How to Earn Money on TikTok in the UK: A Step-by-Step Guide

TikTok has grown rapidly over the past few years, becoming one of the most popular social media platforms globally. It’s not just a platform for fun videos and viral challenges anymore — it has evolved into a major opportunity for content creators to make money. If you’re in the UK and wondering how to monetize your TikTok presence, this guide provides you with a comprehensive overview of the different ways to earn money on TikTok.

1. Requirements to Start Earning Money on TikTok

Before diving into the monetization strategies, it’s important to understand some basic requirements to start earning money on TikTok:

• Age: To access monetization features, you need to be at least 18 years old. However, TikTok’s “Creator Fund” is available for users aged 18 or older.
• Follower Count: Although there is no set number of followers you need to start making money, many monetization options require a minimum follower count, such as the TikTok Creator Fund.
• Content Consistency: You should post content regularly to increase your chances of being discovered and building an engaged audience.
• Engagement Rate: The number of likes, comments, shares, and views on your videos will impact your eligibility for monetization, especially with platforms like the Creator Fund or brand deals.

2. Ways to Earn Money on TikTok in the UK

a. TikTok Creator Fund

The TikTok Creator Fund allows creators to earn money based on their video views. The more views you get, the more you can earn, though the pay-per-view rate varies depending on a variety of factors.

Requirements for the TikTok Creator Fund:

• You must be 18 or older.
• You need at least 10,000 followers.
• You need at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
• You must be based in a country that supports the Creator Fund (the UK is included).

How to Join:

• Go to your TikTok profile.
• Tap the three dots in the upper right corner to open Settings.
• Under Creator Tools, select TikTok Creator Fund.
• Follow the prompts to apply.

Once you’re in the Creator Fund, TikTok will pay you based on the engagement your content receives. Note that the payout can vary and typically ranges from £0.01 to £0.04 per 1,000 views, so growing your views is essential.

b. Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships

Once you’ve built a decent following and your content resonates with a particular audience, you can start securing brand deals. Many companies are eager to work with TikTok influencers to promote their products and services.

How to Get Brand Deals:

• Reach out to brands directly: If you have a niche, you can approach brands that align with your content. For example, if you’re into fitness, you might reach out to fitness apparel brands.
• Join influencer marketing platforms: There are various platforms that connect influencers with brands. Some of the most popular platforms in the UK include:
  • Influence.co
  • Upfluence
  • AspireIQ
  • BrandSnob

These platforms allow you to apply for campaigns and work with brands that are looking to promote their products through TikTok.

• Use TikTok’s Creator Marketplace: TikTok’s own Creator Marketplace connects influencers with brands. If you have a good following and engagement rate, you may get direct invitations from brands to collaborate.

How Much You Can Earn:

Your earnings from brand deals depend on your audience size, engagement rate, niche, and the brand you’re working with. Popular TikTokers can earn anywhere from £500 to £5,000 per post or even more for larger campaigns.

c. Live Gifts & Tips (TikTok Live)

When you go live on TikTok, your followers can send you virtual gifts that can later be converted into real money. TikTok has a system where followers buy “coins” with real money, which they can use to send gifts to creators. Creators can then exchange these gifts for actual currency.

Requirements for Going Live:

• You need at least 1,000 followers to start live streaming on TikTok.

How to Monetize:

• During live streams, your followers can send you various gifts like roses, lions, or diamonds. These gifts can then be exchanged for real money.
• To maximize earnings, encourage your followers to send gifts by creating interactive or fun live content that engages them.

Earnings Potential:

While this can be a fun way to earn money, the amount you can earn from gifts largely depends on the generosity of your audience. Some creators report earning £50 to £500 or more per live stream, depending on their popularity and audience engagement.

d. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another way to earn money on TikTok. You can promote products through affiliate links, and when people make purchases using your link, you earn a commission.

How to Get Started:

• Sign up for affiliate programs: Many e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, ClickBank, and CJ Affiliate, offer affiliate programs that you can join.
• Promote relevant products: When creating content, feature products that align with your niche. For example, beauty influencers can promote makeup products, while tech creators can promote gadgets.

How to Promote:

• Add affiliate links in your TikTok bio (you can also include a link in your stories if you have that option).
• Mention affiliate links in your video descriptions or direct followers to check out your bio link for the product you’re promoting.

Earnings Potential:

Your income from affiliate marketing depends on how effectively you promote the products and how many people make purchases through your links. A successful affiliate campaign can earn you anywhere from £100 to £1,000+ per month, depending on your audience and the product.

e. Selling Your Own Products or Merchandise

Many TikTok influencers and creators use their platform to promote their own merchandise or products. This can include physical items such as clothing, accessories, or beauty products, as well as digital products like e-books, courses, or presets.

How to Set Up:

• Create an online store: Use platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or Teespring to set up an online store.
• Promote your products on TikTok: Create content that highlights your products or services. This could include unboxing videos, tutorials, or testimonials from happy customers.

How Much You Can Earn:

Selling products on TikTok can be a lucrative source of income, especially if you have a loyal fan base. Successful creators can earn £500 to £10,000+ per month depending on the products they’re selling and their marketing efforts.

f. TikTok Ad Revenue (TikTok Ads)

TikTok recently introduced an ad revenue-sharing program similar to YouTube’s Partner Program. However, this feature is still rolling out and may not yet be available to all creators in the UK. If it becomes available, you could earn money through ads that run on your videos.

How It Works:

• TikTok places ads in between or alongside your content, and you earn a share of the revenue generated from those ads.

3. Tips to Grow Your TikTok and Maximize Earnings

If you want to start earning more money on TikTok, growing your audience is key. Here are a few tips to help you:

• Post consistently: The more you post, the more opportunities you have for your videos to go viral.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, ask questions, and create content that encourages interaction.
• Leverage trends: Participate in trending challenges, use popular music, and capitalize on trending hashtags.
• Create quality content: Make sure your videos are well-edited, interesting, and high-quality. Quality content will always attract more views and engagement.
• Collaborate with others: Partner with other TikTok creators to cross-promote each other’s content and expand your reach.

4. Conclusion

TikTok has opened up numerous opportunities for creators to monetize their content and turn their passion into profit. Whether you’re looking to earn money through the Creator Fund, brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products, there are many ways to make money on the platform in the UK.

The key to success is growing your follower base, creating engaging content, and being consistent. By diversifying your income streams and taking advantage of TikTok’s monetization tools, you can turn your TikTok account into a profitable venture.