There is still a long debate as to whether our content should be advertised or not to be successful as a TikTok affiliate.
This is a never-ending debate. On the one hand, many people say: "If your content is good, there's no need for advertising—let the algorithm do the work." But on the other hand, there are also those who think: "Why wait for FYP when you can pay and immediately reach thousands of people?"
Both have a point. Organic content is like playing chess with an algorithm—if you understand the pattern, you can achieve FYP and profit without spending any capital. But, it's not always that smooth. Sometimes I've been editing for a long time, using a good hook, and it still sinks.
Meanwhile, advertisements can provide shortcuts. Pay, get immediate coverage. But yeah, it's not that simple either. Wrong target, wrong creativity, the result is a waste. This is precisely where the tug-of-war lies—which is more effective, and which is more suitable to live with?
To answer that, there are several things to consider:
First, what is your main goal in playing TikTok Affiliate?
Do you want to make money quickly, or want to build something that will last? Both are valid. But the approach is different. If you want fast results, advertising can be a shortcut—as long as you're prepared to make losses at the start. But if you are more relaxed and focused on building personal branding or a loyal audience, organic content could be a safer path. Not instant, but more sustainable.
But the question widens, how quickly do you want results? And how much are you ready to risk? Because even chasing quick profits has consequences, whether it's more time, money or energy. Meanwhile, if you choose the long route, you also have to endure a process that is sometimes slow and uncertain. So before thinking about advertising or not, maybe it's also important to be honest with yourself: what are you pursuing, and how far are you willing to go with this?
Second, do you have capital for advertising?
There's no need to be extravagant, the capital here doesn't have to be millions. But still, advertising requires funds that are ready to be "lost" without a promise of return. The thing is, in the beginning, the possibility of cheating is high. Algorithms need time to read the data, you also still need trial and error to find out what kind of ad is suitable. So the question is: are you ready to test and maybe lose first, or do you still want to play it safe while learning slowly?
Some people are willing to budget hundreds of thousands or even hundreds of millions every month for experiments, there are also those who prefer to hold off until they understand the rhythm. Both are not wrong, but again, each person's abilities and comfort are different.
So it's not just about having money or not, but more about: How ready are you to “lose” that money to study? Because advertising can be an investment, but it can also be an expensive lesson. If today you were asked to spend IDR 100,000 on an advertisement that might not be successful, would you be ready? Or are you more comfortable using your energy and time first, while slowly collecting organic data?
Third, has your content been proven to generate sales?
Many people rush to place advertisements because they see other people succeeding through advertisements. But the question is:
has your own content been proven to sell yet? Getting people to watch is one thing, getting them to click and buy is another story.
If you haven't had a single sale from your content, it could be that the problem isn't the reach, but the content itself. It could be that your message hasn't been received, the reviews aren't convincing enough, or the call-to-action is too subtle. Well, if you advertise content that has not been tested, the risk is greater. But if it turns out that there are one or two videos that generate commissions, that's a good signal, your content has potential.
The only question now is: are you sure which content is worth advertising, or are you still guessing?
Closing
In the end, advertising is just one thing: how to buy traffic.
Nothing more, nothing less. He can't make your content more interesting. He also can't force people to buy a product if they aren't interested in the first place. All advertising can do is increase opportunities, bring more eyes to see what you have to offer.
The problem is, if what they see isn't convincing, then nothing will happen. Advertisements only speed up the process, not improve the foundation. And that foundation is your own content: how clear the message is, how strong the invitation is, how relevant it is to the people you are targeting.
So before you rush to press the "Promote" button or open the TikTok Ads Manager, it's important to know first: what do you need is traffic, or improvements in content and strategy? Because if the basics aren't ready, no matter how many people you bring in through advertising, the results could be the same, or even make you even more confused.
Advertising is not the solution to all problems. But if you know when and how to use it, it can be an extraordinary tool.
