Sleigh your holiday sales: A guide to TikTok for WooCommerce 

If you’ve been eyeing TikTok as the next channel to get your WooCommerce store in front of new customers, but feeling a bit lost in navigating the content and viral trends, here’s an early gift. 

As a WooCommerce store owner (or manager), you’re likely always on the lookout for effective ways to expand your reach and drive sales, especially as the busy holiday shopping season approaches. You’ve probably heard about TikTok’s potential as a selling channel, but perhaps you’re unsure how to effectively integrate it into your existing strategy. 

This guide aims to provide you with practical, actionable insights on how to leverage TikTok to boost your WooCommerce store’s performance during the critical holiday shopping period.

TikTok is the perfect place for WooCommerce merchants to connect with eager gift-givers and holiday lovers this holiday season. It’s where brands can spark joy and boost sales, as shoppers look for the perfect gifts and must-have holiday items.

With content spanning every stage (and sentiment) of the holiday season, TikTok creates opportunities for small businesses from the buildup to the big day.

Don’t need to hear any more? Get started on the TikTok for WooCommerce extension–and if you’re new to TikTok advertising you might be eligible to tap into $1,500 ad credit (terms and conditions apply). 

Let’s get (nut) cracking.

Why TikTok and WooCommerce? Why now?

With over one billion monthly active users, TikTok is the place to be. It’s a powerful commerce platform where your products can reach highly engaged buyers who are looking for the perfect gift (or a little something for themselves). Here’s why TikTok should be at the top of your holiday marketing list:

• Massive reach: You’re tapping into a highly active user base, with an average of 58 minutes spent per day on the app, meaning multiple chances for your products to be discovered.
• Opportunity to hit it big: TikTok surfaces the right content to the right audience, even if you don’t have a huge following.
• Ecommerce-friendly: From product tags to native shopping features, TikTok has made it easy for WooCommerce merchants to turn content into sales.

Cracking TikTok’s content code

On TikTok, it’s all about entertaining, authentic, and relatable content. So how can your WooCommerce store stand out in this ocean of viral videos? 

Brands like Dan O’s Seasoning have cracked the code on creating organic content to surpass four million TikTok followers. They’ve leaned in with a full content team and daily posts. But it’s possible to start from scratch. Here’s your roadmap:

1. Create a TikTok Business Account

Start by downloading the TikTok app, setting up a business account, and optimizing your profile. Make sure your bio is sharp, your profile photo is your store’s logo, and that there’s a clear link to your WooCommerce store.

2. Post content that clicks

• Be entertaining: Prioritize humor, storytelling, or behind-the-scenes content over direct sales pitches. Think of showing your holiday packaging process or how your products are made, and show off your brand’s personality.
• Leverage user-generated content (UGC): Encourage your customers to create content with your products. Create a Branded Mission (which can help you crowd source content) or team up with micro-influencers via the TikTok Creator Marketplace for organic, creative shout-outs.
• Keep posting: TikTok thrives on quantity just as much as quality. Posting regularly (even daily!) increases your chances of going viral. Your content doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be consistent and engaging.

3. Develop a sparkling ad strategy

Creating the perfect blend of organic and paid content can be tricky, but is worth the effort. If you need a few ideas to kick start your ad strategy, here are a few formats to consider:

• In-feed Ads: Blend seamlessly into users’ feeds — just like regular TikToks, but with a clear call-to-action.
• Spark Ads: Promote existing organic posts (yours or someone else’s) and leverage TikTok’s engagement culture.
• TopView Ads: Premium and hard to miss, these ads greet users as soon as they open the app — perfect for showcasing your star holiday products.

4. Let customers check out on the spot with TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop, currently available in select markets, lets users discover products directly from videos and complete their purchase without leaving the app. If you haven’t set it up yet, now is the time. You can turn viral content into instant sales — ideal for capitalizing on the holiday rush.

5. Partner with creators

Creators on TikTok are your secret weapon to boost holiday sales. These content creators have built credibility and trust with your target audience, making their product recommendations highly persuasive. Get started by:

• Setting a budget for influencer partnerships, and seek out creators who align with your brand’s voice and values.
• Finding creators through discovery or the TikTok Creator Marketplace, which connects you with influencers, showcasing their engagement reach, views, and demographics. You can register for an account and then search for influencers and contact them directly. 
• Keeping it authentic. TikTok users love organic, natural mentions of products. A subtle product placement in a cooking tutorial, for instance, will often work better than a flashy sales pitch.

6. Use analytics to guide your strategy

Use TikTok’s analytics to track the performance of your content and ads. Look at engagement metrics like views, likes, comments, shares, and click-through rates to understand what works best. Refine your content strategy based on insights from your most successful posts and ads.

TikTok strategies that will sleigh the holiday season

We’ve covered the basics, now we’ll dig into maximizing your TikTok efforts for the busiest shopping season.

Here’s a fun fact: Holiday shopping on TikTok starts early. 

In 2023, there was a 190% increase in #holidayshopping videos from the week before Halloween to the week after (source: TikTok internal hashtag data, US, week 43 vs week 45, 2023). This means there’s a golden window for engaging shoppers before the rush even begins.

Capitalize on the early gift-hunting with content that falls into one of two camps:

• Gifting for others: Showcase products that fit different budgets or create gift guide series for niche audiences.
• Self-gifting splurge: With 87% of users buying for themselves during holiday sales, lean into this trend with incentives or deals on must-have items (source: TikTok Marketing Science US Holiday Research 2022 conducted by Material).

Last year’s holiday trends show that TikTok is the perfect place to capture early shoppers. From #BlackFriday to #Christmas and beyond, seasonal and holiday-specific hashtags drive tons of engagement:

TikTok weaves a diverse cultural tapestry, embracing and celebrating an array of traditions during the holiday season. Last year, #Hanukkah had a 12.5% engagement rate, #Kwanzaa a 9.8% engagement rate, and #NocheBuena an 8.4% engagement rate. 

Source: TikTok internal hashtag data, 2023

Here are some festive content concepts to use on your store’s account:

1. Festive product showcases: Show off your products in short, fun videos — add holiday music and filters for extra cheer!
2. Behind-the-scenes: Give sneak peeks of your team prepping for the holidays, or spotlight your limited-edition holiday packaging.
3. Gift Guides: Organize your products into categories — “Gifts under $50” or “Stocking stuffers for tech lovers” — and share them as bite-sized TikTok videos.
4. UGC campaigns: Encourage customers to post videos of your products in holiday settings using a branded hashtag (think #YourBrandHolidayJoy). Offer prizes for the best submissions.
5. Holiday hacks: Share quick tips using your products, whether it’s decking out a space with home decor or cooking up a holiday feast with your kitchenware.

Get started today and make the most of your holiday 

If you’re new to TikTok, there are a few fundamentals you need to get right to unlock your full potential. Check out the TikTok for Woo setup guide for the full details. It covers how to:

Connect the TikTok for WooCommerce extension

Follow these step by step instructions to set up your Ads Manager account and Pixel and start creating ads.

Build your first ad

Creating for TikTok is different, not difficult. Use our AI-Powered Creative Assistant for personalized creative solutions and CapCut for Businessʼ ad creative templates for a pro-looking finish.

Run your first campaign

Use Website Conversions Objective, optimize for Complete Payment (or your desired outcome), start with a recommended ad group budget, and use Broad or Balanced targeting.

Nurture and optimize

Include two or three (or more!) creatives and run campaigns for at least seven days before optimizing. If you have a TikTok Business Account, use Spark Ads, and consider using Web Traffic Custom Audiences after your first campaigns.

Time to sleigh your holiday sales!

Connect your store catalog to TikTok through the TikTok for WooCommerce extension–and now’s a good time to take advantage of the $1,500 ad credit offer for your first campaign (terms and conditions apply). 

And there you have it, folks! You’re now armed with everything you need to turn TikTok into your personal holiday sales machine. Remember, the key to TikTok success is being authentic, creative, riding the waves of popular content, and we hope you have fun doing it.

About

Mahrie Boyle