TikTok has taken the world by storm. From funny pranks to educational information, TikTok is the instant remedy to stress and boredom. But do you know that you can make money on TikTok, too, via their affiliate program?
So how does being a TikTok affiliate work? If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, it’s a popular (and totally legal) advertising model in which companies pay individuals for referring customers to buy their products and services. As an affiliate, you typically earn a percentage or a fixed amount for each qualified sale that you refer.
As a TikTok affiliate, you can promote products on the TikTok Shop, and when someone buys through your affiliate or referral link, you’ll earn a commission, which is usually a small percentage of the price of the product.
Sounds exciting, right? There are countless TikTok creators earning thousands of dollars every month by simply talking about their favorite products. You, too, can get a piece of the pie by joining the TikTok affiliate program.
I’m going to discuss how anyone can be a TikTok affiliate and earn extra income by promoting and referring their favorite products.
How to Join the TikTok Affiliate Program
To be a TikTok affiliate, you’ll need to complete these two steps:
- Switch your TikTok profile to a business account.
- Sign up to the TikTok Shop Seller Center.
So let’s get started with the first step, which is to switch to a TikTok business account.
How to Switch to a TikTok Business Account
When you sign up for a TikTok account, it will be automatically considered a personal account. You’ll have to change your TikTok account from “personal” to “business” in order to join the affiliate program.
Don’t worry if don’t have a business. You can still be a TikTok affiliate as a person or individual.
Start by opening the TikTok app and signing in to your account (if you haven’t done it already).
In your TikTok account, tap the “Profile” tab at the bottom, and then tap the hamburger icon at the top-right corner.
Next, select “Settings and Privacy.”
In the Settings and privacy screen, choose “Account.”
Next, select “Switch to Business Account.”
Let’s start setting up your TikTok business account. Press or tap the “Next” button as well as the succeeding ones.
You’ll now be prompted to choose a category that best describes your account. Select your preferred category and then press “Next.”
Press the “Add” button to upload a profile photo that best represents your business. If you don’t want to add a profile photo or if you want to add it later, select “Skip.”
Enter your bio to let followers and potential customers know your business better. Press “Confirm” to add your bio or “Skip” to do this later.
Your TikTok business profile has been completed.
Tap the “Create now” button to create a new video or select “Maybe later” to skip it.
Now that you’ve switched to a TikTok business profile, the next step is to sign up to the TikTok Shop Seller Center so that you can start promoting products on the TikTok Shop.
How to Sign Up to the TikTok Shop Seller Center
The TikTok Shop Seller Center is actually a separate application where you can manage your shop, add products, handle orders, etc. You’ll need to download the TikTok Shop Seller Center mobile app from Google Play (for Android users) or the App Store (for iOS users).
Open the app and tap the “Sign up with TikTok” button. If you want to register using your phone or email, press “Sign up with Phone & Email” instead.
You will be asked if you’re sure to open a shop in your country. Press “Confirm” (the selling country can’t be changed once you press this button).
If you’re using your TikTok account to sign up to the Seller Center, you’ll need to authorize it to access your account. Press “Authorize” to grant Seller Center access to your TikTok account.
Complete the registration process by providing all the required information such as:
- Business type,
- Shop name,
- Phone number, and
- Email address.
You may also have to upload your valid ID and business permit.
After furnishing all the required information, press “Submit.”
After submitting your information and required documents, it will probably take one or two days for your TikTok Shop to be approved. You will be notified via email when that happens.
Once your TikTok Shop is live and active, you can start selling your own products and/or promoting other people’s products as an affiliate.
How to Link Your Shop to Your TikTok Account
If you signed up to the Seller Center using your phone or email, you may have to perform the extra step of linking your TikTok Shop to your account.
TikTok allows you to link one (1) official account and up to four (4) marketing accounts. The official account is the one that represents your shop on TikTok.
To link your TikTok shop to your account, open the Seller Center app and select the “Settings” tab. Next, choose “Linked TikTok accounts.”
Choose “Official account.”
Make sure that you’re currently logged in your TikTok account, and then press “Link official account.”
Finally, tap “Authorize” to link your TikTok Shop to your account.
How to Create a TikTok Video to Promote Products
Now that you already have your own TikTok Shop linked to your account, it’s time to create “shoppable” videos to promote your favorite products.
To create a shoppable video, tap “Shop” in your TikTok account and look for the product that you want to promote.
Choose the product and then tap the message that says “Earn (amount) on each product sold.”
The “Promotion info” dialog will appear, featuring the commission rate, as well as links to create a shoppable video, contact the seller, and add the product to your showcase. Select “Create shoppable video.”
You have three options to create your TikTok video:
- Post a video,
- Create with CapCut tools, and
- Create auto-generated video.
Choose your option to create the video, and on the next step, enter the product name that will appear on your video. You can leave the name as is.
Press the “Add” button to start creating your video.
Your shoppable video will include a link that your viewers can click to see the product. When they make a purchase via your shoppable link, you will earn a commission based on the commission rate of the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I view my affiliate commissions?
You can view your TikTok affiliate commissions and performance stats by going to the TikTok Shop Creator Center. Open the TikTok app, select “Profile,” press the “Shop” icon, and then tap “TikTok Shop Creator Center.”
How do I withdraw my earnings?
You can withdraw your affiliate earnings through the TikTok Shop Creator Center. Select “Earnings” and choose “Withdraw balance.” You can choose either “Manual withdrawal” or “Auto-withdrawal.” You’ll need to add a payout method before you can withdraw your earnings.
Good Luck!
Being a TikTok affiliate is indeed an excellent way to earn extra cash, and it could even be your primary source of income if you’re motivated enough.
If you’re just starting out as a TikTok affiliate, you can buy the products that you want to review and promote out of your pocket. Then once you’ve garnered a significant following on TikTok, you can start contacting sellers to request for free samples. Some sellers will even reach out to you to offer their free samples.
Good luck on your new journey as a TikTok affiliate! Let me know if you have any questions by commenting below.
