TikTok has rapidly evolved from a short-form video app to a cultural and commercial powerhouse. With hundreds of millions of users in the US alone and a significant Gen Z and Millennial demographic eager to spend, TikTok presents unparalleled opportunities for creators and marketers alike. If you’re looking to tap into this dynamic platform and monetize your presence, understanding How To Make Money On Tiktok is crucial.
Here are 13 effective strategies, inspired by top TikTok creators and marketers, to help you generate income on TikTok in 2024. From leveraging creator programs to selling merchandise and beyond, discover diverse avenues to turn your TikTok passion into profit.
13 Ways to Monetize Your TikTok Presence
Earning money on TikTok, like on other social media platforms, becomes significantly more effective when you possess a deep understanding of your target audience. Knowing who you’re creating content for allows you to tailor your approach and maximize your monetization efforts.
It’s important to note that there isn’t a single, foolproof method for making money on TikTok. Successful earners often utilize a combination of TikTok’s built-in monetization features and external strategies to diversify their income streams.
1. Leverage the Creator Rewards Program
Remember the viral sensation Nathan Apodaca, also known as doggface208? His laid-back skateboarding video, soundtracked by Fleetwood Mac, perfectly encapsulates the kind of viral content TikTok loves to reward. If you can consistently create engaging videos that capture the platform’s magic, the TikTok Creator Rewards Program could be your direct route to earnings.
This program is designed for creators who produce high-quality, original videos exceeding one minute in length—a format TikTok data indicates drives the highest levels of user engagement.
Participants in the Creator Rewards Program receive enhanced rewards based on the originality, engagement, and overall popularity of their content. While earnings can fluctuate, discussions within creator communities suggest potential payouts ranging from a few cents to upwards of 15 cents per 1,000 views. Additionally, program members gain access to an advanced analytics dashboard, providing valuable insights into video performance.
To be eligible for the Creator Rewards Program, you need to meet specific criteria: a minimum of 10,000 followers, at least 100,000 video views within the last 30 days, and consistent posting of original videos longer than one minute. You must also be at least 18 years old and reside in an eligible country.
Joining the program is straightforward: Navigate to your profile, tap “TikTok Studio,” and select “Creator Rewards Program” to begin the application process.
2. Sell Branded Merchandise
Whether your TikTok content revolves around dance routines, educational tutorials, or comedic skits, selling merchandise offers a tangible way to connect with your fans and generate revenue. A wide array of TikTok creators successfully leverage merchandise to build their brand and income.
Thanks to the proliferation of print-on-demand (POD) services, creating and selling merch has never been easier. You can design and offer a diverse range of products, including t-shirts, tote bags, pillowcases, hats, mugs, stickers, notebooks, and more, all customized to reflect your unique channel aesthetic and brand identity.
Selling print-on-demand products offers numerous advantages beyond direct revenue. Merchandise acts as a powerful tool for strengthening the connection between creators and their fan base, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Furthermore, every fan who wears or uses your merch becomes a walking advertisement for your TikTok channel, organically expanding your reach and visibility.
3. Utilize LIVE Gifts During Livestreams
Livestreaming is a common feature across most social media platforms, but TikTok distinguishes itself with its unique system of virtual gifts. This feature allows viewers to express their appreciation for creators in real-time by sending virtual gifts during livestreams. These gifts can then be converted into real-world currency, making LIVE Gifting a valuable monetization tool for TikTok creators.
Engaging with your audience through live video is an excellent way to cultivate stronger relationships with your followers. When viewers feel a personal connection to a creator, they are more likely to invest in their success, which can positively impact other monetization avenues as well.
If you sell products online, TikTok LIVE offers a compelling platform to showcase your offerings directly to potential customers. Many ecommerce businesses find that TikTok LIVE generates significantly higher shopper engagement and interest compared to livestreaming on other social media platforms.
Dasha Derkach, the founder of the hair accessory brand Enchanted Scrunch, experienced remarkable sales growth after shifting her social media marketing focus from Instagram to TikTok. “It has significantly boosted our sales,” Dasha explains. “Before TikTok, we were getting around two orders per week. Once we started focusing on TikTok, that jumped to around 100 orders a week. Now, with daily TikTok LIVEs, we’re averaging nearly 500 orders weekly!”
TikTok continuously introduces new features designed to enhance livestream engagement and monetization. One example is the “airdrop” feature, a randomized virtual gift effect that viewers can send to support creators during LIVE broadcasts.
4. Partner with Brands on the Creator Marketplace
TikTok’s Creator Marketplace is an innovative platform that directly facilitates collaborations between brands and creators, streamlining the process of securing paid sponsorships.
The Creator Marketplace acts as a central hub where brands seeking to run affiliate marketing campaigns can easily discover and connect with creators who are open to partnership opportunities. Brands can browse creator profiles and portfolios, quickly filtering through content to find collaborators that align with their brand values and target audience.
This marketplace effectively functions as an influencer agency, removing much of the complexity and awkwardness traditionally associated with establishing brand-influencer collaborations. It simplifies the process for both parties, making it easier for creators to find paid opportunities and for brands to discover relevant influencers.
Platforms like Shopify Collabs offer similar services, connecting creators with brands looking to amplify their reach. Utilizing both TikTok’s Creator Marketplace and Shopify Collabs can significantly expand your opportunities to find sponsorships and monetize your TikTok content through brand partnerships.
5. Open Your Own TikTok Shop
Another direct method to make money on TikTok is by establishing a TikTok Shop. TikTok Shop is the platform’s native in-app shopping solution, enabling users with business accounts to create shoppable videos and livestreams, directly within the TikTok environment.
The primary advantage of TikTok Shop is the seamless shopping experience it offers to your audience. Customers can discover, browse, and purchase products without ever leaving the TikTok app, reducing friction and boosting conversion rates.
With TikTok Shop, you can easily tag products directly within your videos as they appear, creating a natural and intuitive way to highlight items you wish to promote. This feature seamlessly integrates product discovery into your content, making it more engaging and less disruptive for viewers.
TikTok Shop supports selling your own products as well as promoting products as an affiliate partner. You can add detailed product information and strategically placed “Buy” buttons to your content, driving traffic to your own product listings or to your affiliate partner’s brand.
For businesses using Shopify to manage their online store, seamless integration with TikTok Shop is available. This integration allows you to synchronize your product catalog, enabling users to browse and purchase items directly from your Shopify store within the TikTok app.
The ease of shopping directly within TikTok has been a key factor in the viral success of numerous brands on the platform.
Consider Peace Out Skincare, a brand founded by Enrico Frezza to address his own skin concerns. Peace Out Skincare gained early traction by partnering with TikTok influencers, leveraging their authenticity to build brand trust and drive sales. These creator collaborations not only boosted Peace Out Skincare’s sales but also provided monetization opportunities for the influencers involved, demonstrating the mutually beneficial nature of TikTok Shop and influencer marketing.
To further expand your product offerings within your TikTok Shop, consider integrating dropshipping. Dropshipping allows you to source products from third-party suppliers who handle inventory and shipping, enabling you to offer a wider variety of items without managing stock directly.
6. Invest in TikTok In-Feed Ads
While TikTok offers substantial organic marketing opportunities, utilizing paid advertising can significantly amplify your reach and target specific audiences. TikTok’s Ads Manager allows you to create in-feed ads that seamlessly integrate into users’ “For You” feeds, appearing just like organic content.
TikTok in-feed ads autoplay as users scroll, capturing attention and delivering your message in a native and engaging format. Paid advertising ensures your videos reach users who are most likely to be interested in your products or services, optimizing your marketing spend and maximizing ROI.
TikTok Ads Manager offers direct integration with Shopify, streamlining the process of creating and managing your TikTok ad campaigns. You can create ads, define target audiences, and meticulously track ad performance directly from your Shopify dashboard, simplifying your advertising workflow and providing valuable data insights.
7. Explore Project Crowdfunding
Your TikTok followers are often willing to support creators whose content they enjoy and value. Crowdfunding provides a direct avenue for followers to contribute financially, enabling you to fund specific projects or initiatives.
Crowdfunding can take various forms depending on your funding goals. If you’re seeking seed funding for a new project, you can leverage TikTok to rally your audience by setting a funding target and hosting live fundraising events to encourage contributions.
Platforms dedicated to crowdfunding provide the infrastructure and tools to manage your campaigns effectively. Consider exploring established crowdfunding sites to launch and manage your project funding initiatives on TikTok.
8. Accept Fan Tips
For a straightforward and easily accessible way to receive donations from your audience, consider using a tipping platform. Tipping platforms function like a virtual tip jar, allowing viewers who appreciate your content to express their support with small monetary contributions. Tipping is entirely optional for fans, and they can donate any amount they choose, whenever they feel inclined.
Depending on your follower count and account standing, you may be eligible to receive tips directly through TikTok’s built-in tipping feature. If direct tipping is not yet available to you, numerous well-known third-party tipping platforms can be linked to your TikTok profile, providing an alternative means for fans to show their support.
9. Offer Exclusive Content Through Subscriptions
While crowdfunding is suitable for one-off projects and tipping provides immediate support, subscriptions offer a more sustainable and predictable passive income stream. Subscriptions transform your casual viewers into loyal, long-term supporters.
TikTok’s Subscription feature allows fans to pay a recurring monthly fee to access exclusive perks, such as subscriber-only badges, livestreams, and exclusive video content. This model fosters a sense of community and exclusivity, rewarding your most dedicated followers.
Whether you offer behind-the-scenes glimpses, early access to new videos, or specialized content, subscriptions make your VIP fans feel valued and appreciated.
Consider keeping subscription costs relatively low to encourage widespread adoption. Offering modest rewards while focusing on building a substantial subscriber base can be a highly effective strategy. A $1 subscription, for instance, is an easy commitment for a dedicated fan, and a large subscriber base at this price point can generate significant recurring revenue.
You can also promote subscriptions on external platforms like Patreon to your TikTok audience. Patreon enables creators and influencers to generate revenue through tiered paid memberships, offering exclusive perks at different membership levels to cater to varying levels of fan engagement and support.
10. Provide Premium Content with TikTok Series
TikTok Series offers another avenue for monetizing exclusive content by allowing you to package up to 80 videos behind a paywall. Viewers pay a one-time fee to unlock access to your curated series of videos, directly compensating you for your premium content.
Series videos can be up to 20 minutes in length, allowing you to delve deeply into your channel’s niche and offer substantial value to paying viewers. You can create themed content packages, such as a multi-part tutorial series, a fitness challenge, an episodic narrative, or a comprehensive cooking course.
To qualify for TikTok Series, you need a minimum of 10,000 followers and at least 1,000 views within the past 30 days across at least three original posts. Setting up your first series is straightforward: Navigate to TikTok Studio, locate the “Series” option, and follow the guided steps to create and price your premium content offering.
11. Grow and Sell TikTok Accounts
Taking a more entrepreneurial approach, you can build and grow TikTok accounts with the specific intention of selling them for profit. If you possess a knack for creating engaging content, understanding audience growth dynamics, and building a strong online presence, you could establish a business centered around developing and selling TikTok channels.
The process involves identifying popular niches with high content potential, creating compelling content consistently within that niche, and actively building a dedicated following and strong engagement metrics. Once the account has accumulated a substantial follower base and consistent engagement, it becomes a valuable asset that can be sold to businesses or influencers seeking a pre-established TikTok presence.
Several online marketplaces specialize in facilitating the sale of TikTok accounts. When listing an account for sale, it’s crucial to showcase its value by highlighting key metrics such as follower count, engagement rates (likes, comments, shares), and demographic data that demonstrates the quality and relevance of the channel’s audience.
12. Offer Personalized Shout-Outs
Personalized shout-outs provide a fun and engaging way to connect with your audience on a more personal level, and this format can be readily monetized. Personalized messages, such as birthday greetings, congratulatory messages for milestones, or custom shout-outs, make followers feel valued and recognized. Many are willing to pay for this personalized interaction.
Platforms like Cameo have popularized the concept of monetized shout-outs, enabling influencers and celebrities to offer custom video messages for a set fee. You can promote your Cameo profile link on your TikTok profile, or offer shout-outs directly during your TikTok livestreams in exchange for virtual gifts or pre-arranged payments. Consider encouraging viewers to submit shout-out requests along with a virtual gift or specified payment as a form of request.
13. Refer New Users to TikTok
All active TikTok users who meet the minimum age requirements can participate in the TikTok Rewards program by referring new users to the app. In return for successful referrals, you earn TikTok Rewards points. These points are earned by encouraging people to join TikTok through your referral, interact with videos, and actively create content themselves.
Accumulated Rewards points can be converted into small amounts of cash at a conversion rate determined by your geographic location. Once you’ve built up your earnings, you can typically withdraw the funds to your linked bank account or PayPal account. In some regions, Rewards can also be redeemed for alternative benefits like coupons or mobile phone top-up credits.
Check the “Task Rules” page within your TikTok app to view the specific TikTok Rewards points available for various actions and the tasks that referred users can complete to earn additional points for both themselves and you.
To generate a referral code for new users, go to your TikTok Profile, then navigate to either “Discover” or “For You” page. Look for the TikTok Rewards banner and tap the coin icon usually located in the upper left corner of the screen. This will lead you to your referral link and invitation code, which you can share with potential new users.
For a referral to be successful, the new user must enter your unique referral code within 24 hours of signing up. When new users actively watch videos through the “Activity” page, both they and the referring user will earn bonus points. Over time, new users can also earn points by posting their own videos and engaging with content within the TikTok platform.
Understanding Your TikTok Audience
To effectively monetize your TikTok audience, a deep understanding of who they are is paramount. TikTok’s user base skews significantly younger compared to other social media platforms. A majority of TikTok users are under 34 years old, with a substantial portion, approximately one-third of active users, being under the age of 24, primarily Gen Z.
However, demographic trends indicate a growing number of Millennials are also joining TikTok. Social networks typically see a surge in younger users during their initial phases, suggesting that catering to TikTok’s expanding older demographic segments could provide a strategic advantage in the coming years.
While there is no universal formula for TikTok success, combining a solid grasp of your specific audience demographics and preferences with awareness of broader platform-wide trends will position you favorably for sustainable monetization of your TikTok presence.
Content First, Monetization Second
A crucial aspect of using social media for product promotion is striking the right balance between valuable content and promotional material. Overly promotional content can alienate your audience.
Your followers generally understand that creators need to generate income to sustain their content creation efforts. However, users are less likely to engage with accounts that feel like constant advertisements rather than authentic sources of entertainment or information.
This principle is particularly relevant on TikTok, a platform built on fostering genuine personal connections between creators and their audience. Users gravitate towards authentic content that resonates with their interests and values.
Prioritizing a “content-first” approach is often more effective. Instead of starting with a sales pitch and building content around it, focus on creating high-quality, engaging content first and then organically integrate monetization strategies that complement your content and audience.
This approach has proven successful for brands like Parade, a sustainable underwear company that effectively targets Millennial and Gen Z customers on TikTok. Parade’s growth marketing manager, Darya Dziadzenka, emphasized that the most impactful TikTok marketing content prioritizes authenticity, relevance, and humor over overt sales tactics.
“The key to success on TikTok is making content as organic to the platform as possible,” Darya explains.
Your TikTok posts should primarily offer value to your audience—whether it’s entertainment, information, inspiration, or community—rather than solely focusing on direct sales. Another compelling example is Partly Sunny Projects, an online plant retailer. Founder Sonja Detrinidad initially started her business as a creative outlet and documented the process on TikTok. Her authentic and engaging videos quickly resonated with TikTok audiences.
Sonja’s success on TikTok stems from her consistent focus on creating content that her viewers genuinely enjoy. Her videos cover gardening-related topics, naturally attracting followers who are likely to become customers. This content-centric strategy allows her to occasionally achieve viral reach while building a loyal customer base.
Embracing the Creator Economy
Creators in today’s digital landscape are multifaceted individuals—artists, entrepreneurs, marketers, salespeople, accountants, founders, and CEOs, all rolled into one. The creator economy empowers individuals to build self-made careers driven by their creativity, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit.
For creators, time is a valuable asset, and generating income from their work provides the financial freedom to dedicate more time to their craft. Even beyond the financial rewards, the increased time available to create is often the most significant benefit of successful monetization. TikTok is one of many platforms empowering creators to make money online, allowing them to pursue their passions and get paid for doing what they love.
Explore additional resources on how to make money on YouTube and how to make money on Instagram to further diversify your income streams as a content creator.
How to Make Money on TikTok FAQ
Can I really make money on TikTok?
Yes, anyone can make money on TikTok with the right strategies and tools. If you are serious about monetizing your TikTok presence, explore the tips outlined in this article and identify the strategies that best align with your content style and audience.
How do TikTok creators actually make money?
Successful TikTok creators typically diversify their income streams through a combination of methods, including sponsored content partnerships, fundraising initiatives, merchandise sales, fan tipping, and affiliate marketing. They may also participate in TikTok’s creator programs and promote their own products or services.
Does TikTok pay you for uploading videos?
TikTok does not directly pay creators for simply uploading videos. However, TikTok offers the Creator Rewards Program, which provides funding to eligible creators based on video performance metrics such as view count, engagement rates, and content authenticity. Brands may also directly pay popular influencers for sponsored video content, but most high-earning TikTok creators rely on multiple income streams.
How do I receive payments from my TikTok account?
Payment methods vary depending on the monetization strategy you employ. Typically, you will receive payments through the platform associated with your chosen monetization method. This could be a tipping platform, TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program, a crowdfunding site, or your ecommerce platform if you are selling merchandise or products directly.
How many followers are needed to start making money on TikTok?
The required follower count to start earning money on TikTok varies depending on the monetization method. The Creator Rewards Program typically requires a minimum of 10,000 followers, while receiving LIVE Gifts may only require 1,000 followers. However, there is generally no follower minimum for sponsored content deals or selling merchandise through a TikTok Shop.
