How to Make Money on TikTok in 2024
Making money these days is less complicated than before, especially since the Internet is available to almost everyone now.
When earning money using the internet, TikTok is proven as one of the leading online platforms that offer many ways of earning cash.
We all know how popular TikTok is, which peaked during the worldwide lockdowns, specifically at the end of 2019.
Many found ways to entertain themselves, and TikTok was one of the most used mobile social media applications at that time, with over 755 million users alone in 2022.
Many have found numerous ways to make money on TikTok, which includes finding ways to sell TikTok accounts.
In this blog, I’ll show you some easy-to-understand ways how to make money creating content on TikTok in 2024 based on my experience.
Types of TikTok Users
Before proceeding to tell you how to make money on TikTok, you must first identify what type of TikTok user you are since there are types of TikTok accounts you can create.
Are you a creator, seller, or just a normal user? Maybe a mix of these three? And how many followers do you have?
Whatever it is, my tips on this blog will revolve around these three.
Join the TikTok Creator Fund
The most popular way of earning cash on TikTok right now without including a product is by joining the TikTok Creator Fund. It’s a program for hard-working and passionate content creators—a reward for their dedication to sharing their craft on the platform.
They monetize TikTok users who get paid directly to produce content on the app.
To be eligible for TikTok’s Creator Fund, you must:
- Be 18 years old or above.
- Have at least 10k authentic followers on TikTok, which means no bots are allowed.
- Have accumulated at least 100k authentic video views (still no bots) in the past 30 days.
- Post only original content or videos in line with TikTok’s community standards.
Once you’re sure you’re eligible, there are only two steps you need to follow for application:
- Complete an in-app program application.
- Wait for TikTok to assess and evaluate your submission.
To find where the in-app program application is, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Tiktok account.
- Go to your profile.
- Click the three dots in the right corner.
- Go to Settings and Privacy.
- Click Creator Tools, then select Tiktok Creator Fund.
Remember, Tiktok will evaluate your submission at its sole discretion. You’ll receive a notification from them once you’ve been accepted or rejected.
In case of rejection, while they may not explain, it usually only comes down to one reason: the eligibility criteria.
That’s why you must ensure you’re eligible for TikTok’s Creator Fund before you apply since it’ll be pointless to do so in the first place if you don’t tick each listed above.
Think of them as your checklist!
How Are TikTok Creator Fund Earnings Calculated?
The terms and conditions of the creator fund state that you can only make money by creating TikTok content and earn money depending on the number of authentic views you get from your post.
Technically, you’ll earn a sum, after applicable taxes and other fees, based on your TikTok audiences or authentic views.
A view that is not authentic may fall into the following categories:
- Use of AI, bots, or any means of manipulating the number of views
- Paid viewers
- Your views
- Those acting in concert with you to earn more views
What’s not clearly explained in the terms is how TikTok decides how many authentic views you’ll get from the video you post. According to them, it’s in their sole discretion to interpret statistics regarding the number of your video views.
What Is the Payment Term of the Creator Fund?
Like any other salaried job, Tiktok pays content creators per month.
Just create content as much as you want and get them monetized.
They will give you the prior month’s report about the number of authentic views you got and how much you’ll get in USD.
You may transfer your money directly to your payment account only if the total is not less than 50 USD.
If your prior month’s earnings don’t reach the minimum threshold, they’ll be added to your next monthly report.
Visit the TikTok FAQ to know more information regarding this.
Use Your TikTok Account to Partner With a Brand
Getting brand deals is a well-known marketing technique to drive sales and elevate product awareness.
You can also do it on TikTok.
You may contact brands to make a partnership deal and advertise their products in your TikTok posts.
You’re lucky if you know a brand; it might lead to a long-term deal.
Use the Branded Content Toggle
TikTok users hate it when creators aren’t transparent with their content, especially in advertising products. That’s where the Branded content toggle comes in.
Turn this on by following these steps:
- Go to “more options” in your post.
- Click “Branded content.”
- Turn the toggle on.
Partner With TikTok Influencers
Know someone who has a large fanbase? Contact them and ask for help in creating engaging content, personalized content, and advertising your products.
You may ask them to do a product review or just let them wear or use your products.
This technique is called influencer marketing.
Go LIVE and Collect Virtual Gifts
Are you fond of going to live chats or simply going LIVE from here and there? You can make money and collect tips on TikTok through LIVE Gifts!
It’s easier to be a popular figure first to know how to make money on TikTok by going LIVE, like becoming an influencer.
But why would people watch it?
Many tend to watch the TikTok LIVE of their favorite content creators since it may be an important announcement, life update, event, etc.
Once you go live, viewers can send you virtual gifts, such as diamonds, that are convertible to real cash.
Collect Tips or Donations
Aside from the diamonds you can get, you may also ask your viewers for donations or tips.
It’s proven helpful if there’s a project you want to do but don’t have the fund.
Explain properly to your viewers why you’re asking for donations since it might backfire if you won’t and will only look like you’re begging for money.
Send Followers to a Patreon
Many creators nowadays take content-making as a career and spend full-time on it.
If you’ve noticed, many creators, not just on TikTok but also on other platforms, put their Patreon links in their videos’ descriptions.
It’s a membership platform that helps creators earn money through a subscription model wherein followers can support their favorite content creators by donating money.
You can always include your Patreon link to your content.
Raise Money Through Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has a long history, but the first successful one done online was in 1997 by the British rock group Marillion.
Today, many online platforms are available for users to start their crowdfunding projects, such as GoFundMe.
You can start your own GoFundMe project wherein you can input your goal and tell your story about why you’re crowdfunding.
This way, you can explain to your audience your aim and show them some pictures if necessary.
Use Tiktok TikTok for Business
If you’re more on the business side of using TikTok, you can sign up for TikTok for Business.
What’s interesting about this is that many big-name brands have successfully used TikTok to reach more of their target audience.
A few examples are Maybelline and Colgate.
If you already have an organic marketing or e-commerce website, you may also add a link to your videos.
You can always add an affiliate link as a CTA or “link to the video descriptions” dialogue in your videos so your viewers will know where to visit your site.
Create In-feed Ads With the TikTok Ads Manager
TikTok Ads Manager is part of TikTok for Business, an account solution for those who want to create an in-feed ad for their products.
You can launch your TikTok ads within minutes once you have an account.
You’ll also get a dashboard that has a user-friendly interface to monitor your TikTok ads.
It has many creative tools to help you create the perfect in-feed ad for your products with the necessary metrics that are proven effective in helping someone make money on TikTok.
Sell Products Through TikTok Shop
If you’re a seller, there’s an integrated shopping solution in the app for TikTok users to buy the clothes a content creator wears or items they use. It’s called TikTok Shop or TikTok Shopping.
Like any other e-commerce site, it has pictures of the products, their prices, and options for checkout.
You need the following to start a TikTok Shop as a seller:
- A TikTok account or phone/email
- Sign up your business
- Wait 2-3 days for approval
- Link bank account (if approved)
- Upload the products you sell
You must be an active TikTok user and use all the products you sell in your videos to make your followers aware of them.
Don’t oversell them too much in your posts; it’d be much better to create original TikTok-sponsored content and find ways to slide in your products in the video.
This way, your followers won’t think negatively about your posts becoming a marketing strategy to sell your stuff.
Participate in Affiliate Programs
If you’re just a regular TikTok user, don’t have an established business or any products to sell, or are not a full-time creator, why not make money on TikTok by affiliating?
Affiliating is an effective marketing strategy with brand partnerships and letting others sell a business‘ products and earn a commission.
Research some companies that offer affiliate programs and try to link their products to your videos. Often, you can generate affiliate links from their sites.
Go for TikTok Rewards
Another way for regular TikTok users to make money is to go for TikTok Rewards.
Just like with any other referral program, TikTok will give you a unique invitation code or unique referral link your friends can use.
You’ll earn more the more you invite.
What’s more, even if you’re just a new user, you can still participate as long as you’re eligible.
The following are the eligibility criteria:
- At least 20 years old or above in Japan
- At least 21 years old or above in Egypt
- At least 19 years old or above in Korea
- At least 18 years old or above in other countries
However, if you’re working for TikTok, you’re not eligible for this program.
Who Can I Refer for the TikTok Rewards Referral Program?
You can recruit people that meet the following criteria:
- Haven’t downloaded TikTok on their device
- Haven’t created a TikTok account yet
- In the same country as you
- Met the age criterion in your country
Promote Songs
Another way how to make money on TikTok is through promoting songs.
Suppose you’re not a singer nor have the time or talent to create songs. Then, promote the songs of others.
Start contacting artists and make a deal with them. From there, you can promote their songs in many ways and talk about royalties or payment terms.
Many record labels and famous artists, like Charlie Puth, Doja Cat, and Lil Nas X, promote their songs on TikTok to know whether or not they can gain traction.
Curious how they do it? In Charlie Puth’s case, he has this TikTok video about making sounds using his surroundings, which is apparent in his Light Switch song.
What made it clever is how it looked like he created the song on the spot, proving effective in gaining the viewers’ attention.
Many say that he didn’t create the song impromptu but rather did it as a marketing strategy to promote his song.
Nevertheless, it was clever; maybe you can take a page out of his book!
Create a Few Non-sponsored Posts
While the other approaches directly deal with how to make money on TikTok, this one aims to build authentic viewership on a particular topic you’re interested in.
It will have a great ROI.
Keep posting TikTok videos that revolve around a particular topic you’re an expert in, and your audience’s interests will gradually grow your audience.
Remember, posting sponsored content is highly discouraged.
Once you have many authentic viewers, you may monetize your content through TikTok’s creator fund.
Another reason why it’s crucial to create a few non-sponsored posts is that many find sponsored content or posts annoying. Some even think the creators only post to promote brands.
Without you knowing, you’ll lose viewership due to people losing interest in your posts.
Know the feeling of watching a Youtube video when an ad pops up? That’s what they would feel.
Become a Brand Ambassador
Becoming a brand ambassador might be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
If you have an established account that has a good amount of viewership, there’s a high chance that brands will contact you.
Final Thoughts
Making money on Tiktok, from going LIVE to creating TikTok ads, is not an easy game, but you can earn a lot of money—even millions—if you’re diligent enough!
Regardless of how you do it, it’s undeniable that TikTok can help you make money online.