How to Navigate Live Shopping on Tiktok for the Holidays

Buying gifts for the holidays can be stressful, especially when there are hundreds of other frantic shoppers. If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your home, you can look forward to TikTok's live shopping. The feature will be coming to the US in time for the holidays.

Live shopping on TikTok isn't just great news for consumers. It's also an opportunity for businesses to hit their sales targets and increase brand exposure. Live shopping is catching on fast in other parts of the world, so it's a good idea to hop on the trend.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you navigate TikTok's live shopping for the holidays.

How Does TikTok's Live Shopping Work?

TikTok likens its live shopping feature to QVC and the Home Shopping Network, but with the modern twist of social media. It caters to the new generation of tech-savvy shoppers. Users who join live shopping events can interact with the seller and purchase products straight from the app.

A button will appear each time a seller shows a product, and customers can tap on it if they want to add the item to their cart. Alternatively, they can wait until the end of the live shopping session to browse through all the products and decide which ones they want to buy. Customers can complete the checkout process within the app.

Why Should Businesses Host Live Shopping Events on TikTok for the Holidays?

Everyone's in a shopping mood during the holidays, and businesses can maximize the opportunity through various strategies. It's worth including TikTok's live shopping feature in your marketing plan for the following reasons:

• Tap a Wider Audience

  TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform, having gained over a billion users since its launch in 2016. In addition, TikTok users spend a lot of time on the app, averaging 858 minutes monthly. By hosting live shopping events on TikTok, there's a potential to expose your brand to a massive audience.

• Engage Your Audience in Real-Time

  Brands need to build strong relationships with their customers. When they trust you, they're more likely to continue supporting your business and recommend you to others. The live shopping feature on TikTok can be a great way to connect with potential customers and engage them in real time.

• Boost Your Sales

  Gen Z's purchasing power is now at $360 billion, and it will continue growing in the following years. Businesses must learn to tap the young consumers within this age range, and TikTok is one of the best ways to do so, given that 60% of the platform's users are Gen Z. You can inspire them to support your products by engaging them through live shopping events.

• Grow Your Following

  Given TikTok's large audience and the growing live-streaming trend, hosting live shopping events on the platform can significantly increase your following.

How Can You Prepare for Your Holiday Live Shopping Event on TikTok?

It’s tempting to host your TikTok live shopping event spontaneously. However, things can go south quickly if you don’t have a plan.

Here are some steps you can take to make sure you're ready before going live:

• 1. Make a script for the entire event. Plan out what you have to say so you won't ramble. Write down your spiels for each product and be as informative as possible.
• 2. Promote your live shopping event beforehand. You can create a promotional video or share your event link. You can even promote and share your live stream on other social media platforms to maximize the exposure for your event.
• 3. Know when your TikTok audience is active on the app and schedule your live shopping event accordingly. You can either check your TikTok analytics if you have a Pro account. If not, you can always ask your followers directly through a poll or survey.
• 4. Memorize TikTok's interface before going live to prevent any mishaps. You can practice flipping the camera, applying filters, and filtering your comments.
• 5. Check your internet connection and make sure it's stable. Viewers tend to leave when you're choppy or constantly getting disconnected. You can perform a speed test and also have a backup connection ready.

TikTok Live Shopping Formats You Can Use for the Holidays

You can be straightforward with your TikTok live shopping events, but being creative will engage your audience and get them in the holiday shopping mood. Here are some ideas and formats you can explore:

• Tutorials or Demos

  Live shopping events are the perfect avenue for tutorials and demos. If you're selling clothes, you can show different ways to style them. If you're selling tech products, you can demonstrate the proper use of various features. When your audience has questions about the products, you can address them instantly.

• Variety Show

  One of the best ways to drive traffic to your live shopping event is to make it into a variety show. You can invite other brands and even get a professional host and performers to join your event to make it entertaining. It can be a marketplace and concert all rolled into one.

• Product Launch

  If you have a new product you want to sell to your followers, you can turn your live shopping event into a product launch event and create a program around it. You can turn it into an interactive experience that will leave a strong impression on your audience.

• Behind the Scenes

  When you give your audience a sneak peek into the work that goes into your products, it helps them appreciate your brand more and what you stand for. You can give them a tour of your office or show them what goes on during your photoshoots. You can then feature the products you want to sell.

The Bottom Line

The live shopping trend on TikTok is booming in other countries, and it might be starting in the US soon. With the holidays just around the corner, it can be the best time to prepare for your first TikTok live shopping event. Note that you must be at least 16 years old with 1,000 followers on the platform.