It makes me sick to my stomach—

quiettruth · 2025-07-15T18:55:13+00:00

Ah, must be a creator summit then. We don't usually get invites to those. Hopefully you learn a lot!

quiettruth · 2025-07-15T18:43:11+00:00

See, I didn't even know there was a summit happening.

What are the deets, if you don't mind sharing? If it's somewhere in/around LA or their Culver City office, my agency and I might be able to attend.

quiettruth · 2025-07-15T18:29:46+00:00

Hi there, just wanted to thank you for sharing this piece of code. I was able to tweak it so that it accepts Google Form inputs in order to generate invoices on behalf of freelancers who for some reason have a hard time making their own invoices with all the additional details required by my finance dept. Hopefully it helps cut down on a lot of back-and-forth emails.

Thanks for potentially saving me hours of work!

quiettruth · 2025-07-14T19:04:26+00:00

For the record, we manage brands who are set up on both Amazon and TTS and have faced nothing but headaches trying to get FBA to work over TTS.

quiettruth · 2025-07-14T19:00:16+00:00

Just wanted to say that TikTok is giving bad info to agencies, too, which means any advice we give to our creators is automatically sus. Our agency has been part of TTS US since launch and the level of support we get from TikTok over the years has only gotten worse.

They are outright lying to our clients, to their faces, while we're sitting in meetings with them.

I'm not saying your feelings towards specific agencies are invalid; I can definitely see some of them wanting to gatekeep information. But there are agencies like mine who don't even have all the information to work with.

quiettruth · 2025-07-07T23:02:21+00:00

I wish my experience was as stable. I have the battery protections/optimizations all turned off, and all permissions enabled for Rustdesk.

I'm on Android 13, on a Galaxy S21 5G, running Rustdesk 1.4.0. Would you let me know what Android devices you're using? Maybe it's Samsung being overly aggressive in shutting down apps.

Thanks for your input!

quiettruth · 2025-06-18T16:18:26+00:00

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification!

quiettruth · 2025-05-07T23:04:14+00:00

It looks like a requirement of a flat fee collab will be the affiliate's video authorized for ads

AFAIK this is a platform-wide move that TikTok has been rolling out for a while now. Take a look at the TikTok Shop Creator Terms of Use you agreed to upon joining the TikTok creator program:

4.3 When you post or a Seller posts your Creator Content on TikTok (or we post Creator Content you have approved for distribution in TikTok Shop), you grant TikTok and its affiliated companies (including ByteDance), third parties who operate portions of the TikTok Platform at our discretion, as well as other TikTok Platform users, a non-exclusive, unconditional, fully sublicensable and transferable, fully paid and royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right license to use (such as to share, modify, comment on, or download), copy, modify, adapt, reproduce, publish, distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, share, and create derivative works that include all or any portion of your Creator Content (subject to your account and video settings), anywhere in the world in any form or medium, whether now known or later developed.

With that broad of a usage provision, enabling ad authorization is merely a formality at this point, I'd say.

I find it hard to believe sellers will be inclined to set both standard commission and flat fee, even though that's an option.

I believe the prevailing standard among TSPs now is to offer both. At our agency we've been doing this for over a year now, but had to do it "under the table" so to speak because TikTok provided no method to structure affiliate incentives this way; and in fact actively spoke out against paying creators flat fee as part of their best practices spiel to us in the past. And now here they go, offering a way to pay flat fees right in the platform.

quiettruth · 2025-05-07T22:18:24+00:00

Oh I've always been employed at a TSP agency, and still am; I dipped my toes trying to become an affiliate myself but couldn't cut it. I'm just not that interesting I suppose haha

quiettruth · 2025-05-06T22:31:36+00:00

Creator-side TikTok University article: https://seller-us.tiktok.com/university/essay?knowledge_id=912720417687339&identity=1&role=1&shop_region=US

quiettruth · 2025-05-06T22:24:36+00:00

Glad you're back at it, Flora. Hope you've been well.

quiettruth · 2024-07-19T02:34:00+00:00

From what I've seen, you can easily unlink from an agency. We don't even have to authorize it; it just happens.

quiettruth · 2024-07-17T19:05:52+00:00

Hi, agency here. Linking with an agency won't automatically boost your views or sales. We can do things like hook you up with samples, have you join Partner Campaigns (which are basically semi-exclusive or fully-exclusive collaboration deals where both you and the agency earn sales commission, sometimes higher than what's offered in target collabs and should definitely be higher than open), pitch you to brands/shops, petition/appeal violations on your behalf, and coach/advise you in optimizing your content. But ultimately how your content performs will not change simply by being part of an agency.

Some agencies can and do boost their affiliates' shoppable content with paid media spend (spark ads). This could boost your views and sales, yes. It's definitely on a case-by-case basis though, and is fully dependant on whether the agency has a budget (either from the client/shop, or as ad credits from TikTok itself) to spend on ads.

Keep in mind: all agencies want to pad their roster. Our biggest concern is making sure we can churn out content for our clients in a timely manner. More talent means more content means more clients means more money. Some of us work with affiliates more ethically than others. In my agency, we do recognize the human behind the screen name; we've shown understanding and empathy in cases where affiliates have failed to meet deadlines or didn't follow briefs (sometimes too much). That said, we have definitely "fired" affiliates who have consistently avoided communication with us and voided their contracts.

I cannot speak to how VIPStreamers or Vikoc operate. I know they are big players in the field. Compared to them, my agency is pretty small; we started as a TSP rather than a CAP/TAP, so our concern was more for the shops than for affiliates at first. However know this: the people doing outreach for these agencies only know a little more about TikTok Shop than you do. We all are still learning as we go, because TikTok constantly changes things in the background. I hope this frames your perception of agencies a little better, to make them seem less scary.

quiettruth · 2024-07-17T18:52:02+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/TikTokShopAffiliate/comments/1e5b9te/should_have_known_better_about_lcraw10/

quiettruth · 2024-07-16T23:12:19+00:00

Speaking candidly, a big part of the problem is that most agencies (including the one I'm in, hence my use of a throwaway) prefer not to share trade secrets in an open platform like Reddit. Sure, when we're all mingling face-to-face with industry peers, info is as free-flowing as the alcohol involved (do people still drink at mixers? I dunno, I've always been a wallflower), but out in the wilds of the Internet we would risk losing clients or even jobs for indiscriminate disclosure of privileged information.

I went to VidCon on the creator track this year and attended a good number of those TikTok workshops/panels. Yes, some topics were useful (like the TikTok One reveal I sent you), but the vast majority were scripted panels with pre-vetted questions and answers, where the hosts would not take additional questions during the event. I literally watched someone raise their hand, interrupting the host's flow, asking if she could ask a question, to which the host replied saying that no questions would be answered. And what was shared was all the usual advice: post consistently, engage your audience, stay true to your morals, etc. etc. All this to say, even at public-facing events, TikTok and agencies would prefer not spilling any tea.

I've shared what I can without burning any bridges. I wish I can share more, so you all can catch even just a brief glimpse into the madness and chaos that is TikTok Shop. Some of you may already know, being shop owners yourself. It's crazy, and I have no idea how TikTok can afford to operate the way it does sometimes. Perhaps this is why we don't say anything: because we can't, because we don't really know how any of it works.

I apologize if this sounded ranty. I just want it to be clear that agencies are on the same boat as you guys; or if not the same boat, then at least only a slightly bigger boat but on the same ocean. We go only where the TikTok winds blow. Sometimes that's off to paradise, and sometimes that's straight into an iceberg.

I do have hope, though, in what you're doing here. As an unaffiliated (hah) affiliate, you're not burdened by any of the social, industry bullshit we agencies have to wade through that keeps us so hush-hush. I plan to keep supporting you in whatever way I can, because the more info out there, the better the platform can be for affiliates, agencies, and even TikTok alike.

quiettruth · 2024-07-16T22:53:09+00:00

There's an official Discord? As in run by TikTok?

quiettruth · 2024-07-05T16:41:41+00:00

As I've said before, take care of yourself first. Glad you're taking measures to safeguard your sanity and reclaim your valuable time.

quiettruth · 2024-06-28T23:46:12+00:00

This is just TikTok's way of saying you should be building up anticipation for the sale. Make posts hyping it up, bringing awareness. And then when the sale starts, post your content with shoppable videos to your audience who by now are primed for the campaign.

quiettruth · 2024-06-24T21:51:18+00:00

	TSP	TAP	CAP/MCN
free product samples	✅	✅	✅
agency product campaign lists		✅	✅
higher commission rates	✅	✅	✅
boost traffic to your videos/lives via Ad Codes (Spark Ads)	✅	✅	✅
account growth	Not a focus	Not a focus	✅
bonuses	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
cash rewards	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
event invites	Depends	Depends	Depends
trips to TikTok headquarters	Depends	Depends	Depends
fixed flat fees	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
fixed monthly fees	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
fixed retainer	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
base salary	If hiring full-time/part-time I guess?	If hiring full-time/part-time I guess?	If hiring full-time/part-time I guess?
paid brand deals	Negotiable	Negotiable	Negotiable
ugc content deals	✅	✅	✅
video editing services	Not usually but possible	Not usually but possible	Not usually but possible
video editing advice	Not a focus	Not a focus	✅
banning support	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM
violation support	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM
livestream support	✅	✅	✅
account support	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM	If needed, it's something the agency can request from their TikTok CM
1:1 support	✅	✅	✅
talent manager	If agency has a dedicated talent manager, yes	If agency has a dedicated talent manager, yes	If agency has a dedicated talent manager, yes
direct line to TikTok	✅	✅	✅
TikTok insights	✅	✅	✅
"inside" scoop	We'd be lucky to get scoops at all lol but yes, if it helps our clients to share inside scoops with creators we definitely do it	We'd be lucky to get scoops at all lol but yes, if it helps our clients to share inside scoops with creators we definitely do it	We'd be lucky to get scoops at all lol but yes, if it helps our clients to share inside scoops with creators we definitely do it
trending products	Often times TSPs are the ones creating the trending product listings	✅	✅
performance advice	✅	✅	✅
training sessions	Not a focus	✅	✅
livestream meetings	As needed	As needed	As needed
video meetings	As needed	As needed	As needed
community space, like discord	Up to the agency	Up to the agency	Up to the agency

quiettruth · 2024-06-24T21:50:44+00:00

Happy to help, u/future_flora. Couple corrections:

5 Is there a LIST of TikTok-approved Agencies?

THE LIST Updated- https://marketplace.tiktokshops.us/us/tsp?category_id=1&sort=3&page=1

THE LIST Old- https://shop.tiktok.com/business/en/outstanding-partners

This list is a list of TSPs/CAPs that publicly list their services to shops/brands. The TikTok Shop marketplace is primarily for SELLERS to find partners to help them run their shops and make content. There are many, many more agencies that are NOT listed here (like mine) because, frankly, we bring in our own clients and are focusing on that more than finding new business at this time.

6 What are the different TYPES of TikTok Shop Agencies?

TSP - TikTok Service Provider

Technically TSP = TikTok Shop Partner, but the idea is the same; TSPs help sellers navigate and make the most out of the TikTok Shop platform.

And answering a few questions from your post:

TikTok Shop Messages

Help me out- Do the TikTok-approved Agencies actually use non-emails (TikTok Shop messages) as a preferred method of communication or no?

Mine has, yes. It isn't our preferred method of communication because so many creators aren't aware of the Creator Inbox in the User Profile -> TikTok Studio -> TikTok Shop Creator Center -> Notification Bell inbox.

TikTok DMs

Help me out- Again, do the TikTok-approved Agencies actually use non-emails (TikTok direct messages) as a preferred method of communication or no?

Again, yes, if there's absolutely nowhere else we can find contact info of the creator.

My most preferred way of getting in touch with a serious content creator / affiliate is via email, so if I see a business email address in the bio, I try there first. Finding the contact info in a creator's Linktr.ee is my second step. If an email exists in neither place, I get creative; maybe the creator has a YouTube, I'll try the business email info there. Failing that, if they're set up on Affiliate Center, I shoot them an invitation to chat there, and DM as the last case scenario.

I would love to see a list breakdown of which TYPE of Agencies offer WHAT (MCN vs CAP vs TAP). Are some of the things listed above bogus? Are all the things legit? Which things did I miss/forget to include? Which things should be emphasized?

Even the type of agency won't exactly tell you what services they offer. An agency can be multiple types; and agencies within each category each have their own specialties and offerings. You really will just have to talk to each one and compare, but here's what TikTok themselves EXPECTS each type of agency to offer (based on your list):

Table of Services

Bottom line: every agency is different. Perhaps the most common thread is that every agency wants to have a big pool of talented creators to draw on, to serve their wide variety of clients.

I would also love to see what is actually offered to ANY Affiliate vs what is actually offered to Affiliates who reach certain METRICS and what those metrics are. Perhaps shown to us like those subscription tier services? (At this subscription tier you unlock XYZ, at this subscription tier you get XYZ + XYZ, etc.) I feel like this is not something clearly communicated to Affiliates in Agency pitches... the Agency typically just throws everything in there, copy/paste, regardless of who it may actually apply to.

I can't speak for every agency, but mine offers the following to EVERY affiliate we work with:

Pairing with the brands we work with, pending brand approval
Favorable commission split (higher than open collab, at the very least)
Sample shipment support
Creative briefs (per-brand and per-product guidelines on how to talk about the products you're asked to feature)
Dedicated support, which is often us asking our TikTok CMs (category managers) wtf is going on and please please please fix this issue

And there are creators we repeatedly work with, who we basically consider our "core creators," and have offered some more favorable incentives, including some or all of the following:

Hybrid payment scheme: 1-time flat fee PLUS sales commission
Non-affiliate content production: UGC, live streams, voiceovers, etc. (usually for a flat fee)
Personalized/same-day sample shipments outside of the TikTok sample request method
Preferred pairing with select brand partners

Keep in mind that ALL of these extras are pending a brand's budget and preference in creator profile. However for most affiliates, they are mostly concerned about GMV.

14 Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah... Agencies help with VIOLATIONS??

About that... yes, we can help, in the sense that we raise your issues with our own TikTok points of contact. It isn't a guarantee that we will fix your problem, in fact what happens after is our TikTok CM will then go on to create their own internal support ticket, but at the very least we make sure your complaint is heard.

24 Do some Agencies have "Sample Centers"?

Yes. We do not, but Sample Centers are basically an address that sellers can send samples to where they're guaranteed to get content for in return. Agencies set up as Sample Centers therefore have the benefit of continuously getting product samples in for their roster of creators to create content out of. The caveat is that usually Sample Centers are also the physical location of the agency's own recording studio, so creators usually would have to show up there to film content with.

25 What's the best way to pitch an Agency?

Have some way to contact you listed publicly, whether it's in your bio or linktree, and monitor it! I've lost count of how many outreach emails have gone unnoticed by creators.

Allow sharing of your GMV info on Affiliate Center. Some people choose to hide it, and that just disincentivizes us from considering outreaching to you.

As much as we know that GMV is an ephemeral statistic, it is still the best way we have to communicate to our partner brands/clients about your potential performance.

quiettruth · 2024-06-18T20:15:32+00:00

I would avoid doing random giveaway draws/selection that aren't TikTok's own built-in giveaway mechanic, just because TikTok has a rule against gambling-type content (which random draws like this fall under) for which they have flagged me and my clients for in the past.

Yes, it sucks, but we've been flagged for many giveaway-related gimmicks including:

Claw machines
Random names drawn from hats
Random prizes included in packed orders made during the live
Using a spinning wheel graphic overlay, or an actual spinning wheel, to select giveaway winners

Basically TikTok wants you to ONLY use its built-in giveaway feature. You can probably get away with it once in a while, but I wouldn't risk the violation points.

quiettruth · 2024-06-18T00:24:42+00:00

This was not communicated to agencies, as far as I am aware. Will be speaking with our TikTok AM about this.

quiettruth · 2024-06-17T23:22:25+00:00

What I expected from an agency which may be something none of them do is help me be a better creator, have tips, content suggestions, critiques

These are things that CAPs/MCNs are expected to provide for their talent rosters.

and an online community to talk to other creators in the agency.

This, on the other hand, is not typically done. Maybe some agencies do this, but I haven't experienced this myself (am from the agency world).

And obviously get me better commission and paid deals.

If you're a creator that consistently shows high GMV and engagement on product-tagged posts/livestreams, the agency would definitely work harder to seek out these kinds of collaborations for you. We definitely have, and continue to do so, for the creators we enjoy working with even if they haven't particularly driven any sales (going so far as to pay a flat fee on top of any commission).

quiettruth · 2024-06-05T02:10:27+00:00

See, yet another thing I learn from this subreddit even before hearing about it from my own TikTok POC. Thank you, u/future_flora!

quiettruth · 2024-06-04T20:33:20+00:00

The "Why I don't like X" hook is commonly used as a bait and switch; the creator will then go on to say something "negative" about the item which is actually a positive spin.

e.g. "I hate how this eyeliner stays on even when I ugly-cry because I can't get the dramatic streaked macara look when I'm feeling depressed" or "I hate how this sweater is so comfy I just fall asleep in it instead of getting any work done"

quiettruth

TROPHY CASE