How To Make Money On Booktok

As a BookTok reviewer, I’ve turned my reading habit into a side hustle, and it’s honestly the dream. At first, I just posted reaction videos to plot twists and cute “Books That Wrecked Me” lists. But once a few vids hit over 100K views, authors and publishers started reaching out.

Making money comes from a few different streams. Affiliate links are a quick win—I use Bookshop.org and Amazon. When I recommend a book and someone buys it, I get a cut. I also joined influencer programs like the TikTok Creator Fund and the Penguin Random House affiliate program.

Sponsored posts are where the bigger bucks come in. Indie authors or small publishers will pay me to promote their books. I make sure I’m transparent and only feature stuff I genuinely like. Authenticity is key—your followers can smell a fake review from miles away.

I also host virtual book clubs and charge small membership fees or partner with brands to sponsor giveaways. And when you hit a good follower threshold (say 20K+), platforms like Patreon become viable for offering exclusive reviews or reading guides.

My tip: Be super consistent with your aesthetic. Mine’s cozy-lit-room-with-tea vibes, and that branding helps publishers know what kind of content to expect. It also attracts the kind of followers who are ready to buy the books I talk about.

As an aspiring author, BookTok has completely changed the game for me. I used to think the only way to sell books was through traditional marketing, but after watching countless indie authors go viral, I realized TikTok could be the golden ticket. The first step is building a personal brand. I started posting behind-the-scenes clips of my writing process, aesthetic montages of my characters, and emotional rants about editing block. That authenticity helped me grow a following that cares.

Once I hit about 10K followers, I started seeing actual sales. I linked my Amazon author page in my bio and made sure every book-related video included a call-to-action. Pre-launch teasers? Yup. Chapter sneak peeks? Yes. Reaction videos to my own plot twists? 100%.

But here's the real secret sauce: engage, engage, engage. I reply to every comment. I duet fans who read my book. I post reading challenges and giveaways. When I launched my second novel, I offered early readers ARCs in exchange for honest reviews and BookTok shoutouts—this boosted sales and credibility.

Also, affiliate marketing! I joined the Amazon Associates Program and now make a small commission every time someone buys through my link. Not huge money at first, but it adds up. Recently, I’ve even started partnering with book boxes and indie publishers for sponsored content. They pay me to promote new releases that align with my audience’s taste. It's like getting paid to fangirl!

Finally, I diversified. I started a Patreon offering bonus content, writing tips, and exclusive Q&As. My most loyal followers signed up immediately.

Bottom line: It’s not just about going viral once. It’s about building a relationship with your community. BookTok is a space where readers want to connect with creators. Show your love for stories, stay consistent, and treat it like a creative business. That’s how you monetize BookTok as an author.

BookTok is honestly a blessing for indie bookstores like mine. I’ve leaned into it as a marketing tool and it’s paying off. I film short videos highlighting new arrivals, niche genres (like dark academia or queer sci-fi), and trending BookTok titles. Those vids often go mini-viral, driving people to my website or DMs.

To monetize, I link my shop in bio and feature limited-time bundles based on popular TikTok book trends (think: “Books that broke me” bundles). I also collaborate with local BookTok creators to promote my store in exchange for store credit or small commissions.

Live sessions help too—I go live to showcase book hauls and offer discount codes for viewers. People love seeing the real bookstore energy, and it drives purchases.

Recently, I started my own affiliate program. Now, creators who promote my store get a small percentage of the sale. It’s a win-win: I get traffic, they get paid.

BookTok sells books. Period. And if you’re a bookstore, you want to be where the hype lives.

Honestly? I started making BookTok videos just to rant about sad endings. But then I joined Amazon Affiliates, and boom—made my first $50 after a single video recommending “heartbreaking reads.” I wasn’t even trying to sell anything.

Now I toss in my affiliate link, tag the books, and keep it chill. I don’t post daily, but my vids hit when they’re real. No gimmicks. Just good vibes, honest reactions, and some aesthetic lighting. Sometimes publishers send me free ARCs too. Feels wild.

So yeah, if you love books and TikTok, there’s definitely money in just being you.