TikTok Affiliate Marketing – How does it work?
Unless you’ve been firmly stationed under a rock for the last few years, TikTok is a social media platform that, even if you’re not engaging in its infectious scrolling, you’re all very aware of. But despite the stereotypes, TikTok is far more than just young people dancing in front of their crudely-propped-up phones – doing all they can to grace the #fyp of fellow users. In recent times, it has emerged as a key marketing platform – where brands are utilising the transient and viral nature of its content-sharing model to supercharge their reach and engagement. With this in mind, for those already listed on affiliate channels, or those looking for their niche on a programme, TikTok affiliate marketing could well be a lucrative and exciting option.
So, how does TikTok affiliate marketing work, exactly? Read on to see how your business could see itself both trending and converting on the world’s hottest social platform.
TikTik BOOM!
Since hitting smartphones for the first time in 2016, TikTok has exploded from its development base in China to reach an incredible figure of 3 billion worldwide downloads as of 2022. These astonishing figures include 180% of growth among the 15-25 age range during the early months of 2020 – when populations across the world were entering lockdown restrictions. The crazy numbers continue: It was the top-downloaded app of 2021 worldwide; the average user opens the app 19 times per day, and predictions are that TikTok will engage 15 million users in the UK by 2025 – 22% of the entire forecasted population!
With such a vast user base, it’s easy to see why a TikTok marketing strategy has become a firm item on the agenda of many businesses post-pandemic. Whether it’s through paid ad campaigns – similar to those you may be familiar with through other platforms such as Facebook or Instagram – influencer marketing, or even through the in-app marketplace ‘TikTok Shop’, TikTok affiliate marketing is a potential goldmine of opportunity for businesses. Especially so for eCommerce and those already familiar with affiliate marketing channels.
Affiliating with creators in the TikTok Shop
The TikTok shop is a selling platform within the app where merchants can showcase and sell products simultaneously through listings (‘product showcase’), in-feed videos and on ‘LIVEs’. Not only can businesses then advertise their own listings through these mediums, they can also approach established creators who can add a link to different products that they use or simply mention in the videos that they create. The power of the LIVEs platform within TikTok allows creators to display links at the exact point that they appear in the video, as well as displaying a ‘showcase’ tab which takes the user straight to a business’ entire portfolio on TikTok shop. The links are affiliate links – so when the user purchases products via the link, the creator earns a commission on those sales made. A mix of influencer and affiliate marketing, businesses would be keen to research and connect with a creator who both befits their brand and who has widespread access to their target audience. The joy of TikTok affiliate marketing, therefore, is all about finding that sweetspot in a creator who fits your niche, already has access to your target audience and already has the organic reach that could cost you thousands of hours and pounds to establish.
Where TikTok affiliate marketing is different from traditional channels is how your commission is delivered – whereby the kickback will be going solely to the creator you affiliate with, rather than also to the consumer. With this in mind, you may need to utilise other strategies such as providing creators with a unique discount code to give to their audience to provide that further hook – on top of the influencer endorsement – to gain sales. Be sure that such strategies align with your other sales strategies, however – if your margins are already tight, this may not be an option for you. Further to this, with 60% of the UK user base of TikTok being under 30 – and half of those under 20 – it’s important to have a grasp of who would be seeing and, subsequently, engaging with your products. If you are looking to market a product that is aimed at older demographics, then TikTok affiliate marketing may not be a viable option for you and your business.
Setting up shop
To set up as an affiliate merchant on TikTok shop, it’s as simple as signing up, listing your products and then setting standard commission fees that apply to each product when featured by creators. Plans can be set up for different products or ranges which are available to either all creators or selected ones which are more desirable to your brand given their identity and/or reach. Like traditional affiliate platforms, performance metrics are pooled into reports which allow you to keep a keen eye on how your TikTok affiliate marketing campaigns are doing and where improvements or changes can be made.
Of course, here at Fuel Communications, we have a wide range of experience and expertise in the world of affiliate marketing and would be more than happy to assist you on your journey as your TikTok affiliate marketing agency. If it all seems a bit new and daunting to you, be sure to get in touch to see how we can help set you set up shop, get your products trending and potentially into the hands of some of the internet’s most recognisable personalities.
