Can You Make Money on TikTok?

Just about anyone who has access to the internet has likely at least heard about TikTok if not seen various clips or joined the site as a TikTok user. Just as Facebook launched to appeal to a particular age group, TikTok initially launched to appeal primarily to millennials.

Early on, it was rare for anyone over the age of 35 to know anything about TikTok. But thanks to older TikTok creators and TikTok influencers, as well as national businesses, celebrities, and even politicians on the platform, that’s changed.

The new social media craze launched out of China in 2016 from the developer DanceByte, and its entire schtick involves allowing TikTok creators to post video clips ranging from 15 seconds to 10 minutes in length. That unique content strategy leads to driven TikTok creators, more followers, branded content, and more ways to earn money. But how can you make money on TikTok as a TikTok user?

Why do TikTokers get paid?

TikTok applied a simple but brilliant growth strategy to its social media platform. TikTok users can join and start using their TikTok account for free. But if they want to monetize TikTok, they can simply focus on their content strategy and grow an engaged audience. In other words, if they drive traffic to their TikTok account, they’ll potentially earn money. So TikTokers get paid because:

Community guidelines are set to pay creators who want to monetize TikTok and create revenue streams. They don’t pay users outright just for being active. But TikTok does have a Creator Fund to pay creators for specific activities.

TikTok itself will make money based on having more followers, engaging content, and TikTok users who are either making money or spending it.

How do they do that? Three ways, actually:

Commissions
In-app purchases
TikTok ads

How do people make money on TikTok?

Most popular social media sites offer ways for their users to make money. However, there are specific community guidelines to make money on TikTok. Now, whether the admins actually stick to those guidelines in every case is another matter entirely. Unfortunately, just like with other social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, community guidelines seem to adjust or bend to the opinions and values of the admins on duty at the time. But these are the primary rules and ways to make money on TikTok:

1. Be at least 18.

This is a tricky one. While the rules clearly state TikTok users must be at least 18 to make money on TikTok, many TikTok users and TikTok influencers who are clearly younger manage to earn money on the platform by creating content. That’s understandable regarding lip-synching, dance clips, advocacy or causes, and makeup or beauty tutorials. But problems ensue when influencer campaigns or TikTok creators post dangerous or harmful trends to grab an engaged audience and make money.

2. Be a TikTok creator and focus on content strategy.

A solid content strategy is one of the most common and effective ways to make money on TikTok. Granted, just about any entertaining content will drive traffic to a specific TikTok account or TikTok creator. But to earn money consistently on the site, you have to have at least 10,000 followers and focus on your content strategy to monetize TikTok. Making money on TikTok comes down to specific techniques. Popular ways for consistently making money are as an original TikTok creator, through branded content or brand partnerships, or through influencer campaigns. Creating engaging content is also key.

3. Make money on TikTok by joining the wave of TikTok influencers.

An influencer is someone who’s considered an expert in a specific niche or industry. And almost every major social media platform has its own version of influencers. TikTok creators can monetize TikTok or make more money with their TikTok account by becoming a TikTok influencer.

4. Drive traffic to branded content, branded partnerships, or off TikTok.

Major brands are riding the TikTok wave. In fact, TikTok users who visit and engage in branded content, even through sponsored posts and brand partnerships, are 150% more likely to follow through with a purchase of that brand. Moreover, 350% of the engaged audience are more likely to visit the physical store, while 40% are more likely to shop online for the brand. Posting sponsored content can also help increase your Tiktok views. Popular brands currently on TikTok include:

BMW
Chipotle
Crocs
Duolingo
e.l.f Cosmetics
Fortnite
Glossier
Guess
Levi’s
NBA
Netflix
Nickelodeon
Prada
Red Bull
Taco Bell
The Washington Post

Securing branded sponsorship deals, getting sponsored posts, and including major brands in your influencer marketing campaigns are sure-fire ways to start making money on TikTok. You can also make more money by using your TikTok account to drive traffic to your own website or business.

5. Become a TikTok consultant.

TikTok is still relatively new in the world of social media, and it’s not just for teens anymore. If you have experience building accounts on other social platforms and believe you know all things TikTok, becoming a TikTok consultant can have you making money hand over fist.

As a TikTok consultant, you’ll literally be making money on TikTok by helping other members monetize TikTok and earn money on their own. There’s a vast, untapped market for this service, but you must know what you’re doing.

How much money do TikTok users make?

Most people who want to monetize their social media accounts focus on or strive for the superstar level. Few ever reach that level, but if they do, it’s through fantastic luck and hard work. Still, there’s no real such thing as an average user or earner model. It’s not impossible to earn money on social media if you apply yourself. And making money on TikTok seems to get easier as it grows in popularity and new trends and options to make more money arise.

According to Forbes, “ordinary TikTok members” can earn between $100,000-250,000 for sponsored posts and branded content. While a “Superstar” level TikToker can earn up to $500,000 for a single sponsored post. The top earners tend to make far more than that, but they’ve turned their social media into turnkey business models that have millennials throwing cash their way. And TikTok wages for the top earners have grown 200% in one year due to that phenomenon.

Note: The “average” person can still make money on TikTok, although they’ll likely never reach stratosphere level. But if you want to make money, it is doable. You’ll just need to keep your focus sharp and your feet on the ground. Most TikTokers who don’t reach the sponsorship level earn money from likes, revenue streams such as personal sales, and their own created influencer campaigns.

Do you get paid for likes on TikTok?

TikTok didn’t initially pay creators for likes or views, but that all changed when they launched the Creator Fund. This fund is committed to paying $300 million to content creators who apply for the program, use TikTok every month, and qualify to share the proceeds. Only TikTokers who have at least 10,000 followers are eligible for the Tiktok Creator Fund. Once you meet all the requirements of the Creator Fund, you can start making money on TikTok for likes.

TikTok’s commitment is to pay at least $300 million to its content creators. The platform started with a $200 million budget. But over the years, that budget has grown to over $2 billion globally. There are currently 1 billion TikTokers, and that number’s expected to expand. So members can expect the Creator Fund to follow suit. TikTok accounts with at least 10,000 followers and 59,000 likes throughout their account can earn $22-32 per post. Of course, that doesn’t sound like much. But if you’re making multiple posts per day and steadily growing your followers, you can make a lot more money.

TikTok didn’t initially pay creators for likes or views, but that all changed when they launched the Creator Fund. This fund is committed to paying $300 million to content creators who apply for the program, use TikTok every month, and qualify to share the proceeds. Only TikTokers who have at least 10,000 followers are eligible for the Creator Fund. Once you reach all the requirements of the Creator Fund, you can start making money on TikTok for likes.

How many views do you need to get paid on TikTok?

Not every TikToker gets paid for views. According to TikTok guidelines, the payment actually depends on non-publicized factors. Right now, it seems like that’s basically a popularity contest for the administrators. But as TikTok grows, hopefully, those factors will become more evident. At this point, creators can be making money on TikTok ranging between 2-4 cents per every 1,000 views on a video. That can translate to $20-40 for 1 million views on a specific video.

This is paid out through TikTok’s Creator Fund, so you’ll need to be eligible for that before you can earn money on views. It’s much easier to get views than likes on any social media platform, so the Creator Fund rules reflect that. To start making money on TikTok for views through the Creator Fund, you’ll need to keep 10,000 followers, over 50,000 likes consistently, and at least 100,000 views during a 30-day period.

Now, it’s essential to understand that you don’t need any specific follower count to start making money on TikTok if the Creator Fund isn’t your primary goal. You can still sell your own stuff, connect with brands and create your influencer campaign on your own. You can even link your TikTok account to your business, blogs, and websites and enjoy making money that way. You can also run paid ads on your TikTok account. But if you want to enjoy the benefits and make money on Tiktok through the Creator Fund, you’ll need at least 100,000 monthly views to get paid for those.

How much does 500K views on TikTok pay?

View payment all comes down to the current rules of the Creator Fund. These currently state:

1. TikTokers with at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 views are eligible.

You have to apply to the program and keep these numbers consistent over the course of 30 days to be eligible to receive payments for views. The Creator Fund proceeds are dispersed globally, so unless you have an enormous following, you probably won’t get rich.

2. The Creator Fund pays around two to four cents per 1,000 views.

At this time, TikTok is somewhat inconsistent regarding its payout system. For undisclosed reasons, some TikTokers make more money than others with similar follower and view counts. If you opt for the fund, don’t plan your earnings down to the dime because you may get less than you expect in any given month.

3. 500,000 views will buy you lunch.

The more views you get, the more likes you’ll get as well. These all add up through the Creator Fund. But the fund only pays $10-20 for every 500,000 views on a post or clip. That may be enough to buy your lunch, but it’s not enough to pay your bills or even a tank of gas anymore. That’s why most serious TikTokers incorporate other platform-related options for making money. These can include (but are not limited to):

Brand sponsorships
Influencer campaigns
Song or dance promotions

In Conclusion

TikTok is one of the newest social media platforms, and it’s also one of the most popular hangouts, especially for millennials. While TikTok first focused on teens, the age interest is expanding thanks to older content creators, professional presence, and major brand names that appeal to the older crowd. The younger age group of 16-24 still accounts for over 40% of TikTok’s user base, so there are plenty of trends to explore. But it all comes down to one thing: engaging content. Regardless of your personal age or interests, if you consistently engage your followers, you can make money on TikTok.