TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, share, and discover short videos. The app has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. When signing up for a TikTok account, users can choose between a regular personal account or a creator account.
Creator accounts on TikTok are designed for users who want to grow an audience and get discovered on the platform. These accounts unlock more tools and features to help content creators maximize their presence and monetize their audience. Whereas regular personal accounts are for users who want to follow friends and share videos casually.
Switching to a creator account unlocks opportunities for users looking to build their brand and presence on TikTok. However, there are some key differences that come with having a creator account compared to a regular personal TikTok account.
Switching to a Creator Account
Switching your personal TikTok account to a creator account is easy. As per TikTok’s support page (How to switch to a TikTok creator account), just follow these steps:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
2. Tap on the menu icon in the top right corner.
3. Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
4. Tap on “Manage account”.
5. Tap on “Switch to creator account”.
That’s it! TikTok will switch your account type and guide you through some additional onboarding steps. The process is quick and easy.
Access to Creator Tools
One of the main benefits of switching to a Creator account is gaining access to TikTok’s suite of creator tools. These tools give creators more data and insights into their content performance, as well as more control over managing their content.
The key creator tools include:
- Analytics – Creators get access to an analytics dashboard that shows detailed stats on views, likes, comments, shares, traffic sources, top videos, audience demographics, and more (Source).
- Content management – Creators can organize videos into playlists, pin videos to their profile, download videos, and bulk delete videos.
- Audience management – Creators can moderate comments, block accounts, filter comments, and hide likes counts.
- Creative tools – Creators get access to TikTok’s creative tools like video templates, visual effects, stickers, and more (Source).
Having access to robust analytics and content management empowers creators to better understand their audience, fine-tune their content strategy, and have more control over their channel.
Monetization Options
Once your TikTok account is switched to a Creator account, you gain access to various monetization features that allow you to earn money from your content. Some of the key monetization options include:
The TikTok Creator Fund allows eligible creators to earn money based on the number of video views. To join, you’ll need at least 10K authentic followers and 10K video views in the last 30 days. TikTok pays out monthly based on your viewership and engagement.
Sponsored brand partnerships allow you to collaborate with brands to create sponsored content. Brands will pay you directly based on your reach and influence. The more followers you have, the more potential there is to land lucrative brand deals.
You can also earn ad revenue by allowing TikTok to place ads on your content. When viewers interact with these ads, you receive a cut of the ad earnings.
Other monetization options include selling merchandise, offering paid shoutouts, promoting affiliate links, and more. TikTok’s creator marketplace allows brands to connect directly with creators for paid partnerships.
Increased Visibility
One of the main benefits of switching to a TikTok creator account is increased visibility. The TikTok algorithm favors content from creator accounts, so your videos are more likely to be promoted on the “For You” page and recommended to viewers who will be interested in them. According to Sprout Social, “Content from business accounts won’t get pushed out to as wide of an audience.”1 So if you want your videos to reach more people, a creator account is the way to go.
TikTok’s algorithm looks at a variety of factors when deciding which videos to promote, including engagement and watch time. But the type of account posting the video is also taken into consideration. Videos from creator accounts tend to generate higher engagement because they feel more authentic and personal. The algorithm picks up on this and gives them a boost. Overall, the odds of going viral are much higher with a creator account.
New Features
One of the biggest advantages of switching to a TikTok Creator account is access to new features not available on regular TikTok accounts. Most notably, Creator accounts allow users to post videos up to 10 minutes long, compared to a 3 minute limit on regular accounts. This allows creators more flexibility with video format and storytelling. Creators can also livestream on their account, opening up options for realtime engagement with fans.
According to TikTok’s Creator Portal, some other key new features include:
- Video Stitching – Ability to stitch multiple videos together into one video up to 10 minutes long
- Longer Bios – Expanded space for a more detailed profile bio
- Creator Toolkit – Suite of analytics and content tools to manage and optimize your account
- Custom Thumbnails – Upload custom thumbnails for your videos
With a Creator account, users gain access to tools that can help take their content creation to the next level. The expanded duration, live streaming, and ability to stitch clips together open up new creative avenues for telling engaging stories.
Expanded Analytics
Switching to a TikTok Creator account unlocks more in-depth analytics so you can better understand your audience and track content performance (Source). The expanded analytics provide more data on views, likes, comments, shares, audience demographics, traffic sources, and more. For example, you’ll be able to see watch time metrics showing how long people are engaging with your videos on average. You’ll also gain access to LIVE Analytics with data on views, comments, shares, follower growth and more during livestreams (Source). With a creator account, all this valuable analytics data can help you make informed decisions about what content resonates best with your audience.
More Profile Customization
One of the key benefits of switching to a TikTok Creator account is the ability to customize your profile much more extensively. With a Creator account, you get access to a personalized URL that makes your profile easier to find and remember. For example, your profile could be found at a custom URL like tiktok.com/@yourusername instead of a long string of numbers and letters.
Creator accounts can also unlock a verified badge to showcase account authenticity. This blue checkmark badge lets viewers know your account is the legitimate presence of a public figure, celebrity, or brand (TikTok Business vs. Personal Account | Creator Portal). The verified badge makes it easier for fans and followers to find your real account.
In addition, Creator accounts provide more options for customizing your profile bio as well as highlights/featured videos. You can showcase your best content through highlights and craft a detailed, personalized bio that tells visitors who you are and what your channel is all about.
Community Building
Switching to a creator account makes it easier to grow an audience and build a community on TikTok. The creator tools provide insights into your followers and what content resonates with them. You can also connect with other creators through features like duets, stitches, and sharing audio. According to TikTok’s creator portal, “The more videos you post, the more chances fans have to connect with your content. Making content based on trends and participating in challenges can help expose your account to new audiences.”
Live streams are another effective way to engage with your followers in real time. As noted in TikTok’s newsroom, “TikTok LIVE is the place where creators can get to know their fans on a deeper level. From beauty tutorials to watching your favourite recipes being prepared, learning new gaming tips and everything in between, TikTok LIVE is where creators can authentically connect with their communities.”
Drawbacks of Switching to a TikTok Creator Account
While there are many benefits to switching to a TikTok Creator account, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
Time Commitment – Managing a Creator account requires a significant time investment. Creating high-quality videos, engaging with fans, and utilizing analytics can be very time consuming (Hootsuite). For some, the obligation to frequently create content can feel like a burden.
Pressure – With a Creator account comes the pressure to consistently generate engaging content. Feeling forced to constantly post videos can lead to burnout (Sprout Social).
Copyright Issues – Users must be careful not to infringe on copyrighted material when creating content. Getting strikes for copyright violations can lead to account suspension or termination (Brandwatch). Monitoring content for infringement takes vigilance.
