My Written Thoughts

For months, I’ve been pondering whether or not I should start promoting products on TikTok as a TikTok Affiliate. On one hand, I already have a catalog of original content that I create on TikTok. On the other hand, promoting products on the platform could turn into a side hustle, helping me bring in some extra income. The only question that remains is this: If I start doing affiliate marketing on TikTok, will it betray my followers and viewers? Imagine being in their shoes. You go on TikTok to watch your favorite creators doing their thing, but instead of seeing creative content, you start seeing them promote skincare and household products. That would be disappointing, to say the least. I asked my family and friends about it, and they all said the same thing: In this day and age, everyone could use some extra money, and it makes perfect sense to seize such an opportunity. Not everyone is eligible to become a TikTok Affiliate, though. You need at least 1,000 followers to unlock the ...

The idea of vlogging resonated with me for quite some time before I finally created my first vlog in April 2018. I was inspired by creators like Casey Neistat and Ryan Taylor. When I entered the YouTube space, I had one goal: to grow my channel to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. These are the benchmarks required to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which grants creators the opportunity to monetize their channels and potentially earn money. For me, it’s not about the money, but rather proving to myself that I can do it—having something to strive for. The truth is, reaching this level is far from easy. Without the drive, passion, skills, and patience, it would be impossible. Countless creators have tried and failed. So, achieving this milestone would be an honor; it would mean that I’m truly worthy. It took me roughly three years of weekly vlogging to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, unlocking monetization features and earning money from ads. It took another...