Still haunted by that one cringey TikTok dance you posted during lockdown? You’re not alone. While TikTok remains a stage for viral dance routines and the occasional conspiracy theory or crazy challenge, it’s also evolved into much more than Gen Z’s favorite place to hang out.
Today, 58% of consumers have profiles on TikTok. With in-app features like LIVES, Shoppable Videos, and a dedicated Shop Tab, TikTok has become a full-blown commerce engine. Smart e-commerce sellers aren’t dancing—they’re making money moves.
But just because consumers can hit the purchase button faster doesn’t mean you can sway them more easily. You still need a sound TikTok dropshipping strategy to create hype around your products and have more eyes (and return buys) on them.
What is TikTok dropshipping, and is it a viable business model?
TikTok dropshipping involves selling items directly through TikTok but outsourcing the fulfillment of the orders and inventory management to a third party. With dropshipping, sellers don’t own or hold inventory. If users see a product they like on a TikTok video, they are directed to a linked store where they can purchase it, all within the same frictionless user journey.
TikTok has become an unimaginably powerful platform for building a community and selling directly to them. With over 1.58 billion (yes, with a b) monthly active users, TikTok essentially gives you free rein to cultivate brand awareness and experiment with innovative sales methods..
If you employ the right strategy, you can ride the wave of trendy hashtags and get significant exposure without spending heavily on ads. Selling tools and Shopify dropshipping integrations make it easier to test new products and improve conversions. But there are downsides too, particularly if you want to sell directly on this platform via TikTok Shop (more on that below!).
What is TikTok Shop?
TikTok Shop is TikTok’s own e-commerce platform. Through TikTok Shop, users can buy products directly in the app instead of being directed to external sites. This capability makes the buying journey more intuitive and faster. Sellers (including dropshippers) can upload products and manage orders from their designated Seller Center. You can also partner with influencers to promote their products on a commission basis.
Pros and cons of TikTok dropshipping
All social media channels are excellent tools to expand your dropshipping business’ reach. But TikTok is distinctive for a few key reasons:
- Ability to capitalize on viral trends: Unlike other business models like Amazon, Shopify, or eBay dropshipping, you’re selling through a social media platform. One viral TikTok video is all it takes to reach millions of users worldwide, garnering more attention for your dropshipping business than most ads ever could.
- Extensive reach and user base: Unlike platforms where visibility heavily depends on your follower count, TikTok’s algorithm allows virtually any content to go viral. If you produce engaging and visually appealing content, you can reach millions of people without ad spend.
- Direct sales through the TikTok shop: The easier the buyer journey, the more sales you’ll make. Removing the external sites and having everything in-app helps improve conversions and reduce churn.
Of course, not everything is rainbows and butterflies. Before joining the app, consider:
- Algorithm volatility: TikTok’s algorithm is based on AI models that are constantly evolving, so what works today might not work tomorrow, and there’s nothing you can do about it. This lack of control isn’t ideal when you’re trying to build sustainable growth.
- Logistics and fulfillment complexity: An unexpectedly high number of orders may lead to shipping delays, out-of-stock products, or order errors unless you have automation in place. Plus, TikTok’s strict fulfilment guidelines (including a maximum of 3 days to ship items, and 7-12 days delivery) add extra pressure to what can already be a huge operational nightmare if you’re still running things manually.
Difficulty building trust: Because this channel is so fast-paced, getting your message across and building trust with your audience can be difficult. Experienced dropshippers might choose more reliable platforms like eBay, which are established and time-tested.
4 steps to get started with TikTok dropshipping
1. Set up a TikTok business account
If you have never created a TikTok account, download the app and sign up for a personal account. Then, go to your profile and click “Manage account” to switch your account to business.
A business account is highly recommended for dropshippers who are promoting and selling products on TikTok. With this account, you can add product links in videos, add a website link in your bio, use commercial music, and collaborate with content creators. You can also access TikTok’s Business Center, a centralized hub for team collaboration, and gain insight into performance metrics via the Analytics tab.
If you plan to run ads, you can integrate with TikTok Ads Manager to set up paid promotions, including boosted organic content, in-feed ads, and product highlights on TikTok Shop.
2. Apply for TikTok Shop
Dropshippers can apply for TikTok Shop via a business or personal account (though a business account is recommended). Requirements vary between countries. However, in the US, you must have a legally registered business (such as a Limited Liability Company) with a valid EIN and business bank account. TikTok will also verify the business representative’s ID.
When configuring your store, you must include a name, business contact details, postal address, and shipping and return policies. You must also comply with TikTok’s service-level agreement to fulfill and ship orders and with product and tax rules. You can apply here by submitting all the information mentioned above (the TikTok team usually reviews documents in 1–3 business days).
3. Create a dropshipping store
Dropshippers don’t need to have a TikTok Shop to sell on TikTok. You can use this social channel to promote your products and direct users to your chosen marketplaces. Platforms like eBay are trustworthy and reliable, so they can be an excellent option for hosting your store.
Another huge benefit of directing TikTok users to your eBay dropshipping store is that eBay integrates with the best dropshipping automation platforms. This functionality means you can streamline operations and scale your business rather than relying consistently on manual order fulfillment and store management.
For example, Yaballe’s dropshipping automation platform is built to monitor sales, profitability, and account protection on eBay around the clock. It offers features like price monitoring, an auto-repricer, and listing optimizations to optimize conversions and profit at scale.
4. Choose products to dropship
The products you choose to sell can make or break your business. Do your research to spot products trending on TikTok and across other platforms. Google Trends and SEO tools like SemRush and Ahrefs are great for discovering what consumers are searching for and the volume of searches over the years.
You can also check out AliExpress’s dropshipping Trending Products section to get an overview of what’s currently in demand. This section reflects real-time buyer behavior and can give you valuable insight into demand across global markets.
4 sales strategies for success with TikTok dropshipping
1. Organic content
Build an organic content marketing plan for long-term, sustainable growth. Map out the type of content you want to create and distribute, posting cadence and timings, and how you want to engage with your audience.
2. User-generated content (UGC)
Have a UGC strategy to leverage UGC posts and encourage more buyers to share their experiences and genuine reviews. For example, check out the top influencers for your audience, research commission structures, or even reach out to some of them to gauge their interest in a partnership.
3. Paid ads
For paid ads, start with a small budget and do plenty of A/B testing on different formats to see what works. You can also use paid ads to boost organic posts through TikTok’s Spark Ads feature, available within the TikTok Ads Manager. This approach is particularly beneficial for organic posts that are doing well but haven’t gone viral.
4. Search optimization
You can also leverage TikTok as part of your wider product and content marketing strategies. For example, dropshippers can create engaging short-form videos to showcase products and build awareness. You could even utilize TikTok’s advertising tools to reach specific demographics and audiences.
Go beyond TikTok hype and build a successful dropshipping business
TikTok is incredibly powerful for growing your audience and making your mark in your niche. It has a massive user base, is easy to access, and offers many features for supercharging business operations. But it’s not an easy platform to be in, let alone rely on.
Strict product and fulfillment requirements can add unwelcome barriers to your growing dropshipping business, making it a nightmare to manage logistics and scale. Plus, TikTok doesn’t always accept Amazon tracking numbers (especially if they come from Amazon Logistics, which often don’t match the buyer’s name, arrive delayed, or get split across multiple shipments). This incompatibility is a serious challenge for dropshippers who rely on Amazon as their primary fulfillment source.
Established dropshippers can still make the most of TikTok’s user base for promotion while leveraging more reliable platforms like eBay for dropshipping operations. eBay has a strong selling infrastructure, protection policies, and payment processing, and it integrates easily with end-to-end dropshipping automation platforms like Yaballe.
With Yaballe, you can automatically fulfill thousands of eBay orders via your Amazon account (or even Yaballe’s Amazon Managed accounts or a mix of both). Yaballe’s centralized automation platform handles everything from supplier stock monitoring to auto-repricing and product tracking. Plus, Yaballe’s built-in VeRo scanner helps you protect your account against eBay policy enforcement, so your store stays live and successful.
Explore what Yaballe can do for your dropshipping business today.
