How to Tag Products on TikTok

Want to turn your TikTok views into actual sales? Tagging products directly in your videos is how you close the loop between discovery and purchase. This guide will walk you through setting up your TikTok Shop, the step-by-step process for tagging products in new videos, existing content, and LIVE streams, and the strategies that turn those tags into revenue.

Before You Can Tag, You Need a TikTok Shop

Product tagging on TikTok isn't just about adding a link, it's a feature powered by TikTok Shop, the platform's native e-commerce solution. Think of it as a virtual storefront built directly into your TikTok profile. Before you can add that clickable product link to a video, you need to have a product catalog ready to go, and that means getting your Shop set up first.

Who is eligible for TikTok Shop?

The requirements can vary slightly by region, but generally, you'll need to meet a few baseline criteria. The exact rules are always evolving, so check the official TikTok Shop Seller Center for the latest info, but here’s a good starting point:

• Location: You must be based in a region where TikTok Shop is available (like the United States, United Kingdom, and parts of Southeast Asia).
• Account Type: You need a TikTok Business Account. You can easily switch from a personal account in your settings if you haven't already.
• Age: You must be over 18.
• Follower Count (for some): Previously, some regions required a minimum number of followers, but TikTok has largely removed this requirement for registered businesses. Individual creators selling through the Seller app might have different criteria.

Setting up Your TikTok Shop: A Quick Guide

Getting your shop online is a straightforward process handled through the TikTok Seller Center. Be prepared with your business information to make it go smoothly.

1. Access the Seller Center: Head over to the official TikTok Shop Seller Center website and sign up using your TikTok account.
2. Provide Your Business Info: You'll need to submit information about your business, which could include your business registration documents, address, and contact information. If you're a sole proprietor, you may need to provide personal identification.
3. Verify Your Identity: TikTok needs to confirm you are who you say you are. This step is about security and building trust on the platform.
4. Link Your Bank Account: This is where your earnings will go! Connect a valid bank account for payouts.
5. Add Your Products: Once your shop is approved, you can start populating your catalog. You can add products one-by-one directly in the Seller Center or, even better, sync your existing e-commerce store. TikTok Shop offers seamless integrations with platforms like Shopify, making it incredibly easy to import your entire product line without manual data entry.

After your products are loaded and approved, they’ll be available to tag in your content. Now for the fun part.

How to Tag Products in a New TikTok Video

You’ve filmed the perfect video showcasing your product. It’s funny, engaging, and aligns with a trending sound. Here’s how you add that all-important shopping link before hitting "Post."

Step 1: Create Your Video

Film or upload your video in the TikTok app just like you normally would. Go through your editing process - add sounds, text overlays, effects, and filters until you’re happy with the result. When you’re done, tap "Next."

Step 2: Find the "Add Link" Option

You’ll now be on the final posting screen where you write your caption, add hashtags, and adjust privacy settings. Look for an option called "Add Link." It's usually located near a `+` icon alongside options like "Tag people" and "Location."

Step 3: Select "Product"

Tapping "Add Link" will bring up a menu of things you can link to. You'll see options like "Movie," "Book," and, of course, "Product." Tap on "Product" to open your TikTok Shop catalog.

Step 4: Choose Your Product(s)

A showcase of all the products in your TikTok Shop will appear. Scroll through and select the item you featured in your video. You can tag multiple products if your video shows more than one, though it's often best to focus on a single hero product to avoid distracting viewers. Tap "Add" after making your selection.

Step 5: Customize the Product Anchor

Once you add the product, you'll be prompted to edit the "product name." This is the text that will appear as a clickable anchor link over your video right after the caption. You can keep the default product title or shorten it to something more compelling and clear, like "Best-Selling Pink Tumbler" instead of "The Official 40oz Adventure Tumbler in Sunset Pink." Keep it short and descriptive. Then, click "Add."

Step 6: Finish Your Post

You'll see the product link has now been added to your post. Write a killer caption, add relevant hashtags, and hit "Post." That's it! Your video will now feature a clickable product link right above your username and a small yellow shopping bag icon in the bottom left corner.

More Tagging Opportunities: Existing Videos and LIVEs

Your ability to sell on TikTok doesn't stop at new uploads. The platform gives you ways to monetize your viral archives and engage customers in real-time.

Can You Tag Products on Old TikToks?

Yes, you absolutely can! This is a fantastic strategy to capitalize on content that has already proven popular. If you have a video from months ago that’s still getting views, you can go back and add a product tag to it.

The process is incredibly simple:

1. Navigate to the video on your profile.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...) on the right-hand side.
3. In the bottom row of options, swipe until you see "Add Link."
4. From there, the process is identical: tap "Product," select the item from your shop, customize the name, and add it.

In seconds, your old viral hit is now a shoppable video, working to drive sales for you around the clock.

Tagging Products During a TikTok LIVE Stream

LIVE streams are a powerful way to connect with your audience and drive sales with a sense of urgency. TikTok’s live shopping features let you spotlight products while you're broadcasting.

• Preparation is key: Before you even start your stream, you can select a list of products from your TikTok Shop that you plan to feature. This pre-loads them into your LIVE for easy access.
• Pinning products: While you're live, you can pull up your product list and "pin" a specific item to the screen. A clickable product card will appear for viewers, allowing them to browse and purchase without ever leaving your stream.
• Demonstrate and engage: Use a LIVE to demo the product in real-time, answer questions from the comments, and announce special, limited-time offers. You can easily unpin one product and pin another as you move through your presentation, creating a dynamic shopping experience.

Strategies for Making Your Product Tags Actually Drive Sales

Just because you can tag a product doesn't mean it will automatically sell. The magic happens when your content, call-to-action, and product all align perfectly. Here’s how to do it right.

1. Make the Product the Star

Your video content should naturally lead to the product tag. Don't just tack a link onto an unrelated trending dance. The most effective shoppable videos showcase the product in an authentic way.

• Show, don't just tell: Demonstrate the product in action. If you sell a kitchen gadget, show how it makes a recipe easier. If you sell makeup, do a tutorial or a "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM).
• Solve a problem: Create "before and after" style content that highlights how your product solves a common pain point.
• Tell a story: Unbox your own product and show your genuine reaction. Or, pack an order and show the care that goes into it.

2. Call It Out! (Seriously, Tell Viewers Where to Look)

Never assume your viewers know where to click. The TikTok feed moves fast, and the shopping bag icon can be easy to miss. You need to explicitly direct people to the link.

• Verbal Call-to-Action: Simply say it out loud in your video. A friendly, "You can grab one for yourself by tapping the product link right here on the screen!" works wonders.
• Text Overlay Call-to-Action: Use TikTok's text tool to add an arrow or a phrase like "Shop Here 👇" pointing directly at the product link's location.

3. Use Trending Audio and Relevant Formats

Shoppable content should still feel like a TikTok video. Forcing a stale, corporate-style ad into the feed is a surefire way to get scrolled past. Instead, find ways to organically integrate your products into what's already working on the platform. Can a trending sound be repurposed to talk about your product's benefits? Can you use a popular A/B testing format to showcase two different colorways of your best-seller?

4. Leverage Creator-Generated Content

Social proof is everything. Seeing your product in the hands of a trusted creator is often more convincing than seeing it on your own brand page. With TikTok Shop, you can set up an affiliate program directly within the Seller Center. Creators can apply to promote your products, and when they do, they can tag them in their videos. They earn a commission on every sale they drive, and you get authentic content and sales from a new audience.

5. Look at the Data

Your TikTok Seller Center is packed with analytics. Use them! You can see which videos are driving the most clicks to your products and, most importantly, which ones are leading to actual sales. Pay attention to what's working. Is it the GRWM videos or the problem-solving content? Double down on the formats that resonate with your audience and turn views into revenue.

Final Thoughts

Tagging products on TikTok bridges the gap between entertainment and e-commerce, allowing you to convert viewers directly within the app. By setting up your TikTok Shop and following a few simple steps, you can add shoppable links to new videos, old content, and even LIVE streams, creating a powerful new sales channel for your brand.

Once you get the hang of creating shoppable TikToks, managing your content calendar across multiple platforms can feel like a job in itself. This is where we found a need for a simpler workflow. We built Postbase because legacy tools just weren't designed for the short-form video content that dominates channels like TikTok and Instagram Reels. With our visual calendar, you can plan all your video content in one place, schedule it to post reliably, and manage all your comments without ever feeling overwhelmed by old, clunky software.