How can a beginner with zero basic knowledge enter TikTok in Southeast Asia?

With the rise of e-commerce companies such as Shopee, Lazada , and AliExpress, Southeast Asia has become a popular market for companies to make money. Not only are domestic e-commerce sellers and entrepreneurs asking how to do cross-border e-commerce, but even domestic Internet giants such as ByteDance, Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com are also investing in it, and small and medium-sized enterprises are constantly looking for opportunities in it.

So how can you enter Southeast Asia with zero basic knowledge? First of all, if you want to do well in a new industry, you must learn the basic knowledge of the industry so that you can have a clear idea of ​​it.

Understand the advantages of cross-border e-commerce operation platforms

Many times, the logic behind choosing a cross-border e-commerce platform is similar to that of choosing a domestic e-commerce platform. Merchants need to consider factors such as entry threshold, platform traffic, competitive pressure, cross-border logistics, profit margins and operating costs.

TikTok Shop provides a one-stop e-commerce solution for merchants and brands, enabling brands, merchants and creators to display and sell products directly through short videos, live broadcasts and product demonstrations.

At present, the operating model of TikTok Shop in the five Southeast Asian countries is a merchant self-operated model. Merchants operate independently and can flexibly choose models such as shopping malls, live broadcasts, short videos, and expert cooperation, and participate in platform marketing activities ; merchants can flexibly set prices based on operating strategies and have more autonomy; it is suitable for all kinds of merchants with e-commerce operation experience to quickly enter the market.

Secondly, it is very necessary to understand some professional terms, such as B2B (Business to Business, both the supply and demand sides of the transaction are merchants) and B2C (direct to consumers) in cross-border e-commerce, as well as " content field (the entrance embedded in the content flow, through the entrance to enter the live broadcast room or short video, and then click on the product to complete the transaction)" and " shelf field (the consumption scenario of traditional shelf e-commerce behavior, usually entered through shopping malls, searches, stores, etc.)" and other professional terms related to cross-border e-commerce.

Identify your target market

Before exporting overseas, sellers need to have a clear understanding of market positioning and customer groups. To which groups are the products mainly provided? What age and occupation are they suitable for? For example, in recent years, the cross-border e-commerce market in Europe and the United States has gradually become saturated, while the cross-border e-commerce market in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and other regions, which are emerging cross-border blue oceans, is on an upward trend.

According to Insider Intelligence data, Southeast Asia is home to three of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in the world. At the same time, according to the latest research forecast by Google and investment company Temasek Holdings , Southeast Asia's e-commerce sales will grow to US$88 billion in 2025 and will account for 6% of total retail sales. Southeast Asia's e-commerce market has great potential for development.

It can be seen that Southeast Asia is undoubtedly the potential cross-border market of choice for novice sellers, but sellers still need to pay attention to logistics issues, local cultural issues, etc. when going overseas.

Do a good job of product classification and get twice the result with half the effort

Product classification management allows customers to better find and purchase related products. Products can be classified according to their positioning - profit products, traffic products, test products, and image products.

Traffic products: mainly refers to products that bring exposure opportunities, which are mainly divided into two categories, one is pure traffic products ≠ profit products, and the other is the superposition of traffic products & profit products. Of course, the latter is naturally the best.

Profitable products: Products that contribute to the company's main profits, with both high profits and natural traffic .

Image products: Positioned as facade products, they are mainly used to show the strength of the brand. These products generally use the most cutting-edge core technologies of merchants and enterprises, and are presented at high prices. The focus is not on sales, but on conveying our core values ​​or concepts to customers.

Test products : mainly based on categories with relatively low average order value and high consumption frequency.

Good classification can enable consumers to understand the characteristics of each product more clearly, which helps consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and thus increase product sales.

Overall, sellers should seize this business opportunity to promote the development of the Southeast Asian e-commerce market, while continuously improving product quality and service levels to meet consumer needs and achieve sustainable development and growth.