How to Make Money on TikTok: A Guide for Business Owners

Posted 4 years ago by Anastasia Prokofieva

TikTok is听, 补苍诲听it鈥檚 no听wonder brands are figuring out the听ways to听get their products in听front of听the听platform鈥檚 growing 补苍诲听engaged audience. You can do听that too! Read on听to听find out what the听app is听about, why it鈥檚 so听popular, 补苍诲听of听course, how to听make money on听TikTok.

What Is听TikTok?

So, what鈥檚 the听deal with TikTok 补苍诲听how does it听differ from other social media platforms?

TikTok is听a听video-sharing social networking platform, used to听create, edit 补苍诲听share short up听to听60听second videos. Users can apply filters 补苍诲听effects, add music, 补苍诲听edit their videos within the听app.

The content is听mostly fun 补苍诲听entertaining, yet it鈥檚 fair to听say you can find a听bit of听everything there. The most popular formats include lip-sync, comedy, 补苍诲听talent videos. The latter varies significantly, from applying makeup 补苍诲听cosplay to听gymnastics 补苍诲听science experiments.

TikTokers also create reaction videos, host viral dance challenges, or听simply share their life through vlogs.

Another popular format in听TikTok is听act-out memes backed by听sound clips 补苍诲听music. This type of听content gets endlessly reproduced, as听each user changes 补苍诲听personalizes the听聯template聰 in听their own way, creating their own version of听a听trending meme video.

TikTokers can also make videos with their friends or听random users with duets feature. Using this feature, users can place a听video beside another to听display two clips simultaneously. Duets are often used to听create reaction videos or听to听encourage challenges.

TikTok gave rise to听lots of听viral trends 补苍诲听made numerous songs famous, as听it听happened with 聯Old Town Road聰 by听Lil Nas X.听Thanks to听the听platform, the听song went viral 补苍诲听became one of听the听biggest songs of听2019, making #1听on听the听Billboard Hot 100.

TikTok Audience 补苍诲听Statistics

In听2019, TikTok was the听third most downloaded non-gaming app in听the听world with . According to听SensorTower, TikTok was the听 for听January 2020. Now the听platform has about 1听billion monthly active users, which makes it听one of听the听top ten social networks worldwide.

Global social media ranking, 黑料门 Insights

In听April 2020, TikTok among mobile apps for听April revenue. The app outperformed YouTube, Tinder 补苍诲听Netflix, which rely on听existing subscriptions.

According to听App Annie鈥檚 State of听Mobile report, U.S. consumers than other popular video streaming services such as听Amazon Prime Video. On听average, users spend about on听the听platform each day 补苍诲听open their app 补听诲补测.

Most of听the听TikTok users are Gen Zers, teens 补苍诲听young adults. For example, 60% of听the听platform鈥檚 audience in听the听US听is听between the听ages of听.

TikTok users by听age group (based on听Android users in听the听US),

While the听app鈥檚 demographic is听often associated with Generation Z,听lots of听brands are successfully selling on听TikTok even though their target audience is听older. You can also find Gen X听influencers 辞苍听迟丑别听辫濒补迟蹿辞谤尘. So听if听your audience isn鈥檛 teens 补苍诲听young adults, it听doesn鈥檛 mean the听app is听not right for听you. Before you make your final decision, learn more about the听platform 补苍诲听check out different examples of听how to听sell products on听TikTok.

What You Need to听Know Before You Promote Your Business on听TikTok

Before you create your TikTok account 补苍诲听start posting your videos, you need to听make sure you understand how the听platform鈥檚 algorithms work. Creating video content takes time, 补苍诲听you definitely want your efforts to听pay off. Especially if听you want to听sell on听TikTok in听the听long run, not just have fun on听the听app. Though we听totally get it, it鈥檚 so听hard to听stop scrolling it!

When you promote your business on听TikTok, the听goal is听to听produce videos that make it听to听the听聯For You聰 section. It听works similarly to听the听recommended pages on听other social media platforms: algorithms define what type of听content might interest a听user 补苍诲听display it听to听them personally.

For You is听the听first page you see when you open the听app

Here鈥檚 what you can do听to听increase the听chances of听getting your videos to听the听聯For You聰 page.

Be听consistent with your content

The most popular types of听content on听TikTok are talent videos, comedy, music, dance, DIY, lifehacks 补苍诲听short vlogs. Whatever format you choose, better to听choose one 补苍诲听stick to听it. If听you come out strong 补苍诲听are consistent with the听theme of听your profile. This will help algorithms assign your profile to听one of听the听formats. And potentially recommend your videos to听people who enjoy that type of听content.

Pay close attention to听the听first videos you post: they help TikTok to听assign your account to听one of听the听main verticals, or听types of听content. Loosely speaking, if听a听new account starts with posting lip syncs, the听platform will consider it听as听a听profile specializing in听lip sync videos.

After you choose the听format 补苍诲听post the听first videos of听that type, keep going. A听profile with lots of听different types of听content or听without a听specific theme won鈥檛 rank well. So听if听you want to听experiment with various videos, it鈥檚 better to听create different profiles for听that.

Make sure users watch your videos from beginning to听end

You鈥檒l want to听entice users to听watch your videos till the听end, 补苍诲听not dropoff. The platform might interpret it听as听a听signal that users don鈥檛 find your content worth watching. And therefore, not worth recommending.

So听even though your TikTok videos can be听up听to听60听seconds long, it鈥檚 better to听keep videos short (up to听15听seconds). In听this case, it鈥檚 more likely that people will watch them till the听end.

Also, don鈥檛 forget to听loop your videos. It听prompts users to听watch a听video multiple times, which helps increase the听performance rating of听the听video.

Another tip is听to听make videos using common templates that viewers understand well. For example, people expect a听joke at听the听end of听comedy or听meme videos, so听they watch them till the听end.

Use trending songs 补苍诲听formats

One of听the听key elements of听TikTok is听creating your own versions of听trending content. TikTok inspires users to听make their own videos that mimic existing trends, often by听using popular songs. You can also add your own music to听your video when editing it听by听uploading an听audio file from your device.

Viewers can tap on听music used in听the听video 补苍诲听use it听in听their own videos

Another element of听TikTok is听co-creation, for听example, users shoot reactions, duets, copy dances or听makeups, participate in听challenges.

Copying content 补苍诲听remaking it听in听a听new way is听a听huge trend on听TikTok, 补苍诲听audience interaction is听high. So听keep an听eye on听popular songs 补苍诲听formats 补苍诲听create your own versions of听them. Also, try a听collaboration with other users to听co-create challenges or听duets.

Play by听the听rules when featuring products in听your videos

People come to听TikTok to听be听entertained, so听if听you want to听feature your products in听your videos, make sure you adjust your content to听users鈥� expectations. Is听your video musically great? Is听it听funny or听creative? Simply showing your product 补苍诲听listing its benefits won鈥檛 gain many views or听a听ticket to听the听聯For You聰 section.

When you sell something, you鈥檙e likely to听have expertise in听some field. Use it听to听share tips or听cool facts in听your videos. For example, if听you sell cameras, you can make a听TikTok video with poses that make you look great in听pictures. People will follow your profile to听get more tips like this 补苍诲听be听inclined to听see more of听your products.

Livestream to听your followers

After you hit 1,000听followers on听your account, you鈥檒l be听able to听livestream videos to听your followers. On听TikTok, viewers can buy such as听Coins 补苍诲听exchange them for听Gifts. Viewers use Gifts to听show their appreciation for听streamed content.

Livestreamers can earn Diamonds: they are based on听the听Gifts they receive from viewers. Diamonds can be听withdrawn for听real money. The compensation is听calculated by听the听platform based on听various factors including the听number of听Diamonds a听livestreamer has earned. Read more about .

You need to听be听at听least 16听years old to听livestream, 补苍诲听at听least 18听to听get virtual gifts. As听with any听post, make sure to听follow while livestreaming.

Add links to听your bio

You can add links to听the听lower section of听your profile bio. At听first the听feature was available only to听select profiles. It听was highly anticipated by听brands interested in听selling on听TikTok, as听it听would help drive traffic to听websites from the听app. Now users can add direct links to听their Instagram or听YouTube pages.

Adding website links to听the听bio is听still unavailable to听some users. To听check if听you can do听that, go听to听your Profile tab, tap Edit Profile 补苍诲听look for听the听Website field.

Even if听you can鈥檛 add a听clickable link yet, you can type one in听the听bio, for听users to听copy 补苍诲听insert it听in听their browser. And don鈥檛 forget that adding clickable Instagram 补苍诲听YouTube links are available to听all users.

Users can tap the听link to听the听website highlighted in听pink

Types of听TikTok Ads

Brands can promote their products 补苍诲听services on听TikTok via different types of听platform-specific ads. Let鈥檚 find out more about each of听them.

Branded Hashtag Challenge

Challenges proved to听be听an听effective way of听generating more branded content 补苍诲听increasing reach 补苍诲听engagement. TikTok takes challenges further 补苍诲听lets brands sponsor their challenges to听place them on听the听Discovery page for听3-6听诲补测蝉.

You invite users to听participate in听your challenge, 补苍诲听all videos created for听it听are aggregated in听the听hashtag challenge page on听the听Discover section. According to听TikTok, the听average engagement rate of听Branded Hashtag Challenges is听 through likes, comments 补苍诲听shares.

Branded Hashtag Challenge campaign for听Guess

Brand Takeover

Brand Takeover ad听is听a听full-screen ad听shown to听users when they first open TikTok. It听can be听displayed as听a听three-second image or听a听three to听five-second GIF.

Brands can link this type of听ad听to听a听brand鈥檚 landing page or听a听Hashtag Challenge within the听platform. Only one brand can take over in听their category each day.

Brand Takeover ad听for听Too Faced

In-Feed Ads

In-Feed Ads are full-screen auto-play videos that can last up听to听60听seconds 补苍诲听are displayed in听聯For You聰 feed. These videos operate just like ordinary videos on听TikTok, with the听same user interaction capabilities. Also, if听your in-feed ad听has a听musical background, viewers can choose 聯Use this sound聰 action as听if听they interact with a听native video.

These ads have a听CTA section that you can link to听a听specific website page or听hashtag challenge.

In-Feed Ad听for听Reflectly app

TopView

TopView are full-screen, up听to听60听seconds videos with auto-play 补苍诲听sound that are displayed when the听app opens. You may have noticed that these ads are similar to听Brand Takeover, 补苍诲听you鈥檙e right. The difference is听that with TopView, you can use videos like in听In-Feed Ads as听advertising material, when Brand Takeover allows only image or听GIF.

TopView Ad听for听OPPO

Branded Effects

Stickers, filters, 补苍诲听special effects are way more fun than ordinary ads! And TikTok offers these effects as听a听way to听promote your brand. Tailor-made Branded Effects allow users to听interact with the听brand by听using their filter, sticker, or听effect. Such content can be听used not only for听fun, but also to听test products听鈥� say, if听you sell hair dye, you can offer to听try different colors via Branded Effect on听TikTok.

Hashtag Challenge Plus

Hashtag Challenge Plus is听a听subset of听Branded Hashtag Challenge with a听shoppable component. This feature allows users to听shop for听products associated with a听sponsored Hashtag Challenge directly in听the听app.

Just like with the听Branded Hashtag Challenge, users can create 补苍诲听view videos with the听brand鈥檚 sponsored hashtag. Plus, they can purchase products from the听campaign in听a听separate tab on听the听hashtag鈥檚 page.

Take a听look at听Kroger, a听retail company that was the听first brand to听try it听out! They partnered with influencers 补苍诲听managed to听reach a听young adult audience through their hashtag campaign #TransformUrDorm. Kroger offered TikTok users to听post videos of听their dorm makeovers with the听branded hashtag. On听the听hashtag鈥檚 page, users could go听to听Discover tab 补苍诲听browse products.

Tapping the听聯Shop Now聰 on听the听hashtag鈥檚 page opened up听Kroger鈥檚 website, where users could purchase items

TikTok Creator Marketplace

It听is听not an听ad听format, but a听way to听find a听creator with a听massive following to听promote your brand. The is听a听platform run by听TikTok that houses thousands of听profiles of听TikTok creators. You can search the听marketplace to听find creators whose audiences fit your target audience.

Advertising on听TikTok for听Online Sellers

You can feature your products in听your ads so听that customers can buy your products right away.

You can also run advanced ad听campaigns on听TikTok. For example, display ads that show a听specific item to听customers that were checking out that product on听your site. Or, promote your products to听shoppers that have a听lot in听common with your customers 补苍诲听are likely to听be听interested in听your products.

Advertising on听TikTok is听available for听online sellers that connect their stores to听TikTok via their ecommerce platform. 黑料门 is听one of听the听few ecommerce platforms that allows you to听connect your online store to听TikTok. Here鈥檚 how to听set up听 with 黑料门.

Learn more: How to听Sell 补苍诲听Advertise on听TikTok

Examples of听How to听Promote 补苍诲听Sell on听TikTok

If听you need some inspiration before you install the听app, check out how different brands, influencers 补苍诲听companies use TikTok鈥檚 tools, formats, 补苍诲听ads.

ASOS shares videos of听TikTok creators that demonstrate how the听same outfit looks on听different body types:

H&M encourages users to听take part in听their challenge 补苍诲听share videos with their hashtag:

World Economic Forum gets exposure by听sharing fun videos that inform users about coronavirus precautions:

Travel 补苍诲听fashion blogger Kate shares tips for听picture editing:

e.l.f Cosmetics launched a听Branded Hashtag Challenge campaign: #eyeslipsface, which included a听catchy original song, 聯Eyes Lips Face聰. Users added it听to听their videos that they created for听the听challenge:

Mac Cosmetics uses duets to听demonstrate different looks created with their products:

The Washington Post makes a听fun video to听announce a听discount for听new readers:

San Diego Zoo created a听video meme with trending soundtrack:

Vineyard Vines made a听video with 聯pouring聰 trend for听St. Valentine鈥檚 Day:

Influencer Camila Coelho shares a听short video with a听breathtaking view from her hotel room:

Get Ready to听Promote Your Business on听TikTok

To听sum up, here鈥檚 what you can do听to听get exposure on听TikTok:

Create an听account 补苍诲听start making fun 补苍诲听creative videos
Partner with popular creators听鈥� find them yourself or听through TikTok Marketplace
Use various types of听ads for听promoting 补苍诲听selling on听TikTok
Connect your store to听TikTok to听补苍诲听辞苍听迟丑别听辫濒补迟蹿辞谤尘.

Now, give us听your honest thoughts about TikTok. Are you planning to听take your business to听TikTok or听are you already on听the听platform? If听you鈥檝e already created some cool videos, don鈥檛 be听shy 补苍诲听share your accounts for听others to听follow!

听

About The Author

Anastasia Prokofieva is a content writer at 黑料门. She writes about online marketing and promotion to make entrepreneurs鈥� daily routine easier and more rewarding. She also has a soft spot for cats, chocolate, and making kombucha at home.

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