Mastering the Art of Making Money on TikTok

TikTok, the rapidly growing and cutting-edge social media platform, has captured the attention of users across all age groups. Whether you’re a camera-savvy influencer or a business owner, there are several ways to monetize your presence on TikTok.

Some of these avenues even allow you to start earning returns without a substantial audience. In other cases, you can leverage TikTok’s reach to redirect traffic to your existing websites.

Top 10 Ways to Make Money on TikTok

Monetizing on social media comes in various forms, catering to both novices and seasoned individuals. Let’s delve into the diverse methods available for making money on TikTok.

1. Consult for New Channels

Consider becoming a TikTok consultant once you are familiar with the platform and possess the talent to attract followers. Both new and stagnating channels often hire consultants to inject fresh creativity and identify ways to enhance future content.

Consulting and marketing are lucrative skills that can help you earn substantial rewards across various domains, including social media videos.

Key responsibilities typically include:

  • Brand effectiveness (2D, 3D, and Augmented Reality)
  • Brand tags
  • Creating content ideas
  • Managing advertising campaigns

Channel owners implement your creative ideas, fostering interaction between the audience and their videos. You can also assist them in attracting potential followers who haven’t explored the platform yet. You can directly reach out to channels or collaborate through consulting agencies. Another possibility is bidding for tasks on platforms like Upwork, providing a solid platform for both beginners and experienced freelancers.

2. Earn TikTok Coins

Once your channel has at least 1,000 followers, audiences can donate TikTok coins during live streams or video uploads. This marks the minimum channel size to start hosting live videos, where you can receive tips of up to $100 per transaction.

Fans can purchase coins to support their favorite creators and then contribute them while watching videos. This option adds an exciting dimension to earning money from strangers, although note that you must be at least 18 years old to receive donations.

These digital currencies accumulate in your TikTok Diamonds account, and eventually, you can convert them into real currency through platforms like PayPal.

3. Activate TikTok Ads

Channels with over 100,000 followers can apply for the Pulse program to play monetized ads in their videos. If approved, you can earn up to 50% of the ad revenue.

Running ads is an effective method to generate consistent income, though TikTok’s strategy is geared towards well-established channels. Additionally, the platform tends to feature ads in the top 4% of videos to ensure maximum exposure.

You can also opt to pay for creating your ads, providing your small business with more visibility. While this involves some expenditure, it can significantly expand your brand and increase your audience.

In my experience, advertising is a straightforward way to make money, but it might risk annoying the audience, and the income potential for smaller channels is relatively lower. Therefore, meeting this high eligibility standard ensures you won’t display ads until you can earn substantial income.

Before owning a large channel, you might find success more accessible by promoting products or services that users are willing to pay for.

4. Join the TikTok Creative Fund

TikTok offers the Creative Fund (formerly known as the Creator Fund) to reward outstanding content. The earning potential depends on the level of user engagement and the duration they spend watching your videos.

This is one of the most common ways people directly earn funds from TikTok, not relying on audience or brand sponsorships.

You can apply after meeting the following criteria:

  • At least 10,000 followers
  • At least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
  • Age over 18
  • Residence in the United States

Videos longer than one minute can earn money, as the platform aims to encourage in-depth content, making users spend more time on the site. TikTok, known for short videos, is expanding its business by providing more engaging content.

The minimum redemption amount is $10, and you can withdraw your funds via PayPal or Zelle. Your funds become accessible 30 days after the end of the month.

5. Manage TikTok Accounts

Serving as a social media manager can be an easy part-time job where you interact with the audience, allowing channel creators to focus on video production. One option is to become a TikTok administrator, alleviating the burden by managing comments during live broadcasts.

In most cases, channel owners hire you directly, transferring specific permissions to your account. You might also gain access to the TikTok ad account for designing and scheduling ad campaigns.

Creators and business accounts also have analytical tools you can use to gain deeper insights into the average demographics of the channel’s audience. Depending on client needs, you might also manage ads or generate activity reports, aiding channel owners in assessing audience trends.

6. Collaborate with Brands

Content creators and influencers can collaborate with brands to produce sponsored videos. Typically, you would mention how a specific product or service solves a problem or provide a review. Videos effortlessly showcase the practicality and value of featured items.

The traditional way to establish partnerships with brands is to communicate directly with them. As your channel grows, you’ll likely receive proposals from companies. As your reach expands, you can charge more.

Another option is to connect through brands on creator marketplaces. Currently, only individual accounts can apply. Companies might approach you for brand campaigns, and you can run videos for a specified amount. Tips may also be part of the deal.

I appreciate marketplace features as they make it easier to discover new brands in your niche. Contacting through brands might be easier when you’re offline, and the platform has tutorial videos to help you learn how to negotiate with brands.

Several other ways exist to advertise for companies on different online and local platforms. Diversifying income sources can help generate repeatable revenue.

7. Refer Friends to Use TikTok

The TikTok Rewards loyalty program is open to all users, even if you don’t have followers. However, in certain countries/regions, you might need to be at least 18 years old to use certain point redemption methods.

This program allows you to earn points by referring friends to join TikTok. In most countries, you can refer new users without restrictions, but they must use your link within 24 hours of downloading the app.

Simply send your unique referral link or invitation code via SMS or email. Besides friend referral points earned daily by watching videos, you can also get extra points by completing short-term tasks in the mobile app.

The potential earnings may not be the highest, but it’s free money since you don’t have to create content to earn. You can cash out via PayPal, bank account deposit, coupons, and mobile recharge. Specific options vary by country.

8. Sell Your TikTok Account

Once you have a substantial following or stable income, consider selling your TikTok channel to an entrepreneur willing to take it to the next level. This money-making strategy might take several months or even years, but it’s an intriguing way to flip your investment.

Several online markets can list your channel. I recommend researching platforms, comparing current prices, and seller fees. Using a platform that verifies both seller and buyer profiles can help avoid scams.

For example, you might earn about $10 for every 10,000 followers you have. Most people consider selling only when they have at least 100,000 followers and earn $100 or more.

If you can consistently earn income, like ongoing brand collaborations, you can charge more. Another option is to include your TikTok account when selling the entire business. The deal might also include a profitable blog and social media channels.

The potential for earning money is smaller compared to other TikTok money-making methods, but it might be better than shutting down the account, offering a final reward for your hard work.

9. Sell Products

Videos enable you to interact with potential customers in more ways than written posts or photo ads. It’s an excellent opportunity to direct audiences to your business website or online marketplace to sell products from home.

Indeed, this social media app notes, “While TikTok has been very beneficial for personal growth, it’s also helped many local brands thrive. One of the most popular ways to make money on TikTok is to start your own small business.”

You can consider referencing or linking to these platforms:

  • Amazon store
  • Business websites
  • Patreon channel
  • Personal blog
  • Substack

Your promotional capabilities might depend on whether your channel is a creator or business account. Several overlapping tools exist, each offering different analytics and monetization options.

For smaller channels with fewer than 1,000 or 10,000 followers, another option is to pay for advertising. Your brand will be displayed on frequently-watched videos. Consider spending a small amount on a few ads to see which ones generate the most engagement.

10. Use Affiliate Links

Affiliate marketing is another effective way to make money, allowing you to earn high commissions without creating products. With at least 1,000 followers or a business account, you can include a referral link in your TikTok bio.

While you can mention the website address in videos, clickable links aren’t allowed. Although you can generate traffic by verbally mentioning the link once or twice, you can help the audience spell and remember it for future visits by including visual cues.

Consider using templates downloaded from free or paid platforms like Canva, making it easier to highlight where you want the audience to go.

This strategy is more successful when you have a large follower base, and your videos appear at the top of the algorithm. While not every viewer will click your link, high click-through rates mean more potential conversions.

Through these creative and effective approaches, you can earn some extra income on TikTok. Different methods suit different types of content creators and channels, so explore various opportunities to see what aligns with your style and audience.

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