How to Become a Creator on TikTok: From First Post to Monetization

Tired of the daily grind and looking for other interesting options to make money and get famous? Becoming a TikTok content creator can prove to be a lucrative career option, especially if you’re creative and enjoy entertaining people.

Social media apps have become a lot more than just platforms to connect and share viral videos. They’ve evolved into a creator’s paradise where they can reach their target audience and connect with them by creating content that resonates with them.

TikTok is one such undeniable social media platform that reached more than one billion monthly active users in 2024. That’s not all! It is expected to reach approximately 2.35 billion users by 2029.

This platform is perfect for content creators that want to target a younger audience and improve their engagement rates. 572 million or 36.2% of TikTok users fall under the 18-24 age bracket. Thereafter, 535.6 million users or 33.9% of TikTok users belong to the 25 to 34 age group.

TikTok is already proving to be a great platform for those who want to turn their passion into profit by creating high-quality videos. Charli D’Amelio, a top creator, reportedly earns over $100,000 per TikTok post. Meanwhile, Khabane Lame, who supposedly earns more than $90,000 per post, comes a close second. In third place, we have Bella Poarch, who is said to make $66,829 per post.

These are some real encouraging numbers. But how can one become a successful TikTok creator? And how can you make money off of your content?

In this article, we’ll tell you all about how to become a content creator on TikTok. We’ll also discuss how successful TikTok creators monetize their content.  

How to Become a TikTok Creator

The first step to becoming a TikTok creator is to set up a TikTok account. Follow these steps to lay the foundation of your content creation journey on this amazing social media platform.

Step 1 . Enable the TikTok Creator or Business Account

Once you’ve made this switch on your TikTok account, you’ll get access to:

• Advertising tools to promote your videos
• TikTok Analytics to measure the performance of your content
• A link in your bio that directs your followers to your website

Step 2. Identify Your Niche

Choosing the most relevant niche ensures that you attract the right audience to your TikTok account and create relatable content . Some of the most popular options include food and recipes, comedy and skits, lifestyle, fitness, and educational content. You can pick a niche for yourself based on your interests and passion.

Step 3. Use the Discover Tab

Once you know your niche, start using the Discover tab to figure out some trending sounds, hashtags, and challenges to partake in. Needless to say, trending content gets more visibility on TikTok's For You Page (FYP). 

How to Create Content That Keeps the Audience Engaged

If you want to make it big on TikTok, your content needs to be creative, engaging, and consistent. Here’s how eligible creators can make TikTok videos that capture the audience’s attention.

Create a Content Calendar

Doing this will help you schedule posts and publish content more efficiently and consistently. Be sure to identify trending topics and plan your content around them. Research optimal times for posting to get the most visibility. Participate in challenges and brainstorm ideas for collaborations. Post TikTok videos consistently, at least 3-5 times per week to keep your audience engaged and remain visible on the FYP.

Leverage TikTok Creator Tools

Apart from the in-app creator tools, you can use TikTok Studio to manage content, view analytics, and check monetization performance. Further, the Creation Center offers advanced analytics and a wider range of features for scheduling and managing content. The TikTok Creator Marketplace is great for connecting creators with businesses for collaborations and monetization opportunities. You can also use external tools such as Murf AI for voice over creation before implementing your TikToks.

Start Strong

The audience typically decides whether or not they want to continue watching a video based on what they see in the first few seconds. To get them hooked early on, start with an eye-opening statistic, a bold opinion, or even a surprising fact. Use motion or quick transition to keep them interested. You can also add trending sounds to create a sense of familiarity.

Optimize the Video’s Length

Findings reveal that “the ideal length of TikTok videos is considered anywhere between 21 seconds to 34 seconds.” Longer videos can work too, provided the content keeps the audience engaged throughout. Use the analytics feature to figure out the length that works best with your audience.

9 Popular Ways to Monetize Your TikTok Content

Want to join the league of Charli D’Amelio, Khabane Lame, and Bella Poarch? Mentioned ahead are some of the most effective ways content creators can get paid on TikTok.

1. Join the TikTok Creator Rewards Program

Erstwhile TikTok Creator Fund, this is the platform's new program for paying creators. Let’s find out how it helps them make money in their content creation journey. To get in,

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You need to have at least 10,000 followers.
• You should have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
• Your videos must be at least one-minute long.
• Your content should reflect TikTok’s goal to inspire joy and creativity in others.
• You must reside in any of these countries: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, or Brazil.
• Your record should be clear of any Community Guidelines and Terms of Service violations.
• Rewards are calculated based on qualified views and rewards per 1,000 qualified views (RPM).

The TikTok Creator Rewards Program is all about appreciating quality content, thereby boosting creativity. It rewards you based on people's watch times and how engaging your videos are.

2. Collaborate with Brands or Other Creators on TikTok Marketplace

No prizes for guessing that teaming up with other creators and TikTok influencers will help you grow your audience base faster. TikTok Marketplace is the right place to find and connect with brands and other creators for potential partnerships. All in all, it’s an easy way to monetize without producing full-blown sponsored content. The eligibility criteria for using this option are as follows:

• You should be at least 18 years of age.
• You should own a Personal account (Creator account works too) on TikTok. Unfortunately, Business accounts do not qualify. 
• You need to have over 10,000 followers and received a minimum of 100,000 likes on your videos in the past 28 days.
• You should have uploaded at least 3 videos in the last 28 days.
• You should reside in the countries where TikTok Creator Marketplace is available.

For best results, choose creators in your niche so the content feels natural. Brands may also pay for personalized shoutouts or sponsored videos if your audience matches their target market. You can reach out to brands directly or use influencer platforms to find good deals. Always go for brand partnerships that are in tune with your content. Forced promotions hurt credibility.

3. Earn Money through Affiliate Marketing Programs

Many brands such as Amazon and Shopify run affiliate programs where they work with content creators and seek brand partnerships. Of course, the payments come through only when followers buy products through your referred links. This is what you need to do:

• Sign up for affiliate programs like ClickBank, CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, Rakuten Advertising, or another brand-specific platform.
• Feature products you actually use or trust.
• Add your affiliate links to your bio or use a link tool like Linktree.
• Create videos that explain how you use the product as these are highly effective in boosting conversions.
• Affiliate marketing works best with creators who have a large base of loyal and engaged followers.

4. Collect Tips or Donations from Your Audience

Being in good standing with your audience can improve your earning potential. TikTok allows followers to send tips and fan donations directly to creators they want to support. The eligibility requirements are:

• You need to be 18 and meet the platform’s follower requirements.
• Once you turn this on, a tip button will appear on your profile.
• Tips are voluntary, so don’t push for them. However, a simple mention can help.

This monetization feature works best when you’ve built a loyal, engaged audience that values your creativity and content.

5. Go LIVE

Here’s something interesting! Viewers can actually leave virtual gifts and coins on their favorite creator’s posts and LIVE videos. These gifts can then be redeemed for “Diamonds,” TikTok’s digital currency. 

• Gifts converted into Diamonds can be withdrawn as cash.
• To use this feature, you should be at least 18 and have access to TikTok LIVE sessions.

Most importantly, keep your livestream interesting. Talk to your audience, answer questions, and react to comments. The more active and engaging you are, the more likely people are to send gifts.

6. Start a TikTok Shop

If you sell merchandise or digital products, consider setting up a shop on your TikTok profile. The platform has partnered with multiple e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace. Of course, you need to meet all the eligibility requirements to open a TikTok shop. Here are a few tips to promote your products.

• Tag the products in your videos or while you’re live, so people can buy while they watch.
• Do include your TikTok storefront in your bio.
• Your storefront should display the most popular items first. Each product should come with a clear and detailed description.
• Create high-quality, original content/videos around your products that draw audiences.
• Incorporate clear CTAs to your captions and descriptions to push viewers to take the desired action. 

Everything, from orders to payments to customer questions, is handled within the TikTok app. So, you need not worry about extra settings or integrations. If you already have a small business or want to turn your content into a storefront, this is a must-have.

7. Run TikTok Ads

Ads aren’t just for big TikTok influencers anymore. Even small creators or side hustlers can leverage them. And thanks to TikTok’s vast reach, it has become easier for creators to boost their sales and create brand awareness.

• Boost your own content, promote a product, or direct people to your website or shop.
• Target your ideal audience based on age, interests, or the kind of videos they interact with.

You don’t need a huge budget to start. Simply run small tests and scale what works. If you’re serious about growing or selling something specific, ads can speed things up.

8. Sell Digital Products or Services

If you’ve got a skill, be it designing, writing, or coaching,  you can sell it on TikTok.

• Think templates, guides, video lessons, or downloadable tools.
• Bio tools like Gumroad, Metricool, Linktree, or Stan Store offer customizable links. Set them up and share your link(s).

Your content should naturally lead into what you’re offering. If you’re giving value, people won’t mind paying for more. This is one of the easiest ways to make passive income once you’ve built something useful.

9. Offer Exclusive Content through Subscriptions

TikTok now allows certain creators to offer paid subscriptions. Subscribers get access to special content, like exclusive videos, tutorials, behind-the-scenes stuff, or anything that feels personal. Eligibility criteria for this includes:

• You should be at least 18 years of age. 
• Your TikTok account should have at least 10,000 followers. 
• You need to have 100,000 video views in the last month or meet specific LIVE eligibility requirements.

Don’t overhype your offerings; just show your audience what they’re missing and why they're worth spending on. Keep the paid content consistent so people stay subscribed. If you’ve got a strong connection with your audience, this can work really well.

Murf AI Helps Boost Engagement with Quality Voice Overs on TikTok

Keeping your audience engaged on TikTok is all about treating them to entertaining content with trending sounds, realistic voiceovers, and more. While TikTok does offer the basic voice over options, Murf provides text-to-speech, multiple voices, and customization. 

Moreover, TikTok lacks an advanced text to speech (TTS) feature for creators who don't want to use their voices in their videos. Does that mean your TikTok video is doomed? Absolutely not! A simple integration with Murf can save the day!

Creators can choose from a range of voices in over 20 languages with accent variations. Whether you’re creating tutorials for dance routines or ASMR videos, you can create and add a voice over to your video content in minutes.

How does this help your videos?

For starters, your content will become accessible to viewers with visual impairments. You will be able to cater to an audience that prefers an auditory entertainment experience over a visual one. Last but not least, using multiple languages will expand your content’s reach to non-native speakers and global audiences.

Looking for customization options? Murf has you covered. Our tool allows creators to:

• Add emphasis to specific words
• Alter the pitch of the narration
• Add pauses to make the audio more realistic
• Infuse emotions like excited, sad, angry, calm, terrified, friendly, and more

Murf AI is every TikTok content creator’s key to standing out from the crowd and achieving success. Don’t wait; start using Murf to elevate your content today!