TikTok started inconspicuously – as a Musica.ly it was an application aimed more at typically entertaining content, but time and trends have changed the ByteDance platform into not only a huge social network but also a place to earn quite serious money.

Reading the press – usually entertaining not once or twice, we come across information about influencers who earn sums on TikTok, which cost some a month (if not more) of work. Let’s not forget about underage website users who want to turn their hobbies and interests on TikTok into their first job – a source of income. Whatever your motivation is, I’m going to tell you about ways to monetize TikTok.

Gifts and live streams

Earning money on TikTok through gifts and live streams is a method that involves receiving virtual items from fans during live broadcasts (so-called live streams). To be able to use it, you must have at least 1000 followers, over 16 years old and an active TikTok Live feature.

On TikTok, users can send gifts to their favourite creators during live streams to show their appreciation or support. These gifts are bought by users for real money, but due to the commissions that TikTok takes, the value of the purchased gifts does not translate into the final earnings of the creator on a 1: 1 scale.

However, creators can exchange gifts for Diamonds, which are another type of virtual currency. The diamonds can then be transferred to a PayPal account and converted into real money.

TikTok charges a 50% commission on each gift and diamond transaction. In addition, the method of converting gifts into diamonds is determined by the website operator at its discretion. Some of the most popular creators on TikTok earn thousands of dollars through giveaways and live streams.

Livestreams are not only an opportunity to earn money directly because during them you can also promote products as part of affiliate campaigns, affiliate marketing or simply build your brand, the construction of which will translate positively into other methods of earning on TikTok.

Promoting brands, services and products

If you browse TikTok, at least once you had to come across a video marked with the phrase “Affiliate action” or “Advertising” with the designation of a given brand or company. These are paid collaborations in which companies, as part of an agreement with the owners of given accounts, carry out pre-planned actions aimed at promoting a product, service or the brand itself.

These promotions assume the publication of TikTok (one or many) and (or) a live stream with a pre-arranged scenario in which the influencer shows a given product or service on which he earns.

A partnership action can be taken by any influencer whose profile is attractive to a given company – not only in terms of the number of followers but also their involvement in interaction with the content published by the influencer, the subject of the profile, the nature of the published content and compliance with the company’s values.

For example, if you run a profile on TikTok about your Maltese dog, your profile may be less attractive to a brand promoting dog toys, but more to a brand promoting dog shampoos. Similarly, your profile about Fortnite may be attractive to a gaming brand, but it may choose not to work with you if you tend to be vulgar.

How much you can earn from a sponsored post on TikTok depends on many factors, such as followers, engagement, quality of content, and industry. Some influencers can earn about several hundred dollars per post, while the prices of the biggest stars of TikTok reach several thousand dollars for a single post. To find potential sponsors on TikTok, you can contact them directly or join an influencer marketing platform that will connect you with relevant brands.

Affiliate Marketing

Not once or twice you have met with a video in which the influencer says “Use the link in the description to get a discount…” – this is not an affiliate action, but affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by recommending products or services of other companies to your audience.

If someone buys something using your affiliate link on TikTok, you will earn money because you will receive a commission on sales. To make money in this way, you should join an affiliate network that offers affiliate programs related to your niche or interests. Then you should generate affiliate links to products that may be interesting for followers.

The key to making money in affiliate marketing is to create interesting and engaging content that will attract the viewer for more than just a few seconds, but also encourage them to buy. Tips, reviews, shows or guides. Here, the limit of earnings is set only by creativity.

Social media manager

Social media manager is still a position that puts a smile on your face in some circles, but even medium-sized companies employ dedicated social media managers. A social media manager is nothing more than a person managing the social media of a given person, company, brand, organization or institution.

The tasks of the social media manager include not only publishing content in social media (and in our case: TikTok), but also responding to comments, analyzing the reach of the profile on an ongoing basis and adjusting the strategy of publishing content based on trends and user engagement (followers and more) on the profile.

If you have a knack for running TikTok, a head full of ideas and a portfolio confirmed by successive running of a profile (even your own), you can try your hand and submit your CV along with the portfolio of a given company.

Advertisements of companies looking for social media managers can be easily found on dedicated social networking sites, and earnings – depending on experience and portfolio – can reach up to several thousand dollars per month. It is also worth remembering that you can be a manager of more than one profile and specialize in some field or platform, which will further increase earnings because specialists are included in the price.

Account sales

The last way, although the least legal (because it is forbidden by the terms of use of the TikTok platform), is the sale of accounts. Account sales are a way to monetize TikTok, which involves creating, developing and later selling TikTok accounts with a large number of followers and engagement from users.

Accounts after purchase are usually used for advertising or promotional purposes. Selling an account on TikTok is possible because there is a great demand for ready-made profiles with a large reach and credibility among recipients. Many companies, brands, or influencers want to have a presence on TikTok but don’t have the time or skills to create and maintain their own account.

To sell an account on TikTok, you must first create and grow an account with a niche or theme that is popular and attractive to potential buyers. You also need to create interesting and valuable content that will attract and engage your audience. The more followers and views you have on your TikTok account, the more you can earn from selling it.

To find potential buyers on TikTok, you can use various sources, such as online forums, social groups, intermediary platforms or direct contact with interested companies or individuals. You also need to set the price of your account, which depends on many factors, such as the number of followers, engagement, quality of content or industry, and of course, demand.