Written by
Mackenzie TaylorPosted 3 years ago
With over 1.53 billion users, TikTok is now the social media platform for engaging with young people and building an online following.
Indeed, becoming a TikTok content creator is one of the best ways to build an online audience â and for a good reason! Youâve been thinking and thinking about it and now itâs time for you and your biz to join the world of TikTok!
You know itâll help grow your business, but the big question is when creating an accountâdo you choose a TikTok Business vs Creator account?
While it might sound easy to know exactly which one to choose from, however, knowing all the benefits of both will help you choose which version is the best one for you.
Are you a creator or a business?
Before we discuss the different account types on TikTok, itâs important to ask yourself: what do you plan on doing with the platform?
The answer to whether youâre a business or creator may seem simple on the surface. But, as more and more TikTokers forge their own careers as professional content creators, the lines can be somewhat blurred.
Why should you use TikTok as a creator?
TikTok is a top destination for content creators in any niche. This short-form video-sharing website has quickly become the main way many young people access content, keep track of trends and find new creators to follow!
TikTok is all about fun and creativity. With its easy-to-use editing tools and a vast library of music, sounds, and effects, you can create highly engaging and shareable content in no time. Itâs no wonder many creators want to build careers by creating short, shareable videos.
Why should you use TikTok for your business?
For businesses, TikTok boasts two important advantages: its audience and its engagement. Many businesses buy TikTok video likes to boost their visibility and build credibility, helping them connect more effectively with this dynamic demographic.
Studies have shown that TikTok consistently enjoys higher engagement rates than competing platforms. In practice, engagement rates have a direct impact on the ROI of any social media marketing campaign â and improve your chance of an âaudience breakthroughâ.
Itâs clear that the platform understands the value of bringing businesses on board. Thatâs why theyâve launched brilliant business-focused features such as the TikTok Shop and Spark Ads. Many of these tools are exclusive to business accounts. That leaves us with one important question: which type of account should you choose? Business or personal?
What are the different types of TikTok accounts?
Okay, first things first. What the heck are the different types of TikTok accounts?
There are two (used to be three but TikTok recently rolled one of the account types back!*): Creator/Personal and Business.
*Back before 2021, Creator was its own business account type, but TikTok merged the personal and creator accounts together so all users could have access to creator-specific tools.
What is a TikTok creator account?
A creator and a personal TikTok account are the same things. Itâs designed for individuals to use and itâs the type of account that ordinary creators should consider creating.
This account gives you the flexibility to do what you want on TikTok, whether thatâs watching other creators, liking videos, or posting your own content. Itâs essentially the default TikTok experience. Itâs the TikTok account you get when you first create an account, so if youâre just getting started on creating your own identity in the app, this is the account youâll start off with.
So why would you keep this account type? There are a few reasons.
Pros of a TikTok creator account
Music:
This is one of the biggest reasons youâd want to keep a creator or personal accountâyou have access to all of the sounds on TikTok without worrying about the sound being removed or your video being taken down for copyright issues.
Making the most of music trends is an important part of a creatorâs success on TikTok, but the copyright of these sounds has always been a contentious area. In general, music publishers are far less harsh on individual accounts than businesses â and so TikTok doesnât limit Personal accounts to licenced music only.
Verification:
Yes, just like Instagram and other social media accounts, you can still be verified on TikTok with a personal or creator account.
To do this, youâll need to head to your TikTok profile and select âSettings and Privacyâ. From here, you can request verification by tapping âManage accountâ and selecting âVerificationâ. Follow the instructions on your device and youâre good to go!
Privacy:
Want to make your account private? You can only do that with a creator or personal account.
Creator Programs:
With a creator or personal account, youâll have access to the creator-specific programs that TikTok has like Creator Next, which allows creators to monetize as they grow, and the Creator Fund, which TikTok created to pay content creators for creating content on the app.
Analytics:
With a Creator account, youâll have access to basic analytics for your account to help you figure out what kind of content your followers like to engage with.
Cons of a TikTok creator account
Link in bio:
With a Creator/Personal account, you donât have access to adding a link in your bio unless you meet certain requirements (like 1,000 followers on TikTok).
Want to skip that requirement? Switching to a Business account unlocks this feature instantly.
No Third-Party Platforms:
With a creator or personal account, you canât connect your account to third-party social media management apps like Flick. So if youâre looking to plan your content, schedule videos, and more, youâll need to switch to a business account.
What is a TikTok business account?
If youâre a business or brand, chances are youâre going to be using a business account for TikTok. It gives you access to more advanced features and analytics for your account. And the best part? You can upgrade your account for freeâand if you donât want a business account any longer? You can easily change it back to a personal or creator account.
Pros of a TikTok business account
Use of Third-Party Platforms:
This is a pretty obvious pro. If you are a business, you have a lot to do during the day, and posting on social media can be the last thing on your list. With a business account, you can easily connect your TikTok to a social media management app, like Flick, to schedule all of your videos.
Flick tip: Sign up for a FREE trial of Flick as we will be adding TikTok scheduling to our platform SOON!
Verification:
You can be verified on your TikTok with a badge, which will help give you an authority on the app that others might not have.
TikTok Shop:
A recent addition to the suite of business tools is the TikTok Shop. This is a brilliant eCommerce solution that allows brands to market and sell their products using short-form TikTok videos and profile pages.
Business accounts can also link their Shopify website (thanks to its headless commerce capabilities) and directly sell their products on TikTok through this platform. You can also live stream and sell your products in a process known as live shopping. Live shopping has proven to be one of the best ways to increase online sales using social media.
Viewers can directly buy products as they watch, without having to click on a website. How neat is that?
Selling products from your TikTok can be difficult, but we can set you off on the right foot! Read our guide on increasing online sales using social media platforms.
Link in bio:
If you have over 1,000 followers on your business account, you can add a website link to your TikTok bio. This is a great way for you to drive traffic to your website after someone has engaged or viewed your video.
Want to add a link to your TikTok bio? Hereâs exactly how to do that.
Cons of a TikTok business account
Limited sounds:
One of the biggest disadvantages for business accounts is they only have access to Commercial Sounds. You canât access any other sounds because of copyright.
Whatâs the downside to this? The vast majority of trending sounds are copyrighted tracks.
However, there is an important upside to this. The Commerical Sounds Library is full of royalty-free and licensed music, and for many of these tracks, the licence to use them extends outside the platform. In other words, by using Commercial Sounds, you can avoid copyright issues when posting to other, stricter platforms such as Instagram Reels, YouTube or Facebook. If you use royalty-free music, and you have the correct licences, youâre all set.
It is important to know that TikTok understands why brands need to use trending sounds. For some tracks, the platform has negotiated some short-term partnerships with the respective record label.
Weâd recommend having a look at what sounds are available in the Commerical Sounds Library â you may be surprised!
Need some help finding the perfect tracks for your TikToks? Read our full guide on discovering trending TikTok sounds.
@target woke up and chose justice for fellow social managers @Bed Bath & Beyond @Nick Trawick #CorporateVPWarmth @shortyawards ⏠original sound â target
No Creator Platforms:
Because youâre not a creator and TikTok wants you to SPEND money on its platform rather than take it, business accounts donât have access to the Creator Next or Creator Fund programs.
How do you switch to a business account?
Now that you have your TikTok account, how do you update it to a business account? Itâs very easy:
- Tap profile in the bottom right to go to your profile
- Click the hamburger menu to go to settings
- Click Settings and Privacy
- Click Manage Account
- Click Switch to Business Account
- Go through all the steps to create a business account and youâre done!
But, oh no! Youâre not enjoying being a business account? Thatâs okay! You can easily switch back to a personal account.
How do you switch to a personal account?
While TikTok doesnât really recommend that you switch back and forth, you still can if you need to! Hereâs how:
- Click profile on the bottom of the screen to go to your profile.
- Click the hamburger menu to go to your settings.
- Click Settings and Privacy
- Click Manage account
- Click Switch to Personal Account
Ta-da! Thatâs it.
TikTok Creator Fund: Can you make money from TikTok?
Businesses and creators use TikTok differently â especially when it comes to money. Businesses primarily use the platform to market and sell products, or offer services.
Creators, on the other hand, want to make money from their TikTok content. The only avenue to achieve this used to be through sponsorships, brand deals, or product placements.
However, the launch of TikTokâs official monetization program â the Creator Fund â gives them a cut of the revenue that TikTok earns from showing ads on the platform!
Letâs look a little deeper into the Creator Fund. This new program might just help you decide which account to use!
What is the TikTok Creator Fund?
The TikTok Creator Fund is a financial initiative launched by TikTok to support and reward eligible content creators for their creative efforts on the platform.
Unlike the YouTube Partnership Program, the Creator Fund isnât a grant or ad revenue-sharing program. Instead, TikTok looks to reward content that keeps viewers on the platform.
To be part of the Creator Fund program, youâll need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Are based in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain or Italy.
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
What account type should you choose to access the Creator Fund?
Which type of account do you need to start earning money with the Creator Fund: creator or business? The answerâs in the name!
This financial initiative program is to reward innovative creators, not businesses. Youâll need a creator account to participate.
Should you have a TikTok business or a creator account?
Honestly? It depends on what your overall goals are. If youâre selling products and want people to go to your website, you should opt for a business account. Itâll help because you can have your storefront linked, can boost sales, and have the ability to have your followers click links in your livestreamsâ which is HUGE for a business selling items.
If youâre just wanting to get views and post here and there, then a creator account is the perfect one for you. So think about what your goals are and go from there.
Need help with making engaging TikTok videos? Weâve got you. Click here to learn different ways on going viral on TikTok. Want to schedule your TikToks? Sign up for a FREE trial of Flick today!
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