A few years ago, TikTok was primarily used for dancing, trends, and lip-syncing. Now, it’s one of the biggest money-making platforms in the world. Creators are cashing out from brand deals, affiliate sales, and even gifts from live streams, and you don’t need millions of followers to join them.
If you’ve ever wondered how people make money on TikTok, this 2025 guide breaks it down with tips you can start using today.
5 Legit Ways to Make Money on TikTok in Nigeria
TikTok pays creators in multiple ways: through live gifts, affiliate links, brand partnerships, and more. The best part? You don’t need millions of followers to earn. What really matters is engagement — how many people genuinely interact with your content. A micro-creator with 10,000 loyal followers who trust their product reviews can earn more than a big creator with 200,000 ghost followers.
TikTok’s algorithm also gives new creators a fair shot at visibility, so even if you’re just starting, one well-crafted post can reach thousands of people. With the right niche, consistency, and a smart strategy, you can absolutely make money on TikTok in 2025.
Whether you’re a content creator, business owner, or just someone looking for a side hustle, here are five proven ways to make money on TikTok in 2025.
1. Use TikTok to Promote and Grow Your Business
TikTok can be your biggest free marketing tool. Whether you’re selling thrift fashion, food, skincare products, or digital services, TikTok gives you a stage to showcase your work and reach new customers without paying for ads.
It’s one of the fastest ways to build visibility. Think of it as your digital shopfront: every video is a chance to pull someone new into your business.
“TikTok is the new storefront,” says digital marketer and creator, Ifeanyi*. “I get 80% of my clients from the platform.”
When Ifeanyi* first joined TikTok in 2022, he posted short videos explaining simple marketing hacks and ad strategies for small businesses. Within a few years, his follower count grew from 300 to 15,000, and those views began to translate into paying consultations. “People would comment, ‘Can you help me set this up?’ or click the link in my bio to book sessions,” he says.
For Mia, a handmade jewellery seller, TikTok became her biggest sales channel. She started by posting behind-the-scenes videos of her crafting and packaging processes. One video showing how she customises wired necklaces hit 15,000 views, and she sold out her stock that week. “Before TikTok, I only sold through WhatsApp,” she says. “Now, most of my customers come straight from the app.”
“If you know how to teach or share value, TikTok will find your audience,” adds freelance designer Zainab. “I post design tutorials and freelancing tips, and I’ve landed client projects through my work on TikTok.”
The strategy is simple: Let people see the value. Show what you do and how you do it. TikTok rewards transparency and personality. People love to see authenticity, and that’s what drives real engagement and sales on TikTok. Your content can double as your marketing funnel. Every post is an opportunity to turn views into clients.
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2. Partner with Brands and Create Sponsored Content
One of the most common ways people make money on TikTok is through brand partnerships. Companies pay creators to promote their products or services.
If your TikTok content consistently focuses on one niche, say fashion, food, tech, or lifestyle. Brands that serve that audience may want to collaborate with you. For example, a skincare creator might partner with a beauty brand, or a finance creator might get sponsored by a digital bank.
Partnerships can come in different forms. Sometimes, a brand sends you free products to review or feature in a video. Other times, they pay for a dedicated post or a short series of videos. The bigger and more engaged your audience, the higher your potential earnings will be.
You don’t always have to wait for brands to find you. Many Nigerian creators start by reaching out to brands they already use, pitching collaboration ideas, or creating unpaid content that naturally attracts attention from brands.
For instance, Kamsi*, a Nigerian lifestyle creator, earns most of her income through sponsorships. Travel and leisure brands began reaching out for collaborations once she reached 15,000 followers and started posting travel content consistently.
Remember: TikTok requires you to turn on the “Branded Content” disclosure setting if you’re creating sponsored content. This setting is crucial for transparency and helps you establish trust with your audience, which, in the long run, fosters a steady stream of revenue.
3. Go Live and Earn Through Gifts
If you love connecting with your audience in real time, TikTok Live can be an easy way to earn money. No brand deals or big following are required.
Here’s how it works: viewers send virtual gifts during your livestreams or even in the comments of your short videos. These gifts appear as fun stickers or animations, but behind the scenes, they translate to something called Diamonds. Each Diamond has a real-world cash value that you can redeem once you’ve accumulated enough.
According to TikTok, “Once you collect Diamonds, you may obtain a reward payment from us, such as money or virtual items.”
Think of it as a virtual tip jar: people send gifts when they enjoy your content or simply want to support your creativity.
To start receiving gifts, you must be at least 18 years old and have a TikTok account in good standing. While there’s no strict follower threshold, TikTok usually requires you to have at least 1,000 followers to go live.
Creators in Nigeria have increasingly used this feature to earn extra income, especially those who create lifestyle chats, beauty tutorials, or gaming content.
In recent years, many creators have discovered just how rewarding live streams can be. For example, when Nigerian social media personality Peller told Ebuka that he once made $10,000 from a single livestream, it highlighted the real earning potential that comes with a loyal, engaged audience. While not everyone will hit that kind of number, it shows what’s possible with consistent engagement.
For instance, some Nigerian streamers host live Q&A sessions, cooking demonstrations, or storytelling nights. They engage their audience, keep the energy high, and sometimes walk away with enough gifts to cash out a few thousand naira after a good session.
The more engaging your live content, the more likely people are to send gifts. And if you’re not ready to go live yet, TikTok now allows viewers to send video gifts on regular posts: a feature that’s opened up another small but growing income stream for creators.
It may not make you rich overnight, but if you build a loyal audience, those virtual gifts can quickly add up.
4. Become an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to earn money on TikTok, and it doesn’t require brand deals or a massive following.
You promote other people’s products and earn a commission whenever someone buys through your unique link or referral code.
Here’s how it works:
- You join an affiliate programme, such as Jumia, Konga, Selar, or international ones like Amazon Associates or ClickBank.
- You get a unique tracking link or discount code.
- You create TikTok videos that demonstrate how the product works or explain its usefulness.
- When someone makes a purchase using your link, you earn a percentage of the sale.
Commissions vary depending on the brand, typically ranging from 5% to 25% per sale.
Unlike brand sponsorships, where a company pays you upfront to promote a product, affiliate marketing rewards you based on the results you achieve. So even smaller creators with under 10,000 followers can still make money if their content converts viewers.
You can’t currently post clickable links directly in TikTok captions. Still, you can add affiliate links in your bio once you switch to a business account (which usually requires at least 1,000 followers) or use link-in-bio tools like Beacons, Linktree, or Koji.
Many Nigerian creators already do this: tech reviewers, skincare influencers, and lifestyle creators share honest product recommendations and drop affiliate links in their bios or pinned comments.
If you don’t want to wait for brands to find you, pitch yourself. Reach out directly to local businesses or join affiliate networks that allow Nigerian creators. The key is to choose products your audience actually needs or trusts; that way, your content feels helpful, not pushy.
With consistency, good storytelling, and the right partnerships, affiliate marketing can quietly become one of the most profitable ways to earn from TikTok in Nigeria.
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5. Drive Traffic to Other Platforms
TikTok doesn’t always have to be the final destination; it can be your traffic engine. Many Nigerian creators use TikTok as the top of their funnel, driving followers to other platforms where they can monetise more directly.
If you have a YouTube channel, Instagram page, or WhatsApp business, TikTok can help you grow it faster than any other app. Short, engaging videos can attract a new audience, while your bio or pinned comment directs them to where the real conversions occur: your online store, newsletter, course, or booking link.
For example, a Nigerian food creator might share 30-second recipe clips on TikTok and tell followers to “watch the full recipe on YouTube.” A fitness coach can post short workout tips and drop their WhatsApp link for paid one-on-one training. A skincare influencer might do before-and-after videos and guide followers to Instagram for product details.
This cross-platform strategy works exceptionally well in Nigeria because it doesn’t rely on TikTok’s limited monetisation tools. Instead, you’re using TikTok’s massive reach to build visibility and trust, then converting that attention into real sales or income elsewhere.
To make this work:
- Add your other platforms to your TikTok bio.
- Include clear CTAs (calls to action) in your videos, e.g., “check my YouTube for the full video,” or “DM me on WhatsApp to order.”
- Keep your branding consistent across all your pages so followers can easily recognise you.
In short, think of TikTok as the spark and your other platforms as the fire. Use it to attract people, then nurture and monetise them where you have full control.
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TikTok Monetising Features Not Available in Nigeria
Sadly, many of TikTok’s built-in monetisation features aren’t available to creators in Nigeria. Here are some of the biggest ones missing:
1. Creator Rewards Program (formerly Creator Fund)
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program pays users based on the performance, engagement, and originality of their videos. In eligible countries like the US and UK, creators earn between $0.40 and $1.00 per 1,000 views, meaning a viral video with 1 million views could bring in $400 to $1,000 directly from TikTok. Unfortunately, Nigeria isn’t yet part of this program, so local creators with similar reach earn zero from the same engagement.
2. Creator Marketplace
This is TikTok’s official platform that connects brands with creators for paid collaborations. Creators can showcase their audience insights, demographics, and performance metrics, making it easier for brands to find influencers that fit their campaigns. Without access to this feature, Nigerian creators often have to pitch brands manually or rely on third-party influencer agencies, missing out on streamlined opportunities for global partnerships.
3. TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop allows creators to sell products directly through their videos and live streams. Users can tag products in their videos, and followers can make instant purchases without leaving the app. For Nigerian creators, this feature would be a game-changer, especially for small business owners and lifestyle influencers. But since it’s not yet available in Nigeria, they have to redirect followers to external websites or DMs, which reduces conversion rates.
4. TikTok Influencer Affiliate Program
Through the influencer affiliate feature, creators in supported regions can earn commissions by promoting products from TikTok Shop, similar to Amazon’s affiliate program. They don’t need direct brand deals; they simply post content featuring shop products, earning every time someone buys through their links. Nigerian creators currently can’t access this, meaning they miss out on passive income opportunities tied to the TikTok ecosystem.
5. Monetise with the Series Feature
The Series feature enables creators to put premium content behind a paywall, such as tutorials, mini-courses, or exclusive storytime videos and charge viewers to access it. It’s a way for creators to monetise their expertise directly, but it’s currently unavailable in Nigeria.
6. Collect Tips from Viewers (Tipping)
TikTok’s tipping feature allows fans to directly send money to creators as a token of appreciation for their content. It’s particularly useful for small creators building a loyal audience. Sadly, this feature hasn’t rolled out in Nigeria either, leaving creators dependent on third-party payment links or platforms like BuyMeACoffee.
Top TikTok Tips to Make Money in 2025
Making money on TikTok goes beyond just posting videos; it’s about strategy, consistency, and building a brand people trust. Here are the top ways to stand out and monetise smarter in 2025:
1. Focus on a Niche and Build a Loyal Audience
Random posts don’t cut it anymore. Stick to a niche that reflects your personality and attracts a specific audience. TikTok’s algorithm rewards creators who post consistently within a theme. A loyal community is what makes brands pay attention, not just follower count.
2. Diversify Your Income Streams
Don’t rely on one method. Combine sponsorships, affiliate links, cross-platform promotions, and live gifts. Many successful Nigerian creators build parallel income streams by running a YouTube channel, selling merch, or offering paid tutorials outside TikTok.
3. Engage Consistently
The algorithm loves engagement: reply to comments, ask questions, and join trending challenges in your own style. The more you engage, the higher your chances of appearing on the “For You” page, which directly impacts visibility and brand opportunities.
4. Keep Up With Global Trends and Updates
Since some monetisation tools are not yet available in Nigeria, stay ahead by following global creator updates. Use VPNs (ethically and safely) only for research to see how international creators structure partnerships, ad integrations, and shop links. This helps you pitch more effectively when opportunities open up locally.
5. Pitch to Brands — Don’t Wait to Be Discovered
You don’t need to wait for the Creator Marketplace. Reach out to Nigerian brands whose values align with your content. Send them a short pitch deck with your audience demographics, engagement rate, and video examples. Brands love creators who understand their own worth.
6. Track Your Analytics
TikTok’s analytics dashboard provides insights into your reach, engagement, and audience demographics. Use this data to refine your content strategy and justify your rates to brands. Numbers speak louder than follower counts when negotiating deals.
7. Stay Consistent and Experiment
TikTok changes fast — trends, formats, and features evolve constantly. Test new content styles, post consistently, and learn what resonates with your audience. Growth is slow at first, but the creators who adapt quickly are the ones who turn views into money.
8. Be Authentic — It’s Your Real Currency
Audiences can sense when you’re forcing a trend or selling something you don’t believe in. The more genuine you are, in your tone, humour, and storytelling, the more trust (and eventually sales or collaborations) you’ll earn.
Being authentic doesn’t mean oversharing; it means being real enough that people believe you, like you, and want to support what you do.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid to Make Money on TikTok
Even the most creative TikTokers can lose money or opportunities if they don’t play it smart. Here are the pitfalls to watch out for:
1. Chasing Virality Over Value
Not every viral video leads to income. Going viral for a random skit doesn’t guarantee brand deals or loyal followers. Focus on creating content that aligns with your niche and potential partners’ audiences, not just what’s trending.
2. Ignoring Your Analytics
If you’re not tracking what works, you’re shooting in the dark. Many creators post blindly without checking which videos drive engagement or conversions. Analytics help you spot patterns, refine your content, and prove your value to brands.
3. Overpricing or Undervaluing Yourself
New creators often accept low deals just to get brand experience — or quote unrealistic prices that scare clients away. Research what similar creators charge and negotiate based on engagement, not follower count.
4. Failing to Disclose Paid Partnerships
Transparency builds trust. Always tag your branded content as “sponsored” or “paid partnership.” It’s not only ethical but also prevents brands from blacklisting you for non-disclosure.
5. Copying Instead of Creating
It’s tempting to mimic trending creators, but originality is what keeps people watching. Adapt trends to your own personality and voice. TikTok’s algorithm also rewards originality and penalises reposted or recycled content.
6. Falling for Scams
Fake brand emails and DMs are everywhere, especially ones asking you to download files or pay for “verification.” Only collaborate through verified company emails or official brand websites. No legit brand will ask you to pay to work with them.
The Bottom Line
TikTok may not have all its monetisation tools available in Nigeria yet, but this doesn’t mean you can’t cash out. Creators who understand their audience, post with intention, and build strong personal brands are already making real income through sponsorships, affiliate links, and cross-platform growth.
The key is to treat your content like a business, not a pastime. Be strategic, stay consistent, and build relationships that extend beyond likes and follows.
