Gone are the days when TikTok was just a social media platform. Today, it is not just any type of social media; it is a powerful one. It is a force to be reckoned with. TikTok is now so popular that it is among the top ten social media applications with the highest downloads worldwide. It is also among the top ten social media platforms with the highest active users in the world. As of now, TikTok is competing with the likes of Facebook, WhatsApp, and the like. All thanks to its popularity. It was when TikTok was starting that people felt TikTok was just for entertainment, or just for dancing or lip syncing. Yes, TikTok still has all these features, but it has grown beyond that.
It is not only content creators that make use of TikTok now, businessmen and top organizations also use the platform. Without much Ado, in this article, we will narrate extensively how to make money on TikTok without 1000 followers and also how to get free TikTok money via the TikTok earning app. Also, we will provide you with the best monetization tools, programs, and strategies on how you can make money on TikTok in 2025. I believe you must be so eager to get all the detailed information, let's move.
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Key Insights
Before you can make money on TikTok, it is important to know
about the following;
· It is very important for you as an active user to build an audience first on TikTok if you are serious about making money. The best way you can build an audience is by providing value and making sure you do some little ads if possible from time to time, so that your content or whatever you do on TikTok can reach a wider audience. In situations where you don't have money to do some little ads, you can share the link to your content on social media pages, families, and loved ones. The more they react to your video and watch it, the more TikTok pushes your content to a wider audience. If you want to be a successful creator or businessman on TikTok, don't rely on a single source of income. You can diversify on TikTok by making money through Ad revenue, selling merch on TikTok, a Creator rewards program, going live, and through brand deals.
· Luckily, TikTok is considerate of its users, and it offers features such as TikTok Shop, Live gifts, Creator marketplace, and TikTok series. All these features are just to help active users monetise their content directly on the platform. You can also make money by selling your products through a print-on-demand service with your TikTok Shop. To build credibility on TikTok, you must ensure you are authentic and reliable. This will help you to be successful on the application. It doesn't matter whether you are selling sponsored content or promoting your own products; always disclose paid partnerships to build long-term credibility and success.
Part 1: Laying the Groundwork to Get Paid
On TikTok, before you can get paid, the first thing you must do is to lay the foundation for your brand before you can get paid. It is important to do this because if you don't, money won't be dropping in your account from heaven like manna. These foundations are like the strategies you must first use to build a presence that attracts viewers and not repels them.
Not only that, but these foundations also position your content for monetization and help you to build a formidable community that will always be interested in whatever you do on TikTok. These communities will always come back to check up on your new content from time to time; they are your fans.
The following things are the things you must do to lay a solid foundation for earning on TikTok;
1. Choose a Niche and define your target audience
If you want to be successful on TikTok, focus on a niche. This is what successful creators do on TikTok. They focus on a particular niche they are passionate about. The reason why they focus on this particular niche they are passionate about is that whenever they feel burnout, their passion for that niche will help them to stay consistent even in the midst of trials.When they focus on a particular niche, it will help their audience to know what this page or brand is all about. It will help to filter those who are not interested and those who are. At the end of the day, it will be a win-win for them both. When you focus on the niche you are passionate about, it will help you to build authenticity, and that is the major currency of TikTok. People can sense it from afar when you are faking things, but when you are authentic, they can sense it from afar, and they tend to trust your brand more and do business or collaborate with you.
To discover
your target audience, ask yourself the following questions;
- · Who is my best audience? (Age, likes, where they live, big problems)
- · What issues can I fix for them, and how? (With facts, how-tos, or motivation)
- · How do my videos help or entertain them? (Fun, learning, or fresh ideas)
You can use TikTok Analytics to see what is working, what is
not working, the content ideas that people are interested in, and the likes.
2. Optimize your profile for monetization
When it comes to optimizing your profile, you just have to do three things, which are:
- Update your profile picture, let it be a high-resolution version of your brand logo or what you do.
- Write a short and meaningful bio about your brand or page. Use necessary keywords
- Add links to your bio so that your audience might see the link to your pages on other social media or see the link to your online store if you are selling something on TikTok.
3. Be Consistent and Master TikTok Seo, and let your Content Quality be good
In whatever you do on TikTok, always be consistent. Ensure you post at least once a week or three to five times a week. When you do this, your account will signal TikTok algorithm that you are an active user, and before you know it. TikTok will start pushing your Content for you even without running ads. Also, it is important to master TikTok Seo. This is the mistake most TikTok users make. They just upload content on TikTok without adding relevant keywords to their video captions, overlay text, and even in their spoken words. No wonder they always complain of low views. Why won't they have low views? Of course, they will because they are not doing what is necessary.
It is also important that whatever you do, ensure your
content is of good quality. Use good lighting and add captions and on-screen
text to your post.
Part 2: Proven Ways to Make Money on TikTok
1. Sell merchandise via TikTok Shop
Selling custom merchandise stands out as one of the easiest and most dependable ways to earn money on TikTok. By linking a print-on-demand service like Printful to your TikTok Shop, you can offer items such as t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs without investing in upfront stock. Here's how it operates: Design your graphics and set up product pages. Once a viewer purchases via your shoppable videos or profile link, the platform handles printing, fulfillment, and shipping automatically. Your role focuses on producing engaging content and promoting the items.For payments, TikTok manages the transactions and deposits the earnings straight to your connected bank account, making it a quick and expandable option to profit from your creative work.
2. The Creator Rewards Program and Live Gifts
TikTok has these straightforward tools that let creators earn right from their videos. For a lot of folks making short clips, the Creator Rewards Program and Live Gifts are the first ways they actually see some cash roll in.The Creator Rewards Program is basically the updated version of the old Creator Fund. It pays you based on how well your videos do, like views, likes, and shares, plus things like video length (they like longer ones), if it's original, and where you're from. To qualify, you need at least 10,000 followers, 100,000 video views in the past 30 days, and an account that's in good shape with no violations. It's all funded by TikTok's ads, so you get a slice of what the platform makes.
Then there's Live Gifts and Virtual Gifts for when you're going live. Fans buy these fun virtual items with real money and send them to you; they turn into "Diamonds" that you cash out for actual bucks to your bank. It's a cool, instant way to make money and connect with your crowd in real time.
3. Brand partnerships and sponsored content
Brands like to work with real TikTok creators because it helps them reach new people in a natural way. These paid deals can earn you good money by showing their products in your videos.TikTok has a Creator Marketplace where brands and creators can find each other. Brands look for creators whose followers match their products. To join, you usually need at least 10,000 followers, good views, and a profile that shows what kind of content you make and who watches it. After that, you can agree on the deal, make the video, and get paid through TikTok. You can also contact brands directly by sending them a message or email. Having a simple media kit with your followers, average views, likes, and past partnerships helps a lot. Start with small deals and be honest with your audience to build trust and get more offers.
4. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing lets you earn money by promoting other companies' products or services. You get a commission (a percentage of the sale) when someone buys through your special link; no need to stock items or handle shipping. On TikTok, use the TikTok Shop Affiliate program. It's built into the app for creators. For other options, join external programs like Amazon Associates. Sign up on their site, grab a unique link, and share it in your TikTok bio or captions (can't link directly in videos). Promote by reviewing products, earn 1-10% on sales from your referrals. It's passive income if your audience likes your recommendations.5. In-app commerce with TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop is a feature that lets video creators and small business owners sell products right inside the app, without sending buyers to another site.How it works: Sign up at shop.tiktok.com as a seller or creator (must be 18+, with at least 1,000 followers for creators). Upload your products or link to services like Printful. Then, make videos or go live, tag items with a shopping bag icon, and add shoppable links. Viewers can tap to browse, buy, and check out instantly, all in TikTok. Why it's great: Over half of users (around 58%) shop directly on the app. It turns fun discovery videos into quick sales, boosting how many people actually buy. Creators earn commissions on promoted items, while sellers handle their own stock and shipping.
6. Exclusive content and subscriptions with TikTok Series
TikTok Series is a simple way for creators to make money by putting a group of up to 80 original videos behind a paywall. Fans pay once to unlock and watch the whole collection. It's perfect for teachers, artists, or experts who share valuable, special content, like detailed tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks, or full courses that go deeper than regular videos.How it works: If you're eligible (18+, 10,000+ followers, active account with recent videos and views), create a Series, set a price from $1 to $190, and fans buy access through your profile or video links. You get paid directly from your biggest supporters, building closer ties with them.
7. Digital products and services
Many TikTok creators make more money by selling their own digital products. These are easy digital items with no shipping needed. Examples include:· eBooks or guides (like simple tip books).
· Online courses or business tools (video lessons or printables).
· Design templates, photo presets, or editing tools (ready-made files).
· Workshops, coaching, or advice sessions (live help or calls).
To sell: Show them in your videos, lives, or bio links (try free tools like Linktree). Add physical items like shirts or mugs to mix things up and earn from more fans. It's a low-cost way to turn your skills into cash.
8. Crowdfunding and donations
If you build a loyal group of fans on TikTok, they often want to give you money to support your work. Use easy sites like these to get that help:· Patreon: Fans pay you a small amount each month for special perks or extra content.
· Ko-fi: Like buying you a coffee, fans send quick one-time tips or donations, no big commitment.
· Kickstarter: Raise money for a single big project, like launching a new video series or product.
These work outside TikTok and let you get steady support or funds for what you create.
Part 3: Advanced strategies to maximize earnings
After you've got your basic money-making methods running, use these pro tricks to attract more viewers and boost your income even higher.1. Run TikTok Ads
Business owners can use TikTok Ads to share content with way more viewers and direct traffic right to their TikTok Shop, product sites, or websites.
Set up: Get a Business account to open TikTok's Ads Manager, then create campaigns aimed at users' interests, behaviors, and locations.
Types of ads:
- · In-Feed: Blend seamlessly into the For You feed like normal videos.
- · Spark Ads: Promote your existing posts (or approved ones from others) for extra views and engagement.
- · TopView: Take over the full screen when the app opens, perfect for launching products or grabbing big attention.
Teaming up with fellow creators is a quick way to grow on social media. It boosts your trust level and draws in brand deals.
- Methods: Jump into Duets or Stitches, make fresh joint videos, or pay bigger creators for shout-outs to share your account with their fans.
- Benefits: It exposes your stuff to fresh, matching viewers and proves you're legit through social proof.
Smart choices based on data speed up your growth, check TikTok's own stats and outside apps to tweak videos, try new ideas, and grow what succeeds. TikTok Analytics: Track how long people watch, where views come from, and follower spikes after posts.
Extra Tools:
1. Stay transparent and Compliant
Whenever you are transparent enough, your audience tends to trust you more. You can be transparent just by disclosing paid partnerships and sponsored content, and this helps to build credibility and trust from your audience.
2. Balance Promotion With Value
It is important that a large part of your content provides value, and even if you want to do promotion, your audience won't complain because your brand or content is full of value. It is important to follow the 80/20 rule; 80% of your content should provide value, while 20% should be for promotion.
3. Keep testing and adapting
TikTok is unpredictable, and that is why you always need to test and adapt to changes because what trends today might not trend tomorrow. What makes the algorithm push your content or Brand today might not be the same thing that will push your content or brand Tomorrow. This is why it is important to keep testing new sounds, formats, and content ideas. Experiment with what people are interested in on TikTok.
4. Don’t rely on a single income stream
Don't just rely on a single source of income on TikTok. Ensure you have at least two sources of income so that when one fails or slows down, you can rely on the others to pick you up. For example, if earning via live videos slows down, you can accumulate the earnings from other sources of income, such as affiliate sales, Merch, and the like.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Make Money On TikTok
1. How many followers on TikTok are needed to make money?
It depends on how you want to make money on TikTok, which will determine if you need followers or not. For example, if you want to sell merchandise on TikTok, get gifts on live, and do affiliate marketing on TikTok, the number of followers you have doesn't really matter. On the other hand, if you want to make money through the Creators Rewards Program, you will need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 views before you can be eligible to make money on the program.
2. How do you make money on TikTok?
You can make money by getting gifted on TikTok Live, selling merchandise on TikTok Shop, the Creators Rewards Program, or through affiliate marketing. You can also make money by collaborating with brands or by selling digital products.
3. How does the Creator Rewards Program pay creators?
The creator reward program calculates your earnings by making use of the RPM (revenue-per-mille) model. This model emphasizes that your earnings depend on audience engagement, video views, watch time, and location. The best part of this is that your money will continue to accumulate till you reach the withdrawal threshold. Once you reach the threshold, you can withdraw your earnings.
4. How do I get paid on TikTok?
This has been a question that many people have been asking. To get paid on TikTok through the Creator reward program, you get paid by withdrawing your earnings through the App payment dashboard.
If you partnered with brands or you are into affiliate marketing on TikTok, you'll most likely get paid by the brands or the affiliate network you worked with through direct transfer to your bank account or through PayPal.
5. Do TikToks pay real money?
Yes, they do. If you get gifted in live sessions, you can convert the gifts to real money and withdraw them. We have a lot of influencers and content creators who make millions of dollars monthly via TikTok.
6. How to make money on TikTok without 1000 followers
It is possible to make money even without 1000 or 10,000 followers on TikTok when you are into affiliate marketing or selling digital products, or partnering with brands. Most times, it is only when you want to make money via the creator rewards Program that you will need 10,000 followers, and when you want to make money through live video, that you will need at least 1000 followers.
7. How to make money on TikTok without showing your face?
You can make money on TikTok without showing your face by creating simple videos like animations, voice talks, screen shares, or clip collections.
8. How much is 10 roses on TikTok?
A rose on TikTok is worth one coin or around $0.01 USD. If we are to multiply that by 10, then ten roses on TikTok will be $0.1.
9. How much money is 1000 views on TikTok?
TikTok pays between $0.02 $0.04.
10. Does TikTok pay for likes?
No, TikTok does not pay for likes. It only pays for views through programs like the Creators Rewards Program.