Thanks to TikTok's increasing popularity, it’s now possible to 

. You can do this in many ways, such as receiving video tips, making money from live streams, and using brand deals to increase your revenue.

But those are just a few options. In this guide, we’ll explain:

Step 1: Join the TikTok Creator Next Program

Creator Next is an exclusive program for TikTok influencers who want to monetize their audience. It’s the gateway to 

 monetization tool on the platform, so apply for Creator Next first.

Be based in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Italy, or Spain.

Have a TikTok account that’s in good standing (follows 

Have a personal TikTok account (not a business account).

If you meet the requirements, you’ll gain access to tools that help you develop your channel and make money from TikTok: the Creator Marketplace, the Creator Fund, Video Gifts, Live Gifts, and Tips.

But more on that later. The first step is applying for TikTok Creator Next!

Creator Next: How to Apply for Monetization on TikTok

1. Open the TikTok app and tap the profile icon.

TikTok Monetization: All the Ways to Earn Through Creator Next

In this section, we’ll dive deeper and explain the monetization tools in the Creator Next program.

1. Earn Money Through the TikTok Creator Fund

TikTok pays creators from a large collection of money called the Creator Fund. In 2020, the fund was expected to pay creators at least $200 billion in its first year. Now it’s estimated to reach $1 billion or more.

How much you’ll get paid depends on many factors, such as the region you live in, if your content is original or not, the engagement rate on your videos, and more.

But, be warned: One critique of the Creator Fund is that it takes 

 of views to cover your entire livelihood.

So if you're wondering how much money you can make from TikTok — and you're a small creator — the figure is closer to side-hustle pay.

 explains that she made $937 in one month from the Creator Fund, which is nothing to sneeze at. And she accomplished that with 25,000 followers.

“I feel like people overgeneralize that the TikTok Creator Fund doesn’t pay you anything, but it kind of does,” Jessica says. “It fluctuates a lot. So you can’t rely on the Creator Fund as a primary source of income, but it’s a nice little bonus here and there."

To make money from the Creator Fund, you should meet five requirements:

Be accepted into the Creator Next Program.

Have at least 10,000 followers on your TikTok channel.

Have at least 100,000 video videos in the last 30 days.

Have an account based in the U.S., and make sure it’s in good standing.

: Videos you made prior to getting monetized through the Creator Fund aren’t eligible for compensation; neither are live streams, duets, and stitches.

Make sure you’re in the Creator Next program, then follow these steps to apply for the Creator Fund:

Live streaming is another way to make money with your channel, particularly through LIVE Gifts.

TikTok viewers send you virtual gifts during a live stream (shown above). These gifts are typically fun animations and stickers.

TikTok awards you a number of “Diamonds” based on how many gifts you received and the popularity of your live.

Redeem Diamonds for real money. You’ll get 50% of the revenue while TikTok receives the other half.

Here are the requirements to receive LIVE Gifts:

Live in a location where LIVE Gifts are available.

Have an account that’s at least 30 days old and in good standing.

Video Gifts allow you to make money on individual TikTok videos. It’s similar to receiving LIVE gifts, in that:

Viewers tap the gift icon in the comment section to send animations and stickers.

TikTok awards you a number of Diamonds based on the amount of gifts you received and your video’s performance.

Only videos with a gift icon have this option. Also, viewers 

 send gifts for duets, stitches, advertisements, sponsored content, promoted posts or videos violating TikTok’s community guidelines.

Plus, you'll need to meet these requirements to receive Video Gifts:

Have published a video in the last 30 days.

Have an account that’s in good standing.

Make sure you’re in the Creator Next program, then follow these steps to turn on Video Gifts:

Tap the menu icon in the top-right corner.

4. Get a Brand Deal Through the TikTok Creator Marketplace

The Creator Marketplace is where companies go to find influencers for paid campaigns.

Are you a TikTok creator? Want to make money from your videos? If the answer is yes, use this guide to monetize your short-form content.

How to Make Money on TikTok as a Creator [Step by Step]

When creating a TikTok account, there are two types to choose from — a personal account or a business account.

Personal accounts are for individuals who want to use TikTok for social networking, sharing, and hanging out with friends. In contrast, business accounts are designed for marketing purposes. A company will create a TikTok business account to drive brand awareness, advertise their services, and more.

Who Should Use a TikTok Business Account?

Business accounts are an excellent option for:

Anyone who wants to promote a business, product, or service — even individual content creators with a product line.

Businesses that want to entertain their customers and promote engagement.

Businesses that want to use commercial tools on TikTok, such as those in the Business Creative Hub.

, you’ll have access to six helpful features:

: A collection of songs and sounds you can use in your videos without paying copyright fees. These tracks are pre-cleared for commercial use on TikTok, and business accounts can use them for organic or branded content.

: Schedule posts up to 10 days in advance.

: Display a link to your business on your TikTok profile.

: Display your business email address on your TikTok profile.

: See metrics that reflect your account growth, view audience demographics, and more.

: A special section in the TikTok app that shows content creation tips and trending business content.

Note: Business accounts don’t have access to TikTok’s General Music Library (GML). The music in that collection is for personal entertainment only, which is why only personal accounts can use songs from the GML.

This also means that business accounts cannot 

 with videos that contain music from the GML. So if you want to create content by remixing what’s already out there or doing collaborations, a business account won’t be helpful. You would only be able to duet/stitch with accounts that use music from the CML.

Who Should Use a Personal TikTok Account?

Most people on TikTok — public figures, general users, content creators — use a personal account for their video content. They typically aren’t selling a product, representing a company, or looking to drive brand awareness.

You should create a personal account if you want to:

Watch videos on TikTok and interact with creators.

Create videos on TikTok for friends, family, and broader audiences.

Monetize your TikTok account through the Creator Fund, Tips, Live Gifts, etc. (Many of these features aren’t available for business accounts).

Use advanced tools to discover who your viewers are and what appeals to them.

A personal account has some features that a business account does not. Some of these benefits include:

 A collection of songs and sounds that have not been licensed for commercial use, thus making them usable for regular users.

 TikTok sound to their content. By contrast, business accounts can only use commercial sounds.

 Only let approved users see your videos or follow the you.

: This program is designed to help TikTok creators monetize their accounts while they build a community of followers.

TikTok Creator Marketplace: Where brands and creators connect to build paid campaigns.

TikTok Creator Fund: A $200M fund that pays talented creators for their hard work and innovative content.

Video Gifts: Collect “Diamonds” from viewers that can be redeemed for cash.

Live Gifts: Collect “Diamonds” from viewers that can be redeemed for cash, but only during live streams.

Tips: Collect monetary tips directly through your TikTok profile.

: Determine the type of content your audience likes and see metrics to back it up.

How to Switch to a Business or Personal TikTok Account

If you choose the wrong TikTok account, don’t worry. You can switch from one to the other at any time.

Follow the additional instructions that pop up, if any.

 switch back and forth between business and personal accounts. If you want to create both types of content, consider creating two accounts: one for personal and one for business.

The best TikTok account for you depends on how you plan to use the platform. For example, if you already own a business and want to use TikTok to promote that business, a business account is likely best. This will allow you to continue building your existing brand, provide access to commercially licensed sounds, and ensure that you have the best tools to market yourself.

It's easy to think, "I'm building a business, so I need a business account." But considering how those accounts are structured, a solopreneur or an individual might need a personal account until they have a certified business. That way, they still have access to TikTok monetization tools, advanced creator tools, and the ability to duet with more creators.

Also, it makes sense to keep a personal account if you’re looking for brand deals. A personal account gives you access to the TikTok Creator Marketplace (within the Creator Next program), where brands and creators can find each other and start building campaigns.

Now that you know which account to create, learn how to find trending TikTok sounds for your content.

Do you need a business TikTok account, or are you better off sticking to a personal account? Keep reading to learn which one is best for your goals.

How to Choose Between a TikTok Business or Personal Account

It’s the big dilemma among video creators: Is it better if I post on YouTube or TikTok?

YouTube has been a staple among video creators since its inception in 2005, but it’s no longer the only platform creators can leverage.

TikTok burst onto the scene in 2016, merged with Musical.ly in 2017, and by 2018, was one of the most downloaded apps in the U.S. However, as more creators flock to the app, some question whether to focus on YouTube, TikTok, or both.

But a choice between YouTube or TikTok shouldn’t be a snap decision. Instead, consider a myriad of factors, from the culture of each platform to the monetization and audience-building opportunities.

Today we’ll compare YouTube and TikTok to help you understand more about:

Monetization programs available on YouTube and TikTok

How YouTube and TikTok’s audiences differ

Which one is best for different types of video creators

What’s the Difference Between YouTube and TikTok?

 is a video-sharing platform. Owned by Google, this video powerhouse enables creators to upload and share videos, build a loyal following, and monetize content through ads and other opportunities.

 as of 2022, with 62% of users consuming content on the website daily. Due to the structure of the website, long-form videos are the norm. In 2018, the average length of a YouTube video was 

 long. The platform also hosts various internal products, including YouTube Music, YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, and more.

Creators on YouTube have a wealth of tools, including in-depth analytics, branded channels, content types, and useful features, such as a copyright-free audio library.

TikTok, on the other hand, prioritizes short-form content. Creators upload videos that often feature catchy music, which they share with their followers and the TikTok community at large. Then the algorithm shares videos from millions of creators on a user’s For You page.

Similar to YouTube, TikTok creators have various tools at their disposal for monetizing videos and building a community. These tools can be found in 

Let’s take a look at which app is better for specific creator goals, such as:

Both platforms allow creators to monetize their content. In addition to external brand deals, creators can leverage specific tools to generate additional income from their channels.

YouTube’s monetization features are available as part of the 

. This program is only available to creators whose content follows YouTube’s strict 

, which include meeting advertiser-friendly guidelines.

Creators wanting access to the Partner Program have to do other things too, like open a 

 account, have 1,000 subscribers, and 4,000 hours of watch time on their channel in the last 12 months.

Once accepted into the program, creators have access to numerous monetization options, including:

 — Creators earn a percentage of the advertising revenue generated from the clicks on ads displayed before, after, or during their content.

 — Generates monthly recurring revenue by selling exclusive content to subscribers.

 — If a YouTube Premium subscriber watches a creator’s content, the creator will receive part of that subscriber’s monthly fee.

 — This fund is worth $100 million and pays successful Shorts creators a monthly bonus for their hard work.

 — Sales of branded channel merchandise from your channel profile and watch pages.

 — Super Chats and Stickers allows fans to pay for messages to be highlighted in live chat streams (as well as animations). Super Thanks are monetary tips viewers send to creators when watching their regular videos.

TikTok offers different monetization avenues within its Creator Next program. Similar to YouTube, this program is application based. Creators must be at least 18, have 1,000 views in the last month, meet TikTok’s community guidelines, reach a minimum number of views and followers (it varies by region), and have posted three times in the last 30 days.

If accepted into the program, creators gain access to these monetization tools:

 — Since August 2020, the TikTok Creator Fund has pledged to pay creators in the USA upwards of $1 billion by August 2023. This program encourages creators to develop and share innovative content while fostering a community of followers.

 — This unique tool helps brands partners with the right influencers and creators for various campaign initiatives while also providing monetization opportunities for creators.

 — Allows viewers to send appreciation for content in the form of “Diamonds.” Creators collect these Diamonds and redeem them for monetary compensation.

 — Similar to Video Gifts, these Diamond rewards are earned through live streams on TikTok and redeemed at a later date for money.

 — Just as you’d tip a waiter, TikTok viewers can send a tip to content creators.

Can You Make More Money on YouTube or TikTok?

Given the structure of each platform’s monetization efforts, creators can make more money by focusing on YouTube. This is because TikTok’s Creator Fund is a large sum of money divided between creators, while those on YouTube make money based on the direct results of their channel.

The term “monthly users” refers to the number of users actively visiting and engaging with a social media app. Therefore, knowing which platform has more monthly users is an insightful piece of data to have when choosing between YouTube and TikTok.

Viewer Demographics on YouTube vs. TikTok

Another critical aspect of each platform is the audience demographics. If your content is geared toward a particular target audience, you’ll want to know which platform they prefer.

 is in the range of 18-45 years old, catering to more of a broader audience group. While TikTok’s demographics skew toward females and a younger generation, it’s important to note that no one specific demographic group named TikTok as its favorite app, according to 

As for user demographics, there’s no clear winner between YouTube and TikTok. It all depends on the content you intend to create and whether your audience can be found on either platform.

YouTube caters to long-form content, while TikTok only allows short-form videos.

On YouTube, creators can upload videos up to 12 hours long. On TikTok, the maximum video length is 10 minutes. However, a quick scroll through TikTok reveals most videos don’t approach that limit — not even close. For now, short-form videos are still the app’s main draw.

When deciding between YouTube and TikTok, consider if a long-form video is best for you or if you can get your message across in a few minutes.

Watch time is a metric tracked by both YouTube and TikTok to determine the average amount of time users watch a creator’s content. So naturally, the greater the watch time, the more engaged viewers are.

Given the shorter nature of videos on TikTok, one might think it’s easier to have a higher watch time average. But, in fact, it’s harder. The quick nature of these videos means a creator’s content must be eye-catching from the start, whereas YouTube allows for longer storytelling.

The storytelling nature of YouTube also helps creators spend more time connecting with their audience.

Building a Community on YouTube vs. TikTok

A creator’s success on YouTube or TikTok depends on their ability to build a community. Each platform offers various ways to do it.

Both platforms provide ways for creators to interact with their viewers — commenting, live streams, interactive buttons, and more. But these tools don’t innately build an audience; a creator’s ability to create content and conversations that resonate with a community does.

Building a community on YouTube or TikTok may look different from a technological perspective, but the same principles apply — create unique content and make it authentic.

Should You Start a YouTube Channel or TikTok Account?

If you want to create long-form content with greater opportunities for monetization, a YouTube account is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer short-form videos and have a younger audience demographic, give TikTok a try.

Should you create a YouTube channel or go all-in on making TikTok videos? From monetizing your content to building a loyal community, here's what you need to know about both platforms.

YouTube vs. TikTok: Which One Is Best for Video Creators?

While relatively young compared to other social apps, TikTok has quickly taken off. There are over 

, and it's likely that number will increase next year.

On TikTok, one vital way to reach new viewers is through hashtags. Similar to other social media platforms, hashtags on TikTok help categorize similar content. 

For example, if someone is interested in DIY home improvement projects, they might use the hashtag “#DIY” to find content that answers their questions or inspires them.

So, if you’re wondering, “Should I use hashtags on TikTok?” the answer is yes! The benefits of adding hashtags include:

Reaching new viewers who share an interest in your content

Building community by creating your own branded hashtag

Making it easy to search for and find your content

Letting viewers know what to expect from your video

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use hashtags on TikTok to your benefit.

Using hashtags on TikTok is easy. When you finish editing your video and are ready to upload, you’ll include hashtags with your caption. The key is to take a strategic approach to the hashtags you use. Let’s take a look at some best practices.

1. Research Trending Hashtags for Your Video

Before you add hashtags to your next TikTok video, spend a little time researching which ones will help you get more views.

First, look for hashtags that are currently trending. These will help increase your viewership by attracting viewers who follow new trends.

How do you find trending hashtags on TikTok? You can start by heading to the 

. You'll have to create an account to browse all of the trends, but once you do, you'll find a dedicated 

. According to the platform, this resource will help you "discover new trends on TikTok" with ranking data, analytics, and a trend graph.

You can also use a hashtag finder to search for TikTok hashtags. There are a few different tools available, with many free options like 

The number of videos using a specific hashtag

The most popular hashtags related to your search

Videos (that you can view) using a hashtag

2. Find Niche Hashtags That Represent Your Community

As you research, you’ll also want to look for niche hashtags. Using the same methods as above, focus on looking for hashtags that might have fewer views but are highly relevant to your audience.

 has nearly 400,000 posts and billions of views. This will make competing for views difficult. 

However, you could add a more niche hashtag, such as 

, which only has around 570 posts. This will make it easier for your video to stand out.

3. Use the Right Number of Hashtags for Your Video

As you get started, you might wonder, “How many hashtags should I use on TikTok?” While TikTok doesn’t set a limit on the number of hashtags you can use, it's not a good idea to use dozens of them. 

And we understand how tempting it is to do the complete opposite — to cram as many hashtags as possible into one post. It's even easier to do so now that TikTok has increased the description character limit from 300 to 2,200. Everyone's been talking about the extra space, including social media consultant Matt Navarra.

But this extra space isn't for adding more hashtags. It's for expanding the description of your video and including relevant keywords so more viewers can discover your content. 

 on TikTok videos. They should be a nice blend of niche-related tags and trending tags (that are related to the video) to increase visibility. You can also experiment and try more or less hashtags to see which option works best.

Another fun way to use hashtags on TikTok is to start a hashtag challenge. TikTok hashtag challenges encourage your community to create their own videos and contribute to a creative idea.

Here’s how to start a hashtag challenge:

Create a branded hashtag that's original and accurately describes your challenge.

Ask your followers to create a specific type of video with your hashtag.

Engage with followers who create tagged videos.

5. Avoid Hashtags That Are Too Competitive

While you definitely want to capture views through trending topics, stay away from hashtags that are too competitive. 

Hashtags such as #ForYou, #ForYouPage, or #FYP are attached to millions of videos. Don't rely on these hashtags to earn you more views, as the odds of your video surfacing when someone searches those hashtags are low.

Instead, use topical trending hashtags that are relevant to your brand, along with a few niche ones. This will help build your following and engage your community.

Now that you know how to find the right hashtags, use the following tips to add hashtags to your videos going forward:

After your caption, type in # and the text for your tag.

Don’t add spaces or punctuation in your hashtag. For example, “#DIYdecor” not “#DIY[space]decor.”

Can You Add Hashtags After Posting on TikTok?

Once you post your video to TikTok, there is no way to go back and change your caption. 

This means you cannot edit hashtags within your caption after posting it.

 So make sure you take the time to review your caption before hitting post.

Since there is a character limit for captions on TikTok, some users add hashtags to the comments section. You can put hashtags in your comments. However, there is little proof that this is as effective as the hashtags found in your video caption.

If you want to test out hashtags in your comments, be sure to prioritize the most important hashtags for your video caption and save the less important ones for the comments.

Whether you're an influencer or a marketer looking to build brand awareness on TikTok, hashtags are powerful for reaching your target audience.

TikTok

How to Make Money on TikTok as a Creator [Step by Step]

How to Choose Between a TikTok Business or Personal Account

YouTube vs. TikTok: Which One Is Best for Video Creators?

How to Use TikTok Hashtags in 5 Easy Steps

6 Easy Ways to Find Trending TikTok Sounds

vidIQ Viral: Your Guide to Trending TikTok Sounds and Music

TikTok Drama: What Now for Creators on the Platform?

3 Ways to Turn TikTok Followers into YouTube Subscribers