TikTok Style Social Commerce Mobile App

Learn how we created a social media app that links brands and influencers, emphasizing market positioning to maximize sales, generate leads, and increase conversions.

Sponzee

How We Built a TikTok-Style Social Commerce Mobile App to Revolutionize Brand-Creator Collaborations

Founders from varied crypto backgrounds approached us with an exciting vision: to create a social media app for commerce that would capture the engaging, content-driven experience of TikTok or Instagram but with a unique focus on influencer marketing. They wanted to develop a platform where content creators could not only connect with their audiences through unlimited scrolls of captivating videos but also collaborate seamlessly with brands to generate leads, boost conversions and drive sales.
The goal was to create a dynamic space where creators could push creative boundaries, selling new products and services in a fun, interactive way that resonates with their followers. This app would facilitate real-time interactions, allowing creators to launch videos, share affiliate links, and encourage their audiences to purchase products or services. Unlike traditional social media, this platform was specifically designed to harness the power of influencer marketing within a user-friendly environment, enabling global reach and engagement.

Platforms

Mobile App

Duration

16 weeks

Industry

Media & Communication, E-commerce, DeFi, Crypto

To achieve Sponzee's success, our team leveraged a powerful tech stack

reactjs logo

React.js for building a dynamic and interactive user interface

Hasura Logo

Hasura GraphQL queries for efficient data management and API development

AWS Cognito

AWS Cognito for user authentication and authorization

flutter logo

Flutter for cross-platform mobile app development

Partnership Goal

Our client saw a booming opportunity in the social commerce space but identified a key challenge: connecting brands with creators for impactful collaborations. They sought to develop a white label social media marketing software for influencer marketing that could seamlessly link brands with creators and engage audiences through immersive short videos. The goal was to enhance product visibility, attract new customers, and drive sales, all while facilitating effective brand-creator partnerships and enriching user interaction.
We set our goal to build a real-time, content-driven social media application that connects creators, brands, and users. This platform would feature endless scroll—an infinite stream of content that keeps users engaged as they discover brands, explore the latest features, and stay updated on market trends through their favorite influencers. By offering this continuous flow of content, the platform not only aims to grow revenue for creators through meaningful collaborations but also encourages people to purchase products or services. After a thorough consultation with our lead developers and architects, they chose us as the perfect fit.

Before

  • Brands struggled to find relevant influencers.
  • Creators had difficulty managing brand collaborations.
  • The process was time-consuming and inefficient.
  • No integration with social media for easy management.
  • Tracking promotions was challenging without affiliate links.
  • Existing platforms were overcrowded or lacked essential features.

After

  • Brands can easily search and connect with targeted creators.
  • Real-time communication is streamlined through in-app chat.
  • Creators manage collaborations effortlessly.
  • Content creation is prioritized with simplified processes.
  • Social media integration simplifies account linking.
  • Features like collaboration codes and affiliate links track promotions effectively.
  • The admin panel offers detailed analytics on collaborations and posts.
  • Improved tracking and reporting enhance promotion effectiveness.
  • Centralized platform reduces inefficiencies and enhances user experience.

Team Formation

This influencer mobile app development project allowed us to showcase our skills as a social media app development company. The team included backend developers, frontend developers, a mobile app development team, QA specialists, and project managers, all working closely with three key stakeholders from the client’s team. We used Slack for daily updates and Asana for project management, ensuring clear communication and organization throughout the project.
To keep the development process on track, we followed Agile methodologies, utilizing two-week sprints to manage progress effectively. Slack was also used to quickly address any support issues. Our QA team conducted thorough testing across development, testing, and staging environments before deploying the final product.
This well-organized and communicative strategy facilitated a smooth workflow, ultimately leading to the successful development and launch of the MarTech app.

Team Formation

from idea to launch

in brand sales

user engagement

Our partnership

At a time when social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat were rapidly gaining global popularity, we partnered with our client to create a social media app for commerce that captures the engaging, content-driven essence of these platforms. Inspired by their success, the client envisioned a unique hub where businesses could seamlessly connect with content creators to promote their brands, products, or services in a fun and interactive way.
We set out to make a social network app with a TikTok-style interface, tailored for startups and businesses looking to captivate their audience through captivating short videos. This app allows businesses to effortlessly discover and collaborate with influencers, facilitating real-time communication and negotiation for enhanced affiliate marketing.
Featuring endless scrolling, the platform keeps users engaged with a continuous stream of content, showcasing new products and services. We integrated affiliate links and collaboration codes, empowering creators to promote products effectively while providing brands with detailed analytics on engagement and sales. This approach helps in positioning products, optimizing marketing strategies, and maximizing ROI.
Our team also developed a robust admin panel, enabling seamless management of accounts, content approval, and monitoring of user statistics. This comprehensive system enhances brand visibility, fosters valuable partnerships, and drives growth through innovative content strategies.
By creating a social media app for commerce that connects brands with creators and facilitates the selling of products and services in an engaging manner, we’ve developed a tool that mirrors the content-driven experiences of leading platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This project highlights our expertise in transforming visionary concepts into impactful, user-centered solutions.

Easy Connections

Creators effortlessly connect social media, while brands find their perfect match with powerful search tools.

Easy Connections

Chat & Collaborate

Brands and creators can discuss details in real-time using in-app chat, speeding up deals.

Chat & Collaborate

Track It All

Unique codes and affiliate links let brands track campaign performance and see what's working.

Track it all

Data-Driven Decisions

A clear admin panel unlocks valuable insights on collaborations, posts, and users.

Data Driven

Sign-up and Account Management

Creators and businesses/ brand users can sign up and manage their profiles, with creators having the ability to connect their social media accounts to the Sponzee platform.

Sign-up and Account Management

Search and Collaboration

Business /brand users can search for social media influencers or content creators, chat with them to discuss collaboration terms, and send collaboration requests directly through the chat.

Search and Collaboration

Collaboration Details

Creators can view all collaboration details, including the product to promote, collaboration code, affiliated link, and terms and conditions.

Collaboration Details

Content Creation and Promotion

Creators can create and share promotional posts using the collaboration code and affiliated link on Sponzee and other social media platforms to increase likes and reach.

Content Creation and Promotion

Affiliated Link Management

Business/ brand users generate and share Sponzee’s masked affiliated link with creators for product promotion.

Affiliated Link Management

Dashboard and Analytics

Admins can view analytics on the number of collaborations created, posts created, and users on the platform.

Dashboard and Analytics

User and Post Management

Admins can activate accounts for creators and business/ brand users, view and filter all user profiles, and review and approve posts before they appear on the Sponzee timeline based on user preferences and categories.

User and Post Management

Endless Scrolling

Users can engage with a continuous stream of content through endless scrolling, allowing them to discover new products, services, and updates from their favorite creators and brands.

Endless Scrolling

I was pleased with RaftLabs team's quality, consistency and execution.

Dr.J. Ayo Akinyele

President, Co-Founder, Yeletech Security Inc & Bolt

USA

USA

Dr.J. Ayo Akinyele

What happened next

By launching a social commerce app that seamlessly connects brands and creators, Sponzee positioned itself as a powerful tool in the social commerce landscape. Creators found the app intuitive and easy to use, enabling them to create engaging content and effectively promote products. Businesses appreciated the platform’s capability to facilitate meaningful influencer collaborations and enhance their marketing strategies.
The social media app’s design supported endless scrolling for continuous content discovery, and its affiliate marketing features provided detailed analytics to optimize strategies and maximize ROI. The platform excelled in marketing positioning, helping brands showcase their products in compelling ways.
The client was delighted to see their vision realized. They were especially satisfied with how our proactive approach throughout the social media app development process ensured the video based platform met their needs. This project not only showcased our expertise in creating a social media app for commerce but also demonstrated our ability to support clients in achieving their marketing and business objectives.

What happend next

Have further questions?

  • What are the benefits of using a social commerce model for brands and creators?

    Social commerce apps like Sponzee connect brands with relevant creators, fostering collaboration and boosting sales. Here's how it benefits both parties:

    • Brands: Easily find and connect with targeted influencers, manage influencer marketing campaigns, and track performance for data-driven decisions (Sponzee saw a 25% increase in brand sales).

    • Creators: Effortlessly connect social media profiles, collaborate with brands on projects, and track earnings in one place (Sponzee's creator base grew by over 10,000 in 3 months).

  • What technical considerations are important for building a social commerce app?

    Developing a social commerce app requires a strong tech stack to ensure smooth user experience, scalability, and security. Here's what Sponzee used:

    • Front-end: Next.js for a fast and responsive user interface.

    • Back-end: Node.js for robust server-side functionality to handle data processing and communication.

    • Database: PostgreSQL for scalable data storage to accommodate a growing user base.

    • UI Design: Ant Design for a user-friendly and intuitive interface.

  • How can I ensure high user engagement in my social commerce app?

    Sponzee's success highlights the importance of features that drive user engagement:

    • Seamless Connections: Allow creators to easily connect their social media profiles and brands to find perfect matches.

    • Real-time Collaboration: Facilitate in-app chat for efficient communication between brands and creators.

    • Performance Tracking: Integrate tracking tools like unique codes and affiliate links to measure campaign success.

    • Data-driven Insights: Provide an admin panel to analyze collaboration data, user behavior, and post-performance.

  • Can a social commerce app benefit from cryptocurrency integration?

    Cryptocurrency integration can offer unique advantages in a social commerce app:

    • Secure and Transparent Transactions: Blockchain technology can facilitate secure and transparent transactions between brands, creators, and users.

    • Global Reach: Cryptocurrency allows for borderless transactions, attracting creators and brands from anywhere in the world.

  • How long does it typically take to develop a social commerce app like Sponzee?

    The development timeline can vary depending on the app's complexity and feature set. However, the Sponzee case study demonstrates that a feature-rich social commerce app with a strong development team (like RaftLabs) can be built and launched in under 16 weeks.

  • What is positioning in marketing?

    Positioning in marketing refers to how a brand or product is perceived relative to competitors in the minds of consumers. It involves defining a unique value proposition that sets the brand or product apart. For apps like TikTok and Sponzee, positioning focuses on creating a distinct identity through features such as short-form video content, user engagement, and personalized recommendations.


  • What are the most popular social media platforms globally?

    The most popular social media platforms globally include Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter (now X). These platforms have billions of active users and are widely used for communication, content sharing, and entertainment.


  • How does an influencer marketing platform work?

    An influencer marketing platform connects brands with influencers. Brands can find influencers who match their target audience and negotiate partnerships. The platform often provides tools for tracking performance, managing campaigns, and handling payments.



  • How much does it cost to build an influencer marketing platform?

    Building an influencer marketing platform can cost between US $20,000 and US $60,000. For more details on pricing, please visit our pricing page.


  • How long does it take to build an influencer marketing platform?

    It usually takes about 3 to 6 months to build an influencer marketing platform. The exact time can vary based on features and complexity.


  • How to create a social media app?

    Creating a social media app involves several key steps:

    1. Planning: Define the purpose and features of your app. Decide what makes it unique and who your target users are.
    2. Design: Create wireframes and design the user interface. Focus on making the app user-friendly and visually appealing.
    3. Development: Build the app using coding languages and tools. You'll need front-end and back-end development. Consider features like user profiles, messaging, and content sharing.
    4. Testing: Test the app for bugs and usability issues. Ensure it works well on different devices and operating systems.
    5. Launch: Release the app on app stores. Market it to attract users.
    6. Maintenance: Update the app regularly to fix issues and add new features based on user feedback.

    Creating a social media app can be complex. It’s often better to outsource the project to a specialized social media app development company like ours. We have the expertise to handle planning, design, development, and testing efficiently. This way, you can focus on your core business while we bring your app idea to life.

  • How to create an app like Tiktok?

    Creating an app like TikTok involves several key steps. First, define your app’s core concept, focusing on short-form video sharing and user interaction features. Next, design an intuitive user interface that allows easy video recording, editing, and sharing. Develop the app’s back-end to handle video storage, processing, and streaming efficiently.

    Incorporate features like personalized feeds driven by AI algorithms, allowing users to discover content based on their preferences. Add social features such as likes, comments, sharing options, and the ability to follow other users. Ensure the app supports high-quality video playback and provides editing tools like filters, music integration, and effects.

    Security and privacy are crucial, so implement robust data protection measures. Finally, test the app extensively on multiple devices before launching it on app stores, and plan a marketing strategy to attract users.


  • How much does it cost to create an app like tiktok?

    The cost to create an app like TikTok can vary significantly based on the app’s complexity, features, and development team. Generally, the cost ranges from US $ 20,000 to US $60,000 or more.

    A basic version with essential features like video uploading, editing, and sharing might cost around US $20,000. Adding advanced features such as AI-driven content recommendations, real-time filters, music licensing, and scalability can push the cost closer to $20,000 or higher.

    Factors like app design, the number of platforms (iOS and Android), backend infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance also impact the overall cost. To get a precise estimate, it’s best to consult with an experienced development team that understands your specific requirements.


  • How to create an Instagram like app?

    To create an app like Instagram, start by defining key features such as photo and video sharing, user profiles, and social interactions. Design a user-friendly interface for seamless navigation and content management.

    For the tech stack, use React Native or Flutter for cross-platform development, allowing you to build for both iOS and Android efficiently. For the back-end, consider Node.js or Django for server-side logic, and Firebase or Amazon S3 for media storage. Implement a NoSQL database like MongoDB for handling user data and content. Integrate AI algorithms for content recommendations and SSL/TLS for secure data transmission.

    Test extensively on various devices before launching and follow up with a strong marketing strategy.


  • Is creating a social network app for Android different from making an app for iOS?

    Developing a social network app for Android and iOS involves different processes. For Android, you'll use Android Studio with languages like Java or Kotlin. One challenge with Android development is device fragmentation, as there are many different types of devices and screen sizes to account for.

    In contrast, iOS development is done using Xcode and Swift. The iOS ecosystem is more uniform, which can lead to a more consistent user experience and potentially higher revenue per user. However, iOS development must adhere to strict App Store guidelines.

    You might also consider cross-platform development if you want to create an app for both platforms. While this approach allows you to reach users on both Android and iOS, it comes with its own set of challenges and may not fully utilize the unique features of each platform.


  • Is creating a social media app profitable?

    Creating a social media app can be highly profitable. With the right concept and execution, your app can attract a large user base and generate significant revenue through ads, premium features, and partnerships. To maximize your chances of success, it's crucial to work with a skilled development team that can bring your vision to life and help you build a feature-rich, user-friendly app.

  • What are the must-have features for social media apps?

    Must-have features for social media apps include:

    1. User Profiles: Allow users to create and manage their personal profiles with photos, bios, and other details.
    2. Friend/Follow System: Enable users to connect with others by sending friend requests or following profiles.
    3. Feed: Display a stream of posts, updates, or activities from friends, followed users, or groups.
    4. Content Sharing: Allow users to post and share various types of content, such as text updates, photos, and videos.
    5. Messaging: Provide a way for users to communicate privately through direct messages or chats.
    6. Notifications: Notify users about new activities, such as messages, likes, comments, and friend requests.
    7. Search Functionality: Enable users to search for other profiles, content, or hashtags.
    8. Privacy Settings: Offer options for users to control who can see their posts and personal information.
    9. Likes and Comments: Allow users to engage with content by liking and commenting on posts.
    10. Activity Feed: Show recent activities of friends or followed users, such as their likes, comments, and shares.
    11. Groups or Communities: Enable users to join or create groups based on shared interests or topics.
    12. User Analytics: Provide insights into user interactions and content performance for better engagement.
  • How much does it cost to make a social media app?

    The cost to make a social media app can vary widely based on several factors, including complexity, features, and the development team. Generally, it can range from US $20,000 to US $60,000 or more.

    For a basic app with essential features, the lower end of this range applies. For a more complex app with advanced features, custom design, and integrations, costs can be higher. To get a more accurate estimate, it’s best to consult with a social media app development company and discuss your specific requirements.


  • How long does it take to make a social media app?

    The time to make a social media app typically ranges from 3 to 6 months. The duration depends on the app's complexity, the features required, and the development team's size. Simple apps with basic features may be completed more quickly, while more complex apps with advanced functionalities can take longer.

  • What are the types of social media apps I can choose from to develop?

    When developing a social media app, you can choose from several types, each catering to different user needs:

    1. Social Networking Apps: These platforms, like Facebook or LinkedIn, focus on connecting people, allowing users to create profiles, make connections, and share content.
    2. Media Sharing Apps: Apps like Instagram or TikTok enable users to share photos, videos, and other media, often with features like filters, editing tools, and creative effects.
    3. Messaging Apps: Platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram are centered around real-time communication, offering text, voice, and video messaging.
    4. Community and Discussion Apps: Apps like Reddit or Quora provide spaces for users to join communities, ask questions, and participate in discussions on various topics.
    5. Blogging and Microblogging Apps: Platforms like Twitter or Tumblr allow users to share short posts, thoughts, or articles with followers.
    6. Interest-Based Networks: These apps, like Strava or Goodreads, cater to specific hobbies or interests, connecting users who share a passion for activities like fitness, reading, or cooking.
    7. Review and Rating Apps: Apps like Yelp or TripAdvisor let users review and rate businesses, services, or products, helping others make informed decisions.

    Each type serves a different purpose, so the choice depends on your target audience and the unique value you want to offer.


  • How to create a social network app from scratch?

    To create a social network app from scratch:

    1. Define the Concept: Outline the app's purpose, target audience, and unique features.
    2. Plan Features: Decide on essential features like profiles, messaging, and content sharing.
    3. Design the UI: Create user-friendly wireframes and mockups.
    4. Choose Technology Stack: Select programming languages and frameworks for development.
    5. Develop Back-End: Build server-side infrastructure for data management.
    6. Develop Front-End: Code the user interface and integrate it with the back-end.
    7. Test the App: Identify and fix bugs, ensuring compatibility across devices.
    8. Launch: Submit the app to app stores and follow submission guidelines.
    9. Promote and Maintain: Market the app, gather user feedback, and update regularly.

    Collaborating with a skilled development team can make the process smoother and more efficient.


  • How do you ensure user safety and privacy when you build a social network app?

    When you build a social network app, ensuring user safety and privacy is paramount. This involves implementing robust security measures, such as end-to-end encryption for messages, two-factor authentication, and strict data protection protocols. The app should also offer users clear privacy controls, allowing them to manage who can see their information and interact with them. Regular security audits and compliance with global data protection regulations, such as GDPR, are essential to maintaining a secure environment.


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