How to Post Products on TikTok Shop

Selling your products directly on TikTok is a game-changer for brands and creators, turning viral videos into instant sales. This guide breaks down exactly how to list your products on TikTok Shop and, more importantly, how to feature them in your content to drive real revenue. We’ll cover everything from the initial product setup in the Seller Center to creating shoppable videos and hosting LIVE shopping events.

First Things First: Setting Up Your TikTok Shop

Before you can add products, you need an approved TikTok Shop. It’s a straightforward process, but there are a few prerequisites to get out of the way. Think of this as laying the foundation for your new storefront.

Who Can Open a TikTok Shop?

TikTok Shop is available to brands, merchants, and creators. For merchants operating in the US, you’ll typically need to be a registered business and provide documentation like an SSN for individuals/sole proprietors or an EIN for corporations. You must have your business legally registered here and be able to ship from a US address.

Creators can also sell products through the TikTok Shop Affiliate program (selling other brands' products for a commission) or by linking their own products if they also qualify as a seller.

The Setup Checklist

Getting your shop live involves signing up through the TikTok Seller Center and connecting your accounts. Here’s a quick rundown of what to have ready:

• Business Information: Have your business registration documents, professional ID (like a passport or driver’s license), and tax information (EIN or SSN) handy.
• Connect Your TikTok Account: During setup, you'll link the TikTok account you plan to sell from. This account must be in good standing and will be the "Official Account" tied to a single shop.
• Bank Account Details: You’ll need to provide your business bank account information to receive your payouts.

Once you submit your application and documents, there's a verification process. After you're approved, you can access the Seller Center dashboard - your mission control for everything from product listings to order fulfillment.

How to Add Products to Your TikTok Shop: A Step-by-Step Guide

With your shop approved, it's time for the main event: adding your products. You'll do all of this from the TikTok Seller Center on your desktop, which offers a more robust interface than the mobile app for managing listings.

Step 1: Navigate to the Products Section

Log in to your TikTok Seller Center. On the left-hand menu, find the "Products" tab and click "Manage Products." From here, you’ll see an "Add New Product" button, usually in the top right corner. Click it to get started.

Step 2: Fill Out Your Product Information

This is where you'll define every detail of your product. Getting these fields right is vital for discoverability and converting customers.

Product Name

Your product name should be clear, concise, and descriptive. It’s what customers will see first in your shop and in search results. Think about the keywords a potential buyer might use to find your item.

Good Example: "Vintage-Wash Oversized Graphic Hoodie - Streetwear Style"
Bad Example: "Cool Sweatshirt"

The first example includes the product type (hoodie), key features (vintage-wash, oversized, graphic), and style (streetwear), making it much easier for the right audience to find.

Category

Selecting the right category is essential for TikTok’s algorithm to understand what you’re selling and show it to relevant users. Start typing your product type (e.g., "skincare," "dress," "mug"), and TikTok will suggest categories. Choose the most specific one possible. Mis-categorizing can lead to your product being rejected or getting poor visibility.

Product Images and Video

This is your chance to make a strong visual impression. TikTok Shop listings are visual, just like the platform itself.

• Image Requirements: You can upload up to 9 images per product. Your photos should be high-resolution (at least 1200x1200 pixels) with a clean background. Show the product from multiple angles, highlight key features, and include lifestyle shots showing the product in use.
• Product Video (Highly Recommended): You can also add a short video. Do this! A simple video showing the product’s features, how it’s used, or its texture and scale can significantly boost conversions. You can often repurpose existing TikToks here if they show the product clearly.

Product Description

Your description should be compelling and informative. Use this space to overcome any potential customer hesitation.

• Use Bullet Points: Break up text with bullet points to list features, materials, dimensions, or usage instructions. It makes the information easier to scan.
• Tell a Story: Don't just list specs. Explain the benefits. How does this product solve a problem or improve someone's life?
• Include Keywords Naturally: Weave in keywords that people might be searching for related to your product.

Step 3: Define Variations, Price, and Stock

If your product comes in different options, like sizes or colors, you'll set that up in the "Variations" section.

• Setting Up Variations: You can add options like "Color" and "Size." For each variation, you can set a unique price, SKU (Stock Keeping Unit), and inventory quantity. So, a "Small, Red" shirt can have a different stock level than a "Large, Blue" one.
• Price: Enter the price for your product. If you have variations, you can set a different price for each one if needed.
• Quantity: Enter the number of units you have in stock. Keep this updated to avoid overselling.
• SKU: Use a SKU to help you track inventory. If you're a small seller, this can be a simple identifier like `HOODIE-RED-SML`.

Step 4: Complete the Shipping Information

You’ll need to provide the product's weight and dimensions so TikTok can calculate shipping costs. Make sure your measurements are accurate to avoid issues with carriers. In the Seller Center, you can also set up shipping templates to apply uniform shipping rules across multiple products.

Step 5: Submit for Review

Once all the details are filled out, you can save your draft or click "Submit" to send it for review. TikTok reviews all product listings to ensure they comply with their policies. This review process usually takes up to 48 hours. You’ll get a notification once your product is approved and live on your shop.

Now for the Fun Part: Featuring Products in Your Content

Having products listed in your shop is only half the battle. The magic of TikTok Shop is integrating those products directly into your content, making it incredibly easy for viewers to purchase what they see.

Adding Product Links to Your Videos

This is the most common way to sell. When a viewer sees your video, they can tap on the product link to view the item and buy it without ever leaving the app.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Record or upload your video in the TikTok app as you normally would.
2. On the posting screen (where you write your caption and add hashtags), look for the "Add Link" option.
3. Tap "Add Link," and then select "Product."
4. Your TikTok Shop product catalog will appear. Select the product (or multiple products, up to 10) featured in the video.
5. Once added, you can edit the product's name that will appear in the video. Keep it short and clear.
6. Post your video! A clickable shopping bag icon or a product anchor link will now appear on your video.

Content Idea: Create a "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) video and link every single product you use, from your skincare to your outfit. Each one is a selling opportunity.

Selling in Real-Time with TikTok LIVE Shopping

TikTok LIVE is a powerful tool for engaging with your followers directly and driving a lot of sales in a short period. During a LIVE stream, you can showcase products, answer questions, and create a sense of urgency.

Before you go LIVE:

• Navigate to the LIVE screen in the TikTok app.
• Tap the "Products" icon (it often looks like a shopping basket) to add items from your shop to your LIVE stream's shopping cart. You can select products ahead of time and pin them during the broadcast.
• During the stream, you can talk about the products, demonstrate how they work, and encourage viewers to tap the product pin to buy.

Best Practices for LIVEs:

• Promote your LIVE in advance to make sure people show up.
• Offer a LIVE-exclusive discount to create urgency.
• Demonstrate your products! If it's a piece of clothing, try it on. If it’s a gadget, show how it works.

Turning Your Profile into a Storefront with the Product Showcase

Your TikTok profile can also feature a dedicated shop tab (it looks like a shopping bag icon). When enabled, this turns your profile into a scrollable catalog of all your linked products. A user who loves your content can go straight to your profile and browse everything you sell in one place. Your "Showcase" can contain your own products, affiliate products, or a mix of both.

Final Thoughts

Listing products on TikTok Shop is the first step toward unlocking a powerful new revenue stream directly within the app your audience already loves. The key to success, however, isn't just about the listing, it's about creatively and authentically integrating those products into your short videos and LIVE streams.

Once your products are live, the real work of content creation and promotion begins. To keep our own content flywheel spinning, we rely on a tool that understands the rhythms of modern social media. We use Postbase to plan and schedule all of our shoppable content for TikTok, Instagram, and more. It helps us see our entire campaign visually on a calendar and keeps our team organized, ensuring we're consistently posting engaging videos that feature our latest products.