CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER
Issue #97 | Jan. 3, 2023
As a relatively new platform, TikTok is still a wild west of sorts in the content creation game and has a reputation for reach over reward. Its monetization potential hasn’t stacked up to YouTube’s just yet, but its active userbase is a behemoth, surpassing over 1.5 billion in 2022.
Due to the massive amount of eyeballs on the platform, some TikTokers are raking in millions of dollars from brand deals, merchandising, and other business ventures made possible by their newfound audiences.
Not everyone is so lucky—so what does it take to become one of the richest TikTokers? As Passionfruit contributor Rachel Kiley explains this week in our first Passionfruit story of 2023, there are plenty of lessons to learn from the wins, controversies, and luck of top-earning TikTokers.
– Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor
TOOLS REVIEW
10 of the richest TikTokers and what their success can teach us
What does it take to become one of the top-earning TikTokers?
By Rachel Kiley, Passionfruit Contributor
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ONE GREAT TIP
“Editing has become much more accessible recently. This has led to an explosion of different styles of editing, from extremely flashy to super lo-fi. We have stayed consistent with our editing techniques, avoiding the hyper-cutting action of a lot of modern YouTubers. It has been interesting to see what people with less formal training bring to editing—they’re not operating on the same ruleset as more established editors.”
Smosh editor Spencer Agnew shares insight on the evolution of video editing styles. Read more in our October 2022 interview.
TIPS AND TRICKS
TikTok’s ‘beauty bestie’ Sarah Palmyra breaks down her ethos for recommending products to followers
“More often than not, I’ll be able to suss out whether or not this is actually just a marketing tactic.”
By Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor
IN THE BIZ
- TikTok is rolling out an ability for creators to make content for only adult viewers. (via TechCrunch)
- Former kickboxing star and notorious controversial influencer Andrew Tate was arrested in Romania on human trafficking charges. (via Reuters)
- Elon Musk’s proposition of “X App,” a Westernized version of China-based app WeChat, stirred controversy. (via Politico)
- Twitter was sued for not paying rent on its San Francisco office. (via Bloomberg)
- Meta is considering whether Trump will be allowed back on Facebook and Instagram. (via Business Insider)
- TikTok’s parent company ByteDance cut its staff. (via Reuters)
- Twitch streamer QTCinderella is launching a cooking series. (via Dexerto)
- YouTube children’s show Blippi is expanding globally. (via Tubefilter)
- Racing and YouTube star Ken Block passed away at 55 years old. (via Tubefilter)
TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT
This viral app turns your iPhone into a retro iPod.
