1. JOIN TIKTOK’S CREATOR MARKETPLACE AND REWARDS PROGRAM.

What Was the TikTok Creator Fund?

The TikTok Creator Fund was a program aimed at compensating creators for their content on the platform. It was one of the monetization features that creators could unlock, along with access to the Marketplace and Live Gifting. However, the Creator Fund and all associated earnings ended in December 2023. It has since been replaced by TikTok’s new Creator Rewards Program.

What Is the Creator Rewards Program?

On March 18, 2024, TikTok launched the Creator Rewards Program, also known as the “TikTok Creativity Program Beta,” which offers a fresh way for creators to earn money from their content. While it shares similar eligibility criteria with the Creator Fund, the key difference is that the Creator Rewards Program focuses on long-form videos, rather than short-form content.

TikTok reports that since 2022, long-form videos have made up over 50% of the platform’s viewership, which is why they want to reward creators who can keep users engaged for longer periods.

To qualify for the Creator Rewards Program, you must meet these criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a minimum of 10,000 followers.
• Accumulate at least 100,000 valid video views in the past 30 days.
• Hold a personal account in good standing (business accounts are ineligible).
• Comply with TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
• Reside in a region where the TikTok Creator Rewards Program Beta is available, including the U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, and the UK. TikTok plans to expand the program to more regions soon.

If you’re looking to earn money by partnering with brands, joining the Creator Marketplace is your first step. Like other social media platforms with partner programs, TikTok has eligibility requirements. To join TikTok’s Creator Marketplace, you’ll need:

• At least 100,000 followers
• A minimum of 100,000 video likes in the last 28 days

Once you’re part of the marketplace, you’ll be able to view and apply for open brand campaigns.

2. RECEIVE VIDEO GIFTS.

Once you have access to LIVE Gifts, your TikTok audience can send you virtual stickers during your live streams. These gifts allow you to collect diamonds, which can be exchanged for real money.

Here’s how the process works:

Here’s a quick breakdown: 

• $1 = 100 coins (cost to your viewers).
• 2 coins = 1 diamond.
• 200 diamonds to $1 (value of money you can redeem).

* All amounts are in USD, and you’ll need a minimum of $100 cash value before you can withdraw the funds to your Paypal. Lastly, TikTok takes a 50% cut.

3. GET SPONSORSHIP DEALS.

If you’ve been live streaming consistently but haven’t yet qualified for Creator Next or Live Gifts, securing brand deals and partnerships is a great alternative. In these partnerships, brands pay you to host live streams and feature their products or services.

Here are a few live stream ideas you can create for brands:

You can also mention and showcase the brands you already love and use during live streams. This is a great way to catch their attention and start building a relationship.

Influencer Rates:

• Nano-influencers (1,000 to 10,000 followers) typically charge between $5 and $15 per sponsored post.
• Micro-influencers (10,000 to 50,000 followers) charge around $25 to $250.

Keep an eye out for brands running regular influencer campaigns on TikTok. Follow sponsored hashtags and ads from brands you’d like to collaborate with to spot opportunities.

4. OFFER SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT.

TikTok introduced a subscription feature that lets creators charge between $2.99 and $99.99 per month for access to exclusive perks. You can customize these perks to include special badges, emotes, stickers, exclusive videos, subscriber-only live streams, and more.

5. SELL YOUR OWN MERCHANDISE TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

You may have seen some of your favorite TikTok creators wearing shirts or hats with their logos or catchphrases. That’s because selling branded merch is one of the best ways to make money during TikTok live streams.

Print-on-demand services make it simple to create, print, and ship your merchandise.

How to Start Selling Your Branded Merch:

• Choose 3-5 initial items that will connect with your audience.
• Design your merch or hire a designer experienced in creating branded products.
• Select a print-on-demand service to handle printing and shipping.
• Order a few items to test their quality and shipping process.

Once your merch is ready, go live and showcase it! You can host a live shopping event where you talk about each product and sell directly to viewers. Alternatively, stream behind-the-scenes content while wearing your merch and promote your e-commerce shop link during the broadcast.

6. PROMOTE AFFILIATE PRODUCTS TO EARN COMMISSIONS .

If designing and selling your own merchandise feels like too much work, you can promote other people’s products instead. Through affiliate marketing, you earn a commission whenever someone makes a purchase using your affiliate link.

For example, Nike’s affiliate program offers up to 11% commission per sale. So, if a pair of running shoes costs $100, you’ll earn $11 for every sale.

While commissions may seem small initially, affiliate income can grow quickly, especially as your TikTok following increases. The more people who click your link, the higher the chance of making sales.

After getting the link, you can promote it during your TikTok live streams. Add the link to your TikTok profile or share it in the comments during your streams.

How to Find Affiliate Products:

1. Search Google for “best affiliate marketing programs + [your industry].” For example, “best affiliate programs in health and fitness.”
2. Sign up for an affiliate program. You’ll need to provide personal details, website info, and your social media handles.
3. Wait for approval.
4. Once approved, you’ll receive your affiliate link.