Set up a business account, make videos that sell without dancing, go live, and move viewers from comments to a checkout that gets you paid.
Here is how to sell on TikTok in Nigeria in one paragraph: switch to a business account, add a link to a store or WhatsApp in your bio, post short videos that show your product in real use, reply to every “how much?” comment, and send interested viewers to a place where they can pay and book delivery. Post often, learn from what gets comments, and repeat what works.
TikTok can put your product in front of thousands of people who have never heard of you, even with zero followers. That is its big strength. The challenge is turning views into orders, and that is what most of this guide is about.
Is TikTok worth it for Nigerian sellers?
On most social apps, people see posts from accounts they follow. On TikTok, the For You page shows videos to people based on what they watch, so a new seller can reach new buyers quickly if a video catches attention.
That makes TikTok good for:
- Finding new customers outside your contacts and followers
- Showing products in action, which builds trust faster than photos
- Testing ideas, because you see quickly which products people react to
- Building a brand with a face and a voice people recognise
The flip side is that views are not orders. A video can get many views and zero sales if viewers cannot work out how to buy or do not trust you yet.
Step 1: set up your TikTok account for selling
A few minutes of setup makes your account look like a real business and makes ordering easier.
If you do not see the website field, check that you are on a business account. TikTok sometimes changes which accounts can add links, so look in your profile settings.
What your link should open
Your bio link is your shop counter. It should open somewhere buyers can see prices and order without waiting. A Shopinbos store at yourname.mybos.store is free and shows products, prices, delivery fees and payment in one place. Rex, our AI store builder, can set it up from a chat in about five minutes.
Step 2: choose what to sell on TikTok
Some products are made for short video. They have a visible “before and after”, a satisfying moment, or a clear problem they solve.
Products that often do well:
- Beauty and hair: wig installs, skincare routines, lash application
- Fashion: outfit changes, styling one piece three ways, try-on hauls
- Gadgets: unboxings, “this charger saved me during NEPA”, sound tests
- Food: making small chops, cutting a cake, packing snack boxes
- Home and kitchen: gadgets that solve a small annoying problem
If you are not sure what to sell, browse the trending products page for ideas, then test a few with videos before buying stock.
Step 3: make videos that sell (no dancing required)
You do not need to dance, act or be famous. You need to show the product clearly and give people a reason to want it.
Seven video ideas that work
- “Unbox with me”: open a new delivery and show each item close up.
- “Pack an order with me”: shows you are real, busy and trusted.
- Before and after: hair, skin, a room, a messy drawer.
- “3 ways to wear”: one scarf, one dress, one bag.
- Answer a comment: reply to “how much?” or “does it come in black?” with a video.
- Problem and fix: “My phone always dies at 3pm. This is what I carry now.”
- Customer reaction: with permission, show a happy customer receiving their order.
Hook viewers in the first two seconds
Start with the product or the result, not your logo or “Hi guys”. For example:
- Show the finished wig, then explain how.
- Hold the blender full of pepper, then press the button.
- Start with “This bag fits a 15-inch laptop” while you slide the laptop in.
Keep it simple to film
Use your phone, natural light from a window and a quiet spot. Clear sound matters more than a fancy camera. Many sellers film several videos in one sitting and post them through the week.
Write captions and use hashtags well
TikTok captions are short, so make them count.
- Say what the product is in plain words: “Human hair bob wig, 12 inches”
- Add the price and a call to action: “₦65,000. Order via link in bio”
- Use a few relevant hashtags: your product, your city and your niche
- Ask a question to get comments: “Black or brown?”
Avoid stuffing dozens of hashtags. A few relevant ones help TikTok understand your video and show it to the right people.
Step 4: turn comments and DMs into orders
This is where most TikTok sellers lose sales. A viewer comments “how much?”, nobody replies, and they forget.
Get help with replies
As your videos grow, replies pile up. Peggy, the Shopinbos AI assistant, answers customer chats in English and Pidgin and can draft posts, so buyers who move to WhatsApp or your store get quick answers even when you are filming or packing.
Step 5: go live to sell more
TikTok Live lets you talk to buyers in real time, show products up close and answer questions immediately. Live access depends on TikTok’s current rules for your account, so check in the app whether you can go live.
Tips for a good selling live:
- Plan five to ten products to show, in order
- Have prices on a card or on screen
- Hold each product close to the camera and show details
- Read out names of people asking questions and answer them
- Tell viewers exactly how to order: “Tap the link in bio, choose the colour, pay or pick pay on delivery”
- Go live at times your buyers are free, such as evenings and weekends
Step 6: take payment and deliver properly
Trust is the biggest barrier when someone finds you on TikTok. They do not know you yet. Give them safe ways to pay.
Payment options
With Shopinbos, buyers can pay by card, bank transfer or USSD through Paystack. The fee is 1.5% + ₦100 (the ₦100 is waived under ₦2,500), capped at ₦2,000. Your money is paid out to your bank account through Paystack.
For buyers who want to see the item first, pay on delivery is available for orders up to ₦50,000 in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. The customer pays your shop at the door by transfer, card or USSD, then gets a 4-digit code to give the rider, so riders never handle cash.
Delivery
You can book riders straight from the order, and the delivery price is shown at checkout, so there are no awkward surprises. Interstate orders go through delivery partner companies.
Why don’t TikTok views turn into sales?
- No link in bio. Viewers who want to buy do not know where to go.
- Ignoring comments. Each unanswered “how much?” is a lost sale.
- Only posting adverts. Mix in behind the scenes, tips and reviews.
- Giving up after a week. Growth on TikTok is uneven. Some videos flop and one suddenly takes off.
- Selling something you cannot restock. A video goes viral, and you have three pieces left. Know your supplier before you push a product.
- Copying videos exactly. Use trends for ideas, but show your own products, voice and city.
How do you use TikTok with your other channels?
TikTok works best as one part of your selling. Repost your best videos as Instagram Reels, Facebook videos and WhatsApp Status. Keep one product list and one place for orders so you are not tracking sales in five apps.
Shopinbos lets you sell across your own store, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Google while orders and stock stay in one dashboard.
How to sell on TikTok in Nigeria: start this week
You now know how to sell on TikTok in Nigeria: set up a business account, add a link, post simple videos that show real use, reply fast, go live when you can and make paying easy. Film three videos this week and post them before Sunday.
If you need a link in bio that shows prices and takes payment, a free Shopinbos store gives you one in a few minutes, so your TikTok views have somewhere to turn into orders.
