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TikTok Shop Marketplace: Your guide to social commerce success

January 12, 2024

We know TikTok as a social media platform, but recently TikTok opened up a marketplace for external sellers as well, TikTok Shop. This article will explain what TikTok Shop is and how you can get started selling on it. Follow this comprehensive guide to unlock the full potential of TikTok's dynamic marketplace.

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TikTok Shop Marketplace: Your guide to social commerce success

What is TikTok Shop marketplace

TikTok Shop marketplacce is the social commerce side of the popular social media platform, designed to integrate eCommerce features and capitalize on its immense popularity, especially among younger demographics.

TikTok's unique blend of entertainment and online shopping includes features like shoppable ads, product showcases, and creator partnerships, offering engaging experiences to users and advertisers.

Advantages of TikTok Shop for businesses

Selling on TikTok Shop marketplace offers numerous advantages for businesses, tapping into a vast audience of over a billion monthly active users. The personalized content delivery ensures high engagement, making it an ideal space for brands to effectively connect with their target audience.

Why sell on TikTok Shop?

TikTok's rapid rise has positioned it among the fastest-growing social media platforms globally.

Its unique short-form video format appeals to Gen Z and late Millennials, fostering an environment where brands can directly engage with consumers.

Buyers on TikTok have shown to be impulsive: Compared to users of other social media networks, TikTok users are 80% more likely to cite a ‘buy’ button on the platform as a purchase driver, making TikTok Shop a unique in-app shopping experience, and a great way to reach or expand your audience.

Strategies to sell on TikTok Shop marketplace

1. Register for TikTok Shop

Embark on your TikTok Shop journey by registering through TikTok Shop Seller Central, available in selected markets including*:


IndonesiaMalaysiaThailandPhilipines
VietnamSingaporeUnited Kingdom** United States**

*This information is from December 2023
** Countries supported by Channable's TikTik Shop API connection

TikTok shop launch - image 2

Complete your profile setup by providing essential business information, identification documents, and financial details.

2. Product catalog CMS integration

Connect your CMS or online shop directly such as Lightspeed or via a data feed management solution API import to, customize, enrich, and link your product catalog to your TikTok account.

3. Collaborate with TikTok creators

Participate in the TikTok Shop Affiliate Program to identify influencers aligned with your brand. Send products to influencers, collaborate on videos, and establish partnerships on product lines and promotions.

4. Engage with and know your audience

Build a strong community by actively responding to comments, engaging with user-generated content, and riding the wave of popular trends.

Leverage TikTok's audience targeting controls for a more effective reach and focused content.

How to sell on TikTok Shop marketplace with Channable

TikTok Shop's eCommerce capabilities have opened exciting possibilities for brands, transforming how they connect with consumers.

With Channable's integrated API connection we help automate and streamline the TikTok Shop setup, optimization, and synchronization of product data, allowing you to focus on growth.

Preparation: Creating a TikTok Shop account

Prospective sellers need a TikTok Seller account, with requirements varying by region.

For the US, this includes business type, company name, EIN, registered business address, and beneficial owners' details, you can find all the details of what you need to sell in the US here.

TikTok shop launch - image 3

US sellers

  • Business Type
  • Company Name
  • Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Registered business address
  • Business address (if different from registered business address)
  • The Last 4 digits of SSN or ITIN
  • Beneficial owners of the company being registered may need to provide*
  • *Legal name
  • *Date of birth
  • *Residential address
  • *Percentage of ownership

UK sellers

  • Business owner's identification documents (passport/driver's license)
  • Company certificate documents
  • Company address

For the UK, identification documents for the business owner, company certificate, and company address are required.

Selecting the Channable app

After creating a TikTok Seller account, connect with Channable through the TikTok app store. Navigate through the connections menu, find Channable’s app under 'Multi-channel management,' and create a connection by providing a label.

Setup in Channable

Connecting TikTok Shop to Channable is done within Channable. Click on your company, select "Connections," choose the relevant TikTok marketplace, and authorize Channable for your TikTok account.

TikTok shop launch - image 4

After authorization, revisit the connection page to fill in the remaining details.

Building your setup

The setup process in Channable is similar to other advertising connections but with TikTok-specific details.

Distinguish between products and variants when uploading listings, understand product and variant attributes, and manage product removals effectively.

Activation: Syncing with active products

Products not managed by Channable won't be updated or deleted. Recreate these products in the feed for Channable to manage.

Order connections, synchronization, and order handling

Order connections allow you to synchronize orders from various marketplaces like TikTok Shop, directly to your eCommerce platform.CMS.

You can then handle these orders in your eCommerce platform, and the shipment and tracking info will be sent back to the marketplace via our API connection and your stock level will be adjusted in real-time.

Results/errors and rate limits

Due to technical reasons, errors are checked within the TikTok Seller account. TikTok imposes rate limits on Channable's app and user-specific limits, allowing up to 1000 product uploads per day after the probation period.

Selling on TikTok Shop becomes seamless with Channable's integration, providing an efficient and streamlined experience for sellers.

If you run into any further questions you can always reference TikTok's US help center and UK help center when signed into your TikTok seller account

TikTok Shop marketplace and automation

TikTok Shop and its eCommerce capabilities have opened up exciting possibilities for brands and sellers, enabling them to tap into a highly engaged, and receptive audience.

By merging entertainment and shopping, TikTok has redefined how brands and advertisers can connect with consumers and is poised to change the online retail landscape.

As this social commerce continues to gain momentum, businesses must adapt their multichannel and advertising strategies to keep ahead of the competition.

TikTok shop launch - image 5

Whether you're a small business, marketing agency, or an established brand, now is the time to explore the world of TikTok Shop and its possibilities.

To reach your ad's full potential automation and management are needed. As an eCommerce expert and data feed management leader, Channable has all the tools and support you need to make the most of your TikTok Shop ads.

With the TikTok Shop API, Channable streamlines the set-up, optimization, and synchronization of your product data, allowing you to focus on what matters most – growing your presence on TikTok Shop and boosting your sales.

So get your dancing shoes on, and embrace the dynamic world of social commerce with TikTok Shop and Channable.

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Vanshj SethBrand Marketing

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