How to Make Money on TikTok Without Followers?
TikTok has exploded in popularity over the last few years, becoming one of the top social media platforms. With over 1 billion monthly active users, there is huge potential to build an audience and make money on TikTok. However, gaining followers as a new creator can be challenging. The good news is that you can actually start earning on TikTok even if you have zero followers.
When most people think of making money on TikTok, they assume you need a huge following first. However, the truth is that TikTok offers monetization options that don’t require a minimum number of followers. With the right strategies, you can start monetizing your short-form videos and earning real income without an established fanbase.
In this post, we’ll break down how to make money on TikTok without followers. You’ll learn the various ways to generate revenue from your content, best practices for doing so successfully, and tips to grow your viewership over time. With persistence and high-quality videos tailored to TikTok’s algorithms, you can build genuine income even as a small creator.
Types of Earnings That Don’t Require Followers
Here are some of the main ways you can monetize TikTok content without having any followers initially:
TikTok Creator Fund
TikTok introduced the Creator Fund in 2020 as a way to pay creators directly for their top-performing videos. To qualify, you need at least 10,000 authentic video views in the last 30 days. Importantly, there are no minimum follower requirements. As long as your content generates enough views, you can earn a steady income through the fund.
Livestreams
TikTok Live allows creators to go live and interact with viewers in real-time. Fans can send virtual gifts during livestreams, with creators keeping a cut of gift revenue. This presents a great way to earn from loyal fans even if you only have a small following. Make sure to schedule streams at optimal times to drive more viewers.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate programs allow you to earn commissions by promoting products from brands and retailers. For example, Amazon Associates lets members link to products on Amazon and receive up to 10% on any sales driven. To do this effectively on TikTok, focus on product recommendations and reviews tailored to your niche.
Sponsored Content
As a TikTok creator, you can collaborate with brands to create sponsored content promoting their products or services. The key is crafting authentic and engaging branded videos that align with your niche. Brands may work with nano-influencers with as little as 1,000 engaged followers, presenting options even if you’re just starting out.
Tips for Earning Without Followers
Here are some top tips to help you successfully monetize your TikTok account even without an established following yet:
By following these best practices faithfully even as a new creator, you position yourself to start earning money on TikTok without relying on followers first.
Maximizing Your Earning Potential
Once you begin monetizing your TikTok without followers, focus on these areas to maximize your earning potential over time:
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By grinding as a small creator and sticking to these best practices for maximizing views and monetization potential, you can start earning a real income on TikTok even without an established fanbase yet. Just stay persistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here some some common questions around making money from TikTok without having followers initially:
How much money can you make on TikTok without followers?
Earnings will vary drastically depending on factors like views, engagement, live gifting revenue etc. But with viral videos, you can potentially earn hundreds or thousands per month even with zero followers.
What is the minimum followers you need to get paid on TikTok?
There is no official minimum follower requirement to earn money on TikTok. With programs like the Creator Fund, you simply need 10,000 views in the last 30 days. Followers help boost earnings but aren’t explicitly required.
Can you go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers?
Yes you can. Any user with a sufficient account standing can go live, without needing any minimum amount of followers. Having more followers will help drive more live views however.
Can I make money from affiliate links on TikTok?
Yes absolutely. By sharing affiliate links strategically in your TikTok captions and profiles, you can earn commissions driving traffic to partner brands - helping monetize without relying just on followers.
What type of content is most likely to go viral on TikTok?
Comedic and entertaining content often goes viral fastest on TikTok. Well-produced dance/lip-sync videos also frequently gain huge traction. Tailor content for the TikTok audience vs other platforms.
Making Money on TikTok Without Followers
The key is staying persistent, posting engaging content daily, and leveraging all possible income streams available to creators. Do this consistently and the earnings and followers will accumulate over time.
How to Make Money on TikTok Without Followers?
A quick bulletpoint summary of the key ways to monetize on TikTok without an established following: