TikTok, now less than 10 years old, has rapidly become the go-to platform for trends in culture, politics, and fashion. By 2025, it's expected that 113 million people in the U.S. will use TikTok, with a large Gen Z audience and millions of active shoppers.
If you're looking to tap into TikTok's massive user base to grow an audience and sell products, here are 13 strategies used by top creators and marketers on the platform. From selling merchandise to offering subscriptions, there are plenty of ways to make money on TikTok. In this guide, we’ll cover 13 ways to earn money on TikTok, share tips on boosting your income, and answer common questions about monetization.
To start earning through TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program, focus on creating engaging, original content. TikTok values longer videos (over one minute) that spark high engagement. The program rewards creators for their content’s originality and popularity, with potential earnings ranging from 2¢ to 15¢ per 1,000 views. Plus, you’ll have access to an enhanced analytics dashboard to track your video performance.
To qualify, you’ll need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the past 30 days. You also must be 18 or older and reside in an eligible country. To apply, simply go to your profile, tap TikTok Studio, and select the Creator Rewards Program.
No matter what type of content you create—whether it's dance videos or book recommendations—you can sell merch to your fans on TikTok.
With many print-on-demand companies available, there are endless options for merchandise. You can sell items like t-shirts, tote bags, hats, coffee mugs, stickers, and notebooks, all customized to reflect your channel’s unique style.
Selling merch offers more than just extra income. It also helps your fans feel more connected to your brand, and each follower who wears or uses your merch becomes a walking advertisement, spreading the word about your channel.
TikTok allows creators to go live and interact with followers in real-time. During live streams, viewers can send virtual gifts, which are converted into Diamonds that can be exchanged for real money. Going live is a powerful way to build strong, personal connections with your audience. When viewers feel connected to a creator, they are more likely to support you, which can help boost other monetization methods.
To access the live feature, you need at least 1,000 followers, making it a great option once you've built some engagement on your profile.
One of TikTok’s most innovative monetization options is the Creator Marketplace. This platform connects brands with creators, allowing them to earn money by creating sponsored content.
Brands looking to run affiliate marketing campaigns can easily browse the marketplace to find creators open to collaboration. The marketplace acts like an influencer agency, streamlining the process and removing the awkwardness often involved in negotiating brand partnerships.
Another way to make money on TikTok is by setting up a TikTok Shop. This in-app shopping feature lets users with business accounts create shoppable videos and live streams.
The main advantage of TikTok Shop is that it reduces friction for your audience. They can browse and purchase products without leaving TikTok.
You can tag products in your videos, naturally drawing attention to items you want to promote. TikTok Shop allows you to sell your own products or promote affiliate products by adding product details and Buy buttons to your content.
For many brands, making shopping on TikTok seamless is key to driving viral success.
For TikTok users with a strong following, brand sponsorships can be one of the most profitable ways to earn money. Companies are always on the lookout for creators who can authentically promote their products to a broad audience.
If you have a solid follower base, you can reach out to brands directly or join influencer networks that connect creators with companies seeking partnerships.
Building a TikTok account with a large following and high engagement can be challenging, which is why many people are willing to purchase established accounts. By growing and selling TikTok accounts, you can tap into this demand and profit from creating valuable profiles for interested buyers.
By focusing on quality content and engaging with your audience, you can turn these accounts into valuable assets that are easier to sell.
To streamline the process, tools like DICloak can help you manage multiple TikTok accounts without risking a ban. It also automates interactions with other users, keeping the accounts active and ready for sale.
Read more on How to create and run multiple TikTok accounts with DICloak
Many followers are willing to support creators by donating, especially when they feel connected to the content. That's why it's essential to offer easy ways for your audience to contribute.
Crowdfunding is a popular and accessible method for creators to raise funds. Depending on the type of funding you need, you can use TikTok to rally your followers by setting a funding goal and hosting live fundraising events.
If you’re looking to fund a specific project, here are some crowdfunding platforms to consider:
If you're looking for a fast and simple way to accept donations, consider using a tipping platform. These platforms work like a virtual tip jar, where viewers can show their appreciation for your content with a small donation. Donations are optional, and followers can contribute any amount at any time.
Depending on your follower count, you may be eligible to receive tips directly through TikTok. If not, there are several popular tipping platforms you can link to your TikTok profile:
Similar to YouTube’s AdSense, TikTok Pulse is an ad revenue-sharing program that allows creators to earn passive income by displaying ads on their videos. However, this program is exclusive to the top 4% of videos on the platform. To participate, creators must have at least 100,000 followers, making the entry requirements fairly high.
Still, if you want to generate long-term income on TikTok, TikTok Pulse is a great opportunity worth exploring.
A unique way to make money on TikTok is by growing accounts and selling them. If you're skilled at building engaging profiles and know what drives audience growth, you can start a business as a TikTok account seller.
Here’s how it works: You create a TikTok account in a popular niche, consistently post content, and focus on building followers and engagement. Once the account gains a solid following and good engagement, you can sell it to businesses or influencers looking to jumpstart their presence.
There are several marketplaces where you can sell TikTok accounts, including:
When selling an account, highlight its value by showcasing metrics like follower count, engagement rates, and the quality of the audience.
Shout-outs are a fun way to engage with your audience while also making money. Whether it's for birthdays, milestones, or personalized greetings, fans love feeling special and many are happy to pay for the personal touch.
Platforms like Cameo have popularized this concept, allowing influencers to offer personalized messages for a fee. You can promote your Cameo account on your TikTok profile or even offer shout-outs directly during live streams in exchange for virtual gifts. Consider encouraging viewers to submit shout-out requests with a recommended donation for each message.
All active TikTok users who meet the minimum age requirements can earn TikTok Rewards by referring new users to the platform. Rewards are virtual points earned when you convince others to join TikTok, watch videos, and create content.
These points can be converted into small amounts of cash (depending on your location) and withdrawn to your bank or PayPal account. In some regions, rewards can also be redeemed for discounts, coupons, or mobile top-ups.
To start earning, check the Task Rules page in the app to see how many points you can earn and what tasks referred users need to complete for extra points.
To generate your referral code, go to your Profile, then tap Discover or For You. From there, click the TikTok Rewards banner and the coin icon in the upper-left corner. You’ll see your referral link and invitation code. Make sure your friend enters the code within 24 hours to earn both invitation rewards for you and them.
Do you often face challenges when running multiple TikTok accounts? Many creators use multiple accounts to test different types of content or target specific audiences. However, managing these accounts can lead to issues, like getting blocked for linking them together.
That’s where DICloak comes in. It simplifies the process by allowing you to log into multiple TikTok accounts at the same time, each in its own independent browser window with unique fingerprint settings. This setup ensures TikTok can’t link your accounts together, protecting your revenue streams.
But there’s more. Have you ever thought about selling TikTok accounts that have gained traction? With DICloak’s Share Profile feature, you can easily manage and transfer successful accounts.
Isn’t it frustrating to spend so much time logging into different accounts, checking messages, and posting updates? With DICloak’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Window Synchronizer features, you can automate these routine tasks. From posting videos to replying to comments and liking content, automation takes care of it all.
The best part? These features are beginner-friendly, so you don’t need to be a tech expert to use them. Automation keeps your accounts active and engaged with your followers even when you're away. The Window Synchronizer ensures that multiple accounts are maintained simultaneously, which is crucial for building and maintaining a strong TikTok presence. This can save you time by eliminating repetitive tasks.
When you’re growing and selling TikTok accounts, this feature becomes especially valuable, doesn’t it?
Sharing and selling TikTok accounts can be a great way to profit, but there are challenges involved, such as maintaining security, ensuring efficient delivery, and managing multiple accounts. DICloak provides tools to make this process safer and more efficient. Here's how it can help:
Safely Share Accounts Without Getting Banned
DICloak allows you to create independent browser windows for each session, each with its unique fingerprint. This reduces the risk of triggering TikTok’s security measures and prevents the platform from detecting multiple logins.
The profile-sharing function simplifies the process by allowing you to securely share accounts in a matter of clicks. This method ensures that accounts are delivered securely and accurately.
It also standardizes the process, ensuring that each shared account is handed over in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. This reduces confusion and ensures the buyer or user knows exactly how to use the account.
Selling TikTok Accounts
If you’ve grown your TikTok accounts to a certain level, selling them can be profitable. You can safely transfer the account details while maintaining both anonymity and security, allowing you to sell the account without exposing sensitive information. All communication and details can remain between you and the buyer. As an admin, you can set permissions in advance and create a members group. Once the group permissions are modified, all members will be updated simultaneously. Additionally, you can set unique remarks for each member to further customize the process.
To make money on TikTok, it's important to know who your audience is. TikTok has a younger user base, with most users under the age of 34. About one-third of active users are under 24 years old.
Recent surveys also show that more millennials are joining TikTok. Social media platforms often start by attracting teens, but focusing on older users could give you a big advantage as the platform continues to grow.
There’s no single formula for success on TikTok, but understanding your audience and keeping up with trends will help you build a sustainable way to make money from your followers.
To effectively monetize your TikTok account, start by understanding the platform’s demographics and user behavior. While TikTok attracts a diverse audience, most users are under 30 years old. Knowing this can help you tailor your content to appeal to this younger group.
Next, research what content is popular within your industry on TikTok. Look at what your competitors are doing to see what types of videos get the most engagement. This can give you valuable insights into the kind of content that resonates with your target audience and how you can stand out in a crowded space.
Authenticity is everything on TikTok. Users want to see fun, creative, and genuine content. Overly produced videos often don’t perform as well, so don't be afraid to show off your brand’s personality and have some fun with your posts! Take risks, try something new, and remember—TikTok is all about entertaining and engaging your audience.
Hashtags are a powerful tool for reaching new audiences on TikTok. By keeping an eye on trending hashtags and incorporating them into your content, you can increase your visibility.
On TikTok, hashtags play a crucial role in helping your content get discovered. They tell TikTok's algorithm who should see your videos. By using relevant and popular hashtags, your content has a better chance of appearing on the For You page, which is where most discoveries happen. Just be sure to use hashtags that are relevant to your brand and message to keep things aligned.
Collaborating with influencers on TikTok can help you reach new audiences quickly. Influencers often have millions of followers, which can give your brand exposure to people you might not be able to reach on your own.
When choosing influencers to work with, make sure their values and personality align with your brand. If you're unsure where to start, platforms like HypeAuditor can help you find the right influencers for your brand and facilitate the collaboration process.
TikTok offers Spark Ads, a unique advertising option that boosts existing organic content. Spark Ads are native to the TikTok feed, meaning they blend in with regular posts and feel less like traditional ads. This makes them more engaging and effective.
While organic content is key on TikTok, using Spark Ads can help you extend your reach even further. You can target these ads based on location, age, interests, and more, allowing you to get your brand in front of your ideal audience.
One of the challenges of using social media to sell products is finding the right balance between promoting your items and providing value to your audience.
Your followers understand that you need support to keep creating content, but they don’t want to follow an account that feels like a constant advertisement. This is especially true on TikTok, where personal connections and engaging content are key. Users come to TikTok for entertainment, not just to shop.
Instead of focusing solely on your sales pitch, try a content-first approach. Create valuable, authentic content that resonates with your audience first, and let it inspire natural ways to monetize your account.
The key to success on TikTok is creating content that feels natural to the platform. Your TikTok posts should offer value to your audience, not just try to sell something.
By staying true to your personality and aligning your content with your audience’s interests, you can build a strong connection with your followers and turn your TikTok account into a thriving business.
From the TikTok Creator Fund to selling your own branded merchandise, the opportunities for making money on TikTok are endless. But it's not just about the money—TikTok offers a unique chance to connect with a highly engaged audience, build your brand, and turn your passion into a thriving business. So, whether you're sharing your creative talents, promoting products, or offering exclusive content, there's a monetization strategy for every creator. Start implementing these 13 proven strategies today and watch your TikTok journey transform into a profitable adventure.
TikTok pays content creators if they are accepted into the TikTok creator fund. To apply, you'll need to be 18, have a creator account, have 10000 followers and 100000 thousand views in the last 30 days. Once you get accepted into the TikTok creator fund, you'll get paid for views. Views and payments are calculated.
To be eligible for the Creator Fund, you must meet certain criteria, such as having a minimum of 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. Once you're part of the Creator Fund, TikTok will pay you based on the number of views your videos receive. However, the exact amount you earn per view can vary.
According to reports from top influencers, TikTok pays around $0.02 and $0.04 for every 1,000 views. These are reports based on payments received through the TikTok Creator Fund.
It is absolutely possible to succeed on TikTok without showing your face! There are many of TikTok's top creators who've built massive followings without ever showing their faces.
One of the most innovative ways TikTok allows its creators to make money is through its Creator Marketplace. The Creator Marketplace connects brands with creators so they can get paid for creating sponsored content.
Have 10,000 or more followers on TikTok. The creator must be at least 18 years of age or older. Be in good standing and not in violation of the community guidelines. Have 1,000 or more video views in the last 30 days.
