How to Make a Shoppable Video on TikTok

You can turn your TikTok videos into a direct source of revenue by making them shoppable, and it’s easier than you might think. A shoppable video lets viewers tap a product link right on your video and buy it without ever leaving the app, creating a seamless path from discovery to purchase. This guide will walk you through exactly how to set up your TikTok Shop and start linking products to your videos today.

What is a Shoppable TikTok Video, Really?

A shoppable TikTok video is more than just a regular post, it’s a virtual storefront. When someone is scrolling their For You Page and comes across your video, they’ll see a small, clickable orange shopping cart icon just above your username. By tapping that link, they can view details about the featured product, add it to their cart, and complete their purchase entirely within the TikTok platform.

For brands, this reduces the friction an interested customer might feel if they had to leave the app, navigate to a website, find the product, and then check out. For creators, it opens up a direct monetization channel by turning your content into a point of sale for either your own products or products you’re promoting through the affiliate program.

The entire experience is designed to feel native and a part of the entertainment, which is exactly why it works so well. Viewers get to see a product in a real-world, engaging context and can act on their impulse to buy in just a couple of taps.

Before You Start: Setting Up Your TikTok Shop

You can’t start making shoppable videos without having the backend set up first. The foundation for all this is having an active TikTok Shop. While there used to be integrations with third-party platforms like Shopify, TikTok is now consolidating its e-commerce features into its own all-in-one solution, TikTok Shop. Here’s how to get it going.

1. Check Your Eligibility

First, make sure you meet the criteria. The requirements can vary slightly by region, but generally, you need to be located in a country where TikTok Shop is available (like the U.S. or the U.K.). You must also be over 18. Both brands and creators can have a TikTok Shop, but the registration process differs slightly.

• For Brands/Sellers: You’ll typically need to provide business registration documents and show that you’re legally established.
• For Creators: To join as an affiliate selling other brands’ products, you usually need a certain number of followers (often around 5,000) and to have posted content recently.

2. Register Through the Seller Center

The hub for your entire shopping operation is the TikTok Shop Seller Center. You can access it via a web browser or through the app.

• Navigate to the TikTok Shop Seller Center for your region.
• Sign up using your TikTok account or create a new login.
• Follow the prompts to provide your basic information, including phone number and email.

3. Provide Verification Documents

This is the part where you prove you are who you say you are. TikTok takes this step seriously to protect buyers.

• For Businesses: You will likely need to upload a copy of your business license or company registration documents.
• For Individuals/Sole Proprietors: You might need to provide a government-issued ID, like a passport or driver’s license.

Once you submit your documents, there’s a verification period that can take a few days. Once approved, you can move on to the next step.

4. Add Your Products to the Shop

With an approved account, you can now populate your shop with products. Inside the Seller Center, find the "Products" tab and click "Add New Product." For each product, you'll need to add:

• Product name and description: Be clear, concise, and compelling.
• High-quality images: Upload multiple photos from different angles. Show the product in use if possible.
• Category and attributes: Help TikTok and customers understand what your product is.
• Price and inventory: Set your price and how many units you have in stock.
• Shipping information: Specify shipping weights, dimensions, and carriers.

How to Make Your TikTok Video Shoppable: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your TikTok Shop live and loaded with products, you’re ready for the fun part: creating the actual shoppable videos. This process is seamless and built directly into the video upload workflow.

Step 1: Plan Content That Sells Organically

The worst thing you can do is create a dry corporate ad. People are on TikTok to be entertained, so your content needs to feel natural and provide value. Think about how to integrate your product into a story or a solution.

Here are a few content ideas that work extremely well for selling products:

• Unboxing and First Impressions: A genuine reaction to getting a new product is relatable and builds excitement.
• How-To and Tutorials: Show viewers exactly how to use your product to achieve a desired result. This demonstrates its value immediately. Example: A makeup brand showing a "5-minute morning routine" using their new foundation.
• Problem/Solution Format: Start with a common pain point your target audience has, and then present your product as the perfect solution. Example: A video showing messy kitchen drawers followed by how a specific organizer solved the chaos.
• "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM): Whether it's for an outfit, makeup, or daily routine, GRWM videos offer a natural way to showcase products in a real-life context.

The goal is to make the product a part of the entertainment, not an interruption to it. It should feel like a recommendation from a friend, not a commercial.

Step 2: Film and Edit Your Video

Create your video just like you would any other engaging TikTok. Pay attention to the basics:

• Good Lighting: Natural light is best. Make sure your product is clearly visible.
• Clear Audio: Use a microphone or speak clearly. If using a trending sound, make sure it matches the vibe of your video.
• Vertical Format: Always shoot in 9:16.
• Use TikTok's Features: Add text layovers, stickers, and effects to hold viewers' attention. A well-placed text "sticker" pointing to the shopping-cart icon can give viewers an extra nudge.

Step 3: Add Your Product Link to the Video

Here’s the part that makes your video officially "shoppable." After you've finished recording and editing your video, you’ll land on the final posting screen. Here's what to do:

1. On the posting screen where you write your caption, look for an option that says “Add link.”
2. Tap it, and from the menu that appears, select "Product."
3. A new screen will pop up showing all the available products from your TikTok Shop.
4. Select the product (or multiple products, up to 10) you featured in the video. Tap "Add."
5. You can even customize the name of the product as it will appear on the video link. Keep it short and clear.

Once you’ve done this, you'll see the product link has been added, and you’ll be returned to the posting screen.

Step 4: Craft the Perfect Caption and Call-to-Action

Your work isn't done yet! Your video caption needs to pull its weight. In addition to a compelling description of the video, you need to explicitly tell people what to do.

• Include a clear CTA: Don’t assume people will notice the little orange shopping cart link. Add a line like, “Tap the link to get yours!” or “Shop the look through the orange cart above!”
• Use relevant hashtags: Mix broad and niche hashtags to increase visibility. Include tags like #TikTokShop, #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt, #[YourProductName], and hashtags related to your industry.

Step 5: Post and Engage

Double-check everything - the video, the link, the caption - and hit "Post." As soon as your video is live, the clickable product link will be visible to everyone. Now, be prepared to engage with your community. Respond to comments and answer questions that viewers have about the product. Every interaction is a chance to build trust and potentially drive a sale.

Best Practices for Creating Shoppable Videos That Convert

Just adding a product link isn't a guarantee of sales. The content quality and strategy are what truly drive conversions. Keep these tips in mind.

Be Authentic and Relatable

TikTok users can spot an overly polished, corporate ad from a mile away. The most successful shoppable videos come from creators who are genuine. Share what you really love about the product. If it solves a personal problem for you, share that story. Authenticity builds trust, and trust drives sales.

Show, Don’t Tell

It’s one thing to say a product is great, it’s another to show it. If you’re selling a stain remover, show it removing a tough stain in real-time. If it's a piece of tech, demonstrate the feature that makes it so useful. Seeing a product work is far more powerful than hearing a list of its features.

Keep it Native to the Platform

Master the informal, fast-paced language of TikTok. Use trending sounds and meme formats when they align with your brand. The more your shoppable video feels like a regular TikTok that belongs on the For You Page, the better it will perform.

Collaborate with Creators

If you're a brand, one of the fastest ways to get traction is to partner with creators in your niche. Let them promote your products to their engaged audience using their own authentic style. Their endorsement can introduce your product to thousands of potential customers who already trust their recommendations.

Final Thoughts

Making a shoppable video on TikTok is an incredibly direct way to connect content with commerce. By setting up your TikTok Shop, focusing on authentic, value-driven video content, and correctly linking your products, you're building a seamless shopping experience where viewers can buy what they see in seconds. Stop letting potential sales slip away and start turning your FYP views into revenue.

We know that managing a busy content calendar full of videos for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can get overwhelming. Here at Postbase, we built our platform from the ground up for video-first creators and brands just like you. Our visual calendar lets you plan out your entire social strategy, and you can reliably schedule your videos to post natively across all your platforms without the connection issues or post failures you find in older tools. This gives you more time to create great content that connects with your audience and drives your business forward.