TikTok Creator Next: What it is and how to get involved

Of TikTok’s 1 billion monthly active users, about 20% have 20,000 followers or more. That means roughly 196 million people have significant followings on the app—a figure that indicates the creator economy is maturing and expanding.

Today, 50 million people already identify as content creators. As building a following becomes more accessible on channels like TikTok, more people will seize the opportunity to become creators, monetize their videos and build a long-term, sustainable career.

To help creators forge their path towards success, TikTok launched TikTok Creator Next, the gateway to all the platform’s monetization features and tools.

In this article, we explain what TikTok Creator Next is, how it’s different from the TikTok Creator Fund and how it can help brands find creators.

What is Creator Next on TikTok?

According to TikTok, Creator Next is “a program designed to help TikTok creators monetize as they grow their communities.”

The Creator Next portal allows qualified creators to access all of TikTok’s monetization features and tools including:

• The Creator Fund: The fund established by TikTok to compensate creators for their content. Income from the Creator Fund is based on a creator’s metrics. The fund is intended to help creators make enough to “earn livelihoods” and “spark careers.”
• The Creator Marketplace: The official collaboration platform that connects brands and creators on TikTok. Brands can search for creators to collaborate on both paid and reward-based campaigns.
• Video Gifts and LIVE Gifts: Using Video and LIVE Gifts, viewers can send prepaid coins to show their appreciation for a creators’ content on a video-by-video basis. Collecting coins is one way creators can receive Diamonds, financial rewards from TikTok based on a video’s popularity.

• Tips: This feature allows viewers to send direct financial support to their favorite creators. When viewers send a tip, they will have the option to choose $5, $10, $15 or custom amount.

The consolidation of these tools and features in the Creator Next platform makes it easier for social media content creators to maximize their financial opportunity on TikTok. For brands, Creator Next paves a more direct path to work with creators who are the right fit for their community.

Creator Next vs. Creator Fund: What’s the difference?

When TikTok launched Creator Next, it caused some confusion amongst creators who were already using the Creator Fund to monetize their TikTok presence. Many wondered why they had to join a new program and how it would impact their earnings.

Fortunately for creators, the Creator Fund hasn’t changed. It’s still the primary way TikTok is financially rewarding its highest-performing creators—especially those who deliver “original and creative content” that aligns with TikTok’s mission to “inspire joy and creativity.”

Established in 2020, the fund began with an initial investment of $200 million. Currently, TikTok’s goal is to grow the fund to $1 billion in the next three years. Compensation rates vary depending on a creator’s view and engagement metrics.

Creator Next serves as the hub for all TikTok monetization resources, and the Creator Fund is a monetization tool within the larger Creator Next toolbox. Creators can use it to gain money directly from TikTok, brand partnerships and viewers alike. Creator Next is designed to streamline a creator’s user experience, but it will not impact how the Creator Fund works.

Requirements to join TikTok Creator Next

In order for creators to join TikTok Creator Next, they must meet the following criteria:

• Have a certain number of followers (usually 1,000+ depending on their location) and have at least 1,000 video views
• Have posted at least three TikTok videos in the last 30 days
• Be in good standing according to TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
• Be 18 years or older (19 in South Korea and 20 in Japan)

Other eligibility criteria

Even if a creator meets the above requirements, there are other factors that influence their ability to join Creator Next and use all of the program’s resources.

For example, you must be a creator (brands with TikTok Business accounts cannot join) and located in an area where Creator Next is currently available.

Importantly, having enough followers to join doesn’t mean you will have enough followers, views or engagements to use all the features. To get Creator Fund payments, creators must have at least 10,000 followers and have accrued 100,000 organic views in the last 30 days. To receive Tips, creators must have at least 100,000 followers.

How to apply for Creator Next on TikTok

If you meet TikTok’s eligibility requirements, here’s how you can apply to join Creator Next.

1. In the TikTok mobile app, tap Profile in the bottom right corner.
2. Once on your Profile, tap the three-line icon in the top right corner.
3. Tap Creator tools.
4. At the bottom of your screen, tap Join on the Creator Next banner.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to apply.

Why TikTok Creator Next matters to brands

As Creator Next and the Creator Marketplace grow, collaborations and partnerships will become more accessible for brands of all sizes.

The Creator Marketplace helps brands overcome common roadblocks they experience when working with creators, like finding highly qualified, successful creators who align with their brand values and have the ability to reach their target audience.

How brands can use the Creator Marketplace

To start collaborating with creators in the Creator Marketplace, follow these steps.

1. Sign up and discover creators

Sign up with an Ads Manager account to access creators’ profiles, audience demographics, engagement metrics and more. Once you find the right creator, invite them to work with you by sending your campaign details and a contract.

You can also create an open campaign for interested creators to apply to work with you.

2. Align on campaign details

After you connect with a creator, confirm your campaign details before video production begins. For example, align on compensation, shooting location, wardrobe budget, number of reshoots, video length, products used in the video and more.

Moving forward without verifying these specifics could negatively impact the final product.

3. Analyze campaign metrics

Finally, wait for the results to roll in. On TikTok, creators must disclose brand partnerships in their videos. By using the Branded content toggle, their video will link to your Creator Marketplace campaign. Your brand will have access to real-time data about the campaign—including reach and impact.

Although TikTok Business accounts aren’t eligible to apply for Creator Next, brands can use the portal to build relationships with creators.

Take your creator partnerships to the ‘Next’ level

The creator economy is expanding to new heights. As more people gain impressive social followings, opportunities like TikTok Creator Next will help solidify long-term careers for content creators.

Brands can use this expanding talent network to uplevel creator outreach, management and content strategy.

Looking for more creator-focused resources? Read how you can vet content creators and build lasting partnerships with them.