TikTok launches initiative to support small and medium-sized businesses in SEA

TikTok, the short-video platform owned by Chinese tech titan ByteDance, has launched Shop Local Saturday, which is aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses in Southeast Asia throughout the month of June.

Photo credit: ByteDance

SMBs in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam may opt into the new initiative via paid advertising packages to showcase their brand through in-app spotlight features on TikTok, which will roll out on June 4.

To help SMBs increase traffic on their sites, Shop Local Saturday will also give them with access to creators, produced ads, creative workshops and listings on TikTok’s website and blog.

Apart from its latest project, the short-video platform also offers tools and resources that SMBs can use to leverage its services. This includes an ad manager that helps create advertising campaigns with flexible budgets, a lead generation service that can convert business prospects into potential customers, and a monthly training program.

TikTok has also signed memorandums of association with the governments of Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to conduct initiatives that will support SMBs.

This comes months after TikTok said it was looking to ramp up hiring at its Indonesia unit across areas such as category leads, logistics operation, and business development.