By skyforbes 
7 practical strategies for monetizing short-form video, from affiliate marketing to digital products.
Here’s a surprising truth about making money on TikTok: creators with fewer followers often earn more than those with millions.
How is that possible? It’s because they’re not just chasing viral fame. They’re using a smarter, overlooked approach that turns modest, engaged audiences into real, consistent income. They focus on monetization from day one.
You might feel like you’ve missed the boat or that you need a huge following to make any real money. That’s a myth.
This isn’t about hype. This is a practical playbook for earning your first $1,000 per month (or more) on TikTok or other short-form video platforms. These are proven strategies that work right now, in 2025, for everyday creators.
1. Identify a Profitable Niche (That’s Actually in Demand)
This is the most critical first step. In the beginning, nobody cares about you; they care about the problems you can solve for them.
- The Mistake: Trying to be your own “niche” from day one or jumping on a fleeting trend that will be gone in six months (remember custom face masks?).