TikTok is the fastest growing Social Media App on the Planet !!! Why?

TikTok is a creative and trend-driven social media app for creating, sharing, and watching short video clips, that since its launch in 2017 has gathered a staggering 689 million monthly users. For both independent content creators, businesses, and brands, TikTok is a great platform to promote their work, products, personalities, and ideas in creative ways to a global audience.

TikTok is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, which is considered one of the most valuable startups in the world. In China it known as Douyin, and hosts a variety of short-form user videos, from genres like pranks, stunts, tricks, jokes, dance, and entertainment with durations from 15 seconds to ten minutes.

Some reasons to explain TikTok’s popularity, especially among young people, are the common celebrity sightings, the super-smart algorithm, and the focus on localized content, like nationwide contests and such. However, the biggest USP with TikTok is how easy it is to create, share and take part of creative content globally. For those that haven’t tried out the social media giant yet, we might also add a note about just how addictive it is… Once you’ve started flipping through your For You page, there’s no turning back. you’re a content creator, you’ve probably wondered how people make money on TikTok, how much money they can make, and what the platform’s payments look like. Let’s talk TikTok monetization!

Since its global launch in 2017, the social media giant has been hot property. But can you make money on TikTok? Does TikTok pay you? Yes! As its popularity surged, it became a viable income stream for many content creators.

How many views and followers do you need to make money on TikTok?

Until December 2021, the barrier to making money directly from TikTok was much higher. To monetize your account, you had to be at least 18 years old (which is still the case!), have more than 10,000 followers, and have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.

If you met those criteria, you could apply for TikTok’s Creator Fund. The payment-per-view figures have never been publicly disclosed, so it’s not as easy as saying ‘1,000 views = $X.’ Roughly, it’s estimated that you can pull in around two to three cents for every 1,000 views once signed up to the Creator Fund.

However, payments vary depending on the number and authenticity of views, the level of engagement on the videos, and ensuring content is in line with TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

For a while, the Creator Fund was the main way for big-name content creators to earn money on TikTok passively. Then Creator Next came along.

Towards the end of 2021, TikTok introduced a new feature. It’s a monetization hub called Creator Next, and it houses all of the platform’s money-making options under one roof, making earning on TikTok more accessible. To be eligible, you need to be 18 years old or more and have at least three posts that have racked up 1,000+ views in the past 30 days.

Once you’re enrolled in Creator Next, there are multiple ways you can monetize your TikTok beyond just Creator Fund.

LIVE Gifts: TikTok awards ‘Diamonds’ based on the popularity of creators’ LIVE videos, which can then exchange for real-life currency. Viewers can also LIVE Gift their favorite content creators during LIVE videos, which can also be converted into cold, hard cash. This feature existed before Creator Next, and any TikTok user over 18 and part of the Creator Next program is eligible to receive LIVE Gifts.

Video Gifts: This allows creators to collect Diamonds based on views on their short videos rather than LIVE videos. Viewers can also send Gifts, just like on LIVE videos. To be eligible, creators need at least 100,000 followers, an account that’s over 30 days old, and a public video published in the last 30 days.

Tips: Viewers can donate money to their favorite content creators, who’ll receive the full tip (minus any service fees.) This tool is available for creators with more than 100,000 followers.

TikTok Creator Marketplace: This gives creators the chance to connect and collaborate with brands through an official portal on both paid and reward-based campaigns. Brands will invite creators directly to the Creator Marketplace, but you can also apply if you have more than 10,000 followers.

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How to get paid on TikTok

So, how else do you get paid on TikTok? Before Creator Next, there were still loads of avenues for TikTokers to earn dollar. Aside from Creator Fund, you could (and still can!) sell your own merch, direct people to gated content on another platform like Patreon, grow and sell accounts, or become a TikTok consultant for brands.

How to make money on TikTok

And, of course, brand partnerships existed before Creator Next. The TikTok Creator Marketplace just makes it easier to facilitate! Between 2019 and 2021, US marketers planning to use TikTok for influencer marketing shot from just 16% to 68% – it’s clear that the platform’s bankability is only rising, and brand-sponsored videos can earn up to $1,000 if they reach 100,000 views.

While the amount isn’t set in stone, the answer to 'How do you make money on TikTok?' is 'Easily.' With the addition of Creator Next, it’s now simpler than ever for content creators to learn how to make money on TikTok, build towards monetization, and make a living from the platform.

Credit: Alec Chillingworth, Epidemic Sound