LIVE SELLING IS BOOMING, and platforms like Whatnot and TikTok Shop give you a brand-new sales channel that didn’t exist a few years ago. Here’s how to get started:
1. Pick Your Platform (Week 1): Download both apps and watch jewelry sellers for a few hours. Notice what works — how they describe pieces, how they handle bidding, how they build urgency. Choose one to start. Whatnot skews higher-end and auction-style; TikTok Shop is younger and more viral.
2. Set Up Your Seller Account: Create your profile and familiarize yourself with the fee structure (Whatnot takes 8%; TikTok varies). Watch a few tutorials on how the selling tools work. Have your shipping workflow ready before you go live — buyers expect fast turnaround.
3. Plan Your First Show: Start small: 15-20 minutes, 5-10 pieces with good stories. Write bullet points, not a script. Test your lighting and camera angle beforehand. A clean, well-lit background with a simple display setup goes a long way — you don’t need a studio, but you do need to look like you take this seriously.
4. Go Live Once a Week: Commit to four shows this month. Announce them on your social channels at least a day ahead. Engage with comments in real time — that’s the whole point of this format. Greet viewers by name. Answer questions as they come in. The energy you bring is what keeps people watching.
5. Track and Learn: Note what sold, what got questions, what flopped. Pay attention to when your viewership peaked and what you were doing at that moment. Adjust for next week.
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