Printify + your favorite platform = more sales!
Learning how to make money on TikTok means tapping into over 1 billion active monthly users who are eager to discover new brands and shop unique products from their favorite creators.
Ready to dive in and turn your creativity into cash?
Let’s break down the best monetization strategies for earning big on TikTok.
Key takeaways
- TikTok offers multiple ways to make money, from selling custom merch to using monetization tools like live gifts, donation stickers, and shoppable videos.
- Printify helps you easily design and sell custom merch to TikTok followers with no upfront costs or inventory.
- Joining the Creator Rewards Program improves your earnings based on engagement. Other factors like content quality and a large following also contribute to success.
- Partnering with influencers and cross-posting on platforms like Instagram or YouTube can expand your reach and drive sales.
- In-Feed and Spark Ads help you promote products and reach new TikTok audiences with targeted content.
1. Sell custom merch to your followers
TikTok is built for creators, and it’s one of the best platforms for selling custom promotional products.
Whether you’re selling artwork, launching a niche apparel line, or promoting quirky accessories, TikTok gives you the tools to convert your audience directly within the app.
To maximize your earnings potential:
- Use trending sounds, formats, and challenges to boost visibility.
- Show the product in action – packaging it, styling it, or reacting to fan feedback.
- Upload videos consistently to build hype and turn browsers into buyers.
Make buying easy for your followers by selling directly on TikTok Shop (more on that later). If you have an eCommerce website or online marketplace store, link it to drive traffic.
When you’re ready to scale, join the Creator Marketplace to connect with influencers who can help promote your drops.
Create custom products with Print on Demand
Skip the upfront costs and logistics. With Printify, you can easily design and sell over 1,300 custom products – from t-shirts and mugs to phone cases and tote bags.
Using a print-on-demand (POD) model means:
- You only pay when you make a sale – no unsold inventory risk.
- We automatically print and ship orders for you.
- Your brand stays adaptable as TikTok trends evolve.
It’s the fastest way to turn ideas into income – perfect for creators who want to test different products and scale quickly without getting bogged down with fulfillment.
2. Set up a TikTok Shop
Start making money on TikTok by letting followers purchase merch directly from your page through TikTok Shop and shoppable videos.
The integrated in-app checkout streamlines the shopping experience. Plus, you’ll gain access to the TikTok Shop App Store‘s range of powerful tools to advertise your own products.
This also opens opportunities to enter brand ambassador partnerships with thousands of creators through TikTok’s affiliate program.
Head to the TikTok Seller Center to register for TikTok Shop and check the requirements to see if you’re eligible.
Individual sellers
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must have a valid government ID, such as a passport or US driver’s license.
- Cannot be a politician or affiliated with political entities.
- Must reside in the United States.
Business sellers
- The owners and representatives of your business must be at least 18 years old.
- Each owner and representative must have a valid US passport.
- Can’t be politicians or representatives of the government or a political party.
- Must have an established business address in the US.
3. Try affiliate marketing
Earn money with a TikTok account by promoting brands and their products to get commissions from affiliate links.
If you’re a registered seller, explore TikTok’s Affiliate Network for brand ambassador partnerships. Choose affiliates that align with your niche for the best results.
Consider also becoming a TikTok Ads Affiliate and earning commissions from promoting TikTok’s advertising platform or posting sponsored content.
Expand your earnings further by joining third-party affiliate networks or referral programs.
As a Printify Affiliate, you’ll earn a 5% commission on every sale your referrals make. With monthly payouts, a 90-day cookie life, and no earnings cap, it’s a top affiliate marketing choice for TikTok.
4. Join the Creator Rewards Program
Looking for more ideas about how people make money on TikTok? Start posting long-form TikTok content with the Creator Rewards Program.
This initiative offers up to 20 times more in rewards than the TikTok Creator Fund to support high-quality content.
Requirements
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You are registered and based in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, or Brazil.
- You have a personal instead of a business account.
- You have at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in the past 30 days.
- You make high-quality videos that last over one minute and align with TikTok’s mission of inspiring joy and creativity.
5. Collect tips
Accepting tips from followers is one of the simplest ways on how to make money off TikTok.
To receive tips on TikTok, you need a personal account and must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, you must:
- Have at least 100,000 followers.
- Be part of TikTok’s Creator Next program.
- Have a Stripe account to process payments.
TikTok doesn’t take a cut, so you receive 100% of each tip. However, Stripe may charge processing fees to the sender. For details, review the TikTok tips terms and conditions.
How to encourage TikTok users to tip you?
1. Create high-quality content
Create engaging videos that your followers can’t find anywhere else. Your content’s uniqueness helps drive traffic to your channel and motivates viewers to show their support with tips.
2. Reward engagement
Interact with your audience and give them shoutouts, personalized messages, or access to premium content.
3. Be transparent
Clearly communicate to your audience how their tips help you. Transparency drives contributions, whether it’s funding for better equipment or allowing you to dedicate more time to creating content.
6. Collect donations
TikTok short videos can help you receive donations for nonprofits. To support a cause, add a Donation Sticker in your videos or link a nonprofit to your profile:
- Tap Profile at the bottom right of the TikTok app.
- Select Edit profile.
- Choose Add nonprofit and select the organization you’d like to feature.
The donation link will appear on your TikTok bio, encouraging viewers to support a charitable cause directly from your profile or content.
Tip
Check out TikTok for Good to explore other global social impact initiatives on the platform.
7. Collect LIVE gifts during video streams
How do you get paid on TikTok instantly? By engaging your audience through TikTok LIVE streams, where followers can send virtual video gifts to support their favorite creators.
With interactive features like polls and games, you can enhance engagement and earn Diamonds, a TikTok currency convertible to real money.
How to receive gifts during live streams?
Leverage this virtual gift system during LIVE streams by meeting the following requirements:
- Be in a region where LIVE gifts are available.
- Be at least 18 years old (19 in South Korea).
- Have a minimum number of followers – 1,000 to 10,000, depending on the region.
- Have an account in good standing that adheres to TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
- Have posted a public video within the last 30 days.
- Operate a personal account (business or public interest accounts are ineligible).
Keep in mind that your videos are not eligible if they include:
- Duets and Stitches.
- Ads, sponsored content, or promoted TikTok posts.
8. Engage in influencer marketing
This popular advertising strategy connects brands with TikTok influencers to reach target audiences more authentically.
Join the TikTok Creator Marketplace to drive traffic and sales to your store or partner businesses.
Why do brands pay content creators?
Influencers have engaged followers and create content that resonates with specific TikTok users.
Influencer marketing often results in higher engagement rates and is more cost-effective and less intrusive than traditional ads. It’s also a great way to reach niche audiences through sponsored posts that follow TikTok’s Branded Content Policy.
9. Benefit from TikTok ads
TikTok marketing through ads is a powerful tool for growing your business. Blend them naturally with authentic and engaging content to avoid overwhelming viewers with ads.
Let’s explore the different TikTok ad formats and find the best fit for you:
- In-Feed Ads: These are the standard ads on TikTok’s For You feed, appearing like regular posts, playing automatically, and can include CTA buttons. They blend in with organic content but compete with user-generated posts.
- Automated Product Ads: Use this ad format to showcase products directly from your TikTok Shop. They display images and videos in locations like search results, but limit your control since they’re fully automated.
- TopView Ads: This is the first video users see when opening TikTok. TopView guarantees a ton of impressions, but users might skip them since they’re conspicuous ads.
- Spark Ads: Perfect for giving organic posts a boost. Spark Ads connect with followers through real posts, driving engagement directly to existing original content.
- Branded Effects: Think custom filters, stickers, and fun AR elements, adding a playful twist to sponsored content. Pair them with influencers to maximize reach.
- TikTok Promote: A built-in tool that lets you amplify organic content, turning it into an ad for greater visibility.
10. Offer subscriptions
Monetize your TikTok audience’s interests by offering LIVE subscriptions, letting fans access exclusive content for a monthly fee.
Dedicated fans receive badges, digital products, custom emotes, and early access. They can also join subscriber-only chats during LIVE sessions, fostering a stronger community experience.
Make sure to keep your subscription costs affordable to entice subscribers.
Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a minimum of 1,000 followers.
- Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.
- Have a personal account. Governments, politicians, political parties, and business accounts aren’t eligible.
11. Crosspost to other platforms
A great way to improve TikTok SEO is cross-posting videos from TikTok to other social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
For example, YouTube dominates long-form content, so share extended versions of your TikTok videos or exclusive access to behind-the-scenes footage.
Not only will this help grow your reach across multiple platforms simultaneously, it means you can repurpose and monetize TikTok content to expand your income streams.
Cross-posting is also an excellent strategy to tap into new audiences of different demographics.
12. Sell digital products or courses
Wondering how to make money on TikTok without relying solely on tips or brand deals? Try selling digital products like templates, design assets, eBooks, or online courses.
This approach is especially effective for creators in clearly defined niches – whether it’s graphic design, fitness coaching, or personal finance. Once you grow your TikTok following, you can promote your offerings directly in your videos and link them through your bio.
Popular platforms for creating digital products
- Gumroad for downloadable products.
- Teachable for structured course content.
- Stan Store for a TikTok-native digital storefront.
Pro tip
Use your TikTok posts to break longer lessons into short-form videos and tease your premium content. This helps build interest to drive conversions.
13. License your content or audio
Wondering how do you make money on TikTok using existing projects? Consider licensing your content or audio.
This method is ideal for meme-able or trending content, especially if it’s been featured in popular media.
When a TikTok post goes viral, brands, publishers, or influencers may want to license:
- Your original audio.
- Your viral video clip.
- A unique visual trend or format you created.
Monetize these through licensing platforms like ViralHog or Jukin Media.
14. Build a membership community
Another great way on how to make money off of TikTok is with membership platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi. They let you build a recurring income stream by offering premium content to your most loyal fans.
Unlike TikTok’s in-app tipping system, Patreon gives you:
- Monthly support from superfans.
- The ability to grant early access, bonus tutorials, or exclusive Q&As.
- Community-building tools like subscriber-only Discords or group chats.
Building a loyal fan base is crucial in learning how to start making money on TikTok without relying on viral hits. It’s not about how many TikTok followers you have, but how connected they feel and how consistently they engage with your content.
Tip
Position your membership as next-level access – not just more content. Offer real value that justifies the monthly support, and with time, you’ll generate higher revenue potential.
15. Curate and monetize playlists
If you’re exploring how to make money on TikTok in the long term, look beyond one-off posts. Use TikTok’s playlists feature to organize content into an engaging mini-series and pitch them as branded sponsorship bundles.
Playlists are perfect for topics like 30-day challenges, daily style tips, and mini masterclasses.
Benefits of TikTok playlists
- Publish sponsored content across a whole playlist for ongoing exposure.
- Keep fans on your page longer to improve your TikTok engagement metrics.
- Create thematic content that brands can align with.
Why does it work? Brands love integrated campaigns, and playlists can improve watch time and trust. They also feed TikTok’s algorithm, improving your visibility and possibly increasing payouts through TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program.
Start a POD business and sell on TikTok with Printify
Ready to launch a POD business and sell merch to your TikTok profile’s followers?
Sign up for Printify for free and start selling custom products like t-shirts, phone cases, and shoes. It’s the best way to cash in on this highly visual, trend-driven platform.
Tap into TikTok’s massive user base and quickly integrate Printify with TikTok Shop. Setup is easy, so you can focus on creating content while we handle inventory, production, and fulfillment.
TikTok FAQ
TikTok accounts earn through multiple streams, depending on how many followers they have.
Consider the Creator Rewards Program for high-performing content, publish sponsored posts, run affiliate marketing campaigns, or receive virtual gifts during LIVE streams.
Other options are selling custom merch with Printify, partnering with influencers, running TikTok Ads, or offering exclusive content and subscriptions.
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program requires at least 100,000 video views within the past 30 days, among other criteria like follower count and age, to start earning directly through views.
Earn from viewers who send virtual gifts during your TikTok LIVE streams, which convert to cash. You can also enable the LIVE subscription feature for monthly revenue.
TikTok pays creators approximately $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views through the Creator Fund.
However, TikTok’s new Creator Rewards Program offers higher payouts ranging from $0.40 to $1 per 1,000 views, depending on engagement, video quality, and target audience location.
To qualify for the Creator Rewards Program, you need to be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of 10,000 followers, and accumulate 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
Additionally, your TikTok account must be in good standing, with content that aligns with TikTok’s guidelines.
To summarize
Whether you sell custom products, join a TikTok rewards program, enter brand partnerships, offer exclusive content, or run ads – there are countless paths for creators exploring how to monetize TikTok.
Want to turn your ideas into income? Partner with Printify to launch your own merch line and sell custom products designed by you, directly to your TikTok followers. It’s free to start, and we handle production and shipping so you can focus on creating.
Mix and match these strategies to find what works best for you. The more diversified your approach, the more you’ll maximize your potential to get paid on TikTok.
Start making money on TikTok today!
The post How to make money on TikTok – 15 Proven ways for 2025 appeared first on Printify.
