Ali HamzaAre you worried about the sales on your TikTok shop?
Or are you just getting routine sales instead of accelerated growth?
Don’t worry!
One creator can change the whole story of your store!
You can see in the snapshot above how I found one creator and how they turned things around for me.
You might be thinking, “How can I find the right creator?”
Don’t go anywhere.
I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to find and collaborate with a creator.
1. Understand the Power of TikTok Shop Creators
Before we dive into our topic, I want to share something amazing with you.
Last month, I found a creator who completely transformed my store, taking it from zero to hero.
A store that was getting just 20 to 25 orders per day suddenly jumped to 200 to 250+ orders daily, all because of one creator.
I’m about to tell you everything I did to find that creator and how it worked out.
So I’d recommend reading this post till the end. It’ll take you just around 15 minutes, but the strategies I’m sharing could truly help you.
Let’s get started, step by step, on how you can find a game-changing creator too!
2. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Collaborate with a Creator on TikTok Shop
Types of Collaborations on TikTok Shop
On TikTok Shop, collaborations are of two types:
Open Collaboration & Targeted Collaboration
I. Open Collaboration
Open Collaboration is a type of collaboration where the opportunity is open to all creators.
A seller lists products with a specific commission percentage, and any creator can apply to receive a free sample to promote the product.
The seller can also set specific criteria for creators who want to apply for a free sample, such as:
- Number of followers
- 30-day sales volume
- Average views per video
- Estimated post rate
In Open Collaboration, a creator can also choose to purchase an item from the available products and promote it. By doing so, they work as an affiliate for your shop. When they post a video and make sales, they earn the commission set by the seller. At, Tiksly we also offer influencer outreach services that help TikTok Shop brands to maximize their revenue.
II. Targeted Collaboration
Targeted Collaboration allows you to send an invitation to specific creators you want to work with.
In this section, you create an invitation for a selected product, set a commission, and can invite up to 50 creators at a time.
This type of collaboration gives you more control over who promotes your products, ensuring the creators align with your brand and audience.
3. How to Set Up an Open Collaboration
i) Add Products and Highlight Key Items
The first step is to add products to this section, making them available for all creators to view and choose their desired items from your store. You can also highlight specific products by setting a higher commission to attract more creators.
Products can be added manually, or you can turn on the Auto-Add button to automatically include new products in Open Collaboration.
ii) Set Commission Rates to Attract Creators
The second and most important step in this section is setting up the commission percentage for your items.
TikTok recommends a standard commission rate between 17% to 22%.
You can set the commission rate for individual items, or apply it to up to 50 items at once by using the Bulk Action feature.
Set commission rates based on the value and appeal of each item, and try to offer higher commissions to attract more creators to promote your products.
iii) Offer Free Samples and Set Creator Requirements
The final step in this section is offering a free sample.
Here, you need to set the criteria for creators by deciding “Who can apply for a free sample?”
For example, a creator who wants to request a sample should meet certain requirements, such as:
- Having a specific number of fans (e.g., 1K or 10K)
- Achieving a certain number of sales in the past 30 days
- Maintaining an average number of views per posted video
- Meeting an estimated post rate
You also need to set the number of samples available, define the request period (how long creators can apply), and choose a category to ensure that only creators from a specific niche can apply for the sample.
Pro Tip:
Don’t set criteria that are too high, like requiring a large number of fans or huge sales in the last 30 days, for creators to apply for a free sample.
You should set criteria that allow growing creators to apply for samples because the final decision will be made by you.
When setting up the free sample offer, choose the option to review sample requests manually instead of auto-approving them. This way, you can personally review each request before sending the sample.
iv) How Creators Place Orders for Samples
Creators who are interested in promoting your products can directly place an order for a sample through the Open Collaboration section. If they don’t meet your free sample criteria, they still have the option to purchase a sample at the listed price or a discounted rate if offered.
This ensures more creators get access to your products and start creating content, helping you boost visibility and sales even faster.
4. How to Run Targeted Collaboration
i. Find a Creator
In Targeted Collaboration, the first step is to find the creators you want to collaborate with, and then move on to inviting them.
In the Affiliate Center, there is a section called “Find Creator” where you can explore and evaluate creators’ performance based on your product category.
You can apply filters to find creators that match your needs.
Additionally, you can use third-party tools like Shoplus, FastMoss, Euka, EchoTik, etc., to discover and analyze potential creators.
Here’s a tip:
Go to the Find Creator section and apply two filters:
- Fast Growing
- Sales: 1K–10K in the Previous Month
Then review the creators one by one and choose from them. These creators are more likely to be actively posting, and TikTok is likely to rank their content higher.
Find creators by setting up filters. You can also use the tip mentioned above and then list those creators who you feel have the potential to work for you and truly transform your results.
Now it’s time to start sending sample requests. Let’s move on!
ii. Create a Personalized Invitation
I will guide you step by step on how you can invite a creator of your choice.
First of all, go to the Affiliate Center, then open the Target Collaboration section.
To start inviting a creator, click the button on the top right corner and begin creating your invitation.
After clicking on the “Invite to Collaborate” tab, you’ll be directed to an invitation form that you need to complete by following these four steps:
- Create Invitation
- Choose Products
- Set Up Free Samples
- Choose Creators
Creat Invitation
The first step in creating an invitation is to set an invitation name. This will help you recognize the purpose, such as a specific event or campaign.
Then, select the deadline. This is the last date by which a creator can accept the invitation or request a sample. After this date, they won’t be able to send a request.
The next step is to share your contact information, such as your email address and phone number.
After that, you’ll need to write a short message (under 500 characters). In this message, appreciate the creator’s work and express your excitement to collaborate. Clearly state what you’re looking for.
In the final step, let the creator know what type of content you expect. For example, whether you want a shoppable video or a live review.
My recommendation is to go for shoppable videos.
Choose Products
In this section, you have to choose the product you want to collaborate on. You can select a single product or multiple items that you want to promote through your targeted creators.
Then, set a standard commission rate that creators will earn on orders made through their showcases, videos, or LIVE sessions. TikTok will also indicate whether the percentage you’ve selected is high or low, so keep a close eye on that.
Set Up Free Samples
In this section, there are two options for you: Auto Approve Requests and Manually Review Requests.
I recommend choosing manual approval. If you set it to auto approve, the creator only needs to click “Request Sample,” and it will be approved automatically.
With manual approval, after a creator sends a sample request, you have 7 days to approve or reject it — it’s completely up to you.
I set it to manual, allowing me to review the creator’s performance again before sending a sample.
So my recommendation is to choose manual review for better control.
Choose Creators
In the final step before completing your invitation, you need to select the creators you want to work with. This is a crucial part, as choosing the right creators can significantly impact your campaign’s success.
Once you’ve selected the creators, your invitation is just one click away. Simply press the “Send” button, and your invitation will be delivered to the selected creators.
5. Approve Sample Requests
After sending an invitation to your desired creator, the next step is out of your hands. The creator must take action and send a request back to you for sample approval. You can follow up with the creator by sending a message through the “Creator Message” section to inform them about the invitation.
If the creator is interested in your invitation, they will send you a sample request, which will appear in the “Sample Requests” section. At this stage, you can approve or reject the request if you had selected the manual review option while creating the invitation.
Once you approve the sample, the order will appear in the “Orders” section along with regular customer orders. You must process it like any normal order. Approved samples will move to the “Ready to Ship” tab. After you add tracking details, the order will shift to the “Shipped” tab. Once it is delivered, it will appear in the “In-Progress” section until the creator posts the video and links it to your store or product.
Tip: Always review sample requests carefully and try to contact the creator before approving. Building good communication helps develop a strong working relationship and motivates the creator to promote your product more effectively. Your message plays a big role in this process.
6. Follow Up Creators via Message
This section is very powerful for generating strong sales if used smartly. You can reach out to creators before sending invitations or before approving free samples. Offer them attractive commissions to work with you and aim to build long-term partnerships.
Keep in mind that creators may not respond to a simple or generic message. You need to write smartly and politely that encourage them to reply. You can also ask for their personal contact numbers or email addresses to communicate more easily. Building a friendly relationship can lead them to post for you multiple times.
So, this is one of the most impactful sections within the Creator Center. One important thing to remember is that you can initially send five messages to a creator. If the creator does not respond, TikTok will not allow you to reach out to them again. However, if the creator replies, this limit will no longer apply to you.
Conclusion
Collaborating effectively with TikTok creators can transform your shop’s performance, but only if you know how to navigate the tools, set the right strategy, and build genuine partnerships. Do not treat creators like one-time assets. Focus on building lasting relationships, follow up after content is posted to show appreciation, and reinvest in the creators who perform well for you. These steps can lead to long-term success and stronger brand loyalty.
If your shop is struggling to gain traction or bring in sales, Tiksly is here to help. We have worked with a trusted network of creators who consistently deliver results and help our partner shops grow and succeed. With thousands in generated sales and a proven return on investment of over sixty percent, our experience and track record speak for themselves.
Do not let your store get lost in the crowd. Reach out to Tiksly today and let us help you turn your shop into a top-performing success.
If you have any questions regarding this, feel free to ask in the comment section we’re here to help and provide you with tips and tricks to resolve any issues!
FAQs
How do I choose the right TikTok creators for my shop?
Look for creators whose audience aligns with your product niche. Use filters like category, growth rate, and past sales to identify creators with potential. Prioritize those with consistent engagement, not just high follower counts.
What if a creator doesn’t deliver content after receiving a sample?
That’s why manual approval is key. Always check a creator’s history and, if needed, follow up through messages. Building relationships helps reduce this risk.
How many messages can I send to a creator on TikTok Shop?
You can send up to 5 messages to a creator if they haven’t replied yet. If the creator responds to any of your messages, the limit is removed, and you can continue messaging them without restriction. So, make your first message count. Keep it polite, clear, and engaging to encourage a reply.
What makes Tiksly different from other platforms?
Unlike others, we don’t just connect you with creators—we’ve built long-term partnerships with influencers who’ve ranked our shops consistently. We bring strategy, trust, and results.
