TikTok affiliate marketing is a form of performance-based marketing where affiliates on TikTok promote products and earn a commission when their followers purchase through their affiliate links.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from any sales made or actions taken as a result of users clicking the links on this page.
Welcome to an in-depth TikTok affiliate marketing guide:
In this article, you'll learn the following:
- What TikTok affiliate marketing is
- Why you should consider becoming a TikTok affiliate marketer
- How TikTok affiliate marketing works
- Ways to make money as a TikTok affiliate marketer
- How much can you make with TikTok affiliate marketing
- How to build a TikTok audience
I'll even throw in a few examples of successful TikTok affiliate marketers to inspire you to take action.
So, if you've ever wanted to make money on TikTok, this article is for you.
What is TikTok Affiliate Marketing?
TikTok affiliate marketing involves uploading videos on the platform and monetizing them. You can monetize your videos by placing affiliate links in the bio or the videos and directing the audience to your offer.
In TokTok, there are two ways to get traffic to your affiliate offer, organic TikTok traffic, or you can run TikTok ads.
That might not sound new, especially if you're a seasoned affiliate marketer.
The difference, though, is that most people have no idea how to use the platform to make online money as an affiliate marketer.
After all, the platform is known for allowing users to create quirky short videos for entertainment purposes.
Besides, TikTok is only about six years old. And then there's this perception that adults shouldn't be on TikTok.
Why TikTok?
First, TikTok is BIG!
The platform draws a staggering 1 billion active users spread across 154 countries. And if you thought that was impressive, check out the stats below.
- TikTok users watch a whopping 167 hours of video per minute.
- TikTok was the most downloaded app in 2020 and 2021. The TikTok app has been downloaded over 2.6 billion times globally to date.
- The TikTok app is a top-grossing, non-gaming app, raking in $110 million in user spending.
Numbers don't lie. One notable stat from the figures above is that TikTokers aren't shy about spending money.
In essence, this means you can generate a decent income as an affiliate marketer on the platform. All you need to know is how.
How Does Affiliate Marketing on TikTok Work?
TikTok affiliate marketing is more or less similar to other social media platforms.
An affiliate transaction of TikTok involves four parties as described below:
- The Product Creator: The party that offers a product to affiliate marketers to promote for a commission. Think of a manufacturer, retailer, etc.
- The Affiliate Network: A product creator may decide to work with an affiliate network. The network acts as a go-between the creator and affiliate marketers,
- The Affiliate Marketer: The party that works directly with a product creator or affiliate network to market their product or service for a commission. Regarding TikTok affiliate marketing, you'll promote the creator's products in your TikTok account.
- The Consumer: The party that buys the product or service. For TikTok affiliate marketing, the consumer is the person watching your short videos.
The product or affiliate network will give you a unique link. You'll then reference this link in your TikTok videos and add the link to your TikTok profile page.
Ways to Make Money with Affiliate Marketing on TikTok
Now that you know how TikTok affiliate marketing works let's look at how you can build a successful affiliate marketing business on the platform.
1. Sell to Your Organic Traffic
The easiest way to make money on TikTok as an affiliate marketer is to leverage free organic traffic.
You see, most TikTokers are Gen Zers. According to Business Insider, Gen Zers yield a spending power of over $140 billion. Further, Bloomberg reports that this young generation boasts a disposable income of $360 billion, 2X more than was projected three years ago.
Still, you need to find appealing affiliate marketing products to make them spend their money. You can't, for instance, promote hunting products to 19-year-old teens and expect to make good money. On the flip side, you can generate a sizable income if you promote affiliate products related to beauty.
On top of that, Gen Zers aren't fond of traditional ads. You should blend your affiliate offer cleverly to draw their attention. You'll want to ensure the product placement is organic and subtle.
You may not have a problem promoting products on your TikTok account. But how will you make it work? How will you convert people watching your TikTok videos into paying customers? How will the product creator or affiliate network know you referred these buyers?
Below are a few strategies to sell to your organic traffic.
Include a Link in Your Bio
You cannot just add clickable affiliate links to your TikTok videos. However, you can include a clickable link to your bio, the same as you'd with Instagram.
Placing a link on your TikTok profile is arguably the best organic strategy to generate traffic outside the platform. So, naturally, it's the first place to include the custom link given to you by the product creator or network.
You can reference the link in your videos once it is up and running.
It is crucial to note that you must have at least 1000 TikTok followers to add a link to your bio.
On top of that, it is better to shift to a TikTok business account — if you have a personal account.
Once you're able to add a clickable link to your TikTok, you can complete the process as follows:
- Start by tapping the Me icon located at the bottom right corner of your screen
- Hit the Edit Profile button
- Insert your affiliate link in the section prompting you to add the URL. You can also like your own website or custom landing page.
- I recommend shortening the link using a URL shortening tool like Switchy.io to make it look less cluttered.
- Hit the Submit button
- Check your TikTok bio to ensure that you've added the link successfully. In addition, make sure the link is clickable.
- Directing the link to your landing page or website offers more opportunities to promote affiliate products. Plus, the strategy works better when you're promoting multiple products.
Build a Bridge Page
If you have multiple products to promote, you need to use a bridge page where the links are located since you can add only one link to your TikTok bio. For this, you can use LinkTr.ee.
It is a free tool that allows you to add as many links as you need. It even comes with free link-in-bio templates to sell on other social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram.
Even though LinkTr.ee offers a free-forever plan, you can opt for a paid plan to give you more control and customization.
When prospects tap on your LinkTr.ee bio, they will be directed to a landing page containing multiple affiliate links.
It is crucial, therefore, to highlight the presence of your Linktree in your bio in their descriptions and videos.
The beauty of creating a bridge page using LinkTr.ee is that you can add links to your blog posts or longer YouTube videos because these enable you to explain in detail the features and benefits of the affiliate products you're promoting.
That said, here's how to add affiliate links to LinkTr.ee
- Start by creating a LinkTr.ee account.
- Log into your account and tap "Add New Link" at the top corner of your screen.
- Complete the two fields and slide the yellow button to the left to activate your links
While using Linktree isn't as straightforward as adding a link directly to your content, it works all the same.
Link to Your Other Social Pages
It is easy to link your TikTok account to almost any social media platform.
The process is the same as adding a link to your profile, as highlighted above. Go to your Me page, and tap the Edit Profile button.
TikTok has fields that allow you to enter your YouTube and Instagram profiles. That way, it is easier to direct your target audience to see your other content and promotions.
Use Coupon Codes
Some brands issue coupon codes that you can give to your audience. You can mention these codes in your TikTok videos. It is essential to remember that coupon codes may have an expiry date, so the timing is important.
Add Dedicated URLs in Your Videos
You can always mention affiliate links in your videos or add the link as text in your videos. These links are not clickable, though. Ensure your URL is easy to remember, so people can go off TikTok and type your link in the browser. You can use the tools like Switchy to edit the link easier to remember format.
2. Leverage TikTok Advertising
What if you don't have a large TikTok following? Well, you can still make money online as a affiliate marketer using TikTok advertising.
You can still use paid traffic even if you have a big following and have a track record of having your TikTok videos appear in your target audience For You lists. Think of paid ads as a strategy to supplement your organic video traffic.
A TikTok paid ad campaign is similar to what happens on other social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. You'll need to bid for your paid ads to appear on your viewer's screen.
Below are a few things you need to know about paid TikTok video ads:
Video in-feed ads appear as 5 to 60 seconds full screen in your target's For You feeds.
You can direct your ad to specific psychographics and demographics. The amount to pay depends on the costs of winning your preferred slots in a silent auction.
You can use TikTok's high-profile ads, including TopView Ads. However, these are expensive, and you might struggle to break even unless you're a popular affiliate marketer with a huge following.
How to Build a TikTok Following
As you can already tell, affiliate marketing on TikTok is a numbers game.
While you can pay for traffic, I recommend growing your audience. That way, you don't have to pay to promote your affiliate offers.
Below are a few strategies to help you create a sizable TikTok audience.
Consistency is Key
The more consistent you are on TikTok, the easier it is for people to notice and follow you. And the beauty of it is that TikTok short-form videos are only a few seconds to 1 minute long.
So, you should have a problem creating several videos a day to ensure you post regularly. Still, I recommend having a posting schedule.
While posting videos regularly is crucial, you don't want to spam your TikTok audience with videos every 5 minutes. If you are just starting out, I recommend posting three videos daily until you reach 1000 followers.
Be Different
TikTok may be fun and all. However, you can build a TikTok following if you keep posting mediocre, hurriedly assembled videos.
Remember, your end goal is to monetize your videos. So, you want to know the basics right from the get-go. You want the audience to take you seriously and, most importantly, generate affiliate sales.
Network as Much as You Can
Your network is your net worth, so they say. And because TikTok affiliate marketing is a numbers game, you want to connect with as many TikTok users as possible.
You'll also want to stretch your networking to other social platforms, including Instagram and Twitter. So, connect with people in your niche, form relationships, and find affiliate marketing collaborating opportunities.
Use Hashtags Wisely
You can also utilize hashtags on TikTok, like on Instagram. The proper amount of hashtags per video is 3-5. Don't use too popular hashtags with millions of mentions because they are more competitive.
It is better to use hashtags with a few hundred thousand mentions, at least in the beginning.
Real-life Examples of Affiliate Marketing on TikTok
Below are a few examples of TikTok affiliate marketing to draw some inspiration.
Adrian Brambila
Adrian Brambila is a social media influencer with a large following on TikTok. He makes content around making money online niche.
He also has his own course, the Brambila Method, which is very popular for those seeking how to make extra income while having a 9 to 5 job.
Before entering into the online business, Adrian made dancing videos, also on TikTok.
TIP: If you struggle to get TikTok followers, Adrian has an excellent course for growing your organic following.
Rachel Meaders
Rachel Meaders boasts a massive following of 1.3 million followers.
Meaders monetizes her traffic through the Amazon Associates affiliate program. She has a unique angle of teaching her followers about things they didn't know they needed on Amazon.
And she uses LinkTr.ee to direct her traffic to the right landing page.
Woodworking
While woodworking isn't a big TikTok account, it caught my attention because of how it is monetized.
Many TikTok affiliate marketers monetize their content through the Amazon Associates affiliate program.
Woodworking uses ClickBank targeting consumer products with commissions as high as $62 per sale.
The channel has 43k followers, presumably generating a pretty penny every month.
The Upsides and Downsides of Becoming a TikTok Affiliate Marketer
Running an affiliate marketing business on TikTok has its pros and cons, as detailed below:
Pros
Cons
What You Need to do Hack Affiliate Marketing on TikTok?
While TikTok is a relatively new platform, getting the proper training can still make big money.
Legendary Marketer is arguably one of the best training programs for affiliate marketers looking to conquer TikTok.
You can start your TikTok affiliate marketing career by joining their 15-Day Online Business Builder Challenge.
How Much Can You Make with Affiliate Marketing on TikTok?
Like any other affiliate marketing business, TikTok boils down to numbers.
The more followers you have, the higher the likelihood of making more money. However, you must use the right monetization strategy.
You could have many followers but fail to generate a reasonable income due to a poor monetization strategy.
With a reasonable number of followers and a solid marketing strategy, you can rake in $1,000 to $50,000+ in your first year.
The bottom line is that there's no limit on how much you can make as long as you know how to monetize your traffic and choose good affiliate offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an affiliate marketer on TikTok?
Below are the steps you need to follow to become an affiliate marketer on TikTok.
Step 1: Open a TikTok personal account. More sounds are available with a personal account, which is essential to growing your following.
Step 2: Create TikTok videos and engage with your viewers and followers
Step 3: Once you have 1000 followers, you can add a link to your bio
You can switch to a business account later on. Here are the differences between personal and business accounts.
How do you earn affiliate commissions on TikTok?
You can make money if one of your followers buys a product through an affiliate URL provided to you either by a product's creator or affiliate network. You can also make money on TikTok using dropshipping.
How do you make money on TikTok without followers?
The truth is, you can't make any money without followers.
Like any business, you need an audience to buy the products. So, it would be best to grow your audience even before thinking about how you can generate income on the platform.
Some strategies you can use to increase your TikTok following include:
- Engaging with other TikTokers
- Posting at the right time
- Creating and participating in TikTok challenges
- Educating your followers
- Cross-promote your videos.
Once you have a sizable crowd, you can leverage TikTok advertising for faster results.
Wrapping Up
TikTok affiliate marketing is getting popular by the day as budding entrepreneurs look to cash in on the craze that is the platform.
And with the number of users surging, this is the best time to hop on the bandwagon.
Sure, there's a slight learning curve. However, you can enroll in the Legendary Marketer 15 Seconds Free Leads to learn how to get followers on the platform.
Armed with the right training tools and knowledge, it is only a matter of time before you close your first affiliate sale.
You can also read my article about different strategies for making money on Instagram.
