TikTok has become one of the highest-converting social platforms for e-commerce. Its algorithm surfaces content based on engagement rather than follower count, giving new brands a genuine shot at going viral.
TikTok Video Specifications
- Aspect ratio: 9:16 (vertical) — this is non-negotiable. Horizontal video is penalized. - Resolution: 1080×1920 minimum - Duration: 15s–60s for standard posts; up to 10 minutes for long-form - File format: MP4, MOV, AVI (MP4 H.264 recommended) - Max file size: 287.6 MB (mobile upload); larger files supported via API - Frame rate: 23–60 fps
Publishing via API
Clipmerce uses the TikTok Content Posting API v2. The flow is:
1. Initialize upload: `POST /v2/post/publish/video/init/` 2. Upload video chunks to the returned upload URL 3. Monitor publish status via the returned `publish_id`
Required OAuth scopes: `video.upload`, `video.publish`.
Caption Best Practices
TikTok captions are limited to 2,200 characters. For product videos: - Lead with a hook (question or bold claim) - Include 3–5 relevant hashtags (not 30 — that's a 2020 strategy) - Tag your product if you have a TikTok Shop integration - Include a clear CTA ("Link in bio for 20% off")
The Algorithm in 2025
TikTok's FYP algorithm weighs: completion rate, replays, shares, and saves — in roughly that order. Likes and comments matter less than you think. This means your product videos should be loopable: the end should flow naturally back to the beginning.