Discover Lori Ballen’s inspiring journey on TikTok, where she transformed cat videos into a $30,000 monthly income through viral content, affiliate marketing, and strategic engagement.
In December 2023, I embarked on a TikTok journey, initially posting cat videos that, to be honest, didn’t garner much attention, averaging around 200 views out of the gate, and under 2000 mostly in the long run.
Like many creators, my beginnings were modest, with content that felt true to my interests but hadn’t yet found its audience.
The Turning Point: Viral Content and Rapid Growth
Everything changed when I decided to diversify my content. A video I made about older women dating younger men unexpectedly went viral, hitting nearly 1 million views.
This surge in popularity was a game-changer, catapulting my follower count from 1,000 to 10,000 in just a few weeks. TikTok took notice and invited me to join their Creator Program Beta and TikTok Shop Creator Program for affiliates.
Diving into the Creator Programs
Initially, I joined both programs without a clear strategy. The Creator Program offered payment for videos longer than 1 minute with over 1,000 views, at a rate of $1.17 RPM.
My videos on dating, divorce, and relationships became my main earners, bringing in around $700 in a 30-day span. I’m very new to the program, and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Leveraging Affiliate Marketing Expertise
Having a background in affiliate marketing, I was no stranger to the potential of this avenue. I decided to experiment by promoting a full-length makeup mirror jewelry cabinet, a product I personally wanted.
This video also went viral, particularly as it coincided with the Christmas season, leading to hundreds of sales until the product ran out of stock.
Expanding Product Range
Encouraged by this success, I branched out to other products like jeans and makeup palettes, finding significant success, particularly during the holiday rush.
In just the first two weeks of December, I made $30,000 in commissions. The bulk of that was the mirror and the makeup palettes.
Realizing the Potential Beyond Seasonal Trends
Initially, I thought my success was purely seasonal. However, when I started promoting a trending heat-up jacket and a cat exercise wheel, I realized the potential went beyond just holiday sales.
The cat wheel video alone garnered over 317,000 views in a few days, leading to significant sales.
Key Takeaways and Strategies for Success
My experience on TikTok taught me several valuable lessons:
- Trend Awareness: Paying attention to trending products is crucial.
- Authenticity Matters: Choose products you genuinely care about and can authentically demonstrate.
- Seasonality and Trends: While keeping an eye on seasonal trends, don’t rely solely on them.
- Engagement Beyond Followers: Most sales came from non-followers, highlighting the importance of TikTok’s ‘For You’ page and the effective use of hashtags and descriptions.
- I noticed my products that have some buzz or controversy seem to do better. For example, I turned sideways in that mirror video and a bunch of men commented on my backside. Then, the makeup palettes were on Oprah’s favorite things, which stirred up many comments like “Oprah — NOPE”. And the cat wheel, people are discussing safety issues, pricing, better options yada yada, but they are commenting. And it’s going viral. Just something I noted.
Conclusion: Building a Sustainable TikTok Business
My journey on TikTok has been more than just about gaining followers or going viral. It’s been a learning curve in understanding online marketing dynamics, consumer behavior, and the power of authentic engagement.
The platform has opened up a new realm of possibilities, proving that with the right strategy, anyone can turn their TikTok presence into a profitable business venture.
Take one of my courses at BallenAcademy.com.
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