How to Make Money on TikTok

Thinking your TikTok scrolling could actually pay the bills? You’re right. More than just a platform for viral dances, TikTok has become a legitimate space for creators and entrepreneurs to earn a real income. This guide breaks down the actionable ways creators are making money on the platform, from official built-in monetization tools to building your own brand from the ground up.

First Things First: Building a Monetizable Foundation

Before you can think about making money, you need to build an account that’s ready for it. Monetization follows an engaged audience, not the other way around. Skipping these foundational steps is like trying to build a house without a blueprint - it’s just not going to work.

Find Your Niche (and Stick to It)

The most successful TikTok accounts have a clear identity. A niche is simply the specific topic or community your content serves. Are you the go-to person for weekly meal prep hacks, thrifting tips for mid-size fashion, home organization for small apartments, or book reviews for fantasy lovers? Defining your niche does two important things:

• It attracts a dedicated audience. People follow you because they know what to expect. A loyal, engaged community that trusts your recommendations is far more valuable than a massive, disconnected audience that followed you for a single viral video.
• It makes you attractive to brands. A brand selling sustainable kitchen products would rather partner with a micro-creator focused on eco-friendly living than a giant, generic meme account. A clear niche tells brands exactly who your audience is.

Your niche doesn't need to be obscure, but it should be specific enough to stand out. Instead of "travel," try "budget-friendly travel for solo female backpackers." Instead of "cooking," try "easy 30-minute vegan recipes."

Create Content That Connects and Provides Value

An engaged following is built one great video at a time. On TikTok, "value" can mean one of three things: entertainment, education, or inspiration. Every video you post should aim to deliver at least one.

• Hook Them in 3 Seconds: The most important part of your video is the first three seconds. Start with a question, a bold statement, or visually interesting action to stop the scroll.
• Use Trending Audio and Formats: The TikTok algorithm rewards content that leverages current trends. Don't just copy a trend, adapt it to fit your niche. Using a trending sound with an original idea from your area of expertise is a powerful combination.
• Tell Stories: People connect with people. Share your process, your struggles, your wins, and your personality. A "day in the life," a "get ready with me," or a behind-the-scenes look at your work helps build a genuine connection.
• Be Consistent: You don't need to post five times a day, but aim for a consistent schedule. Posting 3-5 times a week at a minimum helps you stay relevant on your followers' "For You" pages and gives the algorithm more data to find your ideal audience.

Getting Paid Directly From TikTok

Once you've built a solid following, you can tap into TikTok's own monetization tools. These programs allow the platform to pay you directly for your content and your community’s engagement. Eligibility requirements vary, so check your creator tools in the app for the latest info.

The TikTok Creativity Program Beta

This is the main way TikTok directly pays creators for video views. It replaced the older Creator Fund and offers higher potential earnings by rewarding quality over quantity. The key difference is its focus on longer content.

How It Works:

• Eligibility: You generally need to be at least 18 years old, have at least 10,000 followers, and have accumulated at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
• Video Requirements: To qualify for payment, your videos must be over one minute long.
• Payment: You're paid based on "qualified views," which means views from the "For You" page that aren't fraudulent. The rate (called RPM, or revenue per mille) varies based on factors like viewer region, watch time, and engagement, but creators frequently report significantly higher payouts compared to the old fund.

Actionable Tip: Focus on creating one-minute-plus videos with strong storytelling that keeps viewers engaged until the end. Tutorials, in-depth reviews, and multi-part stories are great formats for this.

TikTok LIVE Subscriptions & Gifts

If you enjoy interacting with your audience in real-time, going LIVE can be a great source of income. TikTok offers two primary ways to earn money during live streams.

LIVE Gifts

Viewers can purchase virtual "Gifts" using TikTok Coins and send them to you during your stream. These gifts appear as animations on screen, and you receive a portion of their value as "Diamonds," which you can later convert into real money.

LIVE Subscriptions

Once eligible, you can offer monthly subscriptions to your followers. Subscribers pay a recurring fee to get special perks, such as exclusive badges, custom emotes they can use in your comments, and subscriber-only chats. This creates a predictable, recurring revenue stream.

Actionable Tip: Schedule regular LIVE sessions (e.g., a "Q&A Tuesdays") so your audience knows when to tune in. Plan a topic or activity for each stream to keep it engaging and make subscribers feel they are part of a special club.

Tips and Video Gifts

These features allow your fans to show their appreciation directly on your profile and on your individual videos, not just during a LIVE session.

• Tips: If you are eligible, you can turn on a "Tip" button on your profile. This allows followers to send you money directly, and you receive 100% of the payment (minus processing fees).
• Video Gifts: Similar to LIVE Gifts, this feature lets viewers send virtual gifts on your in-feed videos. A "Gift" icon will appear in the comments section of eligible videos.

Partnering with Brands and Earning Indirectly

For many creators, brand partnerships are the most significant source of income. This is where you leverage the trust you’ve built with your audience to promote products or services you genuinely believe in.

Brand Deals and Sponsored Content

Also known as influencer marketing, this is when a brand pays you to create a TikTok video featuring their product. This can range from a single video to a long-term campaign. The key to success here is authenticity - only partner with brands that align with your niche and values.

How to Find Brand Deals

1. The TikTok Creator Marketplace (TTCM): This is TikTok's official platform for connecting creators and brands. Once invited, you can browse open campaigns and receive proposals directly from brands.
2. Put Yourself Out There: Make it easy for brands to contact you. Have a professional email address listed clearly in your bio. Craft a one-page "media kit" that includes your account stats (followers, engagement rate, demographics), a bit about your brand, and past successful partnerships.
3. Reach Out Directly: Don't be afraid to pitch brands you love. Send a concise, professional email to their marketing or PR department introducing yourself and explaining why a partnership would benefit them. Link to your media kit and a couple of your best-performing videos.

How Much to Charge

There's no magic formula, but your rates should be based on more than just your follower count. Key factors include:

• Average Views: How many views do your videos typically get in the first 24-72 hours?
• Engagement Rate: A high percentage of likes, comments, shares, and saves shows you have an active, loyal audience. You can calculate it by (Total Likes + Comments + Shares) / Video Views * 100.
• Your Niche: Highly specific or lucrative niches (like finance or high-tech) often command higher rates.
• Scope of Work: Are you just posting one video? Does the brand get usage rights to repurpose your content on their own ads? Be clear about what you're providing.

A very general starting point many creators use is somewhere around $25-$50 per 10,000 followers, but don't be afraid to charge more if your engagement rate is exceptional.

Affiliate Marketing on TikTok

Affiliate marketing is like getting a commission for recommending a product. You promote a product using a unique tracking link or discount code. Whenever someone makes a purchase through your link or code, you earn a percentage of the sale.

This is a great option because you don't need a huge following to get started. You can sign up for programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale, or look for brands in your niche that offer their own affiliate programs. Your bio link is the prime real estate for this. Use a tool like Linktree or Beacons to house multiple affiliate links in your one allowed link.

Building Your Own Empire: Selling Your Products & Services

The ultimate form of monetization is turning your audience into your own customers. TikTok is an incredibly powerful tool for driving traffic and sales for your own business, whether it's digital products, physical goods, or services.

Driving Traffic to Your Own Store or Platform

TikTok is the top of your sales funnel. Your goal is to create content that naturally leads people to the link in your bio.

• Digital Products: Sell e-books, online courses, Lightroom presets, workout guides, or digital planners. Create TikToks showing the result people can achieve using your product or sharing free tips that give them a taste of the value you provide.
• Physical Products: If you have an Etsy or Shopify store, use TikTok to pack orders, show your creative process, or model your items. Authenticity sells better than a classic TV ad.
• Services: Offer coaching, consulting, graphic design, or any other service. Use your account to establish yourself as an expert in your field by sharing valuable advice and showcasing client success stories.

Using TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop makes it even easier to sell products by integrating e-commerce directly into the app. When you set up a Shop, you can tag products directly in your videos and LIVE streams. A small shopping bag icon appears, allowing users to browse and checkout without ever leaving TikTok. This seamless experience can significantly boost conversion rates by reducing the friction of clicking to an external site.

To be eligible, you usually need a registered business in your region and meet certain follower or sales requirements. It’s a game-changer for anyone selling physical goods.

Final Thoughts

Making money on TikTok isn't about gaming the system, it's about building a genuine community and providing value, then choosing the monetization methods that fit your brand. Whether you focus on brand deals, TikTok's direct creator tools, or selling your own products, a strong, consistent content strategy is the one thing that powers it all.

As your account scales, maintaining that consistency across different platforms can feel overwhelming. That's why we built a tool designed for modern creators. With Postbase, you can visually plan and schedule all your content - including TikToks, Reels, and Shorts - from a single clean calendar. It helps remove the stress of manual posting so you have more time to focus on what actually grows your brand: creating great videos.