TikTok Live is becoming a powerful sales tool, with 87% of consumers saying they’re more likely to buy after watching a livestream, according to Nielsen. If you’re wondering how to sell on TikTok Live, now’s the perfect time to dive in. Let’s explore how to sell on TikTok Live to not only capture attention but also turn viewers into loyal customers in the article below, compiled by MKT Software.
I. What is TikTok Live? Let’s understand it first.
TikTok Live is live streaming on the TikTok app, similar to Facebook Live, that helps build relationships with viewers in real-time, where other users on the platform can join in the live broadcast simultaneously. Additionally, you can express your opinions, including asking and answering questions instantly. Now, online sellers can also live stream and sell by allowing customers to click to purchase directly.
How to start streaming on TikTok:
- Step 1: Go to the homepage of the TikTok app and click the plus (+) button.
- Step 2: Scroll to the LIVE tab to start streaming.
- Step 3: Set a title for your live broadcast.
- Step 4: Click the product button to add products for sale.
- Step 5: Click the Start LIVE button to begin streaming and selling.
II. How to optimize TikTok Live sales with ads and promotions
According to Robert Cialdini’s principles of psychology, promotional strategies in livestreams, such as flash sales or discount codes, create a sense of urgency that encourages consumers to take immediate action. This has been proven through livestream campaigns where viewers can purchase products right away when offered discount codes or special deals.
When combined with a solid advertising strategy, TikTok Live can help maximize your sales potential and significantly boost engagement. In this section, we will explore how you can optimize your TikTok Live strategy by integrating ads and promotions. By doing so, you can increase your reach, enhance customer interaction, and ultimately, boost your revenue.
1. Create an ad strategy combined with TikTok Live
Combining ads with TikTok Live can help you expand your reach and attract more viewers, thus increasing sales opportunities. Here are steps to create an effective ad strategy:
- Run ads before and during the livestream: Before starting a live stream, you can run advertising campaigns to inform users about the livestream time and the products you will showcase. This ad can be a short video, animated images, or even highlighted posts on TikTok to attract attention.
- During the livestream, you can also use integrated TikTok advertising tools like TikTok Ads to maintain viewers’ attention and encourage them to participate. The ads can be banners or short video ads while you’re live.
2. Use discount codes and promotional programs in TikTok Live
Discount codes and promotional programs are powerful tools to drive immediate purchases from viewers during the livestream. Here’s how to use them effectively:
- Offer discount codes live: One of the easiest ways to encourage viewers to buy products immediately is by providing discount codes during the livestream. You can offer special codes only available during the livestream or exclusive discounts for those who purchase during the broadcast.
For example: “Use the code LIVE20 to get 20% off your order now! Only during this livestream!” - Create a sense of urgency: Implement time-limited offers to create urgency and encourage viewers to act quickly. For instance, “Only 10 products left! Get yours now before they run out!”
By creating urgency and offering exclusive discounts, you can convert live viewers into actual buyers. This also encourages customers to share the live stream with their friends.
III. 11 tips to answer “How to Sell on TikTok Live”
Now, let’s get started with the 11 tips for successful TikTok live shopping events:
1. Create a live schedule in advance.
To go live so that viewers can remember you, including making the platform’s algorithm remember you, you must stream regularly, within a specific timeframe, and not leave too many gaps between live days.
Then, create a live schedule. Publish it on your own channels so your loyal customers can follow and watch every live stream. Most importantly, this will ensure that your regular traffic does not decrease.
2. Write a rough script outline.
For “newcomers to live streaming,” preparation is essential. Therefore, during the early stages, you should plan exactly what you will do throughout the live broadcast, your TikTok content ideas for business such as the first 15 minutes to introduce the stream, the next 15 minutes to present products, and the remaining time to process orders,…
Also, don’t forget to write a rough script about what to say and when. This will ensure that your first live broadcast goes smoothly without interruptions.
3. Prepare the equipment.
The live streaming equipment should provide clear and sharp images and sounds. Therefore, check that the equipment is ready for use before starting the live stream.
4. Choose between TikTok App and OBS Studio
When going live on TikTok, you have two options: using the TikTok app or OBS Studio. The TikTok app allows you to go live directly from your phone, while OBS Studio allows you to go live from your desktop. Make sure you have the necessary access for OBS Studio before choosing this option.
5. Utilize the TikTok Live Academy
TikTok offers a Live Academy within the live streaming feature. It provides tutorials and guides on how to go live successfully. Take advantage of these resources and familiarize yourself with the platform’s best practices for live streaming. Stay up to date with any new tutorials they may add, as this will help improve your live shopping events.
6. Add a live intro
Before you go live, use the settings option to add a live intro. This intro is a short text of about 140 to 150 characters that appears at the beginning of your live stream. It helps viewers understand what your live stream will be about and adds context to your content. Take advantage of this feature to attract viewers and set the tone for your live shopping event.
7. Promote your live broadcasts
Promoting your live broadcast will help people know about it and watch your live broadcast more. You can promote your live broadcast through various channels such as social media, websites, or even advertise on TikTok itself.
If your business has been running for some time and has already built a decent following, you should try creating a short live promo video, no longer than 30 seconds, and post that video on your various channels to announce your live stream to both regular and one-time customers.
8. Manage product pinning
When doing live shopping on TikTok, one challenge is managing the pinning of products every 30 seconds to keep them visible on the screen. You can handle this by having two devices – one to display the products and another for your live stream.
Alternatively, consider having someone assist you in pinning the products while you focus on engaging with your audience. This way, you can fully concentrate on selling and demonstrating the products without distractions.
9. Engage with your audience
Engaging customers in conversation or answering questions to stimulate interest will help viewers feel involved in your live broadcast.
Tips:
MKT Software understands that actively engaging with the audience is something many businesses or shop owners have been, are, and can easily do. After watching 10 live videos, about 8 of them will likely have similar interactions.
Currently, the audience is becoming more selective and requires more trust and attraction from content, especially from quality, reputable product live broadcasts. As a result, viewers are likely to seek additional authentic information from other audience members in the comment section (according to Sprout Social – 2021).
This can also be described as the “crowd mentality,” a fear of missing out, as research by Cialdini demonstrates the influence principles that indicate “crowd mentality” and “scarcity” can strongly affect purchasing decisions. Therefore, filling your live comments with supportive comments and interactions is a powerful method you should not overlook.
In this article, MKT Software introduces one of the products widely trusted by many businesses during TikTok live streams. This is the MKT TikPro software – a TikTok account information finder with automatic TikTok live stream seeding features, by keywords, by script, or based on needs. Specifically, MKT TikPro can:
- Interact with livestreams.
- Interact with specified, random, or sequential videos in one or multiple profiles.
- Interact with one or multiple video links or by keyword.
- Research competitors by scanning comments of a profile or video.
- Comment randomly or by quantity.
- Comment on videos using templates.
See more: How to increase TikTok engagement and build a loyal audience
10. Limit video effects
While TikTok offers various video effects, it’s important to use them wisely during your live shopping events. Overusing effects can distract viewers from your products and diminish their impact. Instead, prioritize showcasing your products and ensuring they take center stage. Save the effects for moments when you are not actively presenting or demonstrating products.
By following these seven tips, you can enhance your live shopping events on TikTok and increase your chances of success. Remember to create engaging titles and select relevant topics to attract your desired audience. Now go and make your live shopping events a huge hit on TikTok!
11. Create a character that customers will remember.
Creating memorable characters that customers can recall is a type of marketing strategy because these characters are related to your brand. They influence the perceived value of customers. In the early stages of live selling on TikTok, you should create characters in various ways, such as dressing in a unique style and telling funny stories.
Start with unique opening and closing lines or detailed product reviews to gradually increase popularity and build a live audience base for your business.
IV. What are the conditions for live selling on TikTok?
Before knowing the conditions for live selling, everyone must know that not all sellers can do live selling because some sellers may not meet the criteria. The conditions are:
- Users must be 18 years of age or older.
- Users must not have a criminal record that includes a history of offenses against minors, including sexual abuse, molestation, murder, assault or neglect, kidnapping, parental abduction of children across borders,… In the event that the team finds that an account is likely to or falls into the above categories, the account will be closed immediately.
- To use the TikTok Live feature, you must have at least 1,000 followers.
Conclusion
There are many ways to make money on TikTok, from earning commissions through selling digital gifts to partnering with brands as an intermediary. However, selling on TikTok Live has become a highly popular topic, and if you’re a business owner, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on this money-making opportunity. We hope these business tips are helpful and that they can be successfully applied to your business or store.
