TikTok has started testing a new feature called Shoutouts that allows fans to request custom videos from influencers in return for a fee. The latest TikTok experiment is one of the many monetization tools that the ByteDance-owned platform wants to offer to its burgeoning community of creators, aside from just brand sponsorship opportunities.
The popular video-sharing platform already offers a virtual currency called TikTok Coins that viewers can purchase to buy gifts. These gifts can be converted into Diamonds which can subsequently be redeemed by creators in exchange for real money. However, it appears that TikTok is exploring additional ways in which its creator community on the platform can make money, a strategy that the likes of Twitter and Facebook are also already trying to exploit at a breakneck pace.
First spotted by BuzzFeed News, TikTok has started testing Shoutouts, letting creators and influencers charge a fee in return for a custom video which can be anything from a birthday greeting to a private performance. It appears that the feature is only available in a handful of markets at the moment, and limited to a close circle of TikTok users. Unfortunately, TikTok has yet to officially detail the new monetization trick.
From the screenshots that have surfaced online so far, it appears that creators will be given a free hand when it comes to setting the fee they command for a custom video. While it also appears that TikTok Coins will be the go-to currency for requesting a Shoutout video, there is no information regarding the revenue-sharing structure between TikTok and influencers. Once users request a shoutout video from a creator, they will be asked to pay the fee upfront, and the creator will have up to three days to accept the request for making a custom clip. If the Shoutout request is approved by the creator, the video they make will go through a review process to make sure that it adheres to the community and content guidelines. After being greenlit, the Shoutout video is dropped via a DM in the buyer's inbox.
Creators with access to the Shoutouts feature will likely be able to prominently advertise it on their profile page or even posts. At this point, there is no concrete information about the criteria for using Shoutouts. However, TikTok will likely use metrics such as the number of followers to gauge the ‘influence index’ or popularity, and will accordingly grant the ability to make custom videos for fans. With Shoutouts, TikTok appears to be going after Cameo - the biggest name in the domain. Cameo offers a rich selection of renowned names from the film and music industry, athletes, comedians, and even politicians who can make a greeting or pep-talk video for a price. Cameo has even introduced a one-on-one calling feature to help boost its appeal, but TikTok's massive engagement among the young could help skyrocket the popularity of Shoutouts in no time.
Source: BuzzFeed News
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