💰 Monetization
📅 September 2025

5 Ways to Monetize TikTok With Under 10K Followers

You don't need millions of followers to make money. Here are 5 proven monetization strategies for small creators.

The Small Creator Advantage

There's a common misconception that you need hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers to make money on TikTok. This belief stops countless creators from even trying to monetize their content.

The truth? Smaller, engaged audiences are often more valuable than massive but passive followings. Why? Because micro-influencers (under 10K followers) typically have:

  • Higher engagement rates: Your audience actually interacts with your content
  • Stronger trust: Followers feel personally connected to you
  • Niche authority: You're a big fish in a small pond
  • Better conversion rates: Recommendations carry more weight

This means you can start earning money right now, regardless of your follower count. Let's explore exactly how.

Method #1: Affiliate Marketing

Earn commissions by recommending products you love

Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible monetization methods for small creators. You promote products or services through unique tracking links, and earn a commission on every sale made through your link.

💰 Earning Potential: £50-500+ per month (even with 1,000 followers)

How It Works:

Sign up for affiliate programs relevant to your niche, receive unique tracking links, share those products in your TikTok content, and earn a percentage of each sale (typically 5-30%).

Best Affiliate Programs for TikTok Creators:

  • Amazon Associates: Promote any Amazon product (1-10% commission)
  • LTK (formerly LIKEtoKNOW.it): Fashion and lifestyle products
  • ShareASale: Thousands of brands across all niches
  • ClickBank: Digital products with high commissions (50-75%)
  • TikTok Shop: Native in-app affiliate program (5-20% commission)
Real Example: A creator with 3,000 followers in the fitness niche shares their favorite protein powder with an Amazon affiliate link in their bio. They make 10 sales per month at £30 each with a 4% commission = £12/month. As they grow and refine their strategy, this scales to hundreds per month.

🎯 Action Steps:

  1. Join 2-3 affiliate programs in your niche
  2. Create authentic content reviewing/using the products
  3. Add "Shop my favs in bio" text overlay to videos
  4. Use link-in-bio tools like Linktree to share multiple affiliate links
  5. Track which products convert best and create more content around them

Method #2: Digital Products

Create once, sell forever

Digital products are the holy grail of creator monetization. You create something once (an ebook, template, course, or guide) and can sell it repeatedly with no inventory, shipping, or additional work.

💰 Earning Potential: £100-2,000+ per month (highly scalable)

Digital Products That Sell Well:

  • E-books and guides: 10-50 page PDFs on topics in your niche (£5-30)
  • Templates and checklists: Canva templates, meal plans, workout guides (£3-15)
  • Mini-courses: Video courses teaching a specific skill (£20-100)
  • Notion templates: Pre-built productivity systems (£5-25)
  • Presets and filters: Photo/video editing presets (£10-30)
Real Example: A creator with 5,000 followers creates a "30-Day Content Calendar Template" for £9.97. They sell 20 copies in the first month = £199. Over time, this becomes passive income as the product continues selling with minimal additional promotion.

🎯 Action Steps:

  1. Identify your audience's biggest problem or need
  2. Create a simple digital product that solves it (start small!)
  3. Set up a storefront using Gumroad, Stan Store, or Shopify
  4. Create TikTok content showing the problem and teasing the solution
  5. Add "Grab the full guide in bio" to drive sales

💡 Pro Tip: Your first digital product doesn't need to be perfect. A 15-page PDF solving one specific problem will sell better than waiting months to create a "comprehensive masterpiece."

Method #3: Coaching or Consulting

Leverage your expertise for high-ticket income

If you have specialized knowledge or skills, coaching and consulting offer the highest earning potential with the smallest audience. You only need a handful of clients to generate significant income.

💰 Earning Potential: £200-5,000+ per month (even with 1,000 engaged followers)

Services You Can Offer:

  • 1:1 Coaching: Personalized guidance in your area of expertise (£50-500/session)
  • Strategy Sessions: One-time consultations to solve specific problems (£100-300)
  • Monthly Packages: Ongoing support and accountability (£300-2,000/month)
  • Group Coaching: Work with multiple clients simultaneously (£50-200 per person)
Real Example: A creator with 2,500 followers offers TikTok growth coaching at £150 per session. By landing just 4 clients per month, they earn £600. As their reputation grows, they can increase rates and offer higher-tier packages.

🎯 Action Steps:

  1. Define your specific area of expertise
  2. Create content demonstrating your knowledge and results
  3. Offer a free 15-minute discovery call to qualified leads
  4. Use Calendly or similar tools to streamline booking
  5. Deliver exceptional results and ask for testimonials

Method #4: User-Generated Content (UGC)

Get paid to create content for brands

UGC is when brands pay creators to produce content featuring their products—content that the brand then uses in their own marketing. The best part? You don't need a huge following. Brands care more about your content quality and authenticity.

💰 Earning Potential: £50-500 per video

What Brands Look For:

  • High-quality video production
  • Authentic, relatable presentation
  • Understanding of what performs well on TikTok
  • Reliability and professionalism
  • Engagement rate (not just follower count)

Where to Find UGC Opportunities:

  • UGC platforms: Join platforms like Trend, Billo, or Cohley
  • Direct outreach: Email brands you love offering UGC services
  • Creator marketplaces: #paid, AspireIQ, Upfluence
  • Social media: Search "UGC creator" on LinkedIn and Twitter
Real Example: A creator with 4,000 followers joins a UGC platform and lands 3 projects in their first month at £100 each = £300. They reinvest in better equipment and gradually increase rates to £200-300 per video.

🎯 Action Steps:

  1. Create a portfolio of 5-10 high-quality product-style videos
  2. Sign up for 2-3 UGC platforms
  3. Create a simple rate card (e.g., £100 for 1 video, £250 for 3)
  4. Reach out to 10 brands offering your services
  5. Deliver on time and exceed expectations

Method #5: TikTok LIVE Gifts

Earn directly from your audience in real-time

Once you reach 1,000 followers, you can go LIVE and receive virtual gifts from viewers. These gifts convert to diamonds, which you can exchange for real money. While earnings vary, consistent streaming can generate reliable income.

💰 Earning Potential: £20-300 per stream (depends heavily on engagement)

Keys to Maximizing LIVE Gift Income:

  • Stream consistently: Same days/times each week builds audience expectation
  • Provide value: Entertainment, education, or emotional connection
  • Engage personally: Thank every gift-sender by name
  • Set goals: "If we hit 500 roses, I'll share my secret strategy!"
  • Build community: Create a sense of belonging among regular viewers
Real Example: A creator with 3,000 followers goes LIVE 3 times per week for an hour each time. They consistently engage viewers and earn an average of £30 per stream = £360/month. As their audience grows and relationships deepen, this scales significantly.

🎯 Action Steps:

  1. Plan your first LIVE with a clear topic or theme
  2. Announce the stream 2-4 hours before with a video
  3. Start streaming with energy and a warm welcome
  4. Acknowledge every viewer who joins by name
  5. Set small gift goals to encourage participation
  6. End with a clear CTA (follow, watch next video, join next LIVE)

💡 Pro Tip: Your first few streams won't generate much income—that's normal! Focus on building relationships and providing value. The money follows naturally as your community grows.

Combining Strategies for Maximum Income

The real power comes from stacking these methods. Here's what a diversified income strategy might look like:

  • Monday-Friday: Post regular content promoting affiliate products and digital products
  • Tuesday & Thursday evenings: Go LIVE for 1 hour to earn gifts and deepen community
  • Weekends: Create UGC content for brand deals
  • As needed: Take on 2-3 coaching clients per month

Potential Monthly Income Breakdown:

  • Affiliate marketing: £150
  • Digital product sales: £200
  • LIVE gifts: £200
  • UGC deals: £300
  • Coaching (2 clients): £300
  • Total: £1,150/month with under 10K followers

Getting Started Today

You don't need to implement all five methods at once. In fact, that would be overwhelming. Instead:

  1. Choose ONE method that aligns best with your strengths and niche
  2. Implement it fully for 30 days and track results
  3. Add a second method once the first is running smoothly
  4. Refine and optimize based on what generates the best results
  5. Scale gradually as your audience and confidence grow

Final Thoughts

The belief that you need massive followings to earn money on TikTok is one of the most damaging myths in the creator economy. The truth is that engagement beats follower count every single time.

A creator with 5,000 highly engaged followers in a specific niche will out-earn a creator with 50,000 passive followers in a broad category. Why? Because those 5,000 people actually trust the creator, engage with their content, and act on their recommendations.

So stop waiting for some magical follower milestone. Start monetizing today with the audience you already have. Test these strategies, learn what works for your specific niche, and remember that every successful creator started exactly where you are now—with a small, engaged community and the courage to try.

Your first £1 earned as a creator is more valuable than your millionth view. It proves the model works, builds confidence, and sets you on the path to sustainable creator income.

Now go make it happen!

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