Welcome to Section Twelve: Understanding International TikTok Markets. As TikTok solidifies its role as a massive global platform, understanding how your geographical location affects growth and monetization—and how to tailor your content for a global audience—is absolutely essential.
12. Understanding International TikTok Markets
How to open a TikTok account in a different country
While the process for actually opening an account in a country where you don’t reside is not detailed, TikTok’s recommendation system heavily relies on location settings for optimization and, crucially, for program eligibility.
Location and Program Eligibility:
Your physical location is a key factor in accessing TikTok’s primary monetization features. If you are serious about earning revenue through the platform, you must reside in an eligible region to participate in certain programs:
• Creator Rewards Program: To join the Creator Rewards Program (the official monetization path that pays creators based on views), you must live in one of the following countries: the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, South Korea, or Japan. (Historically, the older Creator Fund was available to creators based in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, or Spain).
• TikTok Shop: The TikTok Shop feature is currently available primarily in the U.S., requiring either a valid U.S. passport, U.S. driver’s license, proof of legal U.S. residency, or U.S. business registration for sellers.
• Algorithm Weight: The algorithm does consider your country setting and language preference when curating your personal experience. However, TikTok states that these device and account settings receive the lowest weight compared to user interactions and video information when determining recommendations.
If you are a creator residing outside of these eligible countries, you can still monetize globally through external methods, such as brand deals, affiliate marketing, and offering consulting services to your audience.
Navigating TikTok’s rules and trends in various regions
Navigating the global market requires adherence to universal rules and flexibility in content strategy based on regional trends.
1. Rules and Compliance: All content posted globally must adhere to TikTok’s Community Guidelines. Violations of these guidelines can lead to monetization features being suspended or result in penalties against your account. Furthermore, businesses looking to market on TikTok must be mindful of specific geopolitical situations, as certain countries, such as India, have banned the app since 2020.
2. Regional Trends and Discovery: TikTok’s algorithm considers content to be valuable if it aligns with trending search terms. To ensure your content is discoverable in various international markets:
• Use the Creative Center: You can use the TikTok Creative Center to identify trending sounds, songs, and themes based on region and industry.
• Study Regional Preferences: Research shows that content formats are preferred differently across the globe. For example, 8 out of 10 Vietnamese shoppers prefer video content that emphasizes storytelling and educational formats.
Adapting your content for global audiences
Adapting your content style based on the market you intend to reach is crucial for both maximizing discoverability and revenue.
1. The Impact of Audience Location on Earnings: The geographic location of your target audience has a strong influence on how much TikTok will pay you, impacting your Creator Rewards RPM, as well as income from ads and sponsorships.
• If your fanbase is located in high-paying countries, such as the U.S., U.K., or Canada, your overall earning potential will be significantly higher.
2. Strategy for Expansion: Successful global brands show that adapting content is key to entering new markets:
• Niche Adaptation: Businesses like PRISM+ (a Singaporean brand) have strategically planned to replicate their TikTok Shop success in other markets, such as Malaysia.
• Focus on Local Value: When creating content, remember that successful marketing content should prioritize relevance and humor over chasing sales, ensuring the content feels authentic to the local platform culture.
• Use External Monetization: If the official monetization programs are unavailable in a specific target market, remember that you can still generate income through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and offering consultation services to that audience.
By focusing on the location of your highest-value audience, remaining compliant with global standards, and consistently adapting your content to regional trends, you are well-positioned to expand your reach and build a sustainable international presence on TikTok.