Tik Tok Cheat Sheet: Top 5 Tips To Make Products Go Viral

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Tik Tok Shops exploded on the scene last year in the US.  If you’ve been a seller, I’m sure you’ve seen some of the crazy viral products like the Shadow Work Journal, Gurunanda, Goli, detangler brushes, ab rollers and other products.  It’s a very unique platform because a lot of it relies on virality.

The great part is that it is like Facebook/IG, Google, Amazon, and a giant influencer network all in one.

However, if you’ve had a Tik Tok Shop, I’m sure that you’ve seen that it is not so simple as throwing your products on your shop and everything just taking off.

There are a lot of variables, but here are a few key things that can help your shop have success.

1. Optimize Your Product Listings

Keyword-Friendly Clean Product Listings

Enhance your product visibility by using commonly searched terms in your titles and descriptions. For example:

– Instead of “Moisturizing Face Cream,” use “Hydrating Anti-Aging Face Cream with Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Skin”

– Rather than “Portable Speaker,” try “Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with 24-Hour Battery Life for Outdoor Adventures”

TikTok’s algorithm favors these keyword-rich listings, potentially placing your products next to related, popular items. You can see Amazon Sellers doing the same thing in their titles if you want ideas.

Leverage TikTok’s Initial Boost

When you list a new product, TikTok often provides a temporary boost in visibility. Use this opportunity to:

1. Monitor initial performance closely
2. Engage quickly with early customer inquiries
3. Hopefully get first buyers to leave reviews

This initial period can set the tone for your product’s long-term success on the platform.

2. Maintain a High Shop Score

Keeping your shop score above 4 is crucial for sustained success. Here’s how it impacts your performance:

– A score above 4: Increased visibility and traffic

– A score below 4: Significantly reduced product exposure

TikTok has been known to display messages like “raise your score up 1 point for 40-70% more traffic,” underscoring the importance of this metric.

To improve and maintain your shop score:

1. Prioritize fast shipping: Aim for same-day or next-day dispatch
2. Proactively manage negative reviews: Respond promptly and offer solutions
3. Encourage positive reviews: Follow up with satisfied customers
4. Maintain quick response times: Aim to answer customer inquiries within hours, not days AND not that this includes responding to creators

3. Effectively Utilize Creators

Starting Out with Creators

In the beginning, cast a wide net:

1. Offer free samples to the first 30-40 creators who show interest
2. Encourage them to add your product to their showcase
3. Monitor which creators generate the most engagement

The more creators that add the product to their long-term showcase, Tik Tok will boost visibility.

Targeting Established Creators

After your initial phase, focus on creators with a proven track record:

1. Look for creators who have generated over $1,000 in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)
2. Offer these creators higher commissions or exclusive deals
3. Propose performance-based incentives, such as “Sell 100 units, get a $200 bonus”

Many of them just want free products.  They post once and just go to the next product.  One of my top creators, it was their 5th out of 7 posts that went viral.  Good creators will put in the work.  This highlights the importance of building long-term relationships with creators.  Talk to them so they will want to promote your next product that you launch!

Reaching Out to Creators

When contacting creators:

1. Check their profile bio for preferred contact methods because some may be easier to reach through their profile via email or other methods that they share
2. Craft personalized messages that stand out, like,”get in before launch” or “already went viral”
3. Highlight unique aspects of your product or offer
4. Be prepared to reach out to hundreds of creators to find the right matches

Remember, it’s a numbers game. The more creators you engage with, the higher your chances of finding those who can make your product go viral.

About 1 out of 20 that post a video will have some level of virality in my experience.  It can help if you create good scripts for them to have ideas of what to say while making it their own.

4. Leverage TikTok’s Marketing Features

Take full advantage of TikTok’s built-in marketing tools:

Flash Sales

Set up strategic flash sales to drive rapid sales growth. For instance, a kitchen gadget brand that I ran a 4-hour flash sale with a 30% discount, resulting in over 500 sales and increased visibility across TikTok Shop.  Sometimes TikTok will pick up certain flash sales and push them out across the store.

TikTok-Funded Promotions

Keep an eye out for TikTok-funded promotional opportunities. These can provide a significant boost without additional cost to you. For example, during a summer campaign, TikTok offered to match sellers’ discounts up to 10%, effectively doubling the appeal to customers.  They sometimes will pay for the shipping or add other incentives to get people to buy that you still get paid out for.

Seasonal Campaigns and Challenges

Participate in TikTok’s seasonal events and sign up for all relevant campaigns

1. Create content around major holidays (e.g., Black Friday, Christmas)
2. Use campaign-specific hashtags in your videos
3. Align your product offerings with seasonal themes

Example: A small candle brand participated in TikTok’s “Cozy Fall Favorites” challenge, using the campaign hashtag and offering autumn-scented candle bundles. This resulted in a 300% increase in daily sales during the campaign period.

5. Post and Go Live Often

Maintain an active presence on the platform:

1. Post 3-7 videos per week (minimum)
2. 3-7 videos per day is great (of course this depends on how many products you have)
3. Experiment with both short (5-8 seconds) and longer (up to 1 minute) videos as they can be used for ad creatives later on
4. Go live for 2-4 hours, several times per week, or connect with creators that go live a lot.

Tip: Make videos that are shocking or sound controversial in the first 3 seconds, something that really stands out.

2nd Tip: If after 20 minutes you have less than 10 people watching your live stream, end it and try again later. Some creators and shops have reported selling $1,000’s worth of products in a single successful live session, but they may go for hours.

Bundle Products and Offer Discounts

Implement smart bundling and discount strategies:

1. Create product bundles (e.g., “Skincare Starter Kit” with cleanser, toner, and moisturizer)
2. Use TikTok’s tools to offer quantity-based discounts (e.g., “Buy 2, get 10% off”)
3. List bundles as separate products or variations for increased visibility
4. Focus on increasing average order value

For example, supplement or skincare brands offering a “3-month supply” bundle at a 20% discount compared to buying individual monthly supplies works really well. This not only increased their average order value but also improved customer retention as users committed to a longer usage period.

Conclusion

Success on TikTok Shops requires a multifaceted approach. Think of it as an ecosystem of creators, shop traffic, your own videos, lives, and eventually ads.

By implementing these strategies and continuously adapting to the platform’s dynamic nature, you can maximize your chances of achieving viral success and sustainable sales growth. Remember, persistence and creativity are key in the fast-paced world of TikTok commerce.