How to Become a TikTok Affiliate Without 1k Followers — sounds almost impossible, right? But here’s the truth: you don’t need a large following to start earning on TikTok. TikTok’s affiliate program now gives small creators a real chance to make money by promoting products they love.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to join the program, pick the right products, and grow your earnings step by step — all without hitting that 1K follower mark!
Everything You Need to Know About TikTok Affiliate Marketing in 2 Minutes
TikTok affiliate marketing is a mix of social media and performance-based marketing. It’s when a TikTok user or creator shares a product or service with their audience and earns a commission every time someone buys through their special link, called an affiliate link.
Simply put, TikTok affiliate marketing lets you use your creativity and audience to make money. You do this by recommending products or services your followers might enjoy.
You can start by partnering with sellers directly or by using TikTok Shop to find products you like. Then, create fun and engaging videos that show these products in action.
Your videos could be reviews, unboxings, tutorials, or even clips of you using the product in your daily life. The main goal is to make your content interesting and genuine so people want to watch and trust your suggestions.
You can place your affiliate link in your video description or bio, directing viewers to the products you promote. When someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission — a small part of the sale price. The more people who buy, the more you earn!
With TikTok’s 1.9 billion users worldwide, there’s huge potential to grow. Even if you’re starting with a small audience, TikTok affiliate marketing can help you turn your content into real income.
Requirements to Join the TikTok Affiliate Program
Pathway 1: The Standard Creator Affiliate Program
This is the usual way most people join TikTok’s affiliate program. It gives you access to the Creator Marketplace and the “Shop Now” button to promote TikTok Shop products.
Follower Requirement:
This is the hardest part for new creators. The number of followers you need depends on your country and TikTok’s rules, but it’s usually:
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Around 1,000 to 5,000 followers in big regions like the US, UK, and Southeast Asia.
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Sometimes less in smaller markets or during TikTok promotions.
Other Requirements:
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You must be 18 years or older.
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Your account should be in good condition — no serious or recent rule violations.
“Shop Now” Access:
When you meet these rules, you’ll get access to the TikTok Shop Creator Center, where you can:
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Pick products to promote
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Ask for free samples
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Add a “Shop Now” button (or product link) to your videos
Pathway 2: The TikTok Shop Seller Affiliate (No Followers Needed)
This option is great if you’re just starting out and don’t have any followers yet. You can still get affiliate links by signing up as a seller who promotes their own or other people’s products.
Follower Requirement:
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No followers needed in many countries like the US and UK.
How to Join:
1. Create an Individual Seller account on the TikTok Seller Center website.
2. Link your TikTok account as a Marketing Account.
3. Once TikTok approves it, you can start adding product links to your videos — even with zero followers.
Main Difference:
This method uses the Seller Marketplace, where sellers post products for affiliates to promote. It works just like the Creator Marketplace — you earn money when people buy through your links — but you join differently.
How to Track and Analyze Performance Without TikTok for Business
TikTok Creator Analytics
TikTok has a built-in tool called Analytics that helps you see how well your videos are doing. Anyone with a creator account can use it.
To find it, go to your profile, tap the three dots (☰), choose “Creator tools,” then click “Analytics.”
You’ll see four main sections: Overview, Content, Followers, and LIVE.
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Overview: Shows how your followers, video views, likes, comments, and shares change over time. You can check results from the last 7, 28, or 60 days.
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Content: Shows details for each video — views, likes, comments, shares, and how long people watched. It only shows data from the last 7 days.
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Followers: Tells you more about your audience — where they live, when they’re most active, and how your follower count changes.
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LIVE: If you go live, this section shows how many people watched, how many new followers you gained, and how many Diamonds you earned in the last 7 or 28 days.
Checking your analytics helps you learn what your audience likes most. You can see if people watch your whole video, skip parts, or watch again. This helps you make better content that your followers enjoy more.
If you look at your analytics often, you can keep improving your videos and grow faster on TikTok.
Affiliate Program Tracking
If you do affiliate marketing, you can also track your progress with tools from your affiliate program.
For example, if you use TikTok Shop, use TikTok’s own analytics. But if you promote products from other websites like ShareASale, use their analytics instead.
These tracking tools show you how many people click your links, buy products, and how much commission you earn. This helps you see which products sell best so you can focus on what makes the most money.
You can also use apps like UpPromote to track clicks, sales, and commissions from your TikTok videos. These reports help you understand which videos and products your audience likes most.
Data-Driven Optimization
To keep improving, you should use your data to guide what you post. Whether you use TikTok Analytics or affiliate tracking tools, they both help you see what works best.
Pay attention to things like:
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Video views
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Likes, comments, and shares
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Clicks and sales from your affiliate links
If some types of videos get more attention, make more like them. If others don’t do well, try changing your style, post time, or the products you promote.
By testing and adjusting often, you can grow your audience, increase engagement, and earn more through TikTok affiliate marketing.
Final Thoughts
You can become a TikTok affiliate without 1K followers if you stay focused, creative, and consistent. You don’t need a huge audience — just share products you truly like and build trust with your viewers. Keep making engaging videos, use smart hashtags, and learn from your analytics to grow faster.
Start today and turn your TikTok content into real income — even without 1,000 followers!
FAQs: Become TikTok Affiliate Without 1K Followers
1. Can I earn money on TikTok Shop without 1,000 followers?
Yes, while the TikTok Shop Creator Program typically requires 1,000 followers to directly participate, you can still leverage TikTok Shop by registering as a seller through the TikTok Seller Center. Once your seller account is linked to your TikTok profile, you can list and promote products directly on the platform, including affiliate products, effectively bypassing the follower requirement for earning through the shop.
2. How do I start as a TikTok affiliate from scratch?
To begin, first identify a niche you are passionate about and research affiliate programs or networks (like ShareASale or Impact Radius) that align with that niche and don’t have strict follower requirements. Next, consistently create authentic and engaging video content showcasing products you genuinely recommend. Include your affiliate links in your bio or video descriptions, and use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability. Building trust and engagement with your audience is key.
3. What types of brands or programs work best for new affiliates?
New affiliates often find success with direct outreach to smaller, emerging brands that are more willing to collaborate with micro-influencers who demonstrate strong engagement. Additionally, large affiliate networks offer many programs across various niches that may prioritize niche relevance and authentic content over a high follower count. Look for programs with reasonable commission rates and products that genuinely resonate with your specific audience.
4. How can I grow my TikTok following while doing affiliate marketing?
Focus on consistent posting of high-quality, original content within your chosen niche. Actively participate in trending challenges and use popular sounds where relevant. Engage genuinely with your audience by responding to comments and asking questions, fostering a community. Collaborate with other creators in your niche and cross-promote your TikTok content on other social media platforms to expand your reach and attract new followers.