How to Join TikTok Shop Affiliate Without 5,000 Followers: Full Guide

How to Join TikTok Shop Affiliate Without 5,000 Followers: Full Guide

Learn the secret method to bypass follower requirements and start earning commissions as a TikTok Shop creator today

Smiling man recording a video on her smartphone
Photo by Ron Lach

To become a TikTok affiliate, you’ll typically need to participate in TikTok’s affiliate marketing program. But TikTok doesn’t have a formal affiliate program like some other social media platforms for everyone from the start. Anyway, you can still use the platform for affiliate marketing through another method. Lets, I will explain to you how. Interested? Read my guide on how to get started:

  1. Choose a Niche: select a niche that inspires you, that interested for you and in which you have expertise. This could be anything from beauty and fashion to technology, fitness, or cooking.
  2. Create Engaging Content: produce high-quality and interesting content. Focus on creating videos that are visually appealing, entertaining, and shareable. Experiment with different formats, trends, and styles to see what works best for you.
  3. Build Your Following: you can grow your following by consistently posting valuable content. Participate in TikTok trends and challenges. Use hashtags to increase your visibility and reach a wider audience.
  4. Join Affiliate Programs: find affiliate programs with products or services that you believe in and that suit your niche and audience.
  5. Create Affiliate Content: incorporate affiliate marketing into your TikTok content by creating videos that feature or review products, demonstrate how to use them, or highlight their benefits. Be transparent with your audience about your affiliate relationships by disclosing when you’re promoting affiliate products.
  6. Include Call-to-Actions: encourage your viewers to take action by including clear call-to-actions in your videos, such as asking them to click on a link in your bio, use a specific promo code, or visit a website for more information or to make a purchase.
  7. Track Your Performance: monitor the performance of your affiliate marketing efforts on TikTok to see which types of content and promotions generate the most engagement and conversions. Use analytics tools provided by TikTok or affiliate networks to track clicks, conversions, and commissions.
  8. Optimize and Iterate: continuously optimize your affiliate marketing strategy based on your insights and results. Experiment with different types of content, promotional tactics, and affiliate programs to see what works best for you and your audience.
TikTok Seller Center registration screen showing business type selection
Registration process for TikTok Seller Center

TikTok doesn’t have a formal affiliate program specifically designed for businesses. However, businesses can still leverage TikTok for marketing purposes through various means.

Here are some steps you can take to utilize TikTok for business purposes

Firstly register your account, and choose a business type:

TikTok Shop Seller Center business type selection screen
Selecting business type during TikTok Shop setup

Verify your ID, choose us passport or us driver’s license:

TikTok Shop identity verification options for passport or drivers license
ID Verification step for affiliate access

Add shop information, such as a shop name, and choose a primary product:

TikTok Shop configuration screen for shop name and primary product category
Setting up shop information and product category

Now you need to wait for a confirmation letter, which will arrive in your e-mail. Go to the right corner and click on My Account — Linked Accounts:

How to find linked accounts in TikTok Seller Center
Select Linked Accounts under My Account menu

Here you need to add your TikTok account via QR code. 

Link official TikTok account to seller center
Click link official account to connect your profile

Open your TikTok account and click on the right corner a burger button (3 lines). 

TikTok app profile menu burger button
Open TikTok app and tap the burger menu button


Click on MY QR- Code:
Select My QR code option in TikTok settings
Scanning QR code to link TikTok account
Scan a code that you see on your laptop \ PC screen:

TikTok official account link authorization complete screen
Authorization complete screen when linking your official TikTok account

When your account is linked, you will see such a message on the screen of the laptop \ PC screen. But you also need to confirm it on your phone account. Click at INBOX. 


TikTok mobile app interface pointing to inbox tab
Open your phone app and tap on Inbox at the bottom menu

Click at TikTok Shop Updates. 

TikTok app inbox notifications showing TikTok Shop updates
Tap on TikTok Shop updates to complete account confirmation

Click here, to add all the necessary information. Scan QR code again. See that this time it works. Go back to the phone app and check if we have access to the affiliate program. Click on Creator tools.

TikTok Creator tools menu with monetization options
Go to Creator tools and click on TikTok Shop for Creators

Click on Tiktok Shop For Creators. 

Start earning with TikTok Shop application page
Agree with the Creator Terms of use and click on Apply

Agree with the Creator Terms of use and click on Apply.

TikTok Shop affiliate invitation success screen
Successful approval screen to start earning affiliate commissions

Congratulations! Now you can start to Earn!

  1. Create a TikTok Business Account. This type of account provides access to additional features and analytics that can help you track the performance of your content and campaigns.
  2. Develop a Content Strategy: consider the type of content that resonates best with TikTok users, such as entertaining videos that showcase your brand’s personality.
  3. Leverage TikTok Ads: TikTok offers advertising options for businesses looking to reach a wider audience on the platform. Explore different ad formats, such as In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and TopView Ads, to promote your products or services to TikTok users.
  4. Engage with Your Audience: build relationships with your audience by actively engaging with them through comments, likes, and shares. Respond to comments, participate in trending challenges, and collaborate with other TikTok creators to increase your brand’s visibility and engagement.
  5. Utilize Influencer Marketing: partner with TikTok influencers who align with your brand values and target audience. Influencers can help amplify your message and reach a larger audience through sponsored content and collaborations.
  6. Monitor Analytics: use TikTok’s analytics tools to track the performance of your content and campaigns. Monitor key metrics such as views, engagement rates, and follower growth to measure the effectiveness of your efforts and make data-driven decisions.
  7. Stay Updated on TikTok Trends: stay informed about the latest TikTok trends and features to keep your content fresh and relevant. Participate in trending challenges and explore new creative formats to keep your audience engaged and entertained.

While TikTok doesn’t have a dedicated affiliate program for businesses at the moment, you can still leverage the platform for marketing purposes by creating engaging content. By implementing these strategies effectively, you can maximize your brand’s presence and impact on TikTok.

While social commerce and affiliate marketing are effective ways to monetize your influence, the platform also offers unique opportunities for music enthusiasts. If you enjoy discovering new tracks and want to get paid for integrating music into your videos, you should explore the specialized world of audio promotion. Check out my guide on How to Make Money on TikTok Promoting Songs: A Guide to PlaylistPush Earnings to learn how to turn your creativity into a rhythmic source of income!


Insider Tip: to make your videos look professional, you need a high-quality setup. If you need a reliable microphone or 4K camera with fast shipping, you can find the best podcasting and teaching gear via Amazon Content Creator Store. Professional sound is the best "Plan B" to ensure your audience stays engaged with your shop tutorials!

Building a digital empire starts with small steps and useful tools. Every raccoon in the lab 🦝 needs a little something beautiful to keep the creative spark alive!

Have you tried setting up a TikTok Shop through the Business Account method yet, or are you still waiting for 5,000 followers? What products do you think sell best on TikTok? Share your results or ask questions in the comments!

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