4 TikTok Shop Alternatives Your Business Should Know About

Key sales features:

• Advanced product linking features, such as tagging in bulk or at specific timestamps
• Shopping Collections can be added to sellers’ “Store” tab on their channel
• Affiliate Hub in the YouTube app for brands and affiliates to connect
• Integrations with retail stores and shopping platforms

YouTube Shopping allows creators to sell products from their own stores or other brands via videos, livestreams, and channel storefronts. Its affiliate programs and advanced tagging features make it a close rival to TikTok Shop, but there are some notable differences between the platforms.

Firstly, YouTube users’ age demographics are between 25 and 34, much higher than TikTok’s Gen Z userbase. YouTube users also lean towards in-depth tutorial and review videos, which differs from short-form TikTok format that encourages immediate purchases. The main downside to YouTube Shopping is that it doesn’t have an in-app checkout feature, which can dissuade shoppers from following through with purchases.

Key sales features:

• Selling available via Facebook Shop and Facebook Marketplace
• Add reviews to product pages
• Advanced analytics and engagement tools
• Messenger CTAs on product pages to support customer engagement
• Seamless integration with Instagram Shopping

Facebook is a solid TikTok shop alternative because it has the widest demographics and largest active user base of all the social media platforms. In terms of ecommerce, Facebook Shop’s targeting and analytics tools are more advanced than TikTok’s. And, because it’s owned by Meta, it can seamlessly integrate with your Instagram Shop and Messenger app to help you provide in-depth customer care.

Key sales features:

• Product tags can be added to ads, stories, reels, and feed videos
• Instagram Shop storefront can be organized with product collections
• For buyers in the US, products can be paid for within the Instagram app

Since it’s owned by Meta, Instagram and Facebook’s shopping features largely overlap, including the use of Messenger CTAs on shopping pages and targeting and analytics tools. However, Instagram has many more creative features and layouts to make your product tags stand out.

Key sales features:

• Retail catalogs to bulk import your inventory
• Shoppable “Product Rich Pins” pull product information from your website pages and adjust in real time
• Users can compile Shopping Lists to return to at a later date

Pinterest pulls in considerably less traffic than other TikTok Shop alternatives I’ve mentioned, but its shopping features shouldn’t be overlooked. If you have eye-catching product photos, they’ll have a much longer lifespan on the discovery feed than Instagram or Facebook.

Plus, Pinterest and TikTok’s audiences have considerable similarities. A large proportion of Pinterest users (42%) are Gen Z with high purchase intent. On top of this, the platforms also support identical video dimensions, meaning you can repurpose your promotional TikTok videos for a smooth transition.

During these uncertain times, diversifying your social media strategy is the best way to keep your business secure. The social selling platforms above each provide unique features that make them a TikTok Shop alternative, so now’s the time to test the waters and see what works for you.

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