Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing on TikTok

TikTok is attracting key user demographics, challenging platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

As new frontiers emerge, so do marketing opportunities.

Affiliate programs offer TikTokers a low-risk way to monetize their followings.

With affiliate marketing, you can earn money online by promoting another company’s products or services and get a commission for each sale. 

It’s a simpler alternative to creating your own product or becoming a full-scale retailer.

Successful affiliate marketers often have a sizable and relevant audience, like on social media, blogs, podcasts, or video channels. TikTok influencers are also becoming successful affiliate marketers, especially among younger generations.

In this article, we’ll explore how TikTok affiliate marketing operates and how you can make additional income on this fast growing platform for Gen Z and Millennials. 

What is TikTok Affiliate Marketing?

TikTok affiliate marketing is a way to make money online on the popular social media platform TikTok by promoting products or services to your audience.

As a TikTok creator, you get a special link or URL that identifies you as the promoter. Sometimes, brands may include a coupon or discount code with this link.

You then make videos on TikTok with the aim of promoting products. You can include your affiliate link in the video description or direct viewers to an external blog or social platform.

When someone uses your link to make a purchase, the brand pays you a commission. In some cases, there might be an affiliate network acting as a mediator between the brand and you, the creator.

These third-party services help connect brands with creators, making it easier to establish partnerships and handle commission payouts.

Read more: How To Make Money With Affiliate Marketing. 

Why Choose Affiliate Marketing on TikTok?

If you’re still puzzled about the TikTok craze, it’s time to take notice. TikTok has surpassed the craze stage with a whopping 1 billion monthly active users and 167 million hours of video watched every internet minute.

In 2021 and 2022, it outshone Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as the most downloaded app globally. TikTok’s engagement levels surpass these giants, and its users, despite being predominantly young, are big spenders.

TikTok, in February 2021, emerged as the top-grossing non-gaming app, raking in over $110 million in user spending. It held its ground as the top-grossing app globally by the year-end. Despite its youthful user base, there’s untapped potential for affiliate marketing on TikTok.

In summary, here’re some reasons why you should consider TikTok for affiliate marketing:

• With a diverse audience, TikTok offers a massive potential market for affiliate marketers.
• Users are highly engaged, watching millions of hours of content, making it an ideal platform for marketing.
• TikTok’s success in generating revenue highlights the spending potential of its user base.
• While TikTok skews towards a younger audience, careful product selection can cater to various age groups.
• Many marketers haven’t fully explored TikTok’s affiliate marketing potential, providing an opportunity for early adopters.

How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing on TikTok?

Here’s how to can monetize your TikTok audience using affiliate marketing:

1. Use organic traffic

You have a great opportunity to get lots of views on TikTok without spending a dime. Right now, TikTok doesn’t limit how much free traffic you can get. In fact, they’re willing to give you millions of views for free.

Here are four ways to make the most of TikTok’s organic traffic:

1. Add a URL to your profile so people can easily check out your content.

2. Redirect traffic to your other social media profiles for more exposure.

3. Integrate coupon codes or URLs into your videos to engage your audience.

4. Use your content description to share affiliate URLs and earn rewards.

Now, let’s explore how you can use these options to boost your presence on TikTok.

Link To An External URL

TikTok keeps changing its mind about letting you add links to videos.

Currently, it doesn’t seem possible, likely because they’re promoting paid ads. However, there are ways to work around this.

#1 Create a business account

To share links on TikTok, switch your personal account to a business account. Here’s how:

1. Open TikTok and go to your profile.

2. Tap Menu, then go to Settings and Privacy.

3. Choose Manage account.

4. Select Switch to Business Account.

#2 Use a bridge page

What if you need to send people to different URLs or affiliate offers? No worries – try LinkTr.ee.

It’s like Linkin.bio by Later.com, but for TikTok, and it’s free.

Here’s what you do:

1. Log in and click ‘Add New Link.’
2. Fill in the fields and slide it from yellow to green to activate your links.

It’s not as tidy as direct linking from your content, but it’s a workaround.

Create a list of blog posts with your top affiliate offers and add them to your LinkTr.ee profile.

Link To Your Social Profiles

TikTok makes it super simple.

1. Tap the ‘Me’ icon at the bottom of the TikTok app.
2. Tap ‘Edit Profile’.

And there you go, separate fields for your Instagram and YouTube profiles.

Yes, people do subscribe to multiple social profiles for the same person or brand. It’s a thing!

Make use of Promo Codes

Advertisers love getting their product to the right audience for a solid return on investment.

It’s like marketing gold for them.

They often give out coupon or discount codes to TikTok affiliates and influencers.

Using these codes is easy – just mention them in your content. Some advertisers go further and provide a unique referral URL for their affiliate program.

For instance, if you’re promoting richdad.com:

Instead of a coupon code, direct your viewers to this URL: https://www.richdad.com/highincomesource

Any purchases made there by your followers get credited to your affiliate program balance. Cool, right?

Add Affiliate Link To Your Description

It’s a bit clunky, but some influencers swear by it – adding your affiliate URL to your description.

Users need to copy and paste it into their browser, which isn’t the smoothest, but hey, big TikTok influencers do it.

If they’re using this “linking” method, there’s probably a good reason for it.

2. Use TikTok’s Paid Advertising

If your TikTok following isn’t huge, paid advertising might be your go-to for promoting affiliate products. But, even if you’re already popular on TikTok, mixing in some paid ads can spice things up.

Here’s how TikTok’s paid advertising works:

1. It’s like Facebook and Instagram – bid to show your ads.
2. Video in-feed ads are 5-60 second full-screen videos in users’ For You feeds.
3. You can target specific demographics and psychographics.
4. Your cost depends on what it takes to win slots in a silent auction.

However, here’s the catch with TikTok’s paid ads:

1. It’s still in beta.
2. Not available everywhere.

For instance, ‘TikTok for Business’ isn’t in Ireland (yet).

Also, not all ad campaign types work in every country, so manage your expectations.

And brace yourself – TikTok video ads don’t come cheap.

A ‘Hashtag Challenge’ campaign? That’s $150,000 for 6 days. A ‘Brand Takeover’ video? Over $20k!

These figures leaked from TikTok’s internal document, and they haven’t denied it.

Even the cheapest ad packages start at $600, so it’s not exactly budget-friendly for an affiliate marketer with $10 a day.

Bottom line: TikTok ads are for those with hefty budgets. If you’re in that league, here are your options:

1. In-feed: Pops up as you scroll, like other social networks.
2. Hashtag Challenge: Promotes interaction with a specific hashtag.
3. Brand Takeover: Autoplays when you open the app, taking over the whole screen.
4. Branded AR Content: Promotes Augmented Reality features like lenses, stickers, etc.

In a nutshell, TikTok ads seem best for businesses or influencers with 6-figure marketing budgets.

How to Build Your TikTok Audience

To use TikTok for affiliate marketing, you need lots of views on your videos.

Here’re some tips to help you:

Post Regularly

On TikTok, short videos (15 to 60 seconds) rule the game. To succeed, content creators must stick to a consistent schedule for posting. So, make a plan and stick to it faithfully.

Follow the Trend

Starting a new trend is cool but requires effort. A smarter move? Check out existing trends in your niche. Jump on what’s working and ride the wave!

Expand Your Network

Just like on other social media, the key is to connect with folks in related niches. Team up, find marketing chances, and collaborate for success.

Don’t Use Too Many Hashtags

Unlike platforms like Pinterest or Instagram, hashtags aren’t a big deal on TikTok. Stick to 2-3 per video – anything more is just too much.

Make the Views Count

Loads of views on TikTok are awesome. But what’s even better? Guiding those viewers to a moneymaking YouTube channel or snagging their emails with a lead magnet.

And don’t forget your audience – we’re talking about later Millennials and Gen Z. It’s a whole different ball game from marketing to Facebook or Twitter users.

Pros & Cons Of TikTok Affiliate Marketing

The Pros

1. TikTok is booming, growing really quickly.
2. Even a few videos can get you lots of attention.
3. No need for video editing skills, creating content is a breeze.
4. Great for building your brand effectively.
5. No restrictions on organic traffic, it can flow freely.

The Cons

1. TikTok’s suitability for affiliate marketing is uncertain.
2. You can’t include affiliate program links in your video content.
3. TikTok’s future in Western markets is unclear.

Is TikTok Affiliate Marketing Worth It?

Yes, TikTok affiliate marketing can be worth it if you have the right plan. TikTok has lots of users and a high engagement level, which gives you a chance to reach many people and earn money through affiliate commissions.

Here’s how to make it worthwhile:

1. Pick a topic that interests you and your audience. This makes it more likely that the products you promote will connect with your followers.

2. Use TikTok’s features and trends to make your content interesting. Be real and honest about your affiliate partnerships.

3. Building a loyal following and getting people to click on your affiliate links takes time. Stay dedicated, be consistent, and have patience.

If you’re willing to put effort into making creative content and engaging with your audience, TikTok can be a profitable platform for affiliate marketing. 

If you need more guidance, sign up for my online business coaching.  

FAQs

Can You Do Affiliate Marketing On TikTok?

Yes, you can do affiliate marketing on TikTok. If you have over 10,000 followers, add clickable links to your TikTok stories. If not, switch to a free TikTok Business account and put the affiliate link in your bio.

Can You Put Amazon Affiliate Links On TikTok?

Yes, you can use Amazon affiliate links on TikTok. If you have less than 10,000 followers and can only add a link to your bio, use a bridging page with tools like Linktree to include multiple affiliate links.

How Do I Become A TikTok Affiliate?

To become a TikTok affiliate:

1. Use TikTok Ads Manager or be a digital marketing expert with a large audience.
2. Sign up through the Impact affiliate network.
3. Earn a flat $40 commission when referred customers create a TikTok Business account and add cash, with a 90-day cookie window.

How Do I Make Money As A TikTok Affiliate?

To make money as a TikTok affiliate:

1. Direct people to the products you’re selling on a bridging page, your website, or platforms like YouTube.
2. Use these pages to include affiliate links.
3. Earn a commission when someone clicks those links and makes a purchase within the assigned cookie window.

Can I use paid ads to promote my affiliate links on TikTok?

Certainly, you can use paid ads on TikTok to expand your content reach and potentially earn more commission.

Who is the highest paid affiliate marketer?

Pat Flynn holds the title of the highest-paid affiliate marketer.