When Searching for Answers—Always Read the Comments!

When you are sleuthing, like I usually am, it's important—nay imperative—to read the comments. It's like being a fly on the wall, especially when the topic elicits heated debates of differing opinions. Who is right, who is wrong? While some things will remain a mystery, it doesn't take a detective to discern fact from fiction, in most cases all it takes is a little first hand experience and a lot of common sense. 

I recently stumbled across a seemingly benign Facebook post in an affiliate group I joined there and the post read, "soooo, when do people start shopping?" and I went straight to the comments. What I found there was not what I was expecting at. all. Two contributors, Ryan and Chris, were having a lively discussion that devolved quickly into a heated debate as to the future of TikTok Shop content. 

Ryan had a top executive tell him at a private lunch in LA, that TikTok will be prioritizing videos in 2025 because Lives were not making the kind of money they thought it would. Chris had a meeting with TikTok and his executive stressed that everyone is moving to Lives in 2025 and that's why all the big agencies and brands are creating their own Live studios. 

The debate was never settled, each was adamant that their information was correct. So, again, when you hear the experts giving conflicting information on TikTok Shop (because we all have)—how to go viral, best ways to engage, how to get more views/sales, best products to promote, which hashtags to use, etc. ad nauseam—who do you believe, who do you trust. I say, trust yourself. Look at your analytics, listen to your gut. At the end of the day, it's your TikTok Shop account. What works for the "experts" might not resonate with you, so be uniquely you and run your shop how you want to. Maybe the biggest flex in 2025 will be standing out from the crowd and not trying to conform to every TikTok Shop trickle down trend that the big creators have already moved on from. 

2025. Will it be the year of Lives, or videos? Will TikTok even be around after January 19th? What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them!