TikTok Shop affiliate vs sending traffic off-platform — pick by margin, not vibes

TikTok Shop affiliate vs sending traffic off-platform — pick by margin, not vibes

TikTok Shop keeps you in-app, native checkout, insane impulse conversion. But commissions are thin (5-15%) and TikTok owns the customer.

Off-platform to a real affiliate program = fatter commission, your pixel, your retargeting — but you bleed 60% of clicks at the 'leave app' friction.

My rule:

— Sub-$40 impulse product → TikTok Shop, ride the native checkout.

— $80+ considered purchase → off-platform, the margin covers the click loss.

Same creator video, two destinations. Cheap product earned 3x more in-app. Pricey one earned 2x more off-app.

Sort your catalog by price and route accordingly. Do it before your next post.