Maximizing Earnings on TikTok: A Creator’s Guide

Twenty-five years ago, the idea of making money from short videos might have sounded unbelievable. But today, TikTok creators are earning thousands just by sharing content.

As a creator, you may be wondering: How do you make money on TikTok? In this guide, we’ll show you how to make money on TikTok and how to maximize your earnings.

Understanding TikTok’s earning potential

TikTok is a powerful money-making tool because of its massive user base. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 120 million TikTok users (Statista, 2024), and globally, more than 1.5 billion people use the app monthly (Statista, 2024). With such a vast audience, even a fraction of these users watching your videos can lead to substantial earnings.

So, how do people make money on TikTok? Let’s dive into the various ways creators are cashing in.

How do people make money on TikTok?

TikTok offers several ways for creators to earn money, depending on your follower count, engagement, and location. Here are some of the most popular options:

• Video views – TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta (formerly Creator Fund) pays users $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views (Influencer Marketing Hub, 2024). However, only creators who meet certain criteria—being 18+, having at least 10,000 followers, and residing in specific countries—are eligible.
• Gifts – Viewers can send virtual Gifts during LIVE videos. These Gifts can be exchanged for Diamonds, which you can then convert into real money. (TikTok, 2024). As with the Creativity Program Beta, the Gifts feature is only available in certain countries.
• Affiliate marketing – By joining affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, you can earn commissions whenever a viewer purchases a product through your link. TikTok’s shopping feature makes it easy to promote both digital and physical products.
• Sponsored content – Brands often pay TikTok creators to promote their products. As your audience grows, you can connect with brands through the TikTok Creator Marketplace or independently.
• Merch sales – Selling your own products, such as clothing, books, or other items, allows you to keep all the profits. You can add a link to your online store in your TikTok bio.

Proven strategies to maximize your TikTok earnings

Once you understand how TikTok monetization works, the next step is optimizing your efforts to maximize earnings. Regardless of which method you focus on, growing your audience is key to increasing your revenue potential.

Here are some essential tips to help you grow your TikTok presence and boost earnings:

Increasing your TikTok income: Essential tips

• Understand your audience – Within the TikTok app, you have a dashboard full of insights, including the age, gender, and location of the users who watch your content. You can find these insights by going to your profile, tapping the menu at the top right, and choosing “TikTok Studio.” Once you know who’s watching your videos, you can make content that resonates with them.
• Optimize your content – Ideally, your videos should be as easy to find—and watch—as possible. So, be sure to add relevant hashtags to your posts, and don’t forget to add captions; more than 50% of Millennial and Gen Z TikTok users watch with subtitles (Axios, 2023).
• Engage with your viewers – Whenever a user comments on your video, engage with them! Whether you respond with a video or a simple written comment, your fans will feel seen and heard—and that’s the secret to long-term loyalty. Plus, the TikTok algorithm will reward the added engagement on your posts.

For more tips on how to optimize your TikTok content for maximum visibility and engagement, check out our guide on how to go viral on TikTok.

Leveraging TikTok’s monetization features

TikTok’s built-in monetization features—the Creator Fund and Gifts—are the easiest ways to make money on the platform. Still, you’ll have to work hard to earn more than a few bucks.

It helps to know these winning strategies:

• Post frequently – Most creators agree that the TikTok algorithm rewards you for posting often. The TikTok Creator Rewards program or the TikTok creativity program provides payouts for high-performing content. The platform itself suggests that you post one to four times per day (TikTok, 2021). And it makes sense: If you have more videos, there’s more for your fans to watch—and each view adds to your Creator Fund payout.
• Post at the right time – Your TikTok analytics can also tell you when to post your videos. It’s best to upload content when your audience is most active.
• Go LIVE regularly – While fans can send you Gifts on any of your videos, TikTok LIVE is where most gifting occurs. TikTok Pay supports live gifts from fans who want to show support during live streams. TikTok coins are used to purchase these gifts, which creators can then convert into earnings. The more you live stream, the more you stand to earn from Gifts.
• Participate in trends – TikTok is known for its trending sounds and challenges. When you jump on these trends, you increase your chances of landing on the TikTok For You Page (FYP), which can give you a massive uptick in video views.

Using the “link in bio” to drive revenue

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of your link in bio. As you gain popularity, more TikTok users will visit your profile to follow you. There, they’ll see whichever link you feature.

To maximize your earnings, link to a monetized platform like your online store. Driving people toward revenue-generating sites can significantly increase your income, especially if you’re not eligible for the Creator Fund.

Building a strong online presence to enhance earnings

As a creator, your TikTok account is the primary place you’ll interact with your audience. But it doesn’t have to be the only place.

Why you need a website as a TikTok creator

Even if you’re eligible for TikTok monetization, a website is essential. Naturally, your site plays a role in building your overall brand. But more importantly, it’s a revenue stream that you control. You decide how it looks and what things cost—and TikTok can’t take a cut.

You can make money through your website in several ways, including:

• A merch store
• A subscribers-only area
• A virtual tip jar

With a custom website builder from Name.com, you can create a professional-quality, single-page site in minutes, perfect for aggregating links to all your social media platforms and content. Name.com also offers custom domains, including extensions like .social, .bio, and more, helping you stand out and create a personalized link in bio experience. Use these tools to create a streamlined user experience that drives traffic and boosts monetization opportunities.

Integrating your TikTok and website for maximum impact

When TikTok users move from your TikTok page to your website, they shouldn’t feel like they’ve entered a new world. Your goal as a creator is to make your website feel like an extension of your TikTok account—and vice versa. This approach helps you create a cohesive personal brand and gives your audience a more streamlined experience.

To achieve this goal, you can:

• Use similar themes and colors across platforms.
• Create unique landing pages for TikTok traffic.
• Embed TikTok videos on your website.

Advanced tips for increasing TikTok revenue

Finally, let’s talk about what to do when you’re ineligible for the Creator Fund and Gifts. How do people make money on TikTok without the built-in monetization options?

Here are some surefire strategies for all creators, everywhere:

• Seek out brand sponsorships – Brand deals are one of the most lucrative revenue sources—and you may only need a few thousand followers to get started. Jump on TikTok trends and leverage TikTok marketing strategies to establish lucrative brand partnerships, especially if you have a business account. However, you’ll probably have to reach out to brands first. Find companies that match your niche, send them a professional email, and negotiate from there. Be sure to agree on how many videos you’re supposed to make, the deadline, and how much you’ll earn.
• Offer exclusive content – Another off-TikTok approach to making money is gated content. With services like Substack and Patreon (or your website), you can offer exclusive content in exchange for a paid subscription. What you sell is up to you; depending on your niche, you might offer an educational course, a short story, or a behind-the-scenes look at your creative process.
• Learn from other TikTok creators – Creators are always coming up with new ways to make money—and you can jump on these fresh ideas. Whether it’s a viral sensation like Charli D’Amelio or a small-scale creator you like, watch and learn. See what monetization strategies other TikTokers are using, and think of ways to reproduce them for your audience.

Start maximizing your earnings today

As your TikTok account grows, having the right tools can make managing your brand easier—both on TikTok and beyond.

Name.com has the right products to help you maximize your earnings, both on and off TikTok. Secure a domain name with our domain name search tool, create a flawless website with our website building solutions, and make professional contact with brands using our custom email products.

 

Sources: 

Statista. Countries with the largest TikTok audience as of July 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1299807/number-of-monthly-unique-tiktok-users/

Statista. Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users. https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/

Digital Marketing Institute. How Much Does Tiktok Pay Creators? https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/how-much-does-tiktok-pay-creators

Influencer Marketing Hub. How Much Does TikTok Pay? (+Free Calculator). https://influencermarketinghub.com/how-much-does-tiktok-pay/

TikTok. Diamonds. https://support.tiktok.com/en/business-and-creator/video-gifts-on-tiktok/diamonds

Axios. Why young people can’t get enough of subtitles. https://www.axios.com/2023/08/20/gen-z-millennials-tv-movies-subtitlesTikTok. Creative Solutions: The ultimate how-to guide. https://www.tiktok.com/business/en-US/blog/tiktok-creative-ultimate-guide