Can Amazon Sellers Boost Their Sales Through TikTok?
TikTok has officially positioned itself as one of the most popular and versatile apps of 2020. And it seems that 2021 is not going to be the exception.
According to Sensor Tower, in Q1 of 2020, 130 million downloads came from the U.S. And in January 2021, the app had close to 62 million downloads!
TikTok users, also known as “TikTokers,” have taken advantage of the momentum that the app gained as a result of the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now using it to start their own businesses and to give more visibility to their brand.
In this article, we will talk about this app’s global success and how you can use it to increase the reach of your audience.
So, if you are an Amazon seller, we recommend you to scroll down to learn more!
What is TikTok?
In August of 2014, the world was introduced to Musical.ly. This app, allowed its users to upload 15-60 second videos in which they could lip sync to popular songs, adding fun effects and inserting popular hashtags.
In 2017, Musical.ly was acquired by the Chinese firm ByteDance for US1,000 millions.
Its name changed to TikTok, and its user base migrated. It is clear that from 2017 to 2019, TikTok was well received by users. However, it was not until the beginning of 2020 that it became a resounding success.
Lockdowns across the world forced most people to suddenly change their habits, leading them to find new ways to kill boredom.
Overnight, TikTok went from being used mainly by teenagers, to become extremely popular among people of different ages ranges.
This includes influencers, celebrities and, most recently, business owners who are seeking to advertise their services through short, creative, and highly-viral videos.
How Does TikTok Work?
TikTok has not lost the essence for which Musical.ly was created in the first place. Users can still record themselves dancing, acting, telling short stories, lip-syncing, and even interacting with other TikTokers.
What makes this app so addictive is that the videos that are being recorded through its app do not last longer than 60 seconds. According to a recent research by SimilarWeb, attention spans are getting shorter as mobile web becomes more prominent.
So, we can assume that, in general, it is easier for people to engage into short, easy-to-grasp content, rather than having to decipher a more complex or extensive piece.
However, those people who want to upload a longer video can do so, as long as it has been recorded through another app.
How to Log In
Logging in is quite easy. You can do it with any of your current active accounts from any other platforms, with your Google address, or simply sign in by creating a new account.
As with Instagram and Facebook, you can create a personal account and connect it to a Creator account, if you plan to post daily, or to a Business account.
Creator Fund
Your Creator account will allow you to receive a detailed report about your videos. And when you reach 100K followers, you can be part of the Creator Fund through which you can earn money for your views:
… [UPDATE – March 25, 2021]: Beginning March 25, 2021, creators will need at least 100K authentic video views in the last 30 days to be eligible to join the Creator Fund. The Creator Fund is in its early stages, and we’re continuously exploring new ways to improve the experience for our creator community and the way creators are rewarded. We’re looking forward to sharing more information soon!…
Source: NewsRoom TikTok
If you opt for a business account, you will not be able to access the Creator Fund. However, you will still have access to detailed reports of your interaction with your audience and you will be able to include a link in your profile to your website or Amazon Storefront.
Source: JungleScout
Navigating the App
Before we start, you need to know that the app is somewhat chaotic. There are even more veteran and traditionalist users who decide to opt-out because the speed in which videos and information are shared can be a bit overwhelming.
Unlike other apps like Instagram, on TikTok, most of the content that is created is based on trends. And as is well known, trends change fast.
However, this does not mean that you cannot impose your own style and stay true to it.
But if you are looking for a way to go viral at the speed of light, this is without a doubt your best option.
When you download the app, you will come across the 5 main pages:
- Two Home Feeds: Following and For You
- Discover – Shows you trending hashtag videos
- Create Video – The tool that allows you to record yourself
- Inbox – The Envelope icon will give you access to your messages
- Me – Your profile (you decide which items will remain hidden)
As with most apps, users can also decide what type of content they want to see by pressing on the video until a “Not Interested” button appears.
One of the cool functionalities this app has is that users can connect several short clips together to reach the 60 seconds allowed by the app.
Using TikTok as a Marketing Tool
TikTok wasn’t originally created as a marketing tool, but if we’re honest, neither were Instagram and Facebook.
Over time, these platforms have responded to the needs of users and are rapidly adapting to the impact of digital technology on economy and society.
The fact that such a wide range of people, regardless of their socioeconomic status, are able to converge on the same app, makes TikTok fertile ground for entrepreneurship.
Famous Brands That Joined TikTok
There are several well-known brands that have joined TikTok. Among those big names are:
- MAC Cosmetics
- Coke
- McDonakds
- XBox
- Disney
- Target
- Walmart
- And many more…
We will briefly analyze how Wendys and Nke are reaching a wider audience through the app:
Wendys
The fastfood chain Wendys has reached 1.1M followers so far. They upload videos, similar to the commercials we used to watch on television when we were kids, the big difference now is that they get to interact with other users by reposting videos of customers consuming their products.
Nike
Of course, Nike had to be on the list. The type of videos that you will find in the app feature both great athletes and ordinary people, exercising and showing off their sneakers.
TikTok Ads Manager
When you open your Business account, you will have access to the Ads Manager, in which you can create your campaigns directly into the TikTok feed.
If you have experiences launching campaigns on other platforms, it will be very easy for you to do it here since the process is very similar.
Using Creative Tools will allow you to:
- Add images to pre-made templates to create videos
- Transform your assets to create a smart video very easily
- Synchronize your videos with legal music that you can download directly from the platform
How to do it
1. Create a TikTok Ads Manager Account.
2. Select a goal you want your business to achieve like: reach, awareness, website traffic, or sales.
3. Determine who will see your ads.
4. Set how much you want to pay.
5. Upload or create your videos on the platform and write your copy.
6. Add a payment method.
7. Publish your ads.
Learn how you can create effective ads here.
#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt
One of the most famous hashtags within the app is #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt.
With this hashtag, several users and influencers record videos showing off the items they purchased on Amazon because they first found them on TikTok.
Obviously, Amazon could not be left behind, and it has its own channel in the famous app.
These are the types of videos that you will come across on their channel:
Final Thoughts
It is clear that TikTok can help you increase your sales at lightning speed.
So, if you decide to venture into the world of viral videos on this platform, first check what other companies are doing in terms of ads campaigns and video content.
This is a very versatile app, and you can use various tools to position your brand, such as using influencers who already have a more solid presence, or simply by taking the time to create and diversify your content.
The secret on this platform is to have fun, since the views are practically guaranteed.
Good luck!
The post Can Amazon Sellers Boost Their Sales Through TikTok? appeared first on AMZ Advisers.