Is TikTok the future of social ecommerce?

While TikTok was first introduced as a different company, in the last four years and with a merger and acquisition, TikTok exploded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has now become a key social media platform for consumers to connect with other followers, brands, and businesses. 

The app continues to provide personal brands, influencer marketing opportunities, and businesses the ability to sell their products and services to their consumers. As of lately, Shopify and TikTok have set up a partnership together which can seamlessly provide a better eCommerce experience. 

This will all run through a TikTok For Business Ads Manager and allow to create shareable content natively through Shopify’s dashboard. From pixel tracking to a $300 ad credit for beginners, TikTok for businesses seems like the latest and fastest way to produce leads with social eCommerce. 

What is social eCommerce? 

Hootsuite defines social eCommerce as, “the process of selling products directly on social media. With social eCommerce, the entire shopping experience - from product discovery and research to the check out process - takes place right on a social media platform.” 

With this in mind, how has TikTok successfully driven social media commerce? 

The appeal to younger audiences 

It is no surprise that TikTok users are younger generations, with Zennials, Gen Z, and Millennials as some of the top age demographics on the social media app. 

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It can seem as if it is an overstatement that TikTok is appealing to younger audiences, but 60 percent of the emerging generation of Gen Z are now consumer companies need to be aware of and cater to. If brands are searching for ways to connect with their younger generation consumers, this is a wonderful opportunity for this. 

The Gen Z generation is six to 24 years old.  This means this generation is the latest consumers, those in leadership positions in companies, and making decisions on personal and business products and services. 

Appeal to them with social eCommerce- with visually appealing advertisements that cater to the aesthetic of the platform. 

Don’t miss opportunities because of a lack of social strategy and management with just diving into the app. 

Is it really the future? 

There is no 100 percent that TikTok will carry social commerce into a new generation, but it is something all companies should be considering in the eCommerce industry. The best thing to do is figure out your audience. 

Who would engage with the content? Who is the largest audience you can reach out to? Start with organic posts, get a feel for the content and audience, and move from there. 

Start small, get a strategy, test a trial run, and continue to develop a strong social strategy and management plan. 

While this is so new, get a feel for social media marketing efforts with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. This can help develop a strong social strategy and management planning and understanding of how social media works with your company’s digital presence. 

For more information regarding the social media platforms above, contact us today!