As TikTok Shop seeks to establish itself in the e-commerce landscape, the platform is strategically leveraging Google Shopping as a new avenue for customer acquisition. This expansion demonstrates TikTok Shop’s commitment to growth and its understanding of leveraging established search engine platforms to attract potential buyers.
Back in 2023, TikTok announced a new feature called the “Search Ads Toggle” within its Ads Manager. This toggle allows brands to display their existing video ads alongside organic search results when users search for relevant keywords. This functionality resembles Amazon’s search ads, providing brands with valuable real estate within the platform's search engine and potentially reaching users with higher purchase intent.
Recognising the vast consumer base that uses Google Shopping, TikTok Shop has strategically introduced sponsored listings within the platform.
Here’s all you need to know about it.
- Initial Focus on Beauty and Skincare: Initially targeting beauty and skincare products, these listings aim to capture the attention of individuals searching for trendy items.
- Collaboration with Established Brands: Alongside smaller sellers, well-known brands like E.l.f., Tower 28, and Rhode are also featured in these listings, further bolstering their reach.
- Confirmed Marketing Strategy: While specifics remain undisclosed, a TikTok spokesperson confirms their use of Google Shopping ads, indicating a commitment to exploring diverse promotional avenues.
- Strategic Investment in Growth: This initiative aligns with TikTok Shop’s future plans, demonstrating their proactive approach to attracting external audience segments for their e-commerce platform.
By embracing Google Shopping, TikTok Shop makes a calculated move to expand its customer base and solidify its position within the e-commerce ecosystem. This strategic collaboration signifies its commitment to long-term growth and its understanding of the importance of leveraging established platforms to reach new audiences.
TikTok’s Changes In How E-Commerce Brands Use The Platform
While specific details remain unclear, TikTok also announced changes in how brands can link out to e-commerce platforms. This has sparked speculation about a potential shift in how the platform handles external links, particularly those directing users to Amazon listings. Some experts believe this could have a significant impact on businesses heavily reliant on linking out to external e-commerce platforms.
The timing of these changes, coinciding with TikTok’s reported efforts to develop its own fulfilment services, raises questions about the platform’s long-term strategy. Some speculate that these developments might be part of a larger plan to encourage brands to utilise TikTok's own ecommerce functionalities, potentially creating a more self-contained ecosystem for shopping within the platform.
Overall, these developments signal TikTok’s growing ambitions in the advertising and e-commerce space. Brands and marketers should closely monitor these changes and adapt their strategies accordingly to remain competitive on the platform.
What Do Industry Leaders Say About TikTok’s Moves?
Juozas Kaziukėnas, Founder and CEO of retail data analytics firm Marketplace Pulse, told Modern Retail he has also noticed TikTok Shop listings appearing in Google’s Shopping tab recently. “Google remains the most popular search engine for shopping,” Kaziukėnas said, although some data suggests Amazon has overtaken the top spot, “And TikTok capturing some of that is not surprising.”
Kaziukėnas also highlighted Google Shopping’s strength in allowing price and feature comparisons across retailers, a functionality currently lacking in TikTok Shop, which primarily caters to impulse buying triggered by video content.
Regardless of the long-term strategy, the current presence of TikTok Shop listings in Google Shopping signifies its intention to expand its reach and carve out a niche in the broader e-commerce landscape.
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