How To Become Successful on TikTok
If you want to become a professional content creator, TikTok’s the place to make it happen.
With a wildly popular platform, tons of engaging content, a huge fan base of over 2 billion users, and advertisers ramping up TikTok spending, there’s never been a better time to pursue a career as a TikTok influencer.
TikTok is still a relatively new social media platform but TikTok fame has catapulted lots of previously unknown people into the spotlight. It’s hard to believe that people like Addison Rae, Charli D’Amelio, Tariq aka “Korn Boy,” and more were just regular people once upon a time.
Now, they’re monetizing their TikTok accounts and earning a paycheck from their work. Many are flourishing through lucrative sponsored partnerships that promote a brand on TikTok.
Want to learn how to be a successful creator on TikTok? Keep reading to find out.
9 Best Ways To Get TikTok Famous Fast
Here’s the thing: TikTok is fun, user-friendly, and simple for new users to learn.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy work. Building a successful TikTok account that makes money requires lots of time and attention. Keep this in mind before taking the plunge!
That said, there are things you must do to optimize your TikTok profile. This will help set you up for success!
1. Include An Authentic Profile Photo

@victoria on TikTok
This is a no-brainer. When you have an authentic profile picture on your page, it’s your first chance to connect with your audience and make a meaningful impression.
It’s also the first introduction to you as a person and brand, so make sure your picture reflects the aesthetic you want people to associate you with.
2. Choose Your Niche or Vertical Carefully
The best TikTok influencers have an authentic connection with their niche. Tread carefully, because some niches are better suited to those with experience, accolades, and expertise in a specific field.
For example, Chrissy Carroll is the real person behind the blog Snacking In Sneakers, which is all about food and fitness. She also has successful TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Why is she so successful? Because she is a registered dietician and trainer with years of proven experience. It’s one of the first things her audience learns about her, and her audience trusts her because of that.
This isn’t meant to discourage you, but rather to encourage you to do lots of research into your prospective niches before deciding on one (or a few!).
3. Post Videos Every Day
The best way to earn a loyal viewership is by posting frequently and consistently.
Make sure you’re posting videos with quality content every single day.
There are lots of programs available that help you plan and schedule your content so you never miss a day.
Furthermore, test out posting at various times per day to see if you get better engagement in certain timeframes.
4. Track and Use Relevant Trends For Your Product
If you’re using your TikTok page to sell products and services, make sure you’re doing plenty of research about the trends in your niche that will get lots of traffic and engagement.
Because trends have a fast lifecycle, it’s valuable for you to be flexible and proactive. If there’s a trend, sound, or style that is doing well in your niche, put your original spin on it and get in on the action!
5. Be Smart; Use Hashtags
We recommend conducting thorough hashtag research using tools like SEMrush or Moz. This will help you plan out the hashtags to use in your posts.
You can also search hashtags on TikTok to see how many views they get.
Remember: the more videos attributed to a hashtag, the more competition you’ll have. But on the flip side, the fewer videos per hashtag, the less likely people are to be looking for that type of content.
Hashtags are more than trendy text in your caption. They’re a way to organize, search for, and find videos within the same vertical. Using the right hashtags is an important part of your content strategy that should not be overlooked!
6. Make Unique Content

@victoria on TikTok
Your content should bring something new to the table. There’s nothing less enjoyable for your audience than seeing the same video over and over again.
While not every creator is going to be posting something unique and original, you should keep in mind that the more diverse your content is, the longer people will view your videos. That’s an important part of TikTok’s algorithm!
Plus, when viewers come to rely on your content as fresh, new, and entertaining, your following will increase in kind – and that means more opportunities to partner with brands.
But keep in mind that combining unique content with trends is a delicate balance. You can (and should) do both!
7. Engage With Other TikTok Videos You Like
One of the best ways to get noticed by brands, other creators, and new audiences is to engage with content you like. Comment, like, share, and duet away!
When you interact with content you like on TikTok, the algorithm helps match you with potential partners. It’s also a great way for your creator peers to get to know you. They may even return the favor.
Engaging with other videos is as much a community-building activity as it is entertaining.
8. Use TikTok Ads
If you want to become TikTok famous, you should incorporate a budget into your plans.
Not only will you want to keep track of and pay for your start-up materials, but you’ll also be able to allocate money to boost your posts through TikTok ads.
TikTok’s Spark Ads help promote your work and get better engagement. Costs can add up, but it’s a worthwhile investment to get your content in front of the right people.
With better engagement, you’ll be able to advocate for better pay when you start partnering with brands.
9. Redirect Your Followers From Other Social Media Accounts

snackinginsneakers.com
If you have additional social media accounts for your brand, or even a blog, direct your audiences to follow your new TikTok account.
Loyal followers will often visit your channels on several platforms to get new content they wouldn’t be able to get elsewhere.
As you parlay your existing social media channels with your TikTok account, remember to track your progress! There are lots of options available, especially on TikTok’s API platform.
Can You Make Money On TikTok?
If you’re interested in earning money from creating content on TikTok, this section is for you.
There are many ways to monetize your TikTok presence. We’re going to break them into two distinct categories: the TikTok Creator Fund and brand sponsorships. Both are helpful, viable ways to monetize your TikTok account.
Let’s dive in.
TikTok’s Creator Fund Payouts, Paid By Platforms
TikTok has a Creator Fund where, after submitting an application proving you have an established following and content stream, you can be approved to participate in the Creator Fund program.
The Creator Fund is a static pool of funds that are distributed to creators based on their content performance. Requirements to be considered for the Creator Fund include:
- A minimum of 10,000 followers
- At least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
Creators can earn between two and four cents for every 1,000 views on their content. So, for example, @schmohoyo, the creator of the famous Corn Kid video, has 78.5 million views on his original corn kid video. If they were part of the Creator Program, they would have earned between $1.57-$3.14 million.
In addition to the official Creator Fund, there are also ways to earn that rely on audience participation:
- Video Gifts: Viewers react to TikTok videos and gift Diamonds to their favorite creators, which can be redeemed for cash.
- LIVE Gifts: Viewers can react to videos and gift Diamonds.
- Tips: Viewers can send their favorite creators a monetary tip on their profile.
Work With Brands As A Good Partner
In addition to TikTok’s Creator Fund, its Creator Marketplace is another avenue to earn money. Creators who qualify for the TikTok Creator Fund can also utilize the TikTok Creator Marketplace to seek out brand partnerships.
Brand partnerships occur when a brand pays a creator to produce content that features its product or service. This is also called sponsored content, or sponcon. Brands will take time to carefully find influencers that match their brand’s voice.
Brand partnerships are typically the most lucrative form of content production on TikTok. While payment per partnership varies, a recent creator survey conducted by Mavrck found that most respondents earned between $100-$1,000 per post.
That amount certainly increases with exposure, more followers, and growing popularity. For example, top-earning TikTokker Charli D’Amelio reportedly makes $17.5 million annually. We all start somewhere!
Advertise Your Own Products On TikTok
In addition to sponcon, the Creator Marketplace also helps creators set up digital storefronts for their audience to shop from.
If you’re a content creator who also sells products and services, building a digital storefront is a great way to direct the calls to action in your videos to more content where viewers can shop.
But if you don’t have your own products to sell, don’t sweat it.
Many creators make a modest wage by building digital storefronts that direct viewers to products and services for which the creator earns a commission for every sale. This is an example of affiliate marketing and is a wildly popular way to add another stream of income to a creator’s checkbook.
How Do You Get Attention & Popularity On TikTok?
To become a prolific TikTokker, you have to first formulate a thoughtful, detailed plan about what you want to achieve and the type of content you want to create. They say that failing to plan means planning to fail. This is especially true with TikTok. You’re not just making fun videos – you’re running a business!
You also must remember to put a lot of heart into creating your profile and learning how TikTok functions as a platform. If you’re not yet familiar with TikTok, its trends, or how to make videos, take time to do your research and familiarize yourself with it.
Additionally, make sure that you know how you’re going to monetize your presence and that you meet the prerequisites. If you are new to the platform and need to establish a following before you qualify for any funding programs, make sure you establish goals that make that happen.
Becoming TikTok famous and monetizing your presence is a challenging, uphill battle – but it is possible for anyone who has the drive to achieve it. It may not be easy, but if it’s something you’re passionate about, we highly encourage you to pursue your dreams!
Eager to learn more about what it takes to become famous and make money on social media? Satisfy your curiosity with these resources:
- Enroll in Influence University
- Our Guide to Creator Monetization
- Industry Outlook: The Rise of The Creator Middle Class
- Defined: Our Influencer Marketing Glossary