TikTok affiliate marketing strategy in the US

AFFHUB is here! Let’s continue exploring TikTok.

It’s a platform that’s hard to stop talking about, as it has literally taken the world by storm and provides creators with countless opportunities for growth.

If you want to quickly gain an audience and become famous, TikTok is the place for you.

If you want to make money, TikTok is also the place for you.

If you just want to scroll and have fun, same thing.

If you want to get your daily dose of informative content, you guessed it.

And that’s not all you can get from this app.

In this article, we discuss TikTok affiliate marketing. And no, it’s not just about transferring traffic from TT to Telegram channels 😁. We’ll figure out how product promotion works on TikTok, partnerships with TikTok influencers, what affiliate links on TikTok are, TikTok commission programs, and more.

What is TikTok affiliate marketing?

TikTok affiliate marketing works by uploading videos to the platform with the goal of monetizing the actions of the audience that clicks on affiliate links on TikTok. Often, these links can be hidden, and the transition to the link occurs immediately after clicking on the creative or swiping right.

What to use for affiliate marketing on TikTok?

First, we recommend using organic traffic. TikTok is the perfect platform to provide you with “more than you need.”

You can do this by:

Linking to a URL from your profile
Advertising coupon codes or URLs in your videos
Adding an affiliate URL to your video description
Redirecting traffic to another profile
Promoting products on TikTok

Now let’s take a closer look at how to do this:

Links to external URLs

TikTok is not always consistent in its rules regarding external links in videos. However, there are several ways to get around this restriction.

One of them is to switch to a business account. In this case, you will be able to place a clickable link to your website or blog directly in your profile.

If you work with several offers at the same time or have different affiliate links, it is most convenient to use link hub platforms such as LinkTree or Beacons. They allow you to create a single “bridge page” where you can add all the necessary URLs without switching to a business profile.

Promoting coupon codes

Brands understand perfectly well that TikTok is the ideal environment for accurately reaching their target audience. Therefore, they often provide affiliates with special promo codes or discounts to encourage users to make purchases.

You can promote these codes in different ways: briefly mention them in a video, write them in the description, or even create separate content around the promotion. In some cases, advertisers also provide unique affiliate links so you can track conversions through TikTok traffic.

Add a URL to your description

Placing an affiliate link directly in the video description is one of the easiest ways to monetize content.

Yes, TikTok does not allow you to click on it, but users can simply copy the URL and paste it into their browser.

Many big influencers use this method — it’s short, simple, and poses no risk to the account.

Links to your other social platforms

We wrote that it’s not always about transferring traffic from TikTok to Telegram, but who said that’s not what this story is about at all 😉.

The easiest way to expand your affiliate traffic is to add links to other platforms.

When setting up your TikTok profile, you can add links to Instagram, YouTube, or Telegram. It takes less than a minute, but it allows you to redirect your audience to where all your active links and offers are located.

Promoting products on TikTok

A native approach to content creation is ideal here.

The TikTok format is suitable for demonstrating a product “in action”: short reviews, life hacks, comparisons, or reactions.

Remember the main thing: don’t turn your videos into blatant advertisements. Focus on the benefits, experience, and real-life applications — then your audience will perceive the link or promo code as a recommendation rather than a sales pitch.

TikTok commission programs

So, here are the main TikTok commission programs:

TikTok Shop Affiliate / Creator Commission

The official TikTok Shop affiliate commission program, where content creators receive a share of the sales for the products they promote in their videos or during live streams. When a viewer purchases a product through a tag or link in the content, the creator receives a commission on the sale. Commission rates are set by sellers, often within the range of ~5–30% or higher depending on the category.

TikTok Shop Affiliate Link Program

An extension of the TikTok Shop affiliate system, where creators can share affiliate links to products, stores, or campaigns directly in their content. A commission is automatically credited for each purchase made through these links.

TikTok for Business Affiliate Program

A program where partners can earn commissions for bringing new advertisers to TikTok For Business. Commissions are paid for conversions of users who click on your affiliate link and start using TikTok Ads. This is often a fixed payment per action.

Collaborations and direct cooperation with brands

This is not an official TikTok program, but many brands pay commissions or rewards for promoting products through TikTok directly through contracts (UGC, affiliate contracts, etc.), often with a percentage of sales or CPA commission. These can be combined with internal

TikTok Shop tools or external affiliate links.

You create an account and apply to participate (often through Creator Center or the relevant sections of TikTok Shop). Then you get access to a catalog of products or affiliate links, include tags/links in videos, live streams, or bios. The system tracks purchases made through your links.

The result: you receive a commission for each confirmed purchase or action.

How to apply for participation through Creator Center: step-by-step instructions

Open TikTok and log in to your account.

Go to the mobile app or website.

Go to the “Creator Center” section.

In the menu, select “Creator Tools” → “Creator Center.”
If you are on a computer, click “Join” or “Sign in.”

Select the “Affiliate Program” or “TikTok Shop Affiliate” tab.

It may look like “Affiliate Marketing” or “Product Marketplace.”
If you don’t see this option, TikTok Shop may not be available in your region.

Click “Apply” / “Join now.”

TikTok will ask you to fill out a short form:

confirm your age (18+)
agree to the terms of the program
select content categories

Confirm your account details.

You will need to provide:

your name, country, and language;
payment information (for commission payments);
method of identification (ID or document).

Once approved, you will have access to the TikTok Shop catalog.

You will be able to add products to your videos or Live streams — the system automatically tracks clicks and purchases.

Receive commissions.

When a user purchases a product through your tag or link, a commission is credited to your account, which can be withdrawn via TikTok Shop Balance.

Partnership with TikTok influencers

TikTok marketing campaigns come in many forms. Partnering with TikTok influencers is a powerful tool for growth. These are people who influence the masses, who are trusted, loved, and respected. Collaborating with them is a great idea, because just showing the face of one of them will rapidly increase trust in your advertising.

When choosing an influencer to collaborate with, we recommend paying attention to their style. Look at their values and see if they match yours. Do you have similar styles of running your pages, and does a certain “aesthetic” suit you?

Also, it is not always worth rushing to the top of the market. Less well-known influencers are able to attract an audience with very good activity. Yes, the top influencers attract a wider target audience, but more is not always better 😉.

Also, look at the target audience that prevails among a particular blogger. Where are these people from and what do they like?

This is important because that target audience should resonate with your brand.

Of course, we study other indicators, activity on the influencer’s profile, and so on. But this is the basis. We think you can all tell the difference between a truly successful account and a bot farm.