5 Ways to Make Money on TikTok
From the heart of social media's vibrant landscape, TikTok emerges as a compelling platform known for its bite-sized, often quirky, videos. It's where creativity flourishes, dances go viral, and pets become overnight sensations.
Beyond its entertaining exterior, TikTok also provides fertile ground for financial opportunities. It's been making headlines not just for the millions of followers users are amassing, but for the millions of dollars they're earning.
Whether you've just downloaded the app or are a veteran seeking more than just likes and shares, this article is here to serve as your map to TikTok wealth. Keep reading to see what riches await you!
Who Can Make Money on TikTok?
Before we dive into the different ways you can make money on TikTok, let’s cover a few basics. Starting with one of the frequently asked questions from users:
Who can make money on TikTok?
The answer? Well, anyone.
Unlike other social media platforms where gatekeepers control the reins of production, TikTok places the power in the hands of its users.
This democratization of content production means that literally, anyone can earn money on TikTok. It's not exclusive to influencers boasting millions of followers or businesses with grand marketing schemes.
Everyday individuals, people like you and me, can seize a piece of the TikTok pie.
5 Ways to Make Money on TikTok
There are several methods of TikTok monetization. To make the most out of these options, choose a technique that best suits you and your business.
Below are five ways you can start making money on TikTok:
1. TikTok Creator Fund
Everyone from cat enthusiasts to bodybuilders has the opportunity to make it big on TikTok. And this is all thanks to the Creator Fund.
It's not a grant or ad revenue share program. It's a dynamic fund where creators are paid based on different factors, like:
- View Count
- Engagement
- Adherence to Community Guidelines
- Adherence to Terms and Services
The exact amount you can earn from the fund can change each day. If you want to make the most out of your account, you should focus on making fun and exciting videos that people will love. The more people watch and like your videos, the more money you can make.
To join the Creator Fund, you need to meet a few requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old upon application
- You must live in any of participating locations (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain)
- You must have at least 10,000 followers
- You must have approximately 100,000 video views within the last 30 days of your application
- Your account must adhere to the TikTok Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
If you check all these boxes, you can apply to join the Creator Fund through your TikTok account.
2. Brand Partnerships and Sponsored Content
Working with brands is another good way to earn on TikTok. Brands are always looking for popular creators to promote their products. If you have a large following, they might want to work with you.
Related Reading: How to Find and Contact Instagram Influencers Within Your Niche
In fact, 71% of marketers believe that customers coming from influencer marketing are of better quality than those from other sources. That means your influence on TikTok could be highly valuable to brands. It could bring them customers that are more likely to stick around.
Still, keep in mind that your followers like your authentic self. So, choose brands that match your style and interests. This way, your sponsored posts will feel natural and not like ads.
3. Live Gifts
Live streaming on TikTok is a fun and exciting way to connect with your followers. But did you know you can also make money during your live streams?
TikTok has a feature called LIVE Gifts. This allows viewers to send you virtual gifts during your live video.
When you turn on the LIVE Gifts feature and go live, viewers can start sending you gifts. These gifts appear during your live video.
Now, what do these gifts mean for you? Well, every gift you get turns into something called Diamonds. The more popular your live video is, the more Diamonds you can collect.
These Diamonds can be turned into real money. After your live video, you can see how many Diamonds you got in your LIVE summary.
To cash out your Diamonds, go to your Settings and look for the “Balance” tab. There you can see how much money your Diamonds are worth.
When you're ready, you can redeem your Diamonds for cash. TikTok will then send the money to your account.
4. Patreon or Fan Subscription
Patreon is a platform that allows fans to support their favorite creators by making a monthly donation. In exchange for their support, you can offer them special perks.
These perks could be anything you think your fans would enjoy. You can create different tiers of subscriptions. Each tier can have its own perks.
For example, a lower tier might offer early access to your TikTok videos. A higher tier might include exclusive live streams or personalized shoutouts. You can even offer merchandise or behind-the-scenes content.
Setting up a Patreon or fan subscription is easy. All you need to do is sign up on their website, create your subscription tiers, and share the link with your fans on TikTok.
While using Patreon to fund your creations, it’s important to remember that it’s not all about money. It's also about giving back to your fans.
By offering exclusive content and experiences, you're thanking them for their support. This can make them feel appreciated and more connected to you.
5. Selling Merchandise
Selling merchandise is another smart way to monetize your TikTok account. It’s also a great way to promote your personal brand.
To start, you need to find the right merchandise to sell. Think about what your fans would love. If your content is all about fitness, workout gear could be a good choice. If you're a makeup artist, consider branded makeup bags or brushes. Your merchandise should connect to who you are and what your TikTok is about.
Quality is also important. The better the quality of your merch, the more your fans will enjoy it. They might even recommend it to their friends. So, take your time to find a supplier that offers high-quality products.
Pricing is another key point. Your merchandise needs to be affordable for your fans but also profitable for you. Do some research to find a price that works for everyone.
When you're ready to sell, set up an online store with platforms like Shopify or Teespring. These make it easy to sell your merchandise. Once your store is up, share the link on your TikTok profile.
How Much Do TikTokers Make?
The money you make on TikTok depends on how you choose to monetize your content.
If you team up with brands, you can earn quite a lot. Top creators with big and engaged audiences can earn anywhere north of $80,000 from just one post.
If you join the TikTok Creator Fund, your earnings are based on your views. For every 1,000 views, you can earn between 2 and 4 cents.
So, if your video gets a million views, you can make between $20 to $40.
The Most Followed TikTokers
The most followed TikTokers are a mixed bag of creators from different backgrounds. Here's a list of some of the top ones:
- Khaby Lame – 156 million followers
- Charli D'Amelio – 150 million followers
- Bella Poarch – 92 million followers
- Addison Rae – 88 million followers
- MrBeast – 80 million followers
- Zach King – 75 million followers
- Kimberly Loaiza – 74 million followers
These creators are proof that with creativity and hard work, you can reach a massive audience on TikTok. Their success stories show that it's possible to turn your passion into a career on TikTok.
Final Thoughts
Making money on TikTok is possible—it’s just a matter of finding what works for you. Whether it's through the TikTok Creator Fund or brand partnerships, there are many ways to monetize your account. The key is to stay true to yourself, engage with your followers, and keep creating content that people love. With consistency and effort, you could become the next big TikTok star. Good luck!
