The phrase “TikTok made me buy it” is about to take on a whole new meaning. That's because the social media app recently introduced a new feature on the platform called TikTok Shop, which allows users to shop for all the goodies in their FYP without leaving the app. So if you've been easily swayed into buying noteworthy blenders and eye-catching beauty products before, just wait until you hit the button to add them to your cart.
After testing the feature in November 2022, the TikTok Store will officially launch in the app sometime during the summer. TikTok Shop is a "one-stop e-commerce solution that directly drives TikTok sales," according to TikTok's announcement of the feature. Unlike the short-lived Instagram Store tab, which received backlash from fans, the TikTok Store isn't a button you can accidentally click when you just want to post a video. Instead, shopping options exist within five-year plans. To find it, all you have to do is scroll until you see a video with the shopping feature set up.
Accounts wishing to sell products through TikTok Shop must first sign up for the feature. To do this, navigate to your profile and click on the three-line icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Next, select Creator Tools and then Creator Marketplace. From there, you can check if you are eligible for TikTok Shop. To qualify, you must be 18 or older, have 10,000 followers or more, have posted 3 or more videos in the past 30 days, and have 1,000 video views or more in the past 30 days. If you're eligible, you can choose to join as one of four options: seller, creator, partner, or affiliate.
Sellers can pawn their items directly through the TikTok app, which means artisans get higher conversion rates in their pockets, as well as access to performance analytics, affiliate program membership, and more. Creators can add products to videos and live streams, earn affiliate commissions, and form seamless partnerships with brands. By joining as a partner, you'll have the opportunity to work with brands and creators and learn more about ecommerce to help grow your account. Affiliate sellers can work with creators to help promote their products, and affiliate creators can find companies looking to partner through the affiliate product marketplace.
Of course, you don't have to be a creator or a small business to use TikTok Shop. As you scroll through FYP, you can easily purchase popular items by clicking the black "Shop" button above the creator handle. If the user tagged a specific item in the video, the name of the item should appear next to "Store." From there, the product and its price will pop up on your screen, and you can choose to "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart." You can also access a creator's marketplace by navigating directly to their profile and then clicking on the "Shopping Bag" tab to access all of their products listed on the page.
Whether you're in the market for a new phone case or want to fill your home with the latest trendy home decor, it might not be a bad idea to keep your credit card handy while reading the Five-Year Plan. After all, you never know what you might find.
