threshold and can quickly attract attention. You can earn well from the creator fund and later offer special effects tutorials or direct traffic to private communities.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless.  How you tie your products into those videos is up to you!

Availability  on TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is currently available in the following regions:

• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Vietnam

TikTok will eventually expand further into other regions – stay tuned for further updates.

Next time, we’ll talk about how you can register on TikTok Shop and get started with your new ecommerce venture!

Business activity on TikTok Shop is subject to local regulations in the same manner as selling on traditional storefronts and online marketplaces.  Regulations can apply to both individual sellers (often referred to as ‘sole traders’) and established companies.  It is important to ensure that you are aware of your own legal obligations and/or responsibilities when conducting business online, especially in relation to any local and/or international regulations that may apply to you.  If you have any questions, get in touch with us at info@tbaglobal.com for a free one-to-one consultation.