TikTok has exploded in popularity since launching internationally in 2017. According to TikTok popularity stats, the app now has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. With this massive user base, many creators are turning to TikTok as a way to build an audience and earn income.
While TikTok offers opportunities to monetize your account through different programs, getting paid directly from TikTok just because you have 1,000 followers is a misconception. There are many methods for TikTok creators to earn money, and follower count alone doesn’t equal profits. However, there are both direct and indirect ways that having an engaged TikTok following can lead to income.
In this article, we’ll break down if and how TikTok pays creators for followers. We’ll explore the main monetization options like the TikTok Creator Fund, LIVE features, sponsored content, affiliate links, and more. We’ll also summarize why followers don’t directly mean money and tips to successfully turn your TikTok account into a business.
Does TikTok Pay Creators for Followers?
TikTok does not directly pay creators simply for gaining more followers or reaching certain follower milestones. This differs from other platforms like YouTube, which provides direct payouts to creators for hitting subscriber goals.
On TikTok, monetization works differently. Reaching certain follower thresholds can indirectly help creators earn money by giving them access to TikTok’s monetization programs. However, the platform does not pay creators directly proportional to the size of their following.
For example, to be eligible for TikTok’s Creator Fund, creators must have at least 10,000 authentic followers. This program pays creators based on the engagement and views on their videos – not for the act of gaining followers itself. More followers can lead to more views, but the payout metrics are based on content performance.
So while a larger following is helpful, the number of followers alone does not equate to money on TikTok. The platform’s monetization model relies more heavily on content, engagement, and audience retention. Simply gaining followers will not generate direct payouts.
TikTok Creator Fund
The TikTok Creator Fund is a program that pays TikTok creators based on the views and engagement on their videos, not the number of followers. To be eligible for the fund, creators must meet certain requirements:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Post original content that follows TikTok’s community guidelines
- Have accrued at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
- Live in an eligible country such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, or Italy
If accepted into the fund, creators can earn cash based on the number of video views and engagement. TikTok evaluates factors like likes, comments, shares, hashtags, and more when determining payouts. The Creator Fund is distributed monthly and there is no minimum payout threshold. This program allows TikTok creators to earn income directly from the platform based on content performance, not follower count alone.
To apply for the TikTok Creator Fund, eligible creators can submit an application directly within the TikTok app. Applicants must link a bank account and tax information to facilitate direct deposit payments. TikTok reviews applications and accepts creators on an ongoing basis. The Creator Fund provides an official monetization avenue for top TikTok creators worldwide.
TikTok LIVE Gifts and Tips
One way TikTok creators can earn money is through receiving virtual gifts and tips during TikTok LIVE streams. Fans can purchase various virtual gifts to send to their favorite creators during a LIVE broadcast. These virtual gifts convert to diamonds for the creator, which can then be redeemed for cash.
The tipping process works by fans tapping the gift icon during a LIVE stream and selecting a gift to purchase and send. Gifts range in price from 5 diamonds up to 14,000 diamonds. More expensive gifts unlock special animations and effects when displayed to the creator. The number of diamonds received depends on the gift’s set diamond value.
For example, sending the Cotton Candy gift gives the creator 250 diamonds. Once the LIVE stream ends, the creator can convert their earned diamonds into cash. The conversion rate is approximately $5 for every 10,000 diamonds. Creators must have at least 1,000 diamonds to cash out their earnings (https://techyuzer.com/how-tiktok-live-gifts-work-lets-find-out/). With this feature, engaging with fans through LIVE and receiving virtual gifts allows TikTok creators to monetize their content.
The gifting process provides an easy way for loyal fans to directly support their favorite creators. The more diamonds a creator accumulates, the more cash earnings they can withdraw.
Sponsored Content
Brands partnering with creators for sponsored content is a growing way for TikTokers to monetize their audience. Brands will pay creators to produce branded videos promoting their products or services. According to Buffer, these sponsorships can take various forms, including:
- Paid product placement in TikTok videos
- Brand ambassador roles where the creator exclusively promotes a brand
- Affiliate links to a brand’s products in the video caption
- Brand hashtag challenges that encourage users to create content around a brand
The amount a brand will pay depends on the creator’s follower count, engagement rates, and niche. Micro-influencers with under 100k followers may earn $200-500 per sponsored post. Larger influencers with millions of followers can earn thousands per post. Brand deals provide a lucrative opportunity, but creators need substantial reach to attract sponsors.
Affiliate Marketing
Another way for TikTok creators to earn money is through affiliate marketing. This involves promoting or linking to products and receiving a commission when someone makes a purchase. According to the Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing on TikTok In 2024 on Influencer Marketing Hub, creators can include affiliate links in their profile, videos, comments, and live streams [1]. When viewers click on the link and complete a purchase, the creator gets paid a percentage of the sale price as commission.
Some popular affiliate programs used on TikTok include:
- Amazon Associates – earn commissions by linking to Amazon products
- CJ Affiliate – access over 3,000 partner brands across various categories
- ShareASale – choose from over 6,000 merchants in the affiliate marketplace
- Fiverr – earn 20% commission on services purchased through your link
With a large enough audience, affiliate links can become a significant revenue stream for TikTok creators. The key is driving traffic to the links through entertaining and engaging content.
Other Monetization Methods
In addition to the main monetization methods on TikTok like the Creator Fund and LIVE, there are some other ways TikTokers can earn money from their accounts and followers.
Many popular creators sell custom merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases and other items. Having branded merch allows fans to publicly showcase their support. Events and meetups are another way to generate income. Top creators can charge for exclusive in-person experiences with their fans.
Some TikTokers also earn by cross-promoting their accounts on other platforms like YouTube or Instagram, where there may be more monetization opportunities. They can drive their TikTok fans to these other channels. While TikTok alone may not generate revenue, creators can build their brand across multiple platforms.
You can learn more monetization strategies in this comprehensive guide: How to Make Money on TikTok: 15 Strategies to Use in 2024
Why Followers Alone Don’t Equal Money
Many people falsely assume that more followers directly translates to more money on TikTok. However, this is not necessarily the case. While a larger follower count can help, there are other metrics that matter more for monetization.
Engagement and views are much bigger factors in determining earnings potential on TikTok. If you have 1 million followers but low engagement rates on your videos, you likely won’t make much money. However, if you have 100,000 highly engaged followers who regularly like, comment on, and share your content, you can still monetize successfully.
TikTok’s algorithm favors watch time and engagement when recommending videos. Videos with better engagement metrics tend to get more views. More views on your videos allow you to earn more through TikTok’s monetization programs like the Creator Fund. Engagement also indicates an audience that is more likely to purchase products you promote or tip you during live streams.
While follower count used to be emphasized more on social media, the focus has shifted. Metrics like impressions, reach, engagement rate, and watch time now carry more weight in the influencer marketing space (source).
So don’t get discouraged if you only have a few thousand engaged followers on TikTok. There are still plenty of ways to leverage that audience and make money. Focus on creating captivating content, interacting with your followers, and driving engagement. Over time, the earnings will follow.
Tips for Monetizing on TikTok
While having more followers on TikTok can potentially unlock monetization features, simply gaining followers alone will not automatically make you money. Here are some best practices for creators looking to earn money on TikTok:
Focus on creating engaging content that keeps viewers watching. TikTok rewards creators primarily based on watch time and engagement, not just follower count. Strive to make entertaining and interesting videos that get people to watch to the end.
Understand your audience and what content they respond to most. Pay attention to the types of videos that get engagement and shares. Cater content to what your followers enjoy watching.
Use relevant hashtags, especially branded hashtags around events or products, to get discovered by new audiences. Hashtags help surface videos.
Collaborate with relevant brands or other creators to gain exposure to new audiences.
Enable viewer conversions through website links or calls to action in bios. Directing traffic off TikTok is key for monetization.
Post consistently and remain active in engaging with your followers. Consistency and engagement lead to more views.
Analyze metrics and data to optimize content. Use insights to improve and tailor videos for your audience.
Explore multiple monetization options, as relying solely on one method is less reliable. Diversify with brand sponsorships, affiliate links, TikTok Creator Fund, etc.
Above all, focus on serving your niche audience with creative, fun videos tailored for them. Monetization follows authentic and quality content.
Conclusion
To summarize, TikTok does not directly pay creators simply for accumulating followers. While having a large follower count looks impressive, it does not automatically translate into revenue.
Instead, there are other monetization methods on TikTok that allow creators to potentially earn money. These include joining the TikTok Creator Fund, receiving LIVE gifts and tips, getting sponsored, doing affiliate marketing, selling merchandise, and more.
The key takeaway is that success on TikTok comes from consistently producing engaging content, building an audience that genuinely interacts with your videos, and finding creative ways to monetize. Focus on providing value rather than fixating solely on follower metrics.
With smart strategy and persistence, TikTok does offer real opportunities for creators to profit from their content. But achieving a high follower count alone does not guarantee income. Ultimately, it’s the strength of your audience relationships and quality of your content that will lead to financial success on TikTok.
