TikTok has become a global sensation, offering opportunities for users to turn their creativity into cash. In South Africa, many people are leveraging this platform to earn a living. Whether you’re a content creator, small business owner, or someone looking for a side hustle, TikTok offers several ways to make money.
In this guide, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you make money on TikTok in South Africa, including tips tailored to the South African market.
TikTok’s growth in South Africa has been nothing short of phenomenal. With millions of active users, the platform provides endless opportunities to connect with an engaged audience. Here’s why TikTok stands out:
What Makes TikTok a Lucrative Platform in South Africa?
- High User Engagement: TikTok users in South Africa spend an average of 95 minutes daily on the app.
- Viral Potential: The algorithm favors creative content, making it easier for videos to reach thousands—or even millions—of people.
- Diverse Audience: With users ranging from teenagers to professionals, there’s room for every niche.
These factors make TikTok an excellent avenue for generating income.
12 Steps to Make Money on TikTok in South Africa
TikTok isn’t just about fun videos; it’s a platform where you can turn your creativity into a steady income. Whether you’re dancing, sharing tips, or promoting products, there are many ways to make money using TikTok right here in South Africa.
I’ll break down 12 actionable steps to help you understand how to grow your presence, connect with brands, and monetize your content. These strategies work for both new creators and seasoned influencers. Ready to start earning? Let’s dive in!
Step1: Build a Strong TikTok Presence
The foundation of earning money on TikTok lies in creating content that resonates with your audience. Here are a few tips:
- Focus on a niche (e.g., comedy, dance, beauty, or education).
- Use trending hashtags and sounds to boost visibility.
- Post consistently—at least 3–5 times per week.
Analyze your audience’s preferences using TikTok Analytics (available in Pro Accounts).
Key metrics include:
- Follower demographics (age, location).
- Peak engagement times.
- Popular content types.
By using TikTok Analytics you can gain insights into who your followers are and what they enjoy. Look at key metrics like demographics (age and location) to tailor your content, identify peak engagement times to post when your audience is most active, and analyze which content types perform best
Although TikTok videos are short, quality matters. Use a smartphone with a good camera and invest in a ring light for better visuals.
Step 2: Apply For TikTok Creator Fund In South Africa
The TikTok Creator Fund is a direct way to earn money by producing popular content. Here’s how it works:
- Eligibility: You must be 18+, have at least 10,000 followers, and 100,000 video views in the past 30 days.
- Earnings: Based on views, and engagement, TikTok pays around $0.02 and $0.04 for every 1,000 views.
Unfortunately, this feature may not yet be fully available in South Africa. However, TikTok continues to expand its monetization tools, so keep an eye out for updates.
How do I create a US Tiktok Account eligible for Creator fund OUTSIDE of US?
If you’re in South Africa and want to create a TikTok account eligible for the US Creator Fund, here’s a summarized guide based on my research and tips:
- Buy a USA E-Sim
- Configure a US Mobiele Proxy
- TikTok may require US-specific information, such as a valid Tax ID or SSN (Social Security Number). Using random details for verification may work initially, but there’s a risk of future account checks.
- Use a new device
- Sign up on TikTok with an email and select the United States as your region.
- Alternatively, you can get a friend in the USA to create a TikTok account for you
If you’re serious about being a creator there are several alternative ways to monetize your TikTok presence without relying on this specific program. These strategies work regardless of your location and can provide sustainable income streams while growing your TikTok account.
Step3: Partner with Brands for Sponsored Content
Brands are eager to tap into TikTok’s young, trend-savvy audience. South African brands, from fashion retailers to tech startups, are collaborating with influencers for sponsored campaigns.
How to Attract TikTok Sponsorships
- Grow your follower count to at least 5,000.
- Showcase a consistent personal brand.
- Use platforms like Webfluential or Influence.co to connect with potential sponsors.
Sponsored posts can earn you anywhere from R1,000 to R10,000+ depending on your reach.
Step4: Promote Affiliate Links
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive income. Here’s how:
- Join affiliate programs like Takealot Affiliates, Amazon Associates, or ClickBank.
- Include product links in your bio or promote them in your videos.
- Use call-to-actions such as “Check the link in my bio for more!”
For example, if you’re reviewing beauty products, include an affiliate link to the items.
Step5: Sell Your Own Products or Services
TikTok is an excellent platform for promoting your own business. Here are some ideas:
- E-commerce: Sell products like clothing, jewelry, or gadgets. Use TikTok ads to drive traffic to your online store.
- Services: Offer skills like graphic design, music lessons, or tutoring.
- Digital Products: Create and sell e-books, courses, or presets for video editing.
Platforms like Shopify and Etsy make setting up an online store seamless.
Step6: Host Live Streams and Receive Virtual Gifts
There are 3 ways you can get donations or gifts on TikTok. Two of these methods are official from TikTok but the third one is by using third-party services
- Gifts from doing TikTok live steam
- Gifts from top-performing videos
- Using Third-party ( PayPal Donation or Buy Me A Coffie )
As usual before getting the option to receive donations you need to first meet the requirements. To do a live video on TikTok and earn gifts you must be 18 years and have 1000 followers. To be honest most South African streamers don’t get that many donations unless they are targeting a worldwide audience
If you are targeting a South African audience you will earn around R0,00 to R100,00 of donations or gifts as of 2024 maybe there might be a change in the future
With the third-party donation, you need only 1000 followers in order to add a link to your bio directing your audience to that third-party donation portal here a guide to receiving donations on PayPal
Step7: Partner with Local and Global Brands
Collaborating with brands doesn’t always require a huge following. Micro-influencers (with 1,000–50,000 followers) are increasingly being approached for niche campaigns. Highlight your unique value—such as expertise in a particular area or strong local engagement.
Step8: Create Educational and Tutorial Videos
If you’re skilled in a particular area, monetize your expertise by creating how-to videos. Popular niches include:
- Makeup tutorials.
- Fitness routines.
- Financial advice tailored to the South African market.
Step9: Participate in TikTok Challenges and Trends
Engaging in TikTok challenges can increase your visibility and open doors for collaborations. Challenges often attract sponsorships from brands looking to boost their campaigns.
The TikTok landscape is ever-evolving. Stay informed about trends and updates to adapt your strategies. Joining TikTok communities or following South African influencers can provide valuable insights.
How To Earn Money On TikTok With 0 Followers & 0 Videos
In 2022, TikTok launched the Share & Earn program, initially not available in all countries, but accessible in South Africa. This program allows users to earn money without needing followers or videos. I took part in it and earned free money, receiving R5 to R50 for each invite
Additionally, if the invited user watches videos for 30 minutes daily over 13 days, I can earn up to R1,200. The invited user also receives R180 just for watching TikTok videos.
We are not done yet, The person you invited will also get a free R180 for just watching TikTok videos.
How Much Does TikTok Pay In South Africa
As part of the TikTok creator fund, you can earn an estimate of R0,01 per ad view you register. Meaning if you want to earn a South African average monthly salary of R24 000, your video needs to register 24 Million views monthly.
What do I mean per ads view registered, well this means every time an ad plays after viewing your video. which is totally unpredictable. But there are other methods that this TikTok creator uses to earn money, which I have already mentioned those methods. but The most popular one is promoting a product or brand (getting sponsored)
Here are some of the payments I got from TikTok for Promoting it (Share & Earn) best thing it pays almost every day
TikTok Vs YouTube Witch One Pays More
Obviously when comparing the two YouTube pays more money than TikTok. YouTube is one of the highest-paying long video platforms you can find. But the comparison is unfair so to make if you don’t only focus on YouTube shorts only.
When comparing YouTube Shorts vs Tiktok earnings to determine which one pays more. Here is a proven comparison of Youtube with 1M vides And TikTok with 1M vies which one pays more.
- YouTube Shorts has an RPM of $0.09
- While TikTok has an RPM of $0.52
- Looking only at RPM you can tell that TikTok pays more than YouTube Shorts
- 1 Milion Vies with Youtube Shorts you earn $95.29
- 1 million views with TikTok you earn $511.5
I have divided by 2 the earnings for TikTok since the image has 2 million views which is double compared to the number of views on YouTube. Other than that the RPM (Revenue Per Mille) tells us everything, With an RPM of $0.53 TikTok Pays $0.53 per 1000 views while YouTube shorts RPM of $0.09 pays $0.09 per 1000 views
FAQs About Making Money on TikTok in South Africa
Yes, while having followers helps, TikTok’s algorithm promotes content based on engagement. You can start earning through gifts and donations even with a small following.
You can receive payments through TikTok’s Creator Fund, brand deals, affiliate marketing, and by converting virtual gifts to cash.
Earnings vary widely, with smaller creators earning a few hundred rand per post, while top influencers can make over R20,000 per sponsored post.
To monetize with the Creator Fund, you need 10,000 followers, 100,000 views in the past 30 days, and must be 18 years old.
Yes, affiliate marketing can be very effective, especially if you promote products that align with your audience’s interests.
Niche content with high engagement rates, such as tutorials, challenges, and product reviews, often attracts brand deals and sponsorships.
