TikTok, owned by ByteDance, is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos. With over 1 billion monthly active users, TikTok has become a hugely popular platform, especially among Gen Z. One of TikTok’s key features is its array of creative filters and effects that users can apply to their videos to make them more visually engaging.
In 2020, TikTok launched its Creator Fund, an initiative to support and reward popular content creators on the platform. The fund provides creators an opportunity to earn money from their videos. According to TikTok, the Creator Fund will start with $200 million and is expected to grow to over $1 billion in the US in the next 3 years. To be eligible, creators need at least 10,000 authentic followers and 10,000 video views in the last 30 days, among other requirements.
TikTok’s Creator Fund
TikTok launched the Creator Fund in 2020 as a way to pay creators for the videos they produce on the platform. The fund pays creators based on the engagement and views their videos receive. According to TikTok, the fund started with $200 million and aims to help “support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content” (TikTok Creator Fund: Your questions answered).
To be eligible for the TikTok Creator Fund, creators must meet certain requirements. As of March 2021, creators need to have at least 100,000 authentic views in the last 30 days. They also must be 18 years or older, meet a minimum follower threshold, post original content that follows TikTok’s community guidelines, and complete the application (Creator Fund | Creator Portal).
Payments are based on factors like the number of views, engagement, and overall value the videos bring to the TikTok community. TikTok determines payment amounts based on location, content category, and platform engagement. Creators can expect to earn around 2-4 cents per 1,000 video views. Payments are distributed monthly provided creators meet the minimum $10 threshold.
Sponsored Branded Filters
Sponsored branded filters on TikTok allow brands to create unique AR effects and filters that users can access. According to TikTok’s blog, “Branded Effects comprise a robust suite of customizable filters, enabling users to interact with your brand in all sorts of fun, immersive ways” (source). Brands can work directly with TikTok’s creative partners to conceptualize and design branded effects.
Brands often collaborate with top creators on TikTok to help promote sponsored branded filters through sponsored hashtag challenges. As explained on TikTok’s Ads Manager site, “Partner with creators to produce Branded Effect campaigns and watch as your brand takes over the For You Feed” (source). These paid partnerships allow brands to tap into creators’ audiences to drive awareness and engagement with branded effects.
There are different pricing tiers and options for sponsored branded effects based on factors like complexity and duration of the effect. Brands pay TikTok to develop and implement the sponsored branded filter as part of an overall marketing campaign. According to one case study, a branded effect campaign resulted in over 4.5 billion views for the brand (source).
Independent Filter Creation
While TikTok and brands create some of the platform’s most popular filters, independent creators are also getting in on the action by making their own filters. This provides opportunities for monetization as well as creative expression.
The process of creating your own filter as an individual involves using third-party apps like Spark AR from Meta, FaceFX, or Ready Player Me. These tools allow you to build effects and customize graphics and animations. Once complete, filters can be submitted to TikTok for approval and publication in their Effect House library. There is no guarantee of acceptance, but many individual creators have successfully had their filters added.
For monetization, independent creators can get paid when users pay to use their published filters. There is also potential to partner with brands by making sponsored filters tailored to promoting products or campaigns. Successful creators can further supplement income through sponsorships and partnerships on TikTok and other social platforms.
Some examples of independent creators finding success with their own TikTok filters include:
- Anastasia Isupova’s natural makeup looks and subtle beauty filters.
- Mohammed Katirai’s 3D facial hair and makeup filters.
- Ana David and her Spark AR animal filters.
With creativity and persistence, individual filter makers can build an audience and income around their designs. TikTok makes the platform accessible not just to brands, but independent artists and developers as well.
Other Monetization Options
In addition to the TikTok Creator Fund and sponsored branded filters, there are several other ways TikTok creators can earn money on the platform:
Livestreaming Gifts
TikTok allows creators to go live and interact with their audience in real-time. Fans can purchase virtual gifts like emojis and stickers to show their support during livestreams. TikTok shares the revenue from gift sales with the creators. According to TikTok, top livestreamers can earn up to $2,000 per hour from gifts [1].
Affiliate Marketing
Creators can earn commissions by promoting products and services through affiliate links in their TikTok videos and bios. Affiliate marketing works well with review and recommendation style content. With a large enough following, creators can generate significant income through affiliate partnerships [2].
Selling Merchandise
Popular TikTok creators can cash in on their brand by selling custom merchandise like clothing, phone cases, and posters. Creators promote their merchandise in videos and link to an online shop in their profile. This allows fans to easily purchase products to show their support. Merchandise sales provide creators with a passive income stream from their loyal follower base.
Maximizing Earnings
Filter creators on TikTok can maximize their earnings in several ways. Some best practices include:
Focusing on a niche – Creating filters for a specific niche, trend, or audience can help them gain traction quickly. Popular niches include gaming, animals, beauty, comedy, and more. Tailoring filters to viral trends or sounds can also boost views.
Cross-promoting on other platforms – Sharing previews and links to TikTok filters on other social media sites brings in new users. Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter are great platforms for cross-promotion.
Encouraging engagement – Adding captions encouraging users to try the filter, duet with it, or follow the creator can lead to more usage. Using viral sounds and tagging relevant hashtags also helps filters appear in more feeds.
Releasing multiple filters – According to The Leap, creators can earn up to $50,000 per month by publishing multiple effects instead of just one. A larger portfolio of filters increases earning potential.
Monitoring performance – Paying attention to filter analytics can reveal which effects are most popular. Creators can learn from top-performing filters to refine niche targeting and marketing.
Overall, filter creators should leverage cross-promotion, release filters consistently, encourage engagement, and analyze data to maximize their earnings on TikTok over time.
Challenges and Limitations
While creating filters for TikTok can be lucrative, there are some challenges and limitations to be aware of. One major challenge is the difficulty of standing out and getting noticed among the huge number of filters on TikTok. With so many creators making filters, it can be hard to make yours popular enough to reach the rewards thresholds (source).
Another limitation is the constantly changing TikTok algorithms. As TikTok tweaks its algorithms, some filters may gain prominence while others fade into obscurity. Staying on top of algorithm changes and adapting your strategy is key (source).
There is also stiff competition on TikTok from other filter creators. With so many people trying to make money through filters, you have to work extra hard to differentiate yourself and stand out. Having a unique style and promoting your filters effectively are musts to succeed amid all the competition.
Case Studies
Paige Piskin (@paigepiskin) is one of the top AR effects and filter creators on TikTok, specializing in makeup and character effects filters. As described in an interview on Business Insider, Piskin began creating filters in 2018 and has built a large following on TikTok, with over 2.5 million followers. Some of her most popular filters like “Disco Queen” and “Golden Hour” have billions of views. Piskin earns income through TikTok’s Creator Fund as well as brand deals and sponsorships with companies who pay to have their products featured in her filters. Overall, Piskin has built a successful career as a full-time filter creator on TikTok.
Another top TikTok filter designer is Emma Sofija (@emmasofija), known for her viral randomized filters like “Which Disney Princess Are You?” as covered in the same Business Insider article. Sofija started creating filters in 2020 and now has over 800,000 followers. Her “Disney Princess” filter alone has over 4 billion views. Like Piskin, Sofija earns money through TikTok’s Creator Fund, brand sponsorships, and also by selling some of her custom filters. In just two years, Sofija has gone from creating filters as a hobby to making a full-time living from her viral TikTok filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about monetizing filters on TikTok:
How can I get paid for my filters on TikTok?
There are a few ways to earn money from creating TikTok filters as per this article:
- Get accepted into TikTok’s Effect Creator Rewards program, which pays creators based on engagement
- Get brand sponsorship deals to create sponsored filters
- Sell custom filters through third-party marketplaces
What are the requirements to join the Effect Creator Rewards program?
To qualify for the program as per TikTok’s site, you must:
- Be 18+ years old
- Have at least 25,000 followers on TikTok
- Have published at least 5 filters in the last 30 days, with at least 50,000 uses each
How can I increase engagement on my filters?
Some tips:
- Use trending sounds, effects, and hashtags
- Promote your filters on your TikTok profile and other social channels
- Collaborate with popular creators to drive usage
- Experiment with different visual styles and interactions
Engaging, creative effects have the best chance of going viral and earning rewards.
Conclusion
To summarize the key points, there are several ways for TikTok creators to monetize filters on the platform:
- Join the TikTok Creator Fund to earn money as your videos with filters gain views
- Work with brands to create sponsored filters and earn a fee
- Independently create and sell custom filters through third-party platforms
- Use the filters to grow an audience and earn money through gifts, brand deals and cross-promotions
While monetizing TikTok filters takes creativity and effort, the opportunities are there for motivated creators. The platform continues to grow rapidly, and users love engaging with fun filters. By combining quality filter creation with great content and a strategic approach, TikTokers can build value for brands and earn income.
The key is to be persistent, leverage trends, and provide a unique, high-quality experience that keeps users coming back. As TikTok further establishes its monetization options, the potential for creators will only continue to grow.
