13 points to note when opening a cross-border TikTok store in the US (purely practical tips)

Still troubled about not knowing how to open a TikTok US cross-border store? Afraid of falling into big pitfalls if you’re not careful? Then you must read the 13 key points compiled by Tuke today! All are practical tips for opening a TT cross-border store in the US region. Friends in need are welcome to take them~

Image source: Internet

1. Registration Related

To register a US TikTok shop, there are special requirements for account information. You must either use a US phone number and email, or register with an existing TikTok account, and you must have an invitation code. In terms of registration subject, if it’s a business, you need to provide a US company license and the person in charge’s passport/driver’s license; if it’s an individual registration, a US passport/driver’s license is essential.

2. Entry Threshold

The US TikTok shop adopts an invitation system, which means that having an invitation code does not guarantee successful entry. There are limited spots each month, and the review is stricter than in other countries. Even with an invitation code, you cannot be 100% sure of success, so businesses need to be fully prepared in advance to ensure they meet all the requirements.

Image source: Internet

3. Entry Material Preparation

Material preparation is a key step for entry. US company registration documents are essential for business registration, while individuals need to provide relevant materials such as a US passport or driver’s license. Any missing or non-compliant material may lead to entry failure.

4. Logistics Settings

In terms of logistics, US TikTok shops offer three shipping methods. TikTok Shipping, where TikTok picks up from your location, is convenient and fast; Seller Shipping, where the seller ships independently and can arrange flexibly according to their own situation; Fulfillment by TikTok (FBT, requires contacting AM to activate) also provides another logistics solution for sellers. Sellers can comprehensively consider their own supply chain, costs, etc., and choose the optimal shipping method.

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5. Key Points for Product Listing

When listing, the main image of the product should be high-definition, without clutter (such as messy promotional information), and the style should match the aesthetics of the European and American markets. It’s best to have more than 5 main images to comprehensively showcase the product. The product detail page should also be clearly described, well segmented, and the text content should be more than 500 characters, so that consumers can fully understand the product information and increase their willingness to buy.

6. Influencer Collaboration

Collaborating with influencers is an effective way to expand the market. By working with influencers, corporate brands can reach more overseas consumers, thereby increasing the exposure and awareness of the brand/product on TikTok, driving traffic to the store, and boosting sales.

7. Affiliate Program

Merchants can create two types of Collaboration. One is Open Collaboration, and the other is Target Collaboration. Through these two programs, influencers can see your products and use their influence to expand the sales range of your products.

Product images of a certain brand’s TT shop Image source: Dida Dog

8. Store Rating Maintenance

Store ratings are related to the operation status of the store. Businesses need to pay special attention to indicators such as negative review rate, delayed fulfillment rate, and seller cancellation rate, and strive to maintain good store operation status and enhance store competitiveness.

9. Deposit Payment

All cross-border sellers selling products on TikTok Shop are required to pay a deposit: $500.

10. Account Association Risk

TikTok Shop strictly monitors account associations. If it is found that a seller’s account is associated with other seller accounts, influencer accounts, or other types of TikTok Shop accounts, and the associated account violates platform policies or rules, the platform may take punitive measures against all “associated” accounts, causing serious losses to the business.

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11. Star Store Badge

TikTok Shop evaluates merchants’ eligibility for the Star Store Badge every month based on store ratings. To retain the badge, merchants need to maintain a high experience score, which is beneficial for enhancing the store’s image and attracting customers.

12. Penalty Points for Violations

Once cross-border sellers violate policies and rules, they will be given penalty points. The number of penalty points is related to the severity and impact of the violation. When the total reaches 48 points, the seller’s e-commerce privileges will be permanently revoked, so businesses must strictly comply with platform rules.

13. Seller Performance Evaluation

TikTok evaluates seller accounts from four aspects: order fulfillment, service indicators, policy compliance, fraud and risk. If there are violations in these areas, the platform will impose penalties, and the severity of the penalty depends on the seriousness and frequency of the policy/rule violation.

Image source: Internet

Mastering the above 13 key points will help everyone operate TikTok US cross-border stores more efficiently!

That’s all for today’s sharing. See you next time~