Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing on TikTok In 2024

We have regularly looked at the benefits of the affiliate marketing model and have even previously written a general Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing. In short, affiliate marketing involves promoting and selling another company's products or services for a commission.

It gives you (the affiliate) an opportunity to earn money online from selling online without going through the complexities of creating a product or setting up as a full-scale retailer. Instead, product creators or merchants (who have ready-to-go products) start an affiliate program, where online marketers encourage their online readers, viewers, or contacts to buy the products.

Thanks to each affiliate marketer having a unique link, the product creators can distinguish who sends buying consumers through to their site and, in return, pay the affiliate marketers a percentage of the money these people spend at the site.  

The most successful affiliate marketers have a sizable audience of relevant followers (potential consumers) somewhere, often on a social network, blog, podcast, or video-streaming channel. And nowadays, for the younger generations, at least, TikTok influencers make excellent affiliate marketers.

So in our ultimate guide to affiliate marketing on TikTok, we'll look at how you can earn some additional money on the fastest-growing social channel for Generation Z and Millennials.

Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing on TikTok In 2024:

Why Would You Consider Affiliate Marketing on TikTok?

Despite writing numerous articles about TikTok here at Influencer Marketing Hub, we still have (predominantly older) people scratching their heads and wondering what this "TikTok craze" is all about. Yet TikTok is well beyond the craze stage. TikTok is now a formidable social media platform, capable of rivaling Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook in popularity. But why is TikTok a good affiliate marketing option? Here are a few reasons:

• Impressive User Growth: TikTok has more than 1.6 billion users, with at least a billion active users.
• High Engagement Rates: TikTok's user engagement is significantly higher than other platforms. For instance, TikTok accounts with over a million followers have an engagement rate of 10.53%. Accounts with less than 5,000 followers have an even higher engagement rate, with 15.04%, compared to 4.21% for Instagram accounts with the same number of followers.
• Viral Potential: The TikTok algorithm promotes content based on engagement rather than follower count, enabling even new users to achieve viral status and reach millions of viewers.
• Influencer Effectiveness: TikTok influencers have a substantial impact on purchasing decisions. For example, 47% of users in the US say influencer product recommendations help with purchasing decisions. A slightly higher number, 59% report making impulsive purchases on TikTok.
• Diverse Audience: The platform attracts a wide demographic, with a strong presence among younger users. 17.3% of TikTok users are between 18 and 24 years old. The largest audience group is between 25 and 34, making up 33.9% of TikTok's global audience.
• Creative Freedom: TikTok’s format allows for creative, short-form video content, which is ideal for showcasing products engagingly and memorably.
• Integration with E-commerce: TikTok is enhancing its eCommerce capabilities, making it easier for users to buy products directly from the app. This includes features like shoppable ads and direct product links in videos.
• ​High Daily Usage: TikTok users spend an average of 53.8 minutes per day on the app, providing ample opportunity for engagement and exposure to affiliate marketing content.

How Does Affiliate Marketing on TikTok Work?

Affiliate marketing on TikTok involves a collaborative effort between several key parties, each playing a crucial role in the process. Here's a breakdown of the parties involved:

• Product Creator (Merchant): The product creator or merchant is the individual or company that creates and owns the product being promoted. They set up an affiliate program to incentivize others to promote their products. The merchant provides the necessary promotional materials and unique affiliate links or codes to track sales.
• Affiliate Network: Some merchants use affiliate networks to manage their affiliate programs. These networks act as intermediaries, connecting merchants with affiliates (influencers) and handling the technical aspects such as tracking, reporting, and commission payments. 
• Affiliate Marketers (Influencers): Affiliates are the individuals or influencers who promote the merchant’s products on TikTok. They join the affiliate program and receive unique links or codes to track the sales they generate. These influencers create engaging content, such as reviews, tutorials, or demonstrations, to showcase the products to their followers.
• Consumers: Consumers are the end-users who watch the influencer's content on TikTok. Influencers aim to persuade these viewers to purchase the products using the provided affiliate links or codes. The consumers' interactions and purchases are tracked through these links, attributing sales to the respective influencers.

How To Make Affiliate Marketing Work For You on TikTok?

Affiliate marketing on TikTok can be a highly effective way to monetize your content and influence. Here’s a detailed guide on methods to maximize your earnings as an affiliate marketer on TikTok.

Utilize TikTok Shop's Affiliate Program

Source: TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop's affiliate program provides an excellent opportunity to monetize your content:

• Access to Products: Creators can access a wide range of products to promote in the Affiliate Product Marketplace.
• Commission Rates: Earn commissions by promoting products. Note that 0% commission rates are not allowed.
• Request Samples: Get free samples to create authentic content. This can enhance your promotions and increase conversions.

Steps to Get Started

1. Sign Up for TikTok Shop: Register as a TikTok seller. You don’t need to sell anything, but this registration allows you to join the affiliate program.
2. Navigate to Creator Tools: Go to the Creator Tools on TikTok, tap on TikTok Shop for Creators, and access the Product Marketplace.
3. Select Products: Choose products to promote, request samples if needed, and get your affiliate links.
4. Create Content: Make engaging videos showcasing the products. Use storytelling, trends, and high-quality visuals to attract viewers.

Creating and Promoting Content

If you're not going down the TikTok Shop route, there's always the option to sign up with other affiliate marketplaces and promote products/services through your TikTok videos. Surprisingly, this is an even more popular option for affiliates in some countries. So, how do you make it work? Well, creating engaging and relevant content is crucial for attracting and retaining your audience. Here’s how to do it:

• Tagging Products: When creating videos, tag products directly from the TikTok Shop or any other affiliate marketplace. This makes it easy for viewers to purchase directly from your video.
• Use Relevant Hashtags and Sounds: Increase the discoverability of your content by using popular hashtags and trending sounds.
• Leverage TikTok Features: Utilize effects, filters, and duet/stitch features to make your content stand out.

Expanding Your Reach

Once you're comfortable with the basics, consider these advanced strategies:

• Build a Strong Following: Engage with your audience regularly, respond to comments, and create a community around your content.
• Collaborate with Other Creators: Partner with other TikTok influencers to expand your reach and attract new followers.
• Utilize Other Social Media Platforms: Repurpose your TikTok content for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels to reach a broader audience.

How to Market Affiliate Products on TikTok?

The bulk of TikTok's users are still members of Generation Z, although there are now strong pockets of supporters in generations on either side, Millennials, and Generation Alpha. Therefore, you need to establish a clear niche for your account and make and share videos that appeal to those interested in that topic.

The affiliate products you choose to promote also have to appeal to those people. For example, there is little point in sharing affiliate product links for hunting and fishing products in a channel where most of your videos focus on teenage beauty.

Generation Z is notorious for disliking traditional advertisements; therefore, you should blend your affiliate products into your videos naturally. This will be much easier if you select affiliate products that your typical viewers would use. Ideally, you want your product placement to appear subtle and organic.

It's all very well promoting your affiliate products from your TikTok account, but how will you make things work? How can you lead people to buy the product and ensure the product creator/merchant or affiliate network knows that you sent these consumers? There are several ways you can achieve this:

1. Include a Link in Your Bio

Unfortunately, you can't usually just place a link in your TikTok videos or captions, although TikTok has experimented with this at times. Instead, you need to learn a lesson from Instagram and include a link in your TikTok bio. This is generally the best (organic) way to drive traffic outside of TikTok, so it is the ideal place for you to include the custom link that the affiliate company or network gave you. Then, once you have a link in your TikTok bio, you can reference it in your videos.

TikTok hasn't given everybody this capability yet. If you don't, you may be able to access it by joining the TikTok tester program. You will also need to change to a TikTok Business account if you currently only have a personal one.

If you find you can add a clickable link to your TikTok bio, do it by:

1. Tap the Me icon at the bottom right corner of your screen
2. Tap the Edit Profile button
3. If your bio can include a link, you will see a section asking you to add a URL.
4. Insert the affiliate link that your affiliate company or network has given you or a link to your website or a custom landing page. 
5. Tap the Submit button
6. Check your bio and make sure that it shows your link (and that it is clickable – use your mobile phone to double-check this)

Using a link to a landing page or your website gives you more opportunities to promote affiliate products, and it works better if you are promoting multiple products. You will, of course, first have to create an informative website or landing page to send potential leads to from your TikTok account.

Once you have a clickable link in your bio, you can promote it in your TikTok videos. However, you need to be careful to avoid anything that looks like hard selling. Generation Z, in particular, is resistant to videos that look like traditional ads. But the people who follow your videos, and the TikTok algorithm that decides who would enjoy them in people's For You feeds, won't object to you promoting affiliate products if your videos are sufficiently informative and entertaining.

2. Use LinkTr.ee to Create a Bridge Page

Another effective strategy to drive traffic from TikTok to your affiliate products is by using LinkTr.ee to create a bridge page. LinkTr.ee allows you to compile multiple links in one place, making it easier for your followers to find all your affiliate links, social profiles, and other important pages.

To set up LinkTr.ee for your TikTok profile:

1. Sign Up for LinkTr.ee: Create an account on LinkTr.ee. You can choose between the free version or the paid version, depending on your needs.
2. Customize Your Page: Add links to your affiliate products, social media accounts, website, and any other relevant pages. Customize the appearance of your LinkTr.ee page to align with your branding.
3. Add LinkTr.ee to Your TikTok Bio: Once your LinkTr.ee page is set up, copy the unique URL provided. Go to your TikTok profile, tap on the "Edit Profile" button, and paste the LinkTr.ee URL in the website field.
4. Promote Your LinkTr.ee in Videos: In your TikTok videos, mention the link in your bio and encourage your viewers to check it out. You can create content that naturally leads to the call-to-action, such as product reviews, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes looks.

Using LinkTr.ee not only simplifies the process of sharing multiple links but also provides analytics to track the performance of each link. This way, you can see which affiliate products are getting the most clicks and adjust your strategy accordingly. Once you sign up, pick the template that appeals the most to you and add your most important affiliate links.

Source: LinkTr.ee

3. Link to Your Other Social Pages

TikTok makes it easy to create links to some of your other social accounts. You do this similarly to adding a link to your profile. Go to your "Me Page" and then tap the "Edit Profile" button. TikTok includes fields for you to enter your Instagram and YouTube profiles, making it easier for you to direct people to see your other posts and promotions. These links show up as social buttons on your profile.

4. Use Coupon Codes

Affiliate brands often provide coupon codes you can give to your followers and supporters. You can mention these in your videos and their associated captions. However, make sure to mention any limitations they may have, such as any expiry date.

5. Mention Dedicated URLs in Your Videos

Suppose you are known as an influencer or are already sending a reasonably high level of traffic through to your affiliate company or network's site. In that case, they may consider it worthwhile giving you a dedicated easy-to-remember URL you can use in your marketing. Then, when somebody goes to that web page and buys something, the company will instantly credit that sale to you and pay you an agreed commission.

Ideally, the URL should be easy to remember, e.g., https://www.companyname.com/yourname. That way, you can include it in your videos and descriptions without worrying about the lack of a direct link. 

Use TikTok Paid Advertising to Promote Your Affiliate Products

If you don't have a sizable engaged TikTok following, paid advertising is probably the only realistic way for you to promote affiliate products on TikTok. However, even if you have plenty of followers and have a track history of having your videos appear in people's For You lists, you could consider supplementing your organic video posts with some paid ads.

Paid advertising on TikTok works very similarly to the system used on Facebook and Instagram, where you bid to have your ads appear on viewers' screens. Video in-feed ads appear as a 5-60 second full-screen video in users' For You feeds. You can target your ads to particular demographics and psychographics, and the amount you pay depends on what it costs to win your preferred slots in a silent auction. TikTok has other higher-profile ads, such as their TopView Ads, but these are more expensive and will generally not be cost-effective for all except the most popular affiliate marketers with massive audiences.

About the Author

Influencer Marketing Hub

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The Influencer Marketing Hub Team brings together a diverse group of experts with a passion for influencer marketing, digital trends, and social media strategies. Each piece of content crafted by this team is researched and written to provide valuable insights, tips, and updates for our readers. Our authors are dedicated to delivering high-quality, informative, and engaging articles that help businesses and influencers thrive in this rapidly changing digital world.