8 Ways to Make Money on TikTok in 2026, Even Without Millions of Followers
TikTok creators can earn money through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, merchandise sales and digital products without relying entirely on viral videos or platform rewards.
Making money on TikTok does not always require millions of followers. Creators with smaller audiences can also generate income by promoting products, selling services and building businesses around their content.
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Printful, a print-on-demand and fulfilment company, released a guide outlining eight ways creators can monetise their TikTok presence.
The guide covers income opportunities available on and outside the platform. However, access to some features depends on a creator’s location, eligibility and account status.
Here are eight ways creators can turn their TikTok audiences into income.
1. Sell merchandise to your followers
Creators can design and sell products such as T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and phone cases to their audiences.
Print-on-demand services allow sellers to produce items after customers place orders. This reduces the need to purchase and store large quantities of stock before making sales.
Creators can use their videos to showcase products, explain their designs and direct interested viewers to their online stores.
However, Nigerians interested in this approach should check shipping costs, payment options and the availability of the relevant selling platforms before committing money.
2. Earn through TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program pays eligible creators for producing original, engaging videos that meet its requirements.
According to TikTok, eligibility includes having at least 10,000 followers, receiving 100,000 video views within the preceding 30 days and maintaining an account in good standing. Creators must also meet the programme’s age and content requirements.
However, the programme is not available in every country, including Nigeria. Nigerian creators should therefore not assume that reaching the required follower count automatically qualifies them for direct payments from TikTok.
Creators can check the platform’s current eligibility requirements through its official resources.
3. Secure brand partnerships
Companies pay creators to promote products and services to their audiences.
These arrangements can involve product reviews, sponsored videos, demonstrations or campaigns built around a particular brand.
Creators do not necessarily need millions of followers to attract potential partners. Those with smaller but engaged audiences may appeal to businesses targeting specific interests, communities or customer groups.
To improve their chances, creators can prepare a media kit containing audience demographics, engagement figures, previous campaign results and examples of their work.
They can then approach relevant businesses or explore TikTok’s creator-brand collaboration tools where available.
4. Use affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing allows creators to earn commissions when people purchase products through their referral links or other approved tracking methods.
For example, a technology creator could review a phone accessory and direct viewers to a seller offering the product. If a viewer purchases through the creator’s affiliate link, the creator may receive an agreed commission.
The approach can work for fashion, beauty, technology, books and other product categories.
Nigerian creators should check whether an affiliate programme accepts participants from Nigeria, supports their preferred payment method and permits promotion through TikTok.
They should also disclose commercial relationships clearly rather than presenting paid promotions as independent recommendations.
5. Receive gifts during TikTok LIVE sessions
TikTok allows eligible creators to receive virtual gifts from viewers during LIVE broadcasts in supported locations.
Viewers purchase virtual items and send them during broadcasts. Eligible creators may receive rewards under TikTok’s applicable rules.
Creators can use LIVE sessions to answer questions, demonstrate products, discuss trending topics or interact directly with their communities.
However, LIVE access and gifting depend on age, account standing, location and other platform requirements. Not every Nigerian creator will automatically have access to these features.
6. Sell exclusive content through subscriptions
Creators with specialised knowledge or highly engaged communities can offer premium content through subscription features where available.
Depending on the feature, subscribers may receive exclusive videos, private community access or other benefits in exchange for recurring payments.
For instance, an educator could offer additional lessons, while a fitness creator might provide specialised workout sessions.
The opportunity depends on whether the relevant subscription feature is available to the creator and whether the audience is willing to pay for content that offers additional value.
7. Sell digital products and services
Creators can also use TikTok to promote products that customers can purchase and access digitally.
Examples include electronic books, online courses, design templates, photography presets and educational materials.
People with professional skills can also advertise services such as graphic design, writing, video editing and coaching.
This approach allows creators to use videos to demonstrate their expertise and direct interested viewers to a sales page or contact channel.
Unlike income tied directly to video views, earnings from digital products depend on whether the creator can attract customers and offer something they consider valuable.
8. Raise money through crowdfunding
Crowdfunding offers another option for creators seeking financial support for projects or community initiatives.
Depending on the platform, supporters may contribute towards a creative project, a new product or a specific fundraising goal.
Creators can use TikTok videos to explain their projects, share progress and direct interested supporters to the relevant crowdfunding page.
However, successful fundraising usually requires a clear purpose, credible updates and an audience willing to contribute. Creators should also check platform fees, payment restrictions and the rules governing their campaigns.
What should Nigerian creators know before starting?
Printful’s guide recommends building a loyal audience before focusing on monetisation. It also encourages creators to choose a clear niche, study their analytics and publish content consistently.
For Nigerian creators, the most important distinction is between earning through TikTok’s own programmes and using the platform to attract customers for independent businesses.
Creator Rewards is geographically restricted, while opportunities such as brand partnerships, affiliate marketing and selling personal products depend on finding suitable partners, customers and payment arrangements.
Creators should also disclose paid partnerships and follow TikTok’s content rules when promoting products or services.
Ultimately, having millions of followers is not the only route to earning money from TikTok. A smaller audience can provide commercial opportunities when its interests align with the products, services or content a creator offers.