More than a billion people scroll through TikTok every day. This means there's plenty of scope to get creative and start earning. Whether you've been posting for ages or you're just getting started, there are many ways to turn those likes and follows into real money.
The team from Gelato share the top ten ways you can make TikTok pay.
1. Merchandise sales via print on demand
TikTok offers a variety of ways to monetise content, including merchandise sales via print on demand. As an on-demand printing partner, Gelato offers a wide variety of products that creators can customise and sell globally.
- T-shirts: Create custom t-shirts, making your followers wear a piece of your content.
- Mugs: Pour your creativity into unique mug designs that make for perfect gifts.
- Wall art: Turn your memorable TikTok moments into beautiful wall art pieces.
- Phone cases: Design custom phone cases that carry your unique branding.
- Photo books: Compile your best TikTok content into bespoke photo books.
All these products can be seamlessly integrated into your TikTok monetisation strategy with Gelato's APIs.
2. TikTok Creator Fund
Whether you're a dance enthusiast, a comical genius, or a culinary whizz, TikTok's Creator Fund could be your ticket to turning your viral videos into a lucrative career.
Launched to support ambitious creators who are looking to monetise their content, the Creator Fund injects a touch of professionalism into the world of TikTok, enabling you to earn a steady income simply for doing what you love.
The fund was established by TikTok to directly pay content creators for their original content. The qualify you need to be at least 18, have at least 10,000 TikTok followers and have received at least 10,000 video views in the last 30 days. Earnings will be based on several factors, including the number of views, how often others share your content, and the engagement your videos receive.
3. Sponsored content and brand partnerships
Another way of making money on TikTok is through sponsored content and brand partnerships. These are collaborations where brands pay you to promote their products or services within your content, allowing you to weave in their product or service in a way that feels authentic and relatable to your audience.
The fee for sponsored content typically depends on your audience size, engagement rate, and the brand’s marketing budget. However, by building a positive relationship with a brand it’s possible to develop a long-term partnership that provides a steady stream of income.
4. TikTok ads
When you think of TikTok Ads, imagine placing your creativity in the spotlight, reaching millions of dedicated TikTok users who are ready to interact and engage with your content.
- Brand takeover: This type of ad appears instantly when someone opens the app, giving your content maximum visibility.
- Hashtag challenges: With these, you're not just placing an ad; you're creating an interactive experience that encourages user participation and engagement.
- In-feed ads: These ads show up in users’ "For You" feed, blending in with regular TikTok content to seem less intrusive. The casual nature of these ads can result in higher engagement rates.
- Branded effects: From AR filters to branded stickers, creators can use these effects to integrate your brand naturally into their content.
Even if you don't have a huge following, you can still run successful TikTok ads. It's all about understanding your target audience and creating authentic content that resonates with them.
5. Live streaming and earning from gifts
The Live Streaming feature allows you to host real-time videos where your audience can participate through comments, likes, and, importantly, digital gifts.
The more entertained your audience is, the more likely they are to gift you. When you are being interactive, relatable, or even funny, your audience will reciprocate with gifts! In TikTok's ecosystem, gifts equate to 'coins' which can be exchanged for real cash.
Just like any other platform, TikTok has specific guidelines for live streaming which you must abide by to create a safe and enjoyable environment for your audience, securing your revenue stream.
6. Utilising TikTok’s shopping feature
If you're a creator selling products, TikTok's built-in shopping feature is a game-changer. A TikTok shop integration allows you to directly sell your products through your videos and profile, making monetisation on the platform easier than ever before.
By integrating TikTok shop, you can offer a seamless shopping experience to your followers to maximise your income.
7. Educational workshops and courses
As a content creator, you're not only a source of entertainment but also a source of expertise and knowledge. Your followers look up to you, and many of them would love to learn more about the skills and insights you have to offer.
You could offer exclusive, live workshops or online courses. These can be about anything: cooking, dancing, content creation, or any specific skill or topic that you are good at. You just need to make sure your workshops are insightful, practical, and structured to meet the expectations of your audience.
8. Subscription content and exclusive offers
This strategy isn't just about earning a consistent income but also about building a loyal audience who value your content enough to pay for it. For example, you could offer a subscription plan to your audience that offers a variety of extra perks, such as early access to premium content, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, or personalised videos. Alternatively, you could offer exclusive, one-off deals or limited-time offers such as discounts, early bird tickets or personalised shout-outs on TikTok.
9. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing happens when you promote a product or service from a third party and receive a commission for any sales made through your referral link. The TikTok rewards referral program is renowned for its effectiveness, as it offers a win-win situation for both the creator and the brand.
There are many popular niches, from fashion and beauty to tech and wellness. You simply need to find a brand and product that suits your content, audience and values.
10. Crowdfunding and fan support
Whether you’re a dancer, comedian, musician, or blogger trying to seek a stable income on TikTok, crowdfunding and fan support can be instrumental to your success. Raising funds in this way involves garnering financial support from your fans and loyal followers, letting them become part of your creative journey.
You can set up crowdfunding campaigns using one of the many crowdfunding platforms. You can provide TikTok rewards such as exclusive content or merchandise to encourage fan donations. Alternatively, you can set up digital tip jars so followers can tip you for every TikTok video they enjoy.
Copyright 2024. Featured post inspired by and made possible by Gelato. You can read the original article on the Gelato website.