Gone are the days when TikTok was just an app for dancing videos. With over one billion active users every month, the social media app covers pretty much any niche, interest and hobby.

It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of scrolling through the library of videos that literally never ends. But did you know that you can also make money from TikTok?

We’re here to share our top tips for monetising your TikTok account.

Want to expand beyond TikTok? We’ve got a guide to making money from social media that covers other platforms too.

How many followers do you need on TikTok to get paid?

To be eligible for the TikTok Creator Fund, a minimum of 10,000 followers is required. However, there are alternative methods to generate income on TikTok, as the TikTok Creator Fund itself doesn’t offer substantial payments. As explained below, it is possible to start earning money without having any followers.

One of the major advantages of creating content on TikTok is that each video has the potential to become viral, even if you don’t have any followers.

When a video is uploaded on TikTok, it is initially shown to a small group of people. If they watch the video for a sufficient duration or engage with it, it gets exposed to a larger audience. This process repeats itself, allowing the possibility of reaching a massive audience if your content is of high quality.

Naturally, having followers does help as your videos will appear on their For You Page (FYP), which is TikTok’s homepage. Nevertheless, even without any followers, your first video could gain viral traction. Once your views start accumulating, you can begin earning money on TikTok.

How to make money on TikTok

Here are the top ways to earn money on TikTok:

  1. Get sponsorships on TikTok   

    One of the most effective methods to monetize your presence on TikTok is by collaborating with brands for sponsored content. This avenue can be highly lucrative, particularly if you boast a sizable and engaged follower base or have a history of producing viral videos.

    For instance, you can develop TikTok videos centred around a specific product or service and subsequently share them on your own profile. This way, the brand you are partnering with gains exposure to your audience. However, sponsored content isn’t limited to this approach alone on TikTok.

    Considering that many brands lack the resources to produce videos themselves, you can also permit them to utilize your content for advertisements on the platform. This is known as User Generated Content (UGC) creation. However, since this grants them ownership of the content you have created, you should negotiate a significantly higher compensation compared to simply posting it on your personal account.

    Furthermore, you have the opportunity to request additional payment for exclusivity. Essentially, this means you refrain from collaborating with other brands or competitors for a specified period. Depending on the duration of exclusivity desired by the brand, you can charge an extra fee.

    Creating compelling content requires substantial effort and expertise, so it’s crucial not to undervalue your worth. Brands place significant value on this type of work, so make sure you are compensated appropriately for your efforts.

  2. Join TikTok Creator Fund

    The TikTok Creator Fund is an in-platform way to earn money. TikTok put together this fund to reward people for creating quality content on their platform.

    Once accepted, you’ll get paid depending on the number of views you get, the authenticity of said views and the level of engagement on your content.

    To join the TikTok Creator Fund, you have to meet the following criteria:

    • Be at least 18 years old
    • Have 10,000 or more followers
    • Have gained 100,000 or more views on your TikTok videos in the last 30 days.

    How much does TikTok pay you for one million views?

    TikTok pays between $20 – $40 per one million views (£16 – £32 retrospectively). As you’ll probably agree, this isn’t a lot. That’s why it’s much more lucrative to focus on other ways to earn money on TikTok and see the TikTok Creator Fund as a little bonus.

    If you get the views, you may as well get paid for them, but the real money is made elsewhere.

  3. Receive donations through TikTok Live streaming

    Once you reach 1,000 followers on TikTok, you’ll get access to the Live feature. As the name suggests, this lets you live stream to your followers on the app. What you do in the live stream is up to you – from Q&As to sharing special tips and tricks, the sky is the limit.

    You can earn money on TikTok Live by collecting donations from viewers. TikTok has its own built-in gift system where viewers can exchange real money for virtual gifts. These gifts can then be gifted to the person who is live streaming.

    To cash out your gifts, you have to exchange them for Diamonds, which can be exchanged for cash. Diamonds are worth 50% of the value of coins (TikTok keeps the other 50%).

     

  4. Use affiliate marketing to earn money on TikTok

    A fantastic method to generate income on any social media platform is through affiliate marketing.

    Affiliate marketing involves promoting someone else’s product or service. For instance, if someone makes a purchase using your personal referral link, you can earn a commission.

    By joining affiliate networks such as Awin and impact.com, you gain access to a wide range of brands to promote.

    Naturally, it is most effective to endorse a product or service that aligns with your niche. For example, if you create BookTok content (videos focused on books) on TikTok, you can provide links to the books you review in your videos.

    Since TikTok offers relatively higher chances of going viral compared to other social media platforms, you have the potential to generate numerous sales through a single video. For more information and tips on affiliate marketing, we have a comprehensive guide available.

  5. Sell products through TikTok Shop

    You might have already come across TikTok Shop, which essentially serves as a marketplace for products within the social media app. If you encounter something you like in a video and it is linked to TikTok Shop, you can easily order it with just a few clicks. It’s incredibly convenient!

    So, how can creators benefit from this? If you discover products on TikTok Shop that you personally enjoy or believe your audience would appreciate, there is an opportunity to earn money. Similar to traditional affiliate marketing, you can become an affiliate for the shops featured on TikTok.

    You can then include links to the products in your videos or during your TikTok Lives. Since the TikTok Shop button will be visible on your video, viewers can conveniently make a purchase right then and there. For each sale made through your content, you will receive a commission.

    Moreover, if you have your own business, you can also add your products to TikTok Shop. However, keep in mind that you will need to go through an approval process, so make sure to carefully review all the terms and conditions beforehand.

  6. Market your business or services

    If you have your own business or offer freelance services, TikTok could be the perfect marketing tool.

    As there are so many TikTok users and going viral is relatively easy (compared to other social media platforms), one viral video could result in thousands of sales.

    Keep track of any video trends or popular sounds to use. Some of the viral video trends are easy to replicate on the CapCut app. They partner with TikTok to make it easy to use templates straight from TikTok and upload them onto your account.

  7. Become a TikTok constultant 

    Once you’ve become adept at growing your TikTok account and achieving viral videos, you can begin considering sharing your talent with the world—for the right price, of course.

    As previously mentioned, the likelihood of going viral on TikTok is much higher compared to other platforms. Additionally, the more people who view a video, the greater the exposure for a business and its products or services.

    If you possess the ability to create high-quality content that has the potential to become viral, you can assist companies in generating thousands of sales.

    Likewise, you can offer coaching sessions to aspiring TikTokers. If you have the expertise and insider knowledge on how to grow an account and earn money on TikTok, you can help future influencers kick-start their journeys. You could even provide feedback on their existing accounts and offer ideas on how to take their TikTok presence to the next level.

  8. Earn money from TikTok Rewards

    Another way to earn money on TikTok is by referring friends to the app with TikTok Rewards. You can find your unique code by tapping on the wrapped present icon on your TikTok page. The type of reward changes from time to time, but we’ve seen gift cards and actual money.

    There are a few criteria the new users must meet for you to qualify for your reward, including:

    • They have never created a TikTok account
    • They have never downloaded the TikTok app on their device before
    • They meet the age criteria (18+ in the UK)
    • They’re in the same country as you.

  9. Sell your own merchandise on TikTok

    As you start to accumulate followers on TikTok and your fanbase grows, you can eventually create your own merchandise.

    You can, for example, create merch with your brand’s logo or a catchphrase that you use a lot in your content.

    To do this successfully, you will need an engaged following. It can work particularly well if you have a following across multiple platforms.

  10. Repurpose your TikToks on YouTube

    While this isn’t essentially making money on TikTok, why let the content you created go to waste on one platform only? Since YouTube introduced Shorts, it’s possible to upload short-form content onto the platform.

    And similar to TikTok’s Creators Fund, YouTube will pay you for the number of views you get (if you’re part of the YouTube Partner Programme).

    Make sure you upload the original video though, not the one you download from your TikTok page.

    As TikTok puts a watermark on your video after you publish it, it’ll look much better if you reupload the original video on YouTube. It may take a few extra minutes to add new music and captions, but it’ll be worth it.

    Oh, and don’t forget to publish them on Instagram too! Even though Instagram doesn’t pay you for views, it’s a great way to grow your following. And the bigger your following, the easier it is to make money from social media and grow your online brand.