If there were ever a showdown between TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, TikTok wouldn't just win—it'd livestream the whole thing, remix it with trending sounds, and spark a new meme in the process.
And that's exactly what makes TikTok such a powerful marketing tool. It doesn't play by the old rules—and if you want to succeed on the platform, neither should you.
This guide breaks down the best ways to win on TikTok in 2025—without looking like a brand trying too hard.
First: What Makes TikTok Different?
TikTok isn't just a video app. It's a culture engine.
The audience? Mostly Gen Z and younger millennials.
The tone? Fast, funny, raw, and real.
This means the traditional polished, corporate-style marketing doesn't cut it here. What works instead:
- Relatable content that mirrors your audience's language and lifestyle
- Fast-paced storytelling and editing
- Humor, trends, and personality > branding
When you let go of looking like a brand, that's when people start to pay attention.
1. Speak Fluent TikTok
The language of TikTok is trends, sounds, edits, and chaos—in the best way.
In 2025, trending formats are still everything. From green screen rants to rapid-cut GRWM (Get Ready With Me) style clips, the key is to speak the platform's native language.
Study your niche. See what creators and brands are doing. Then remix it with your own twist.
And hashtags still matter:
- #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has crossed 85 billion views.
- #fyp is still alive and well—trillions of views and counting.
Use hashtags to reach communities, not just categories.
👉 Want to go deeper on the psychology of why short-form video works? Check out The Hidden Conversion Killer in eCommerce: Choice Overload.
2. Partner With Creators (Smartly)
You don't need to chase mega-influencers.
Micro and mid-tier creators (1K–50K followers) often have tighter communities, higher engagement, and more affordable rates.
Use the TikTok Creator Marketplace to:
- Filter by niche, engagement, and region
- Spot creators with high retention rates
- See past content performance
Or go grassroots: DM creators directly and offer affiliate links. Give them creative freedom—that's what makes it feel native, not sponsored.
3. Make Your Content Shoppable
TikTok has officially blurred the line between entertainment and shopping.
- 30% of users now interact with TikTok Shop monthly.
- TikTok Shop is projected to drive over $17.5B in U.S. sales by end of 2024. (Source: Business of Apps, 2024)
So how do you get in on this?
- Add product links in your videos
- Use TikTok Shop for seamless native checkout
- Turn your videos into shoppable videos with tools like Tellos on Shopify
With Tellos, you can mirror the TikTok experience directly on your Shopify store. No more drop-off when users leave social to browse your site. Tellos pulls your social content and turns it into on-site video feeds where every frame is clickable.
📚 Want more on shoppable video strategy? Read How to Make Your Shoppable Videos More Engaging.
4. Paid Ads—But Make Them Feel Organic
TikTok ads can work beautifully if they feel native.
The top-performing formats in 2025:
- Spark Ads (boosted UGC that feels real)
- Collection Ads (video + product cards)
- Dynamic Showcase Ads (customized product feeds)
Avoid overly polished brand videos. Film in vertical, use real voices, and let creators be themselves.
Track everything via TikTok Ads Manager—and don't be afraid to A/B test across regions or demo segments.
5. Start on TikTok—But Bring Shoppers Home
TikTok is great for discovery. But long-term growth means owning the shopper relationship.
That means building your own D2C store—and giving it the same immersive, scroll-friendly experience users get on TikTok.
That's exactly where Tellos comes in. It brings the video-first shopping experience into your store. Customers land on your site and instantly get what they expect: real people, real products, real stories—in video.
If you're just starting your brand, we break it all down in Your First D2C Brand: A Simple, Smart Strategy to Get Started.
Wrap-Up: Don't Just Do TikTok. Get TikTok.
TikTok rewards brands that understand the assignment:
- Be relatable, not rehearsed
- Be part of the culture, not above it
- Make it fun, fast, and shoppable
The best part? You don't need a Hollywood budget—just creativity, a phone, and a little help from the right tools.
TikTok is changing how people discover and buy. If you meet them where they are—and then bring them home—you've already won.
Ready to bring the TikTok shopping experience to your own store? Try Tellos on the Shopify App Store or contact us for a personalized demo.