TikTok has reached the status of a worldwide sensation and has broken several records over the years. Currently, the app is on its way to becoming a big part of the $80 billion social commerce market, which exploded in popularity during the pandemic.
Content creators and influencers flocked towards the platform to produce unique content and gain traction. Fast forward three years, and now everyone’s on TikTok, from small-time influencers to Hollywood celebrities. It wasn’t long until brands started noticing the platform and working towards capitalizing on the trend.
This article will discuss whether TikTok is the right platform for e-commerce businesses and how it can be used in e-commerce marketing.
Can TikTok be used for e-commerce?
The simple answer to this is yes. TikTok has recently announced partnerships with Shopify and Square, allowing users to purchase straight from the app. It means that brands can build awareness on TikTok and convert users into customers on the spot. This is just one example of how TikTok is becoming a haven for e-commerce businesses and a great place to improve their reach.
As people are more inclined towards making transactions online, e-commerce businesses are booming. The problem comes when you try to differentiate yourself and get your product in front of the right people. Platforms such as TikTok are the perfect gateway for gathering new leads and building your brand’s presence.
How Can I Promote my Business on TikTok?
There are several solutions available in the market today that can help you promote your brand on social media platforms and boost sales. Look for solutions such as invoice and payment templates, pop ups, forms, and plugins to direct your audience from your website to all the most popular social media apps, including TikTok.
Tips for TikTok Marketing
TikTok is a personalized social media platform that content creators and brands can use to engage with a worldwide audience.
Here are five steps that you can take to enhance your marketing efforts on TikTok:
Open up to your followers
The one thing that all of your followers want is authenticity. We have all seen advertisements that are there for the sole purpose of selling. However, once you step your foot into the realm of TikTok, you cannot expect just to run an advertisement and have people rush to buy your products. This is where authenticity comes into play. Your followers want to see behind the scenes of the brand—real people in real-life situations.
The better you relate to your audience, the better are your chances at attracting them and potentially converting them into paying customers. According to a study, 90% of consumers agree that authenticity is important when choosing brands to buy from.
Give back to the followers
One of the best ways to build your followers is through contests and giveaways. People rarely say no to free stuff, and if your brand is willing to give back to the community, it can expect to reach a lot more people for a lot less marketing spend.
Running contests on TikTok can help you bring new audiences to your page, and although some of them might leave once the contest is over, there is a high probability that many of them will like your content and stay.
Some of the things you need to keep in mind when running a contest are:
- Set clear guidelines for the contest
- Create a hashtag to help with sorting the contest related content
- Repurpose the content on your page with the creator’s permission to show authenticity
Share more than just a sales pitch
Constantly shoving your product down the customer’s throat is a sure-fire way of losing the customer altogether. The best way to overcome this is by offering your followers valuable insight and tips. Sharing information rather than a marketing pitch can do wonders for your page.
Crafting unique content shows your followers that your brand isn’t only interested in sales but is also invested in creating a stellar user experience. Additionally, this builds trust and a strong connection between your brand and the customers. According to a study, 33% of customers would stop buying from a brand if they lost confidence in it.
Hashtags are your best friends
TikTok and other social media apps rely on hashtags to organize their content. Your brand needs to take advantage of these hashtags to capture a larger audience. Creating hashtags relevant to your brand can help you drastically improve your reach and attract people interested in your brand. Experts also advise using hashtags that are trending or commonly used on the platform.
Use TikTok Ads
Running ads on any platform can help you gain followers. However, TikTok ads are a relatively new concept. Although the base principle of these ads remains similar to those found on other websites, you can find new ways to run the ads.
Data suggests that TikTok has an average CPC of $0.19 and a CPM of only $1.82. When we compare this to a CPM of $6.73 for Facebook and Instagram, it is clear that TikTok ads are more efficient and better to use for your business.
Wrapping Up
Brands have been using social media platforms to promote their products for years. From the boom of Facebook to Snapchat and now TikTok, businesses have leveraged these platforms to find their potential audience. If you want your brand to succeed on TikTok, make sure your content is authentic and valuable, and don’t forget the power of paid ads.