Despite the fact that it didn’t become available outside of China until 2017, TikTok (together with its equivalent for the Chinese market, Douyin) was the sixth most downloaded app of the 2010s. That presents a significant opportunity for business owners and marketing professionals.
Here is a look at the tactics that the top artists and marketers on TikTok use to create their audiences, in the event that you are interested in capitalizing on the platform’s enormous user base in order to grow your own following.
Let’s go over some of the most prevalent methods that people generate money on TikTok, shall we?
1. Sign up to be a part of the TikTok Creator Fund
Users that have cultivated a sizeable following may want to think about monetizing their content through the TikTok Creator Fund.
The amount of money a user receives from the Creator Fund is determined by a number of variables, including the size of their audience, the level of user engagement they receive, and the number of times a user adds content to their channel.
The Creator Fund is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of if you have already built up a substantial fan base; but, participation is not open to everyone, and consistent payment is not always assured.
There are many additional ways to make money off of your account if you are just getting started in this field (https://socialboosting.com). Even if you are a part of the Creator Fund, it is still a good idea to have alternative revenue streams, especially if you are trying to make a living off of your content.
2. Make a profit off of your admirers by selling them merchandise.
TikTok’s built-in marketplace is a fantastic tool for selling virtually any form of content you can imagine. Merchandise can be made by and sold to a creative’s most devoted followers by any creator, regardless of whether they are a dancer, singer, or comedian.
In addition, because there are so many different companies that offer print-on-demand services, consumers have a huge selection of products from which to select. You could sell t-shirts, tote bags, pillow covers, hats, coffee mugs, stickers, notebooks, etc.—or any combination of the aforementioned things.
Even if revenue isn’t your primary goal, selling print-on-demand products might still be beneficial. Having customized apparel provides your fans a more personal connection to your work, and each follower who wears your merch helps spread your brand even further.
A group of six graduating high school students came up with the idea for the Unxpectd clothing company while working on a school project. Their lives were irrevocably altered the moment that they uploaded a video on TikTok in order to advertise the garments that they had been hand-making in the basements of their parents’ homes.
After scoring its first viral success in December 2020, Unxpectd’s TikTok account saw a rapid increase in the number of people following it within a short period of time. After receiving their degrees, the members of the team moved to Los Angeles, where they continue to dye and embroider their own products—when they are not busy producing new material for TikTok.
The fact that Unxpectd’s TikTok account is not frequently used to advertise the company’s products is one of the reasons it is successful. Instead, Unxpectd brings its followers along on the process of establishing its brand by inviting them to get to know the business’s creators on a more personal level.
Are you considering launching your own clothing line? Find out how creators can make money off of their TikTok audiences with the help of Shopify’s technologies (and every other social platform).
3. Stream live while you amass virtual presents.
TikTok’s Live Gifting tool is one of the most helpful services for content creators who are wanting to monetise their livestreams through the platform. TikTok is unlike any other social network since its users are able to show their appreciation in real time by sending virtual gifts that can later be exchanged for real money. Livestreaming is a function that is available on the vast majority of social networks.
The following are some suggestions that can assist you in getting the most out of going live on TikTok:
Find the appropriate moment to act. It is best to go live at a time when the majority of your followers are already present. Access the insights about your audience by going to the settings for your profile and selecting the Analytics tab. This will show you the times of day when your audience is most active.
Continue to exist for longer. It’s likely that not all of your viewers will stay online for the entirety of your livestream, but if you keep the feed on for a longer period of time, you’ll give more people the opportunity to log on and watch your show.
While you are livestreaming, post updates. When you submit a short video while you are live on TikTok, people who see the video in their stream are prompted with a link to your live broadcast. This helps boost the audience for your live broadcast.
Use TikTok hashtags. Users regularly search hashtag sites on Twitter in order to discover new accounts that they can follow, much as they do on other social media networks. Increase the exposure of your videos by utilizing the hashtags provided by TikTok.
Perform tests on your equipment, including your internet connection. It is important not to gloss over the more technical components of going live. Check that your lighting and audio equipment can be used for extended periods of time, as well as your internet connection.
Stay safe. It is important to keep in mind that TikTok provides you with the power to filter comments, mute users, and block viewers. It is not necessary to be frightened to use these tools when interacting with users who are not contributing to the discourse in an honest manner. Nobody should have to put up with harassment or bullying under any circumstances.
Building meaningful connections with your supporters is made much easier when you participate in conversations in real time with other users. Because audiences that have a close connection to a creator are more likely to create a personal stake in the artist’s success, going live can assist to enhance other forms of revenue as well.
4. Establish collaborative relationships with TikTok creator marketplace influencers and other brands.
Through its Creator Marketplace, TikTok provides its creators with one of the most cutting-edge opportunities to earn monetary compensation. The Creator Marketplace makes it possible to form relationships in a way that is efficient and uncomplicated for both of the involved parties by bringing together the relevant influencers and businesses. TikTok makes it exceedingly simple to generate meaningful sponsored video that users will enjoy watching.
Brands that are interested in launching an influencer marketing campaign have the ability to explore the marketplace and swiftly sort through content that was produced by artists who they know are willing to collaborate with brands.
The creative marketplace functions as an influencer agency by enabling both parties to declare their readiness to collaborate with one another. This removes some of the awkwardness that may be associated with approaching influencers when using influencer marketing on other platforms.
5. Use the TikTok advertising manager to create in-feed advertisements.
You may make your own in-feed advertisements through the TikTok ads manager if you are prepared to pay a little money to broaden the reach of your content. TikTok offers a lot of fantastic options for organic marketing, but if you want to make the most of them, you should take advantage of them.
TikTok advertisements are played automatically in the “For you” feeds of viewers, just like any other video on the platform. You may ensure that the audiences who are most interested in your items see your videos by purchasing advertisements on the platform where they are hosted.
But the most exciting aspect is… The ad manager for TikTok is fully compatible with Shopify’s platform. That means you can create TikTok advertising from within your Shopify store, choose a target audience, and measure the performance of your ad all from the same location. TikTok has the potential to be one of the most effective marketing tools you have at your disposal online.
Luxe Collective is a luxury fashion business that is situated in Liverpool. They sell contemporary, previously used luxury goods for a fraction of the amount that you would pay at other retailers. It was Instagram, not TikTok, that Luxe Collective first found a lot of success in expanding its social media audience, and it was a great success.
Luxe Collective has spent the better part of the past few years cultivating a sizable following on TikTok, which has since grown to roughly three times the number of followers the business has on Instagram.
The Luxe Collective TikTok channel is chock-full of helpful lessons, fashion advice, and the most recent news regarding the industry’s most prominent luxury fashion businesses. Luxe creates a social media account that doubles as a news source for the exact audience that would be interested in purchasing its products. The company allows the character of its audience to dictate the content that goes into the account, and the company also allows its audience to help determine the tone of the account.
6. Raise money for initiatives through crowdsourcing by collecting donations from fans
For creators who are interested in making actual money, one of the most accessible paths to pursue is crowdfunding. You put a lot of time and attention into developing material for your followers, so providing a means for them to give back that is simple and does not place any pressure on them is a terrific way to ensure a steady stream of cash for yourself.
If you’re seeking for a certain kind of money, crowdsourcing can take the shape of many different activities. If you are in need of start-up cash for a particular project, you might mobilize your followers by establishing a funding goal and conducting live fundraising events. This would allow you to raise funds more quickly.
Explore the following crowdfunding platforms if you are interested in providing financial support for one of the following projects:
Kickstarter. Because Kickstarter is the crowdfunding platform that is utilized the most on the internet, its most valuable asset is the sheer number of people who support it and their familiarity with the brand.
Indiegogo. If you do not have a specific funding goal in mind, you may find that Indiegogo, which provides a more flexible fundraising objective and allows you to collect donations after the deadline, is the platform that best suits your needs.
Fundable. Fundable is an excellent tool for seeking investors because it enables entrepreneurs to provide ownership in exchange for financial backing. However, users in the United States are the only ones who can access Fundable at this time.
Crowdcube. Through their Crowdcube Funded Club, Crowdcube enables businesses who are successful in reaching their fundraising goals access to a variety of special rewards provided by partner organizations.
Crowdfunder. Crowdfunder enabled businesses to obtain cash by soliciting contributions from accredited investors and provided access to a network of more than 12,000 venture capitalists and angel investors.
Strong Motivation. Mighty Cause provides a platform that is simple to use and does not charge any fees or require a waiting period for approvals prior to the start of your campaign. This makes the platform ideal for swiftly developing a funding page to collect donations.
SeedInvest. SeedInvest makes it possible for those who are not qualified investors, such as the general public, to invest in businesses through their website. Your backers on SeedInvest are actually investors and not just fans; hence, the monies that are contributed are in exchange for equity.
7. Collect “advice” from your audience
Crowdfunding platforms might not be the best option for you to pursue if you don’t have a particular project in mind or if you aren’t prepared to offer investors a stake in your company. Think about employing a tipping platform when looking for a quick and uncomplicated approach to collect money.
Platforms for gratuities are an alternative kind of personal finance. They function exactly the same as a tip jar would in the real world. Fans have the opportunity to contribute, but doing so is in no way required, and they are free to do so whenever and in whatever amount they see fit.
If you think that this might be more to your liking, here are several amazing tipping systems that you should check out:
Tipeee. Tipeee does not yet provide subscriptions, but its simplicity is one of its greatest strengths. Tipeee enables content producers to put up a page where their followers can “tip” them directly, in any amount they choose and at any time they choose.
Pay for My Coffee Please. Buy Me a Coffee takes great satisfaction in the fact that it was designed with creators, as opposed to companies, in mind. Similar to Tipeee, its strength lies in its lack of complexity. Followers are directed to a page where they are given the opportunity to buy the content producer an unlimited number of “coffees.” In this context, “coffees” refer to monetary contributions of one dollar that are sent to the content producer through either PayPal or an online banking platform.
Ko-fi. Ko-fi allows users to donate money, sign up for paid memberships, and earn commissions for providing individualized content such as video chats or customized tutorials.
8. Create a Patreon page and make subscriptions available to your fans.
Crowdfunding is an effective method for funding large projects, and tipping is the quickest and easiest way to collect donations. But what if you want to make sure that you have a more steady stream of money coming in? In this instance, you should think about utilizing a platform that is centered on subscriptions to creators, such as Patreon.
Because individual subscription expenses can be kept low, and the focus may instead be placed on increasing the number of members, revenue models that are based on subscriptions work quite well for those who create content.
A single, devoted fan is an easy customer to convince to purchase a low-cost subscription, such as one that costs one dollar a month. If you have a large number of devoted admirers, you may expect those funds to start adding up.
Patreon was the first major platform to be developed with the intention of enabling content creators and influencers to generate cash by selling paid memberships to their most devoted supporters. You are able to set up different membership tiers on Patreon, which enables you to provide your most devoted patrons with access to special material.
There are other options available, the most notable of which being Ko-fi, which also has a tipping component built in, but Patreon has the advantage of being a well-known brand, which inspires prospective backers to have more faith in the platform.
If you are considering whether or not a subscription service would be the most effective approach to monetize your TikTok account, the following are some best practices that you should bear in mind:
Be transparent. If you want to be successful on Patreon, you need to establish a high degree of trust with your audience. To do this, you need to be open and honest about the amount of money you’re generating and how it’s being spent.
Offer incentives to your loyal followers. If they feel as though they are getting something of value in exchange for their contributions, audiences are more likely to give more money. Reward your most loyal supporters with enticing perks, such as access to special content and free products.
Express your gratitude to your donors personally. If you make your supporters feel like they are valued, they will be more inclined to continue to back your efforts. You should try to respond to as many comments as possible, tag users, and offer video shout-outs to as many of your supporters as you can.
Promote your Patreon profile. If your supporters are unaware that you are taking donations, they will be unable to make a contribution. You should include a link to your Patreon page in your TikTok profile and make note to it in your videos, particularly if you have lately gained a large number of new followers.
Maintain inexpensive pricing for subscriptions. It is far simpler to obtain one dollar from fifty followers than it is to obtain fifty dollars from one single follower. Maintain reasonable prices for subscriptions and direct your attention toward expanding your audience.
Produce fresh content on a consistent basis. Paying consumers have higher expectations in terms of how frequently you provide new material, particularly when it comes to how frequently you update existing content. Maintain a content calendar and publish fresh content on a consistent basis.
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If you upload videos to TikTok, do you get compensated for doing so?
TikTok does not currently provide producers with financial compensation for the production and uploading of videos. TikTok does provide funding for creators in the form of the TikTok Creator Fund (more information on this can be found above), but the amount of payment varies depending on factors such as the total number of video views, the level of engagement, and the authenticity of the users who are engaging with the post.
TikTok’s highest-paid users typically monetize their accounts through a variety of different income streams; however, there are certain instances in which advertisers might pay a popular influencer to generate videos for their platform.
Your audience is the most important consideration to take into account when determining how you’ll actually make money on TikTok. However, having many income streams provides more stability.
To begin making money on TikTok, you must first comprehend your audience.
Your audience on TikTok is likely to consist primarily of younger people. The vast majority of users are under the age of 30 (62%), with an astounding 32.5% of users falling into this category. People have a tendency to think that TikTok’s popularity among members of Generation Z is the app’s distinguishing quality; nevertheless, this perception may rapidly shift.
If you get a head start on catering to TikTok’s older users, you may find that you have a significant advantage in a few years’ time. This is because recent surveys conducted by Fortune magazine show that a growing number of millennials are joining the platform. Additionally, social networks tend to be most popular with teenagers when they first launch.
The content found on TikTok is really diverse. What resonates with one group of people could not do the same for another. The type of content that you post should be determined by the interests of your audience; however, there are several common aspects of TikTok content that its user base is likely to be more open to, and those aspects are as follows:
Authenticity. The most popular users of TikTok may have a wide variety of skills, such as dancing, stand-up comedy, or philosophical discussion, but one thing they all have in common is that they are not afraid to be themselves.
Audience engagement. TikTok provides a plethora of one-of-a-kind methods to interact with your audience, such as through its question-and-answer section, its duets, and its video responses to comments. Users of TikTok anticipate a more “personal” touch, hence it is important to utilize these features frequently.
Frequent posting. Maintaining a steady flow of information will keep you at the forefront of your followers’ minds, as well as increase the perceived worth of your content in their eyes.
The algorithm that TikTok uses will increase the likelihood of your videos going viral and broaden the breadth of your viewers.
If you have a solid grasp of your audience, you will be in a better position to uncover the best ways to monetize your following on TikTok. This is because there is no one strategy that works for everyone when it comes to TikTok.
How to “sell” something without making your audience irritable
When trying to sell things through social media, the most difficult challenge is to avoid posting an excessive number of promotional content. Your followers are aware that you want financial support to continue producing the material they adore, but nobody is interested in following an account that appears to be nothing but advertisements all the time.
This is especially true in the case of TikTok, which places a strong emphasis on developing personal connections with its audience because the platform’s design prioritizes doing so.
Users place a high value on high-quality material, therefore adopting a “content-first” strategy could be beneficial. Instead of beginning with your sales pitch and generating material around it, begin by creating the content and then let it to serve as the source of inspiration for the most effective ways to monetize your account.
Find your motivation with Partly Sunny Projects.
Partly Sunny Projects is an online plant distributor that ships gorgeous greenery from California all around the country. The founder, Sonja Detrinidad, needed an escape from the pressures of her full-time job as a mortgage specialist, so she decided to launch a business.
When she made the decision to focus her whole attention on her company and quit her job, her first priority was to devise strategies that would increase foot traffic to her retail location. And at that point, Sonja decided to consult TikTok.
TikTok users were quickly captivated by her magnetic presence, and it didn’t take long for them to fall in love with her. TikTok users are looking for genuine material like Sonja’s straightforward approach to gardening, and this is exactly the kind of thing that would resonate with them.
The fact that Sonja is so intent on producing TikTok videos that her audience would appreciate explains why her usage of the platform to promote her business has been so fruitful. Sonja discusses subjects that are linked to gardening, so successfully grabbing the attention of the type of follower that has the potential to be converted into a customer.
Participate in the creator economy of TikTok.
The possibility of financial gain is not typically what motivates creators. Creators are artists, and as such, the satisfaction they derive from their work does not come from the financial gain it brings them but rather from the creation itself.
But in the year 2022, it means a great deal more than it ever has before to be a maker. These days, creators are more than just artists. They can be everything from artists to business owners to marketers to salespeople to accountants to founders to chief executive officers, and anything in between.
In the economy of creators, stars are self-made; their major breaks are not born out of the pocketbooks of affluent gatekeepers, but out of the creator’s own creativity, passion, and desire to construct something original. In other words, stars are self-made in the creative economy.
Because time equals money, increasing the amount of money you make from your art allows you to increase the amount of time you spend creating art. If the money itself does not provide enough satisfaction, the additional time that it buys will.
If you found this tutorial helpful, you might also be interested in reading our guides on how to earn money on YouTube and how to make money on Instagram.
