We talk a lot about TikTok’s impact on a global scale, but now, the app wants to get more hyperlocal. As reported by Axios, TikTok is currently hiring “local services” teams in areas like New York, Seattle, and LA. The era of the TikTok coupon is approaching.
According to the outlet, these teams will be tasked with connecting creators with local businesses. They’re doing this with the hope that these businesses will provide vouchers that creators can give to their audiences.
Since last year, the program has been piloted in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Indonesia. Under the program, creators can offer fans vouchers for hotels, flights, and restaurants. There’s currently no information on when this pilot will begin in the US. But, judging by these job postings, TikTok coupons could be coming soon.
TikTok Coupons and Small Businesses: A Match Made in Heaven?
TikTok has positioned itself as a vital platform for small businesses from the very beginning. In April 2024, it released a report claiming that more than 7 million small businesses depend on TikTok for their growth. This report also claims that, in 2023, these businesses’ use of TikTok as a marketing platform generated $5.3 billion in US government taxes.
TikTok’s investment in small businesses is also one of the main arguments against the platform shutting down amid the “ban or sell” law. Furthermore, according to the Associated Press, TikTok claims that small business owners will lose more than $1 billion in revenue per month if the app shuts down.
If TikTok succeeds in embedding itself in local businesses and communities, it’s likely that its potential loss will hit creators even harder. Yet, in recruiting for these teams, it’s clear that TikTok isn’t worried about its future.
