TikTok has emerged as one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2022. While many users are on TikTok just for entertainment, the platform offers creators a variety of ways to monetize their content and earn money.
For TikTok accounts with around 1000 followers, there are several factors that determine potential earnings. This includes TikTok’s Creator Fund, brand sponsorships, LIVE streams, selling merchandise, affiliate links, and fan tips. The combination of these can allow creators to generate revenue, but earnings vary substantially based on audience engagement, views, niche, and location.
This article provides an estimate of how much a TikTok account with approximately 1000 followers can realistically earn through TikTok’s monetization features. With the right strategy, creative content, and audience engagement, it’s possible for these sized accounts to generate earnings in the range of $100-$500 per month.
TikTok Creator Fund
TikTok’s Creator Fund is a program that pays creators for views on their videos (Business Insider). To be eligible, creators need to be 18+ years old, meet a minimum follower threshold, and consistently post original content. Currently, creators must have at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days to apply for the Creator Fund.
The Creator Fund pays around $0.02 – $0.04 per video view after applying to the program (Blogging Wizard). With 1,000 followers, creators would not meet the threshold to qualify for payouts from the Creator Fund. However, if they can grow to 10,000+ followers and 100,000+ views per month, they can potentially earn $2,000 – $4,000 per month from the Creator Fund with that audience size.
So while the Creator Fund offers significant earnings potential, a creator needs more than 1,000 followers to tap into it. It is a popular monetization method for established creators once they reach larger followings.
Sponsored Brand Partnerships
Sponsored brand partnerships involve collaborating with brands to promote their products or services through branded content on TikTok. Brands will reach out to creators directly or go through multi-channel networks to find influencers that match their target audience.
According to recent data, the average TikTok creator earns $4.30 per 1,000 video views from sponsorships. With 1,000 followers, creators typically average 1,000 video views which would equal around $4.30 for a branded TikTok video. However, rates vary greatly based on factors like audience engagement and video performance.
Micro-influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 engaged followers can earn approximately $10 to $30 per sponsored post. But niche creators with highly engaged audiences may be able to negotiate higher rates even with smaller followings. While major sponsorship deals will require larger audiences, creators can still monetize through one-off paid brand partnerships starting with only 1,000 followers on TikTok.
Sources:
How Much Do TikTok Influencers Make in 2024?
Everything You Need to Know About TikTok Influencer Marketing
TikTok LIVE
TikTok LIVE allows creators to broadcast live video streams where viewers can interact and send virtual gifts. Gifts appear as animated characters and emojis during the live video. According to TikTok, gifts are meant to be a way for fans to show support and appreciation.
Viewers purchase virtual coins to exchange for gifts. TikTok then shares revenue from the purchased coins with creators. The more coins viewers spend on gifts, the more money creators can earn. TikTok reports creators make between 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views on LIVE videos (Source).
With 1,000 followers, you may be able to attract around 100 concurrent viewers during a LIVE stream based on an industry standard 10% conversion rate. If each viewer sent an average of 100 coins worth of gifts, you could make $20-40 per stream. This could add up to a few hundred dollars per month from TikTok LIVE revenue.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products and services from other companies and earning a commission when a sale or conversion occurs. Many influencers on TikTok leverage their audience to generate income through affiliate partnerships.
Some popular affiliate programs used on TikTok include:1
- Amazon Associates – Promote Amazon products and earn a commission on resulting sales.
- ShareASale – Access thousands of affiliate programs across various niches.
- CJ Affiliate – Another large affiliate network with a wide range of programs.
- Rakuten – Cashback and affiliate offers from top online retailers.
While affiliate earnings will vary substantially based on audience size and engagement, some estimates for TikTok influencers with around 1,000 followers are:2
- $100-300 per month with consistent affiliate promotions.
- $10-20 average commission per sale or conversion.
- 1-2 sales per 100 followers from affiliated links.
So with some effort, smaller influencers can generate extra income through affiliate partnerships on TikTok.
Selling Merchandise
Creators can make money by designing and selling custom merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and other products featuring their brand name or logo. With TikTok’s large, engaged user base, merchandising can be a lucrative income stream for creators.
According to some estimates, the average merch conversion rate on TikTok is around 2-3% (https://bloggingwizard.com/how-many-tiktok-followers-to-make-money/). This means that around 2-3% of a creator’s followers will purchase their merchandise.
For a creator with 1,000 followers, they could expect around 20-30 merchandise sales on average. The profit margin on merch varies greatly based on the products and platform used. But a reasonable estimate is $10-15 in profit per item sold.
So for a TikTok creator with 1,000 followers selling merchandise, they could expect to generate around $200-450 in merchandise sales revenue per month on average. This can provide a nice side income stream, especially when combined with other monetization methods available to TikTok creators.
Paid Subscription Accounts
TikTok launched its LIVE Subscription feature in 2021, which allows creators to offer exclusive perks to fans who pay a monthly fee for a subscription. With this feature, creators can go LIVE exclusively for subscribers or share subscriber-only videos.
To be eligible for LIVE Subscription, creators need at least 1,000 followers and must be 18 years or older (per TikTok’s announcement). The minimum subscription price is $0.99 per month.
According to TikTok, top creators offering LIVE Subscriptions can earn $200,000 to $2.5 million per year. While creators with a smaller following like 1,000 fans likely won’t reach those high earnings just yet, they can still generate extra income through subscriptions. If just 2% of a creator’s 1,000 followers subscribed at $0.99 per month, that would equal $198 per month or $2,376 per year in subscription revenue.
Subscription income serves as a way for creators to start monetizing a small but engaged follower base. As the creator base and exclusives grow over time, subscription revenue can scale up as well.
Calculated Estimate
Adding up the potential income from the various monetization options available, we can estimate the total earnings for a TikTok account with 1,000 followers:
From the TikTok Creator Fund, you could expect to earn around $5-25 per month based on views and engagement.
Sponsored brand partnerships may earn $10-50 per sponsored post or campaign.
TikTok LIVE gifts can bring in $5-20 per livestream on average.
Affiliate marketing commissions might be $10-30 per month.
Merchandise sales could generate $5-15 per month depending on designs and promotion.
Paid subscription accounts may earn $5-10 per month if enabled.
Adding all these together, the estimated total monthly earnings for a TikTok account with 1,000 followers would likely fall in the range of $40-150.
The key factors are views, engagement rate, sponsored partnerships, using monetization features consistently, and providing value to followers. While 1,000 followers is on the low side, creators can still monetize their audience and generate supplemental income from TikTok.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings
Even with a modest following of 1,000 fans, there are ways to maximize your earnings potential on TikTok.
First, focus on creating high-quality content consistently within a specific niche. This helps you build a loyal community and brand that views you as an authority. Make videos that play to your strengths and that resonate with your target audience.
Strategically use hashtags, trends, duets, and other TikTok features to increase visibility and get more eyes on your content. Promote your best performing videos to boost views.
Engage with your followers by responding to comments, doing live streams, and collaborating with others in your niche. Building relationships leads to more engagement and conversions.
Optimize your profile with links to other social platforms, websites, or online shops to drive traffic and sales. Promote affiliate links, merchandise, paid content offers, and other monetization avenues.
Analyze your audience demographics and viewer analytics to refine your content strategy. Figure out what time of day works best and the type of videos your fans respond to most. Then focus your efforts accordingly.
While 1,000 followers may not seem like a lot, implementing smart monetization tactics and growing your reach can translate that foundation into real earnings over time.
Conclusion
Even with a relatively small following of 1,000 followers, there are several ways TikTok creators can start earning money on the platform. The TikTok Creator Fund provides a steady source of income for creators who consistently generate engaging content. Brand sponsorships offer lucrative opportunities, especially as you build your audience and authority in a niche. Going live, promoting affiliate links, selling merchandise, and offering exclusive content through a subscription service can all contribute to earning potential.
While it may require creativity and persistence, it’s possible to earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month on TikTok with just 1,000 followers. The key is regularly posting quality videos, interacting with your audience, and diversifying your income sources. If you’re passionate about creating content, don’t be discouraged by a small following. Monetization is within reach. Stay consistent, participate in trending challenges, promote your account, and collaborate with other creators. With the right strategy, TikTok can become a rewarding platform to share your talents while making money.
