Introduction

TikTok is the most downloaded short-video sharing app with 672 million downloads in 2022. Following up in the rankings we can find Instagram and Whatsapp, with 548 million and 424 million downloads, respectively. In addition, TikTok is also considered the most engaging social media app with an average session duration of 10.85 minutes. 

Since its launch date in 2016, TikTok has rapidly become the most popular social media platform – In 2022 users spent 28.7 hours per month on average. Overall, with over 1.60 billion users and 1.05 billion monthly active users, TikTok videos are the most watched in the world compared to other social media platforms. In fact, more than 1 billion videos are viewed daily on TikTok. 

As we then can see, TikTok is one of the most profitable social media platforms for any business and is suitable for several industries and verticals. In the following paragraphs, you will learn more about TikTok affiliate marketing!

Affiliate marketing on TikTok

There are two ways to develop an affiliate marketing strategy on TikTok. On the one hand, TikTok provides monetization opportunities that allow creators to generate high profits. On the other hand, this social media platform offers advertisers and brands creative marketing channels that drive sales.

Sellers

Sellers on TikTok may be advertisers or brands looking to improve engagement, boost conversions and increase sales. TikTok affiliate marketing has become the most profitable way to connect the right creators with brands. As the platform is user-friendly and simple, monitoring the results is easy. Besides, the TikTok platform manages the payment of commissions automatically.

Creators

They are affiliate marketers that recommend and sell products from brands through an affiliate link in exchange for commissions. TikTok creators can easily find the most relevant products and promote them to their followers. In a few words, “Use your creativity to earn money”, as suggested by TikTok. 

How to get started with affiliate marketing on TikTok?

Short-form video is the most engaging and popular content type today. TikTok allows affiliate creators to grow their followers’ community and promote their brand’s products with short-form videos smoothly and quickly. 

Currently, there are two ways to get started with affiliate marketing on TikTok. On the one hand, you can start by joining the TikTok For Business affiliate program. However, this is not the only way to earn money from your TikTok profile through affiliate marketing. Here’s a simple step-by-step process to start quickly earning money through TikTok affiliate marketing:

Step 1: Switch to a business account

This step is mandatory because TikTok’s personal account does not allow affiliate links to videos, or monetization of any kind. Therefore, you need to upgrade your account to a Business account to place clickable links. In the same way, you will also have access to analytics features, creative tools, and performance insights. To switch to your free business account click on your profile and tap on the ‘Settings & Privacy’ section, then click on ‘Manage Account’ and lastly click on ‘Switch to Business Account’.

Step 2: Add clickable links

Now you can add your clickable affiliate link to your profile bio. Alternatively, you can also place a phrase or hashtag in your bio. If you are promoting more than one product, remember to update the link in your bio every time you post about the new product. 

Step 3: Leverage organic traffic

Leverage organic traffic to your profile and take advantage of different networks and channels. Promote your affiliate links according to the advertiser’s terms & conditions and update the link in your bio for each campaign. In addition, it is recommended to link all of your social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) to your TikTok profile to monetize traffic and grow your audience. 

Step 4: Create a landing page for multiple links

You can also link your landing page or blog site with different affiliate links in order to promote them separately and monetize the results correctly. This being said, you can send your TikTok followers to a blog site or landing page and get them to take specific action on the different products. 

Step 5: Promote promo codes

Simple but effective. Include promo codes or discounts in your videos to improve engagement and increase conversion rates. 

Best practices for affiliate creators

1# Find a niche and focus on existing trends 

2# Keep your videos short and vertical 

3# Ensure the balance between promotion and entertainment

4# Create powerful overlay text 

5# Leverage popular hashtags

6# Use engaging music and creative voice effects

7 most profitable niches on TikTok in 2023

1. Entertainment

2. Fitness/Sports

3. Beauty/Skincare

4. Fashion

5. Cooking

6. Lifestyle

7. Pets

Final thoughts

Even though TikTok has become the most popular short video platform and has the most viewed videos worldwide, video marketing’s future is still to come and it will be more challenging than before. Brands and content creators benefit greatly from the short video content, so the popularity of this content format will continue to grow in the future. In addition, with the inclusion of technology and AI in recent years, short-format and user-generated videos will have an enormous impact on people’s daily lives. 

Through creative, educational, and unique content, TikTok will continue to invest in user-generated content and connect brands with users. If you want to get the most out of your affiliate links on TikTok, focus on real connections through inspiring and encouraging video content.