If you’re an avid TikTok creator on the lookout for new ways to earn rewards and gifts while producing videos, diving into the world of branded content is an avenue worth exploring. TikTok, being a popular platform, offers you the opportunity to collaborate with brands and unlock new storytelling possibilities. To facilitate this, TikTok provides helpful tools like the Branded content toggle, allowing you to easily disclose when you create branded content on the platform.

What Defines Branded Content?

Branded content, according to TikTok, encompasses the videos you create to promote brands, goods, or services in exchange for something valuable from a third party. This can include brand endorsements, partnerships, or special promotions related to a product or service.

A branded content post may involve showcasing a gifted product, receiving funds for promotions, or even earning a commission if other creators purchase the featured product or service. Additionally, it extends to featuring a brand you have a commercial relationship with, such as being a brand ambassador.

Why Embrace Branded Content?

Brands choose to invest in branded content for various reasons. When a message comes from a third party instead of directly from the brand, it often feels more authentic. Brands also benefit from increased awareness and visibility within their desired target audience. By making branded posts, you leverage your followers and audience, granting brands access to potential customers they might not reach otherwise.

The engagement between you, your audience, and the brand becomes a win-win situation. Not only do you earn compensation, but you also have the chance to explore different types of content that you may not have considered before. Simultaneously, brands attract new customers through your endorsement.

Key Principles of Branded Content

As you prepare to dive into branded content creation, remember this crucial guideline: focus on making TikTok videos rather than commercials. Just like creating captivating TikTok videos, the same best practices apply to creating great branded content: be authentic.

Authenticity is essential when it comes to branded content. Your branded post should seamlessly fit into the TikTok ecosystem, so think about what works for the platform. Engaging storytelling, complete with a clear beginning, middle, and end, is crucial. Integrate the brand organically into your story to make it feel genuine.

When strategizing your upcoming branded videos, consider these four key principles:

1. Ditch the script: Speak in your own words, showing your understanding of the product.
2. Find a natural hook: Keep your content style consistent and bring in the brand later in a way that feels organic.
3. Use trends strategically: Look beyond virality and align with relevant trends that make sense for your content.
4. Find the right community fit: Ensure that your community aligns with the brand’s values and target audience. Brands collaborate with creators and media publishers on TikTok because they share engaged audiences.

Remember, the goal is to create content that feels fresh, entertaining, and seamlessly integrates with other videos on the platform.

Tools for Branded Content

To maintain transparency with your audience, it’s crucial to disclose when you receive payment, free products, or other incentives to create a video. TikTok provides content disclosure settings, enabling you to convey to your viewers that your video is branded content or tag brand sponsors appropriately.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Under Content disclosure settings, toggle on “Disclose video content.”
2. Choose between “Your brand” or “Branded content”:
   • Selecting “Your brand” will label your video as “Promotional content.”
   • Choosing “Branded content” will label your video as a “Paid Partnership.”
   • Selecting both options will default to the “Branded content” settings.

Keep in mind that all branded content goes through a review by TikTok’s moderation team to ensure compliance with their Branded Content Policy. Failure to comply may result in the removal of your content. Make sure to enable the Branded content disclosure settings whenever you post branded content on TikTok.

TikTok Creator Marketplace

For creators looking to collaborate with brands on paid campaigns, the TikTok Creator Marketplace is the official platform for such partnerships. By being part of the Creator Marketplace, you get the opportunity to connect and collaborate directly with brands. To disclose branded content and use the “Paid Partnership” label, navigate to Content disclosure settings, toggle on “Disclose video content”, and select “Branded content”.

Share what you’ve learned from the #CreatorPortal and tag us. Let’s continue exploring the exciting world of branded content on TikTok together!