How to Make Money on TikTok

Welcome to the world of TikTok, where lip-syncing, dancing and viral challenges rule the land. But did you know that TikTok is also a land of opportunity? That’s right, my fellow artists—you can actually make money on this trendy app! Whether you’re a small business looking to expand your reach, or an influencer looking to monetize your following, TikTok has something to offer.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how to turn those TikTok views into cash. Get ready to flex your entrepreneurial muscle and make your TikTok account pay off.

Keep reading because I’ll answer TikTok FAQ about how to make money on TikTok and give you our top 13 ways to turn those views into cash.

Photo by cottonbro studio

Is TikTok a Good Way to Make Money?

Yes, TikTok can be an excellent way to make money for some creators! Being realistic about the level of engagement and following necessary to monetize your content and the potential earnings is crucial, just like in any business.

The amount of money you can make on TikTok will depend on several variables, including your engagement, the variety of your TikTok content, and the demographics of your TikTok audiences. You may be able to earn a sizable sum of money through sponsored content, the TikTok Creator Fund, product sales, affiliate marketing, and virtual gifts if you have a sizable and active fan base. But it takes time to amass a sizable fan base, and not all content producers will be able to monetize their work in the same way.

Additionally, it’s critical to keep in mind that TikTok’s algorithm is constantly evolving, meaning the platform may choose to reward or penalize specific creators, which makes the prospect of monetization uncertain for some. Therefore, it’s a good idea to test the waters, understand your audience, and explore the various monetization options before you decide to invest time, effort, and resources into creating content for the platform.

In conclusion, TikTok can be a rewarding platform both socially and financially. Still, it’s essential, to be honest about the level of engagement and following needed to make money on TikTok and monetize your content. Go ahead and investigate the possibilities, but keep in mind to have fun and be creative!

How Much Does TikTok Pay You?

TikTok pays its creators in a variety of ways depending on their engagement, the quality of their work, and the demographics of their audience. Here are some key points to consider:

• TikTok Creator Fund Users:

TikTok has created a “Creator Fund” to reward creators based on their engagement and content quality. TikTok, on the other hand, does not publicly disclose the specific amounts paid to creators through the fund. It’s also unknown whether payments are made per TikTok video, on a monthly basis, or in some other way.

Some sources claim that TikTok pays you a small sum of money for creating TikTok videos. You receive 2-4 cents for every 1000 views with a creator’s fund, and you can only earn $20 to $40 once your creative TikTok videos have reached 1 million views.

• Posting Sponsored Content:

Depending on the brand, size of the audience, and level of engagement, sponsored content deals can pay creators anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per video. Influencers on TikTok, like Charli D’Amelio, reportedly charge $100,000 to publish sponsored posts in their TikTok videos.

If you have fewer than 10,000 followers, you can easily demand $5 to $25 for your endorsement of a good or service. With 10k–50k followers, you can charge $20–$125 per post, and with 50k–500k followers, you can charge $125–1000 per post.

• Virtual Gifts:

On TikTok, virtual gifts can also be a lucrative revenue stream for creators. Your online followers can send you virtual gifts as you communicate with them. These digital gifts can be exchanged for actual money.

Although TikTok withholds the amount paid to creators for virtual gifts, some creators claim to make several hundred dollars per month just from virtual gifts. For instance, a diamond is worth 5 cents if given as a gift, but a drama queen is worth $125. However, a creator cannot withdraw until they have earned at least $100.

Remember that TikTok’s algorithm encourages creators to interact with their followers and create viral content, so it would be wise to concentrate on growing a strong audience before anticipating earning a sizable sum of money.

To estimate your general earnings you can use our TikTok Money Calculator and learn more about this topic!

How Many Likes Do I Need to Get Paid on TikTok?

There is no minimum number of likes required to receive payment on TikTok. A creator’s engagement with the platform, the caliber of their content, and the characteristics of their audience will all have an impact on how much money they can make there. All these elements are considered by the TikTok algorithm when determining the creators’ payouts.

The more views, likes, and engagement you receive, however, the better chance you have of being identified by TikTok’s algorithm as a potential creator to be paid, as it broadens your visibility and reaches on the platform.

Photo by Ron Lach

How Many Followers Will TikTok Pay You?

Like with likes, TikTok does not have a predetermined follower requirement that creators must meet in order to receive payment. Again, the amount of money a TikTok creator can make depends on several factors, including content quality, the creator’s engagement, audience demographics, and monetization method.

Many believe you need millions of followers to start earning money on TikTok. However, a lot of businesses favor working with so-called micro-influencers or influencers who have fewer followers.

Depending on who you’re talking to and the size of the market you’re targeting, the definition of a micro-influencer can vary, but it typically has between 5,000 and 50,000 followers. So, don’t overthink about quantity and focus on quality!

What Pays More on TikTok?

Different types of content on TikTok may pay more depending on the audience’s interests, current trends, and the chosen monetization strategy. Before getting into the details, the following are a few examples of the types of content that TikTok can pay more for:

• Viral Content: 

Videos with a high chance of going viral, or getting lots of views, likes, and shares, can attract brands looking to work with creators and boost engagement.

• Niche Content: 

High levels of engagement can also be attained by producing content that speaks to a particular demographic.

• Comedy and Entertainment:

On TikTok, lighthearted and entertaining videos, comedic skits, lip syncs, and dance challenges are common and can help to build a large audience.

• Educational and Informative Content:

Videos that benefit the viewer in some way, like tutorials, how-tos, and product demonstrations, can also be successful in gaining a following and opening up opportunities for monetization.

• Music: 

Musicians can charge for promotion or the right to use their music in videos, which can increase engagement and give you a way to monetize your content. If you are interested in distributing your music on TikTok, use our TikTok Royalties Calculator and learn more about this possibility!

It’s essential to keep in mind that the platform’s algorithm is constantly changing, meaning that content that performs well today might not perform as well tomorrow. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep up with current events, know your target audience, and be ready to change your content strategy as necessary.

You can increase your visibility and reach, which can increase your earning potential, by creating content that can generate high levels of engagement, such as likes, comments, and shares

Photo by Ivan Samkov.

Top 13 Ways To Make Money on TikTok

Become a Creator at SoundCampaign

SoundCampaign might be the perfect opportunity for you if you’re a TikTok creator looking to monetize your content and discover music artists on the platform. By using our artists’ songs in your videos, you can earn rewards and help them gain exposure on TikTok.

You can start earning money while producing interesting and entertaining content for your audience once you reach the minimum requirement of 10,000 followers.

TikTok’s Creator Fund 

TikTok Creator Fund may be familiar to you if you are already on TikTok. It’s a program that awards money to creators based on their engagement and the quality of their content.

The fund, which has more than 200 million dollars, was established with the aim of empowering and assisting creators by providing them with an income stream that will enable them to continue producing and disseminating incredible content.

The catch is that there are a few requirements your TikTok profile must fulfill in order to be eligible for the Creator Fund. You must have a legitimate and active account, be at least 18 years old, have at least 10,000 followers, have received at least 100,000 video views in the previous 30 days, and of course, abide by the platform’s terms of service and community guidelines.

It’s a great way for creators to earn some extra cash, but keep in mind that you need to meet the previously mentioned requirements.

Sponsored Content 

Brands and creators can work together to produce sponsored TikTok posts or live streams promoting brands’ goods or services.

When a creator makes brand deals to produce sponsored content, the brand typically sends the creator a brief outlining what they want the creator to include in the video and any particular messaging they would like the creator to promote. The brand pays the creator after they produce the video in accordance with the instructions.

For sponsored content, creators can bill brands in a number of different ways, such as a flat fee, a commission based on sales, or a cost-per-view (CPV) model. Payment varies based on the brand, size of the audience, and level of engagement, among other things. In general, the pay can increase with the size of the audience.

Product Sales

Another way for creators to make money on TikTok is through the promotion and sale of their own products. This is applicable to both physical goods like clothing and digital products like e-books, courses, or digitally released music, and you can get paid directly.

The platform enables creators to promote their products in a variety of ways, including:

• posting videos that demonstrate the products in use,
• making demonstrations or tutorials that highlight their features and advantages,
• hosting live streams during which they can interact with their viewers and answer questions about the products.

The e-commerce capabilities of TikTok allow creators to use the platform to promote their own online marketplace or store and sell products. Some creators use TikTok to advertise their goods before sending potential customers to their website or other online stores like Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, etc.

The same goes for musicians! I’ve seen a lot of musicians use TikTok to post and effectively market their music by making entertaining and captivating videos. Additionally, some independent Spotify curators advertise their playlists on TikTok. Visit our blog to find out more about building a successful music career. You can, for example, learn how to make your song go viral on TikTok.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a method for creators to make money on TikTok by promoting other people’s products or services and earning a commission on any sales generated by their efforts.

Here’s how it works, typically, creators are given a special affiliate link to share on their TikTok account. When someone clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the creator receives a commission, usually a percentage of the sale. Product reviews, tutorials, sponsored posts and other types of videos featuring the product are all ways that creators can advertise their products. But remember, it’s important to be upfront about the fact that this is an affiliate post.

But it’s not just about sharing any link, to make it successful, creators should select products that are relevant to their audience and consistent with their values and interests. This way, your audience will trust your recommendations and be more likely to make a purchase.

Keep in mind that affiliate marketing requires a certain level of expertise and planning. To design successful marketing campaigns that will result in conversions, creators must have a solid understanding of both their target audience and the products they are promoting. So, before diving into affiliate marketing, make sure you have a good understanding of your audience and the products you want to promote.

Go Live on TikTok

TikTok Live stream feature enables creators to stream live content to their followers. It’s a fantastic feature because creators can engage with TikTok users in real-time, interact with them, and respond to their questions.

As a creator, you can go live anytime, and your fans can tune in to watch the stream live. You can instantly receive comments and hearts from viewers.

Creators can use live streams to advertise products, sell digital goods, or solicit donations from their viewers. The feature also allows creators to host live Q&A sessions, run live polls, and similar. TikTok Live can be a great way to monetize content on TikTok, but also an amazing way to connect with your followers and learn more about them.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION

Donations or Tips

You can also collect tips or donations! This is a TikTok feature that allows creators to earn money by allowing their followers to donate directly to them. On TikTok, creators can add a donation button to their profile and use live streams to solicit donations from their viewers.

The ability for fans to donate money directly to the creators they enjoy watching can be a great way for creators to monetize their content and make money from their audience.

To receive donations from their fans, creators can also use external platforms like Venmo and PayPal. It’s crucial to remember that when using external platforms, creators will be subject to the rules and charges of that platform.

Creators can also earn money by utilizing the tipping feature. Platforms like Tipeee, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee can be linked to your TikTok account and act as a tip jar, allowing your fans to financially support your content.

Virtual Gifts

TikTok’s virtual gifting feature allows users to purchase virtual gifts for creators with real money, which the creator can then redeem for cash.

TikTok presents are available at a variety of price points. About 100 different TikTok gifts are offered, with prices ranging from $0.012 to $500.

Create Paid Membership for TikTok Users

On TikTok, paid memberships are a way for creators to make money by giving their followers access to exclusive content or benefits in exchange for subscription costs. Exclusive videos, behind-the-scenes material, shoutouts in public, Q&A sessions, one-on-one time with you, and other types of content that are only accessible to paying members.

You could, for instance, start a Patreon page. Provide free content on your TikTok account while encouraging your fans to donate to your Patreon campaign to access premium content.

Just make sure you take the time to create valuable and worthwhile Patreon content because you don’t want anyone to end up regretting their purchase.

Collaborate with Other TikTok Creators

The secret to success is collaborating with the right creators. The TikTok Creator Marketplace is really useful in this situation.

You can connect with network content producers and identify influencers who support your brand in just a few simple steps. The TikTok Creator Marketplace can help you run campaigns and locate creators based on your objectives, financial situation, or trends.

Additionally, you will have access to detailed performance and audience metrics so that you can make informed choices. This means that you can be confident that you’re interacting with creators who can successfully position your brand in the eyes of their audience.

TikTok Account Consulting

As the next big social channel for marketing products and campaigns, TikTok is receiving increasing amounts of investment from brands in 2023.

Suppose you present yourself as a TikTok expert. In that case, you can consult businesses on how to create content that will go viral or which types of influencers to partner with. You can provide services like training people on how to make engaging content or assisting businesses with their TikTok marketing strategy.

TikTok creators can charge for their time, knowledge, and expertise because they are experts in their field and can provide paid consulting services. To highlight their offerings and areas of expertise, creators can do so in their profile bio or on other external platforms like LinkedIn. Additionally, creators can offer references or case studies of prior work.

Although consulting requires a higher level of expertise and credibility as well as a sizable following, it can be a great way to diversify your income. It’s essential to determine your areas of expertise and whether they match the interests and needs of your audience.

TikTok Ads

TikTok offers powerful advertising tools for reaching millions of users. TikTok Ads formats vary by region, but all allow for targeting by age, location, interests, and other factors. You can choose the format that best fits your brand.

Popular TikTok ads include:

• Hashtag challenges: Encourage user-generated content by creating challenges that appear in the Discovery section. Only available to managed brands that work with TikTok representatives
• In-feed video: Appear on the For You page for users who match your targeting criteria
• Brand takeover: Full-screen ad that appears for a few seconds before transitioning to an in-feed video ad

Keep in mind that not all formats of TikTok ads are available to all TikTok accounts. Experiment with different options to find the best fit for your brand.

Sell TikTok Accounts

There is another way that can help you with making money on TikTok. Growing TikTok accounts organically can take a long time, but you can also buy an already-established account from other users to get an immediate boost in followers.

When you want to sell TikTok accounts, you need to know that buyers will most likely be focused on niche topics that can be sustained by the buyer. This will make it easier for them to continue posting similar content and keep their followers engaged.

Final Thoughts

Great news! Now you know how to make money on TikTok! Therefore, don’t waste more time and begin making money for real! Start posting videos and exploring the different monetization options available on the platform and see which ones align best with your content and audience, whether you use a business account or personal account.

The possibilities for making money are endless, whether through sponsored content, the TikTok Creator Fund, product sales, affiliate marketing, or virtual gifts. You can turn your TikTok hobby into a profitable business with the right strategy and a little bit of hard work. So please don’t wait any longer and start making money on TikTok today!

Don’t pass up this wonderful chance to work with talented musicians and profit from your TikTok videos. As a TikTok creator, sign up with SoundCampaign right away to start changing the platform for both you and the music industry.