今年6月下旬的一天,美國加利福尼亞州阿納海姆凱悅酒店(Hyatt Regency)一樓的一間會(huì)議室被改造成了“TikTok星系”(TikTok Galaxy)。雖然沒有窗戶,但會(huì)議室里燈火通明,霓虹燈、人造星空閃爍,熱燈正在加熱素食玉米餅。這是該公司在年度“美國網(wǎng)紅節(jié)”VidCon阿納海姆會(huì)議(VidCon Anaheim Conference)上試圖博得創(chuàng)作者們稱贊的最新嘗試,該會(huì)議是最大的社交媒體明星聚會(huì)。但總的來說,創(chuàng)作者并沒有對免費(fèi)的天然山谷(Nature Valley)燕麥棒和帶有TikTok標(biāo)志的帽子贊不絕口。相反,他們一直在討論TikTok的新創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試(Creativity Program Beta),該計(jì)劃為發(fā)布超過60秒的視頻的創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬。
“這太棒了?!笨ㄎ鳌に鱾惿═ikTok網(wǎng)名SmallBizCassie)說,安排她入住的房間位于巨大的發(fā)光觸摸屏TikTok標(biāo)牌之間,這些標(biāo)牌是“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”TikTok星系的主要光源?!拔蚁氡磉_(dá)的是,他們在平臺(tái)上為發(fā)布長視頻的創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬,這一做法非常鼓舞人心?!?/p>
“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”的大部分參與者是像索倫森這樣的TikTok網(wǎng)紅,既不是家喻戶曉的大人物,也不是無名小卒。他們是TikTok用長視頻吸引用戶以增加廣告收入的戰(zhàn)略核心。對許多人來說,短視頻平臺(tái)入局長視頻不足為奇,真正令人震驚的是,TikTok設(shè)計(jì)了一個(gè)(迄今為止)能夠?yàn)閯?chuàng)作者提供可觀報(bào)酬的計(jì)劃。
接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪的創(chuàng)作者表示,僅參加“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”每月就可以賺取數(shù)千美元。一位TikTok網(wǎng)紅談到了用“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”提供的報(bào)酬償還抵押貸款。另一位網(wǎng)紅則辭去了朝九晚五的工作,全職當(dāng)TikTok網(wǎng)紅。還有人稱這些報(bào)酬能夠“改變?nèi)松薄?/p>
這些創(chuàng)作者和其他接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪的人,以及在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上分享他們對該計(jì)劃看法的人都指出,參加該計(jì)劃每月可以賺取數(shù)千美元。該計(jì)劃于今年2月推出,進(jìn)行僅限邀請測試,并于5月初向所有18周歲以上、擁有至少1萬名粉絲和10萬次瀏覽量的美國創(chuàng)作者開放。
“這令人們對該平臺(tái)的看法產(chǎn)生了巨大的影響(持更積極的看法):于我而言絕對是這樣。”約翰·霍珀在社交網(wǎng)站上的網(wǎng)名是Blue_ThunderGaming?!昂芏嗳宿D(zhuǎn)而參加[創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試],發(fā)布時(shí)長一分鐘以上的視頻,并把工作重心轉(zhuǎn)到該計(jì)劃上。這一戰(zhàn)略奏效了,而且,勢必會(huì)吸引創(chuàng)作者?!?/p>
霍珀說,由于加入了“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”,他將在兩個(gè)月內(nèi)辭去公司的工作,因?yàn)樗吭聫脑撚?jì)劃中獲得約5,000美元的收入。另一位名叫多爾頓·布羅克的TikTok網(wǎng)紅(網(wǎng)名是EsportsCenter)稱,他每月從這個(gè)計(jì)劃中賺取3,000美元到6,000美元,這本身就很可觀,但尤其值得注意的是,他以前從TikTok的上一個(gè)向創(chuàng)作者支付報(bào)酬的大計(jì)劃——?jiǎng)?chuàng)作者基金(Creator Fund)中每月最多賺取500美元。(當(dāng)TikTok網(wǎng)紅加入“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”后,他們就沒有資格參加創(chuàng)造者基金計(jì)劃了。)在TiKTok上擁有38萬名粉絲的創(chuàng)作者GhostGaming在推特(Twitter)上發(fā)布了一張截圖,顯示他從一個(gè)視頻中賺了408美元,并稱該計(jì)劃能夠“改變?nèi)松?。另一位用戶?bào)告說,他在30天內(nèi)發(fā)布了41個(gè)TikTok視頻,在該平臺(tái)上獲得了超過5,200美元的收入。他贊同GhostGaming的觀點(diǎn),把“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”描述為可以“在很大程度上改變游戲規(guī)則”。
該計(jì)劃能夠提供可觀報(bào)酬,并激發(fā)了創(chuàng)作者熱情,這標(biāo)志著TikTok與創(chuàng)作者之間的動(dòng)蕩關(guān)系得到了緩和。盡管許多創(chuàng)作者覺得需要在TikTok上累積粉絲,但字節(jié)跳動(dòng)旗下的平臺(tái)在為內(nèi)容創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬方面一直做得差強(qiáng)人意。20億美元的創(chuàng)作者基金在其推出的三年的時(shí)間里為創(chuàng)作者提供的報(bào)酬微不足道。TikTok Pulse是一項(xiàng)廣告分成計(jì)劃,與YouTube的AdSense(以打造高薪創(chuàng)作者而聞名)非常相似,參與者獲得的報(bào)酬少之又少。該公司還推出了僅限訂閱用戶瀏覽的內(nèi)容和直接從粉絲打賞獲利的機(jī)制。這些計(jì)劃經(jīng)常發(fā)生變化,網(wǎng)紅們很難跟上,也沒有給大牌網(wǎng)紅提供更高的報(bào)酬(與品牌合作得到的報(bào)酬相比)。
在回答《財(cái)富》雜志關(guān)于公司為創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬方面的歷史問題時(shí),TikTok的發(fā)言人瑪麗亞·榮格指出,通過為符合要求的視頻瀏覽量提供更高的平均毛收入,“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”讓創(chuàng)作者可以獲得比之前的創(chuàng)作者基金報(bào)酬高出20倍的收入。
TikTok的榮格說:“自2020年推出TikTok創(chuàng)作者基金以來,我們一直在傾聽創(chuàng)作者社區(qū)的意見,以更好地了解他們的需求,并改進(jìn)計(jì)劃。旨在鼓勵(lì)創(chuàng)作者創(chuàng)作高質(zhì)量的原創(chuàng)內(nèi)容,提高收入潛力,并為更令人興奮的現(xiàn)實(shí)世界機(jī)會(huì)敞開大門,創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃能夠提供更高的現(xiàn)金獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)?!?/p>
目前尚不清楚具體的支付方式?;翮曛赋?,以千次廣告展現(xiàn)的費(fèi)用(CPM)為基礎(chǔ)的支付方式是一大令人沮喪的原因,因?yàn)楦鶕?jù)他的經(jīng)驗(yàn),報(bào)酬的波動(dòng)毫無規(guī)律或理由。當(dāng)《財(cái)富》雜志要求對方澄清支付結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí),TikTok發(fā)言人拒絕提供更多細(xì)節(jié)。
在價(jià)值2,500億美元的創(chuàng)作者經(jīng)濟(jì)中,來自社交平臺(tái)的創(chuàng)作者報(bào)酬越來越重要,因?yàn)樵絹碓蕉嗟娜讼M麖氖律缃粌?nèi)容創(chuàng)作相關(guān)職業(yè)。盡管需求很大,社交巨頭谷歌(Google)、Meta和字節(jié)跳動(dòng)為創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬的計(jì)劃仍然在不斷變化,其特點(diǎn)是突然轉(zhuǎn)變和充滿繁文縟節(jié)。
YouTube最近開始為短視頻創(chuàng)作者支付報(bào)酬,這對像周志?。ˋlan Chikin Chow)這樣賺取“數(shù)百萬”的頂級創(chuàng)作者來說意義重大,但對那些收入不高的小網(wǎng)紅而言則無關(guān)緊要。Meta的Reels播放量獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)計(jì)劃不穩(wěn)定,時(shí)而向創(chuàng)作者提供可觀的報(bào)酬,大多數(shù)情況下向創(chuàng)作者提供令人困惑的報(bào)酬,但在沒有任何通知的情況下,在冬季就結(jié)束了該計(jì)劃(并在6月恢復(fù)了經(jīng)過調(diào)整的計(jì)劃)。與此同時(shí),Snap的故事收入共享計(jì)劃為合作創(chuàng)作者的即興內(nèi)容提供了豐厚的報(bào)酬,并促使一些創(chuàng)作者每天發(fā)布約200條內(nèi)容來獲得收入。在這種混亂的情況下,創(chuàng)作者往往需要尋求品牌合作來養(yǎng)活自己。
“如果你看看創(chuàng)作者經(jīng)濟(jì)——哪些創(chuàng)作者在品牌合作方面實(shí)力最強(qiáng),比如誰可以明顯帶來流量——YouTube平臺(tái)在這方面一直是首屈一指的。其原因在于YouTube網(wǎng)紅——制作15分鐘、25分鐘時(shí)長的視頻,對吧?所以長視頻(與參與度有關(guān))才是王道?!本W(wǎng)紅營銷機(jī)構(gòu)Viral Nation的首席執(zhí)行官及聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人喬·加里澤說。Viral Nation是TikTok的合作伙伴,負(fù)責(zé)讓網(wǎng)紅參與“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”?!叭绻鸗ikTok能夠發(fā)布長視頻,那么從貨幣化的角度來看,他們就可以與品牌合作伙伴做更多的事情?!?/p>
TikTok向創(chuàng)作者提供更為可觀的報(bào)酬是希望廣告商加大廣告支出,這一想法表明,該平臺(tái)正在加大與YouTube的競爭力度。加里澤認(rèn)為,“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”是TikTok改變其可跳過式前貼片廣告的前兆。他說:“問題是,如果是一個(gè)時(shí)長15秒的視頻,你就很難在里面插入中貼片廣告或是前貼片廣告,因?yàn)檫@違背了所有心理學(xué)原理,也不符合我們的使用慣例?!?/p>
雖然在TikTok上能夠跳過前貼片廣告,但在YouTube上這是強(qiáng)制性的。如果TikTok可以讓它的廣告不能跳過,這可能就會(huì)讓該公司的廣告收入隨著播放量的提高而大幅增加。
盡管如此,創(chuàng)作者和營銷機(jī)構(gòu)對TikTok及其中國母公司仍然有很大的疑慮?!斑@對所有人來說無疑是壞事?!币晃徊痪呙腡ikTok“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”參與者表示?!盁o論你是在談?wù)摽焖倩瑒?dòng)屏幕涉及的注意力持續(xù)時(shí)間問題,還是內(nèi)容的快速爆發(fā)問題,以及大量來自推廣成人業(yè)務(wù)的人提供的成人內(nèi)容(無處不在)問題。”
然而,這位創(chuàng)作者以TikTok為生,而且并不打算離開,尤其是現(xiàn)在他每月從“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”賺取數(shù)千美元?!安还芩鼘和腿祟愑卸啻蟮膼阂饣驌p害,它絕對是一流的天才算法?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
今年6月下旬的一天,美國加利福尼亞州阿納海姆凱悅酒店(Hyatt Regency)一樓的一間會(huì)議室被改造成了“TikTok星系”(TikTok Galaxy)。雖然沒有窗戶,但會(huì)議室里燈火通明,霓虹燈、人造星空閃爍,熱燈正在加熱素食玉米餅。這是該公司在年度“美國網(wǎng)紅節(jié)”VidCon阿納海姆會(huì)議(VidCon Anaheim Conference)上試圖博得創(chuàng)作者們稱贊的最新嘗試,該會(huì)議是最大的社交媒體明星聚會(huì)。但總的來說,創(chuàng)作者并沒有對免費(fèi)的天然山谷(Nature Valley)燕麥棒和帶有TikTok標(biāo)志的帽子贊不絕口。相反,他們一直在討論TikTok的新創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試(Creativity Program Beta),該計(jì)劃為發(fā)布超過60秒的視頻的創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬。
“這太棒了?!笨ㄎ鳌に鱾惿═ikTok網(wǎng)名SmallBizCassie)說,安排她入住的房間位于巨大的發(fā)光觸摸屏TikTok標(biāo)牌之間,這些標(biāo)牌是“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”TikTok星系的主要光源?!拔蚁氡磉_(dá)的是,他們在平臺(tái)上為發(fā)布長視頻的創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬,這一做法非常鼓舞人心。”
“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”的大部分參與者是像索倫森這樣的TikTok網(wǎng)紅,既不是家喻戶曉的大人物,也不是無名小卒。他們是TikTok用長視頻吸引用戶以增加廣告收入的戰(zhàn)略核心。對許多人來說,短視頻平臺(tái)入局長視頻不足為奇,真正令人震驚的是,TikTok設(shè)計(jì)了一個(gè)(迄今為止)能夠?yàn)閯?chuàng)作者提供可觀報(bào)酬的計(jì)劃。
接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪的創(chuàng)作者表示,僅參加“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”每月就可以賺取數(shù)千美元。一位TikTok網(wǎng)紅談到了用“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”提供的報(bào)酬償還抵押貸款。另一位網(wǎng)紅則辭去了朝九晚五的工作,全職當(dāng)TikTok網(wǎng)紅。還有人稱這些報(bào)酬能夠“改變?nèi)松薄?/p>
這些創(chuàng)作者和其他接受《財(cái)富》雜志采訪的人,以及在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上分享他們對該計(jì)劃看法的人都指出,參加該計(jì)劃每月可以賺取數(shù)千美元。該計(jì)劃于今年2月推出,進(jìn)行僅限邀請測試,并于5月初向所有18周歲以上、擁有至少1萬名粉絲和10萬次瀏覽量的美國創(chuàng)作者開放。
“這令人們對該平臺(tái)的看法產(chǎn)生了巨大的影響(持更積極的看法):于我而言絕對是這樣?!奔s翰·霍珀在社交網(wǎng)站上的網(wǎng)名是Blue_ThunderGaming?!昂芏嗳宿D(zhuǎn)而參加[創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試],發(fā)布時(shí)長一分鐘以上的視頻,并把工作重心轉(zhuǎn)到該計(jì)劃上。這一戰(zhàn)略奏效了,而且,勢必會(huì)吸引創(chuàng)作者?!?/p>
霍珀說,由于加入了“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”,他將在兩個(gè)月內(nèi)辭去公司的工作,因?yàn)樗吭聫脑撚?jì)劃中獲得約5,000美元的收入。另一位名叫多爾頓·布羅克的TikTok網(wǎng)紅(網(wǎng)名是EsportsCenter)稱,他每月從這個(gè)計(jì)劃中賺取3,000美元到6,000美元,這本身就很可觀,但尤其值得注意的是,他以前從TikTok的上一個(gè)向創(chuàng)作者支付報(bào)酬的大計(jì)劃——?jiǎng)?chuàng)作者基金(Creator Fund)中每月最多賺取500美元。(當(dāng)TikTok網(wǎng)紅加入“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”后,他們就沒有資格參加創(chuàng)造者基金計(jì)劃了。)在TiKTok上擁有38萬名粉絲的創(chuàng)作者GhostGaming在推特(Twitter)上發(fā)布了一張截圖,顯示他從一個(gè)視頻中賺了408美元,并稱該計(jì)劃能夠“改變?nèi)松?。另一位用戶?bào)告說,他在30天內(nèi)發(fā)布了41個(gè)TikTok視頻,在該平臺(tái)上獲得了超過5,200美元的收入。他贊同GhostGaming的觀點(diǎn),把“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”描述為可以“在很大程度上改變游戲規(guī)則”。
該計(jì)劃能夠提供可觀報(bào)酬,并激發(fā)了創(chuàng)作者熱情,這標(biāo)志著TikTok與創(chuàng)作者之間的動(dòng)蕩關(guān)系得到了緩和。盡管許多創(chuàng)作者覺得需要在TikTok上累積粉絲,但字節(jié)跳動(dòng)旗下的平臺(tái)在為內(nèi)容創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬方面一直做得差強(qiáng)人意。20億美元的創(chuàng)作者基金在其推出的三年的時(shí)間里為創(chuàng)作者提供的報(bào)酬微不足道。TikTok Pulse是一項(xiàng)廣告分成計(jì)劃,與YouTube的AdSense(以打造高薪創(chuàng)作者而聞名)非常相似,參與者獲得的報(bào)酬少之又少。該公司還推出了僅限訂閱用戶瀏覽的內(nèi)容和直接從粉絲打賞獲利的機(jī)制。這些計(jì)劃經(jīng)常發(fā)生變化,網(wǎng)紅們很難跟上,也沒有給大牌網(wǎng)紅提供更高的報(bào)酬(與品牌合作得到的報(bào)酬相比)。
在回答《財(cái)富》雜志關(guān)于公司為創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬方面的歷史問題時(shí),TikTok的發(fā)言人瑪麗亞·榮格指出,通過為符合要求的視頻瀏覽量提供更高的平均毛收入,“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”讓創(chuàng)作者可以獲得比之前的創(chuàng)作者基金報(bào)酬高出20倍的收入。
TikTok的榮格說:“自2020年推出TikTok創(chuàng)作者基金以來,我們一直在傾聽創(chuàng)作者社區(qū)的意見,以更好地了解他們的需求,并改進(jìn)計(jì)劃。旨在鼓勵(lì)創(chuàng)作者創(chuàng)作高質(zhì)量的原創(chuàng)內(nèi)容,提高收入潛力,并為更令人興奮的現(xiàn)實(shí)世界機(jī)會(huì)敞開大門,創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃能夠提供更高的現(xiàn)金獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)?!?/p>
目前尚不清楚具體的支付方式。霍珀指出,以千次廣告展現(xiàn)的費(fèi)用(CPM)為基礎(chǔ)的支付方式是一大令人沮喪的原因,因?yàn)楦鶕?jù)他的經(jīng)驗(yàn),報(bào)酬的波動(dòng)毫無規(guī)律或理由。當(dāng)《財(cái)富》雜志要求對方澄清支付結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí),TikTok發(fā)言人拒絕提供更多細(xì)節(jié)。
在價(jià)值2,500億美元的創(chuàng)作者經(jīng)濟(jì)中,來自社交平臺(tái)的創(chuàng)作者報(bào)酬越來越重要,因?yàn)樵絹碓蕉嗟娜讼M麖氖律缃粌?nèi)容創(chuàng)作相關(guān)職業(yè)。盡管需求很大,社交巨頭谷歌(Google)、Meta和字節(jié)跳動(dòng)為創(chuàng)作者提供報(bào)酬的計(jì)劃仍然在不斷變化,其特點(diǎn)是突然轉(zhuǎn)變和充滿繁文縟節(jié)。
YouTube最近開始為短視頻創(chuàng)作者支付報(bào)酬,這對像周志?。ˋlan Chikin Chow)這樣賺取“數(shù)百萬”的頂級創(chuàng)作者來說意義重大,但對那些收入不高的小網(wǎng)紅而言則無關(guān)緊要。Meta的Reels播放量獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)計(jì)劃不穩(wěn)定,時(shí)而向創(chuàng)作者提供可觀的報(bào)酬,大多數(shù)情況下向創(chuàng)作者提供令人困惑的報(bào)酬,但在沒有任何通知的情況下,在冬季就結(jié)束了該計(jì)劃(并在6月恢復(fù)了經(jīng)過調(diào)整的計(jì)劃)。與此同時(shí),Snap的故事收入共享計(jì)劃為合作創(chuàng)作者的即興內(nèi)容提供了豐厚的報(bào)酬,并促使一些創(chuàng)作者每天發(fā)布約200條內(nèi)容來獲得收入。在這種混亂的情況下,創(chuàng)作者往往需要尋求品牌合作來養(yǎng)活自己。
“如果你看看創(chuàng)作者經(jīng)濟(jì)——哪些創(chuàng)作者在品牌合作方面實(shí)力最強(qiáng),比如誰可以明顯帶來流量——YouTube平臺(tái)在這方面一直是首屈一指的。其原因在于YouTube網(wǎng)紅——制作15分鐘、25分鐘時(shí)長的視頻,對吧?所以長視頻(與參與度有關(guān))才是王道?!本W(wǎng)紅營銷機(jī)構(gòu)Viral Nation的首席執(zhí)行官及聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人喬·加里澤說。Viral Nation是TikTok的合作伙伴,負(fù)責(zé)讓網(wǎng)紅參與“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”?!叭绻鸗ikTok能夠發(fā)布長視頻,那么從貨幣化的角度來看,他們就可以與品牌合作伙伴做更多的事情。”
TikTok向創(chuàng)作者提供更為可觀的報(bào)酬是希望廣告商加大廣告支出,這一想法表明,該平臺(tái)正在加大與YouTube的競爭力度。加里澤認(rèn)為,“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”是TikTok改變其可跳過式前貼片廣告的前兆。他說:“問題是,如果是一個(gè)時(shí)長15秒的視頻,你就很難在里面插入中貼片廣告或是前貼片廣告,因?yàn)檫@違背了所有心理學(xué)原理,也不符合我們的使用慣例?!?/p>
雖然在TikTok上能夠跳過前貼片廣告,但在YouTube上這是強(qiáng)制性的。如果TikTok可以讓它的廣告不能跳過,這可能就會(huì)讓該公司的廣告收入隨著播放量的提高而大幅增加。
盡管如此,創(chuàng)作者和營銷機(jī)構(gòu)對TikTok及其中國母公司仍然有很大的疑慮?!斑@對所有人來說無疑是壞事?!币晃徊痪呙腡ikTok“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”參與者表示?!盁o論你是在談?wù)摽焖倩瑒?dòng)屏幕涉及的注意力持續(xù)時(shí)間問題,還是內(nèi)容的快速爆發(fā)問題,以及大量來自推廣成人業(yè)務(wù)的人提供的成人內(nèi)容(無處不在)問題。”
然而,這位創(chuàng)作者以TikTok為生,而且并不打算離開,尤其是現(xiàn)在他每月從“創(chuàng)意計(jì)劃測試”賺取數(shù)千美元?!安还芩鼘和腿祟愑卸啻蟮膼阂饣驌p害,它絕對是一流的天才算法?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
On a recent day in late June, a conference room on the first floor of the Hyatt Regency in Anaheim, California had been transformed into The TikTok Galaxy. Though windowless, the place was aglow with neon signs, a faux starry sky and hot lamps warming vegan tacos. It was all part of the company’s latest attempt to wow creators at the annual VidCon Anaheim conference, the largest gathering dedicated to social media stars. But by and large the creators weren’t raving so much about the free Nature Valley bars and TikTok logo hats. Rather, they could not stop talking about TikTok’s new Creativity Program Beta (CPB) that pays them to publish videos over 60 seconds.
“It’s pretty great,” says Cassie Sorensen (SmallBizCassie on TikTok), who is lodged between enormous glowing touchscreen TikTok placards that serve as main light sources in the TikTok Galaxy, about CPB. “I mean, the fact that they’re rewarding longer content on the platform—it’s encouraging.”
TikTokers like Sorensen, who are neither household names nor nobodies, comprise the bulk of the Creativity Program Beta participants, and they’re at the heart of TikTok’s strategy to engage users—and attract ad dollars—with longer-form content. To many, it’s not so shocking the platform that defined short-form video is going long, it’s that TikTok designed a program which—so far—meaningfully compensates creators.
Creators interviewed by Fortune report making thousands of dollars per month from CPB alone. One TikToker spoke about paying off his mortgage from CPB payouts. Another is quitting his nine-to-five to go full-time on TikTok. Yet another called the payments “l(fā)ife-changing.”
These creators and others who’ve spoken to Fortune or who’ve taken to the internet to share their thoughts on the programs reported making thousands of dollars per month from the program, which launched as an invite-only test in February of this year and was opened to all U.S.-based creators over 18 who have at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in early May.
“It’s made a huge impact on the positive view that people have about the platform; it definitely has for me,” John Hopper, who goes by Blue_ThunderGaming on socials, told Fortune. “So many people have moved to join [CPB] and post one-minute-plus videos, they prioritize that. It’s completely worked, and is certainly luring creators.”
Hopper says that because of CPB he will quit his corporate job in two months as he’s making around $5,000 per month from the program. Another TikToker named Dalton Brock whose handle is EsportsCenter says he makes between $3,000 and $6,000 per month from the program, which is significant on its own, but especially notable as he formerly generated a maximum of $500 per month from TikTok’s last big initiative to pay creators called the Creator Fund. (When TikTokers enroll in CPB they become ineligible for the Creator Fund.) A creator who goes by GhostGaming and has 380,000 followers on TiKTok posted a screenshot to Twitter showing that he made $408 from a single video, and called the program “l(fā)ife changing.” Another user reports posting 41 TikTok videos in 30 days to generate over $5,200 on the platform. He echoes GhostGaming’s sentiment, characterizing CPB as “pretty game changing.”
These payments and the excitement they inspire in creators marks a reprieve from the turbulence that has defined TikTok’s relationship with creators. Though many creators feel the need to be on TikTok to amass an audience, the Bytedance-owned platform has never done a good job of compensating its content-makers. The $2 billion Creator Fund delivered negligible sums to creators in its three-year existence. TikTok Pulse, an advertising revenue share program that closely mimics YouTube’s AdSense (famous for minting top-paid creators), netted participants mere pennies. The company has also launched subscriber-only content and direct-from-fan monetization mechanisms. These initiatives, which undergo regular changes, are hard to follow and have not offered pay better than brand deals for major stars.
Responding to Fortune’s queries about the company history of paying creators, TikTok spokesperson Maria Jung notes that payouts from the CPB allow creators to earn up to 20-times that amount previously offered by the Creator Fund by offering higher average gross revenue for qualified video views.
“Since launching the TikTok Creator Fund in 2020, we’ve been listening to the creator community to better understand their needs and improve the program,” says TikTok’s Jung. “Designed to encourage creators to create high-quality, original content, generate higher revenue potential, and open doors to more exciting, real-world opportunities, the Creativity Program offers higher cash incentives.”
It remains unclear how exactly payouts are dictated. Hopper noted that the CPM-based payouts are a source of frustration as they fluctuate without rhyme or reason in his experience. When Fortune asked for clarity around the payment structure, the TikTok spokesperson declined to provide additional detail.
Creator pay from social platforms is an increasingly important aspect of the $250 billion creator economy (per Goldman Sachs) as more and more individuals look to pursue social content creation careers. But for all this demand, programs to compensate creators for their labor from social giants Google, Meta and ByteDance remain ever-changing—defined by abrupt pivots and red tape.
YouTube recently started paying creators for Shorts, which has been meaningful to top creators like Alan Chikin Chow who has made “millions” and irrelevant to smaller-scale influencers who are making modest sums. Meta has had a spotty track record with its Reels Bonus program that paid creators sometimes-meaningful, often-confusing payments for short-form video only to end the program with no notice over the winter (and reinstate a rejiggered version in June). Meanwhile, Snap’s Stories program pays partner creators handsomely for their off-the-cuff content, and has led some to post around 200 pieces of content per day to generate income. With all this chaos, creators often need to pursue brand deals in order to support themselves.
“If you look at the creator economy—which creators are the most powerful in terms of brand partnerships, like who can move the needle—YouTube has always been number one. The reason for that is YouTubers—they make 25-minute videos, 15-minute videos, right? So long-form content is king as it relates to engagement,” says Joe Gagliese who is the CEO and cofounder of influencer marketing agency Viral Nation—a partner with TikTok in connecting influencers to the CPB. “If TikTok can get the content longer, then they can do a lot more from the monetization perspective with their brand partners.”
The idea that TikTok is opening its cash coffers to creators in the hopes of attracting bigger ad spend suggests that the platform is upping the ante in its rivalry with YouTube. Gagliese thinks that the CPB is the precursor to TikTok altering its skippable pre-roll ad format. “The issue is if you have a 15-second video it’s very difficult to put a mid-roll or a pre-roll on that because that goes against all of psychology and how we use it,” he says.
While pre-roll ads are skippable on TikTok, they’re mandatory prerequisites on YouTube. If TikTok is able to make its ads unskippable, this could turbocharge the company’s advertising revenue with viewership numbers.
Still, creators and agencies still have major qualms with TikTok and its Chinese parent. “It’s undoubtedly bad for humanity in general,” says a TikTok CPB member who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the platform. “Whether you’re talking about the attention span issue of swiping so quickly, the quick bursts of content, the plethora of adult content from people promoting their adult businesses that are just constantly everywhere.”
This creator, however, relies on TikTok for his livelihood, and has no plans to leave, especially now that he’s making thousands of dollars every month from CPB. “Regardless of how malicious or damaging it is for children and humans, it is an absolute state-of-the-art genius algorithm.”