TikTok Shop Banned 1000’s of Affiliates

Introduction

As some of you might already know, TikTok has been banning zero-follower accounts, also known as loophole accounts, which are accounts that are linked to a seller center. This change has occurred abruptly, and many have already reported being affected. Here’s everything you need to know about the new policy and three options for continuing to promote products as an affiliate.

Policy Update

TikTok has sent out a message explaining this new update:

“New official shop creators cannot access our TikTok Shop product affiliate Marketplace per our creator eligibility policy. These creators can only promote products from the TikTok shop that they are bound to through an official Creator bind.

This means that if you link a TikTok account with less than 5,000 followers to your seller center, you will only be able to promote products in your shop or products listed inside that seller center."

Impact on Affiliates

For most of you not selling products directly, there is no real benefit to linking your account to a seller center. This new policy definitely complicates things, but there are still ways to move forward.

Three Options for Affiliates

Option 1: Buy an Account

This is the easiest way to get set up for TikTok Shop but will cost you some money. These accounts can range in price between $ 300 and $ 600 and usually already have TikTok Shop permissions and 5,000 followers. If you don’t know where to buy these, I have a section in my free Discord group dedicated to reputable TikTok account sellers, along with guidelines to keep you safe before and after purchasing accounts.

Option 2: Grow an Account to 5,000 Followers

Growing an account to 5,000 followers isn’t as easy as it used to be, but it’s still achievable. You can post podcast clips, Reddit stories, or other viral clips until you hit 5,000 followers. At that point, you can open up Creator Tools and sign up for the TikTok shop affiliate program directly from your account. You’ll be granted instant access, assuming you have no violations.

Option 3: Run Ads to Gain Followers

This method involves running your TikTok videos as ads with the goal of gaining new followers. It requires some investment but can sometimes be cheaper than buying an account. You’ll need a TikTok business account, a TikTok ads account, and at least one video on your TikTok account that gives people a reason to follow you. For example, you could tell a story and end the video just before the story concludes, encouraging viewers to follow for part two. Generate an ad code for your video and run it as an ad from your TikTok ads account.

Moving Forward

The new policy may seem like a significant roadblock, especially if you were affected, but it’s not the end of the road. Many people will likely give up completely, which just means less competition for those who continue to push forward. Stay persistent, and you’ll find opportunities to succeed.

For more information about TikTok Shop, check the description of this video. Until next time, best of luck!