TikTok has become increasingly popular in Australia, with over 8.5 million monthly active users in the country as of 2023 (source). A TikTok creator or influencer refers to someone who regularly posts videos on the platform and has amassed a large following. This article aims to explore the various ways Australian TikTok creators are able to monetize their content and build a career through the platform.
Sponsored Content
Brand sponsorships and partnerships are a major source of revenue for Australian TikTok creators. According to How To Get Sponsored on TikTok & Make Money Creating …, creators can get paid to promote products or services in their videos through sponsored content deals.
To be eligible for sponsorships, TikTok recommends creators be 18 years or older and have at least 100,000 followers and 100,000 video views. Popular brands will often look for creators with even larger followings before agreeing to a paid sponsorship.
The amount a creator can earn from sponsored content varies greatly depending on their follower count, average views, and brand partnership. Top creators with millions of followers have been reported to earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per sponsored video.
Creators interested in sponsorships should focus on building their audience and posting engaging content. Having a dedicated business email, media kit, and clear analytics can help attract potential brand deals. Sponsorships allow TikTokers to monetize their influencing skills and turn their accounts into a source of income.
TikTok Creator Fund
TikTok’s official monetization program that pays creators based on views is the TikTok Creator Fund. As described on the TikTok Creator Fund page, this program is “designed to provide creators with cash bonuses to thank them for bringing joy and inspiration to their fans.”
The TikTok Creator Fund is only available to creators who meet certain eligibility criteria. As per TikTok’s requirements, creators must have at least 10,000 authentic followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. They also need to be 18 years or older, meet TikTok’s content guidelines, and post original content in line with the app’s community values.
The amount paid out to creators depends on the number of video views and engagement within a particular market. TikTok notes that the Creator Fund is based on a set amount allocated for each country. Not every eligible video will earn money, as the fund is limited. The exact payment calculations are not publicly shared by TikTok.
The TikTok Creator Fund launched in Australia in 2022. Eligible Australian creators can now earn money for their top-performing content. However, the total Creator Fund pool for Australia has not been disclosed. While the fund provides an avenue for top creators to monetize, smaller creators will need to rely on other income sources.
Livestreams and Gifts
Fans can purchase and send virtual gifts during livestreams, which is a popular way for TikTok creators to earn money. When a fan sends a gift during a livestream, the creator receives a portion of the gift’s value as revenue. According to Net Influencer, gifts on TikTok range from 5 cents up to $500.
The gift revenue is converted into “diamonds” in the creator’s account. These diamonds can then be withdrawn as cash to the creator’s payment account. As explained by The Tab, creators must have at least 1,000 followers before the gifts feature is enabled. The more expensive gifts naturally earn creators more money. Sending gifts is completely optional for fans, but it has become a popular way to support favorite creators.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for Australian TikTok creators to earn an income (Authority Hacker, 2023). With affiliate marketing, creators can earn commissions when their followers purchase products through special affiliate links. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, when doing TikTok affiliate marketing, creators will promote affiliate products and links in their videos. Then, consumers who follow those links and make a purchase will result in the creator earning a commission.
Many TikTok creators opt to promote affiliate links to products available on sites like Amazon, eBay, Clickbank, ShareASale and more. They may focus on recommending products relevant to their niche, such as fashion, beauty, gaming and tech products. The key is including their unique affiliate link so they get credit for any sales. Some creators optimize their affiliate strategy by having links added to their TikTok profile bios. The commissions earned can vary based on the specific affiliate program but often range from 5-20% per sale.
Overall, affiliate marketing presents a simple way for TikTokers to monetize their audience and content. By consistently promoting useful and relevant affiliate links, Australian creators can earn sizable commissions over time to supplement their TikTok income.
Selling Merchandise
One way Australian TikTok creators monetize their content is by selling custom branded merchandise like clothing, accessories, and other products. Many creators design and sell custom t-shirts, hoodies, hats, phone cases, stickers, and more with their brand name, logo, or popular catchphrases from their videos. They often promote these products in their TikTok videos and livestreams, and sell them through online stores they set up.
For example, TikTok creator @finessedalyricalb has an online merchandise store selling branded hoodies, t-shirts, and more (Finesse’s Shop (@finessedalyricalb)). Creators can partner with print-on-demand companies so they don’t have to hold inventory, manage shipping, or deal with manufacturing. The company handles production when orders come in and ships directly to customers. This allows TikTokers to easily create and sell merchandise without major upfront costs or overhead.
Selling branded products can be a significant revenue stream for popular TikTok creators. Their fans are often eager to buy merchandise that allows them to publicly display their support. Creators promote the products to their loyal follower base, resulting in steady merchandise sales over time.
TikTok Ad Revenue Sharing
One way Australian TikTok creators can earn money is through TikTok’s ad revenue sharing program called TikTok Pulse. This program allows creators with at least 100,000 followers to monetize ads that appear in their content [1]. When viewers see and engage with these ads, creators earn a cut of the ad revenue.
However, early reports show that earnings from TikTok Pulse have been quite low so far. According to some creators, they are only earning pennies per 1,000 ad views – a tiny fraction of what they can earn from other monetization methods [2]. The program is still new though, so earnings may increase over time as more advertisers join the platform.
For top Aussie creators with big audiences, TikTok Pulse provides an additional revenue stream on top of other monetization strategies. But for smaller creators, other methods like sponsorships and livestreaming currently seem more lucrative than TikTok ad revenue sharing.
Third-Party Brand Collaborations
One way Australian TikTok creators make money is through collaborations with brands and companies outside of TikTok. These third-party brands will often reach out to creators directly to propose a sponsored content partnership. According to TikTok’s help center, if a creator is being paid by a brand to promote their products or services, they must properly disclose this type of branded content.
The process usually involves the brand reaching out to potential creator partners that align with their target audience and brand image. Together they agree upon branded content that will organically integrate the brand into the creator’s usual content style. For example, the creator may showcase the brand’s products in a typical TikTok video in exchange for compensation from the brand.
These third-party collaborations allow creators to monetize their audience and content while partner brands are able to authentically connect with new demographics. According to TikTok, branded collaborations generally achieve higher view rates compared to branded content published solely by the brand. As Australian TikTok creators build their audience and niche, lucrative collaboration deals from brands help provide an additional revenue stream.
Moving to Other Platforms
Many popular TikTok creators use their fame on the platform to make money on other social media sites like YouTube and Instagram. Once a TikTok creator gains a substantial following, they can leverage that audience to drive views, subscribers and revenue on other platforms.
For example, Charli D’Amelio gained fame on TikTok and then started a YouTube channel which now has over 10 million subscribers. She earns money on YouTube through Google AdSense revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Her YouTube videos featuring lifestyle, beauty, and fashion content regularly get millions of views (Time).
Instagram is another place where TikTok stars make money through sponsored posts, affiliate links, and selling merchandise to their followers. Addison Rae Easterling grew her Instagram account to over 38 million followers after blowing up on TikTok. Brand sponsorships on Instagram can be very lucrative for creators with large audiences.
In summary, climbing up the ladder of fame on TikTok can allow creators to expand their audience and monetization to other platforms. A diverse social media presence gives them more options and revenue streams.
Conclusion
TikTok offers Australian creators a variety of ways to monetize their content and build a career as an influencer. Through sponsored content deals, the TikTok Creator Fund, livestreams, affiliate marketing, selling merchandise, ad revenue sharing, brand collaborations, and expanding to other platforms, TikTokers have diverse income sources available.
The key opportunities include sponsored content, where brands pay creators to showcase products or services in their videos. The TikTok Creator Fund also provides creators with additional income tied to their views. Livestreams enable creators to earn monetary gifts from fans. Affiliate links allow creators to earn commissions promoting other brands. Selling custom merchandise is another lucrative channel.
Additionally, TikTok shares ad revenue with creators through its Creator Marketplace program. Collaborations with third-party brands outside of TikTok also provide income. And many creators expand their monetization efforts to other platforms like YouTube or Instagram.
In summary, TikTok offers creators diverse monetization opportunities to make a career out of content creation. With multiple income sources available, Australian TikTokers can earn money from their channels and turn their passion into a profession.