The E-commerce space is about to get rustled as TikTok partners with Shopify on a feature that would allow individuals to buy directly from TikTok. According to TikTok and Shopify, the deal aims to provide a channel for Shopify merchants to reach new audiences and drive sales on TikTok.
When launched, Shopify merchants will be allowed to create, run and optimize their TikTok marketing campaigns directly from the Shopify dashboard by installing the new TikTok channel app from the Shopify App Store. Once installed, the key functions from the TikTok For Business Ads Manager will be granted to the merchants.
TikTok’s business ad tools allow merchants to create native, shareable content that turns their products into In-Feed video ads that will resonate with the TikTok community. Merchants will be able to target their audiences across gender, age, user behavior, and video category, and then track the campaign’s performance over time. The campaigns’ costs will vary, based on the merchant’s business objectives and how much they want to spend.
To get started, merchants who want to advertise on TikTok will first install the TikTok channel app, then create and connect their TikTok For Business account and install the one-click pixel. They can then deploy In-Feed shoppable video ads by selecting the product they want to feature using ad templates specifically designed for commerce. The features work for merchants of any size, Shopify said.
TikTok is one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment platforms, and, in recent times, has been recognized as a force to reckon with. “As social commerce proliferates, retailers are recognizing that TikTok’s creative and highly engaged community sets it apart from other platforms. We’re constantly exploring new and innovative ways to connect brands with our users, and Shopify is the perfect partner to help us grow and expand our commerce capabilities globally,” Blake Chandlee, Vice President, Global Business Solutions at TikTok, in a statement.
Talking about the new partnership, Satish Kanwar, Vice President of Product at Shopify, said that the TikTok channel meant that Shopify merchants, even those without a strong TikTok following of their own yet, could now connect new audiences using content that felt authentic and genuine to the TikTok experience.
To get the ball rolling, merchants are being offered a $300 ad credit to get started with their first TikTok campaign.
TikTok and Shopify’s partnership won’t be limited to the new TikTok channel app, however. TikTok says it plans to start testing new in-app features that will make it easier for users to discover Shopify merchants and their products by expanding their reach through video and on their account profiles; features which will also let users browse merchant’s products and shop directly through the TikTok app.
The new TikTok channel for Shopify merchants is currently available in the United States and will be available in other markets next year. As competition continues to increase in the e-commerce sector, TikTok’s new partnership with Shopify could give TikTok an edge over other platforms providing social commerce, such as the renowned tech giant, Facebook.
