As TikTok has exploded into one of the most influential social platforms, brands have rushed to establish presences. Standing out in TikTok's crowded space is extremely difficult without starting with an existing audience and authority.
This has led many brands to want to strategically buy TikTok agency accounts - established profiles with tens or hundreds of thousands of followers. But is this allowed on TikTok, and how can brands buy accounts safely?
This in-depth guide covers everything brands need to know about legally and securely buying agency accounts to expand their TikTok reach and impact.
Overview of Buying Established TikTok Accounts
The appeal of buying an established TikTok agency account is instantly inheriting the audience, credibility and discoverability the account has already built up.
Agency accounts with over 10,000 real, engaged followers are primed to get branded content seen. It can take months or years to organically grow an account to these sizes.
Buying accounts accelerates TikTok success, letting brands quickly:
Reach Large Existing Audiences
Gain Social Proof and Influence
Achieve Greater Visibility
Leverage Content Best Practices
However, TikTok explicitly prohibits buying, selling, or transferring full ownership of accounts. So how can brands legally buy access to audiences?
Is Buying TikTok Accounts Allowed?
No, TikTok's Terms of Service strictly forbid the buying and selling of full account ownership. Any transfer of accounts is prohibited.
However, it is permitted to buy access rights to agency accounts through influencer partnerships or account rental agreements.
The key differences:
The original account owner retains full ownership.
They grant brands temporary access to publish branded content.
Pricing is for content licensing, not account ownership.
This is a legal gray area to buy influencer/agency audience access without formally acquiring accounts. Proceed with caution.
Benefits of Buying TikTok Agency Account Access
When done properly through rentals and partnerships, buying TikTok agency account access offers brands:
Instant Audience
The pre-built follower base provides immediate reach to thousands of target users. This is the biggest benefit for brands seeking growth.
Established Authority
Higher engagement and follower counts signal credibility and social proof. Content on larger accounts performs better.
Algorithms Favor Established Accounts
TikTok's algorithm preferences accounts with more followers and activity. Buying agency access benefits from this existing authority.
Growth Knowledge
Agency accounts come with a history of growth data and lessons that inform your own branding strategy.
Lower Cost Per Impression
Reaching thousands of viewers through established accounts costs less than most paid advertising.
Quicker Brand Awareness
It can take months to build recognition organically. Buying access to audiences accelerates familiarity.
The short-term benefits are powerful. But long term, owning your audience is ideal. Use purchasing strategically.
Risks of Buying TikTok Agency Accounts
While buying access provides shortcuts, brands must also be aware of the risks:
No Full Ownership: You don't own the account or its data long term.
Account Bans: Buying and selling accounts is prohibited. Only work with trusted platforms to avoid bans.
Impersonal Feel: Followers have loyalty to the account creator, not your brand.
Limited Control: Agencies usually limit the content volume brands can post.
Costs Add Up: Buying lifetime ownership would be an asset, but access fees recur indefinitely.
Restrictions: Agencies may reject certain types of branded content as too risky.
The risks can be mitigated by partnering cautiously and combining buying with organic growth strategies. But prohibitions make buying accounts a gray area.
What to Look for When Buying TikTok Agency Accounts
Not all agency accounts are created equal. When exploring account purchase options, here are key factors to look for:
Follower Count: Accounts over 10k provide meaningful reach. Look for counts relevant to your goals and budget.
Engagement Metrics: Favor accounts with higher likes, comments, and shares per post. This signals an active audience.
Alignment With Brand: Ensure account content, tone and followers match your target demographics and style.
Content Quality: Production value, creativity and optimization for trends. Higher is better.
Posting Rights: Look for accounts that allow 1-2 branded posts per day within your budget.
Track Record With Brands: Review examples of their past branded partnerships. Were the promotions seamless?
Reputation: Carefully vet agencies or influencers you’re buying access from. Prioritize established industry players.
Conducting due diligence helps mitigate the risks of buying TikTok agency account access. But restrictions and gray areas remain.
Read more: Renting TikTok Ad Agency Accounts in 2024
Where to Safely Buy TikTok Agency Accounts
If you decide buying TikTok agency account access aligns with your social strategies, here are some reputable platforms to consider:
Tokupgrade
Top influencer marketplace focused on TikTok account partnerships. Their strict vetting provides peace of mind.
TikTokFamous
Specializes in facilitating partnerships with TikTok influencers and agencies. Packages start at $249 per month.
SocialBook
A safer option as SocialBook focuses on analytics, but also enables influencer account rentals.
FameSwap
Connects brands with influencers and agencies. Lower risk as they handle contracting.
Instagram Shops
Many influencers also list TikTok accounts for rental on Instagram Shops. Vet individuals carefully before transacting.
The safest options involve platforms that formally broker partnerships, handle contracting, collect payments and screen accounts. This reduces risk versus direct arrangements. Proceed cautiously.
Read more: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a TikTok Agency?
Best Practices for Managing Bought TikTok Accounts
Once you've bought affordable access to agency accounts through a trusted provider, here are tips for getting the most value:
Post Strategically: Spread content over time, avoid clustering posts. Aim for 1-2 branded posts per day.
Remix Trending Content: Put your branded spin on trending dances, sounds, memes etc. for a better shot at going viral.
Highlight Products Seamlessly: Spotlight products/services through entertaining sketches, tutorials, event coverage and behind-the-scenes footage.
Engage the Community: Respond to comments, ask questions, jump into Lives. Building relationships pays dividends.
Adhere to Guidelines: Carefully follow TikTok's rules around branded content, copyright, etc. to avoid account issues.
Analyze Performance: Track impressions, engagements, clicks, follows, sentiment and more to derive learnings.
Seed Your Own Accounts: Redirect some viewers to your owned profiles via links to funnel growth.
Buying access takes skill, but the brand awareness and traffic gains can be well worth the investment if managed strategically. Just maintain reasonable expectations.
Transitioning Long Term Away From Bought Accounts
While buying TikTok agency accounts can be effective short-term, brands should be cautious relying on rented access indefinitely. Some tips for transitioning growth long term include:
Develop Owned Accounts: Dedicate resources to building original branded profiles with unique content and personality.
Build Internal Capabilities: Get teams skilled up on TikTok best practices for original video production.
Formalize Processes: Document what's worked from agency accounts to streamline owned account content strategies.
Allocating Ad Spend: Gradually shift budget away from renting toward amplifying owned content through ads.
Leverage Preserve select agency/influencer relationships through co-marketing if they remain strategic.
While renting can provide a boost, brands ultimately need to cultivate direct connections with audiences and control their data. Balance short-term renting with long-term investments into owned accounts and skill building.
Read more: How to Create a TikTok Agency Account?
Buying Agency Accounts to Accelerate TikTok Growth
When used judiciously as part of an integrated strategy, buying rental access to established agency accounts can fast track TikTok success.
But buying full account ownership violates policies. Only work through trusted platforms that broker legal influencer partnerships and rentals.
Combine short-term agency account rentals with dedicating resources into building your own long-term presence and capabilities. Let bought accounts guide you then transition to designing for the platform directly.
Move cautiously but strategically. Buying rented access from vetted TikTok agency accounts can provide the awareness lift your brand needs while avoiding unnecessary risks.