TikTok has become one of the top platforms for influencers and creators to generate substantial full-time incomes. With over 1 billion active users watching viral videos every month, the opportunities to monetize your following are significant.
As someone who left their job in 2022 to focus on TikTok full-time, I want to share the exact multi-pronged strategies that skyrocketed my earnings to over $10,000 monthly within a year. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to maximize profits, keep reading to discover the most lucrative methods currently working.
How to Make Money on TikTok: A Comprehensive Breakdown
Method #1 – Grow Your Following & Leverage the Creator Fund
The Creator Fund remains one of the easiest passive income sources, paying up to $0.01 per 1,000 video views. To maximize payouts, focus on trending content optimized for watch time and sharing.
Ensure videos are 60-90 seconds long with attention-grabbing openings. Provide value through tutorials, advice or entertainment. Hashtag & time posts strategically for peak discovery periods. Interact generously in comments to boost engagement.
Use trending audio, effects, dances and challenges to capture the Zeitgeist. Release 1-3 videos daily across mealtimes for constant exposure. Stay consistent – it took me 3 months of consistency to receive my first Creator Fund payout of $250.
Method #2 – Strategic Hashtags, Promoted Content & Branded Videos
Gain visibility by analyzing trending hashtags across different regions and languages. Capitalize on new dance challenges or sounds blowing up. Leverage niche hashtags to expand your reach.
Once past 10k followers, run $5-10/day boosted Posts. Promote only top-performing videos 2x/week to multiply organic views. Negotiate higher CPM promotional deals directly through the TikTok Ads Manager dashboard.
Work with prodcos to create branded takeover videos or series sponsored by big brands. Propose multi-video campaigns for bigger payouts than one-off placements. I earned $3k per month from sponsored series in 2022 alone.
Method #3 – Leverage Affiliates, Sponsorships & Digital Products
Directly message brands with aligned niche products/services. Propose video placements in exchange for sales commissions. Integrate affiliate links and discount codes unobtrusively throughout content.
My best-performing links earned 15-20% comms on high-ticket items. Provide high quality sponsor perks like branded gifts or exclusive content. Over-deliver for repeat partnerships.
Capitalize on expertise by launching online courses or exclusive communities. Maintain valuable education in your content while driving students to higher-priced programs.
Method #4 – Expand Your Reach Across Platforms
Cross-promote new TikToks to YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. Repurpose longform content as Reels or YouTube Videos. Guest on podcasts and live streams within your industry.
Leverage platforms like Snapchat or LinkedIn for older demographics. Monetize all followers through affiliates or event/masterclass bookings promoting yourself as an authority.
Consider developing a website/blog as your online HQ allowing promotional freedom. Sell merch leveraging loyal fanbases. My TikTok enabled countless cross-platform monetization avenues.
Extra Tips & Tricks To Consistently Grow Your Earnings
– Network with other influencers for video collaborations amplifying discovery
– Analyze Insights like top videos, hashtags, engagement times for optimization
– Study analytics across all platforms used to understand followers’ behaviors
– Remain seen as authentic by reposting fan videos/giving video shoutouts
– Attend events like VidCon or online conferences for collaboration opportunities
– Regularly update bio links like your website, podcast, YouTube channel for visibility
– Utilize relevant Facebook Groups/Subreddits to naturally share content and answer questions
– Consider hiring a virtual assistant to streamline business tasks allowing focus on creation
My Concluding Thoughts After Making a Full-Time Career on TikTok
With the right all-encompassing strategies, resources and consistency, TikTok allows creators worldwide to build thriving careers almost entirely from their phones. Reach out if you need any guidance implementing these methods. I’m excited to help others achieve their goal incomes through this platform too. Let’s make 2023 your most profitable year yet!
Frequently Asked Questions Section
How do I get my first followers on TikTok?
Posting consistently 1-3 times per day ensures constant exposure in people’s For You feeds while also allowing discovery through hashtags and sounds. Engage actively by liking and replying to grow natural interactions boosting visibility of new videos. Go live occasionally to convert watchers into followers in real-time. Repurpose Reels, YouTube shorts, Instagram stories for cross-platform seeding.
What types of content should I post on TikTok?
The options are endless but tutorials, DIYs, comedic sketches, storytimes, trends, educational info and challenges consistently perform well. Study competitors’ top videos in your niche for popular formats. Integrate trends while maintaining uniqueness. Offer value whether through advice, entertainment or education to keep audiences engaged across genres from beauty/fashion to fitness/hobbies.
How do I gain 1,000 followers fast on TikTok?
Focus initially on tapping trending sounds/effects which see most eyes. Post 3 quality videos per day at prime content discovery hours of 12PM, 3PM & 6PM. Engage with new followers by liking/replying to comments within 24 hours for increased visibility. Leverage relevant hashtags, try collaborating with similar sized influencers, go live regularly and promote wins across YouTube Shorts/Reels too for multiplied growth. Be consistent – most hit 1K after 1 month.
How long does it take to get monetized on TikTok?
Every channel varies based on engagement but it typically takes 3-6 months of regular high quality uploads 1-3x daily to reach monetization milestones. The Creator Fund requires 100k video views in last 30 days so plan to hit this rate over a few months’ hard work first. Having 10k followers opens up other opportunities too like brand deals, affiliates requiring quicker follower build times of 4-8 weeks. Consistency truly pays off longterm if done optimally.
What pays more: YouTube or TikTok?
Both have huge earning potentials but overall monetization is typically higher and faster on TikTok right now. YouTube is great for longer videos but TikTok is tailored for short snappy clips earning generous Creator Fund and partnership rates. TikTok also makes cross-platform monetization easier whether through reels, youtube or sponsorships. Its hyper targeting allows influencers to scale earnings exponentially across monetization streams compared to relying only on YouTube ads/memberships. Focus on optimization across both for maximum profits.
Can TikTok replace a job?
When treated like an actual business, TikTok absolutely can replace traditional jobs for many and even become a primary career that replaces previous full-time work. However, it requires an immense time commitment to daily content creation at the level of a standard workday, constant optimization of all monetization methods, and dedication to continuous growth through networking/collaboration. With the right full-time effort over 6-12 months, it’s very possible to substitute employment income through TikTok when run professionally. For most, it starts as supplemental but some sustain high 5/6-figure incomes from the platform within 1-2 years.
Is TikTok a good side hustle?
Yes, TikTok has become one of the best side hustles as it allows monetization to scale up quickly through optimized Creator Fund earnings, affiliates, and sponsorships. Even just an hour or two of focus per day can yield solid monthly incomes. As long as videos are educational, creative or entertaining and performance is analyzed, anyone can earn a consistent stream within a couple months as a “