Ivan Bagaybagayan is going all-in on TikTok’s e-commerce future as social commerce emerges as a potential rival to traditional online retail platforms. 

Previously leading Amazon strategy at TULA Skincare and goPure Beauty, the San Diego-based entrepreneur has launched a specialized agency and podcast focused on TikTok Shop to help brands capitalize on viral video commerce.

His venture, TikTok Shop Insiders, has already demonstrated the platform’s potential, taking brands to six figures in monthly sales within weeks. The agency’s success comes as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, pushes to expand its e-commerce operations globally, challenging established players like Amazon and Shopify.

The agency focuses on three core services: TikTok Shop front-end optimization, affiliate management, and paid advertising. The team helps brands optimize their listings, manage operations, and scale their affiliate programs by connecting with creators who can promote their products.

Recent platform changes have forced the agency to adapt quickly. “TikTok moves lightning fast,” Ivan explains. “The strategy we were approaching with our clients three months ago is upside down. [TikTok] will change things weekly, like your commission rates or outreach limits.”

Since TikTok has reduced the number of weekly affiliate outreach messages from unlimited to 2,000, Ivan is launching a second podcast focused on creators, aiming to build a community that connects brands with knowledgeable affiliates.

The podcast, launched earlier this year, emerged from conversations with his business partner about TikTok Shop strategies. 

“My partner Pat and I would talk about TikTok Shop for hours—strategies, what does well, what doesn’t do well, and what we can implement,” Ivan recalls. “I wanted to be in the podcast space with my Amazon experience. Let’s record ourselves talking about the latest topics and strategies and see how it goes.”

The potential for viral success on TikTok Shop has created new opportunities for content creators. “I talked to an affiliate on my podcast the other day. She’s made $500,000,” Ivan says. “A college student has made $500,000 by making videos about affiliate videos for products that she comes across.”

Ivan sees clear parallels to Amazon’s early days. But TikTok offers something different: a platform seamlessly integrating content discovery and purchasing, potentially transforming how consumers shop online.

Banking on Platform Experience to Guide Brand Success

TikTok Shop Insiders stands out because its founder has direct experience scaling brands on the platform. During his tenure at goPure Beauty, Ivan helped the company become one of TikTok Shop’s top sellers, giving him unique insight into the platform’s intricate requirements for success.

“There’s a lot of people on LinkedIn posting information about being a TikTok Shop agency, but they haven’t done it,” Ivan says. “I’ve seen it firsthand. I know what it takes to get from zero to their top five top 10 TikTok shop sellers.”

The agency’s approach is deeply methodical, considering multiple variables that can impact a brand’s success. 

One critical factor is pricing strategy. “If it’s cheaper on Amazon, the customer sees a video, they see it on TikTok Shop, they look on Amazon for reviews,” Ivan explains. “If they don’t buy it on TikTok Shop, then TikTok doesn’t have that sales signal to show that video again. It stunts the growth of the TikTok viral video.”

Ivan has developed comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) for launching products, anticipating increased demand for TikTok Shop expertise. 

“I knew there would be an avalanche of people who wanted to get on TikTok Shop. Just like it was Amazon 10 years ago,” he says. “We’ve systemized everything. We’ve created all SOPs of launching a product from zero to $100K monthly.”

The agency takes a selective approach to client partnerships, conducting thorough discovery calls to assess product viability. 

“I’m pretty honest and maybe a little blunt about if I think their product will succeed,” Ivan notes. “Is it a product-market fit for TikTok? You will need 200 or 300 units in the first six weeks. Do you have that? Is the pricing strategy correct? Do you have reviews and social proof set up?”

Inside TikTok Shop Agency’s Brand Onboarding Process

TikTok Shop Insiders employs a systematic onboarding process for new brands, combining strategic pricing analysis with creator management. The agency begins by evaluating product catalogs and pricing strategies.

“We start with a kick-off call,” Ivan explains. This call is to learn about their products and discuss what would be a great TikTok shop product.

A key differentiator is the agency’s tiered commission structure for creators. 

“We’ll tell the affiliate if they make more videos, we’ll give them the higher commission rate,” Ivan says. “The brand already has its product costs sunk, so why not give them a higher commission so they can make more videos, which is the key element on TikTok shop?”

The agency optimizes campaigns by manually tracking multiple metrics beyond simple sales figures. “We manually log all of the videos made and keep track of all the data associated sessions, conversion rate, sales, click-through rate,” Ivan notes, adding that such analysis helps identify opportunities for paid promotion.

To maintain brand identity, the agency provides creators with detailed brand briefs, including product accolades, celebrity endorsements, and unique selling propositions. 

“At the end of the day, you’re also pitching and marketing to the affiliates. You want the highest-quality affiliates to work for your brand,” Ivan explains.

According to him, the approach has yielded considerable results, with the agency taking several brands from zero to $100k a month within four to seven weeks.

TikTok Shop to Rival Amazon’s E-commerce Dominance

Drawing parallels between TikTok Shop’s current trajectory and Amazon’s early days, Ivan sees the potential for social commerce to fundamentally change e-commerce.

“I was on Amazon 10 years ago. It was new technology, like buying something at your door two days later,” Ivan says. “TikTok shop has made it full circle. They see the product video the product listing, and they’re enticed. Now they can buy it all from the same platform with two clicks.”

The entrepreneur notes that the key difference is in the customer journey. 

“Amazon is a place that just gets your checkout. The start of the process is somewhere else. They saw a Facebook ad; they saw a blog post. TikTok Shop has made it full circle,” he explains. “The environment has changed, and it’s all within TikTok Shop.”

This integration of content and commerce represents just the beginning of a broader trend. “TikTok shop is just the first iteration,” Ivan notes. “Facebook has shops in development. YouTube has shops in development. I call it social commerce. The future of this TikTok Shop – that’s where it’s going to be at where the eyeballs are.”

For brands considering entering the space, Ivan advocates for a hands-on approach to understanding the platform. 

“Try it. If you’re a big brand out there that sees potential there, reach out,” he advises. “It’s important for you to know those steps. I’ve reached out to a hundred people, and no one got back and understood why.”

Ivan concludes by announcing the launch of an Affiliate Academy.