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How to Make Money from TikTok Without Showing Your Face in 2024

How to Make Money from TikTok Without Showing Your Face in 2024

Jenny Ho
September 16, 2024
14min read

TikTok has exploded as a platform for content creators over the last few years. As someone who struggled with shyness on camera when I first started out, I know that succeeding on TikTok without showing your face may seem impossible. But let me tell you, it is absolutely achievable! After building multiple successful faceless accounts, I’ve discovered proven strategies to help camera-shy creators thrive on TikTok. Today, I’ll share everything I’ve learned - from creative techniques to growth hacks - to help you grow an audience and make money online without ever appearing on camera.

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Why Do Faceless TikTok Content Creation?

Why making faceless TikTok content is the key?
Why making faceless TikTok content is the key?

When I took my first steps on TikTok a few years back, I felt slightly hesitant to reveal my identity online. But after experimenting with faceless accounts, I realized the immense opportunities TikTok offers even for faceless creators.

Here are some of the key benefits I discovered:

  1. Creative Freedom: Without the constraint of being on camera, you can let your imagination run wild. Your content isn't limited by your physical appearance or surroundings.
  2. Focused Branding: When you're not the face of your brand, you have more control over your brand image. You can create a consistent aesthetic that isn't tied to your personal appearance, which can change over time.
  3. Broader Appeal: By not showing your face, you remove potential biases that viewers might have based on age, race, or appearance. Your content becomes the star, appealing to a wider audience.
  4. Work-Life Balance: Faceless content allows you to separate your online persona from your personal life. You can build a significant online presence without compromising your day-to-day privacy.
  5. Flexibility in Collaboration: You can easily collaborate with others or even hand over your account to team members without disrupting your brand's consistency.

Additionally, you can have unrestrained fun creating viral content dancing in your pajamas without worrying about makeup or hair! Does it get any better?

Can you grow on TikTok without showing your face?

When I first contemplated launching a faceless account, skeptical thoughts crept in.

  • Will anyone follow an account with no face behind it?
  • Can I really build an audience without showing myself on camera?

Various faceless TikTok ideas, such as product reviews, unboxings, and trend-based content, can help creators grow their audience by appealing to diverse interests and allowing for unique content creation. Despite the doubts, I decided to give it a shot. And let me tell you...

...IT IS ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE TO SUCCEED ON TIKTOK WITHOUT SHOWING YOUR FACE!

In fact, there are many of TikTok’s top creators who’ve built massive followings without ever showing their faces. Let’s look at a few:

  1. @biz_thoughts** (2M+ followers)**: This account shares daily business tips using AI-generated visuals.
  2. @texty.stories.daily** (500K+ followers): This creator uses text messages with gameplay in the background to hook viewers and has 25M+ likes.**
  3. @deepstrongquotes** (2M+ followers):** This creator posts inspiring quotes and advice with creative animations.

These accounts prove that with the right content strategy, faceless accounts can not only survive but thrive on TikTok. They’ve succeeded by focusing on what matters most—creating engaging, valuable content that resonates with their audience.

Choosing a Niche

Choosing a niche is a crucial step in creating a successful faceless TikTok account. A niche helps you stand out from the crowd, attract a dedicated following, and establish expertise in a specific area. When choosing a niche, consider your interests, passions, and areas of expertise. You can also research popular trends and hashtags on TikTok to find inspiration.

Some popular niches for faceless TikTok accounts include:

  • Life hacks and DIY projects
  • Educational content, such as science experiments or language lessons
  • Gaming content, such as walkthroughs or reviews
  • Arts and crafts, such as drawing or painting
  • Cooking and recipe videos
  • Travel and adventure content
  • Fashion and beauty tutorials
  • Motivational and inspirational content

When choosing a niche, make sure it aligns with your target audience’s interests and is consistent with your brand image. By focusing on a specific niche, you can create content that resonates with your viewers and keeps them coming back for more.

You can read more on our blog about Best TikTok automation tips, don't miss it!

Finding a Unique Niche on TikTok

Finding a unique niche on TikTok can be challenging, but it’s essential for standing out from the crowd. To find a unique niche, research popular trends and hashtags on TikTok, and identify gaps in the market. You can also experiment with different content ideas and see what works best for your audience.

Some tips for finding a unique niche on TikTok include:

  • Use relevant hashtags to research popular trends and topics
  • Identify gaps in the market and create content that fills those gaps
  • Experiment with different content ideas and see what works best for your audience
  • Use your unique perspective and expertise to create content that stands out from the crowd

By finding a unique niche, you can differentiate yourself from other creators and attract a dedicated following. Remember, the key is to offer something that viewers can’t find anywhere else.

How Can I Hide My Face When Making TikTok Videos?

Once I was convinced success was possible, my next question was, How do I actually create videos without showing my face? While you can use creative tricks like masks and costumes to hide your face, I discovered the best solution is using artificial intelligence and editing software to generate high-quality video content.

AI tools allow you to create professional videos with:

  • Stock footage and images tailored to your script
  • Animated characters that speak your own voiceover
  • Stylized text visuals based on what you type

But with so many emerging AI tools, how do you choose the right one?

Here are the key features I looked for:

All-in-one simplicity

I wanted a tool that could take me from script to complete video without having to juggle multiple apps. The simplicity would allow me to focus on my ideas.

Broadcast-quality visuals

It was important the visuals looked professionally produced. Pixelated, awkward graphics would distract rather than engage viewers.

Easy-to-use

Since I'm not tech-savvy, I needed something intuitive enough for anyone to create content quickly without a steep learning curve.

Voice & music options

Having vocal and soundtrack variety to set the right tone for my video concepts was crucial. After testing various options, I can confidently say Zebracat met all my key criteria. Here's a quick run-down:

  • One-stop shop: I can go from story idea to full video in minutes without leaving Zebracat. Other tools required painfully stitching together output from various sources.
  • Stunning visual quality: Zebracat's AI generates graphics, footage and animations that look amazingly high-quality and cohesive. They fit seamlessly with whatever storyline I dream up.
  • Beginner-friendly: I found Zebracat super easy to use, even as someone new to AI-generated content. Their templates and prompts made video creation intuitive.
  • 120+ voice & soundtrack options: No matter what idea I'm trying to bring to life, Zebracat has the perfect voice & background music to match the exact vibe I'm going for.

Zebracat can boost your creativity and save you a lot of time!
Zebracat can boost your creativity and save you a lot of time!

With Zebracat, video creation is almost unnervingly simple compared to the multi-app chaos I dealt with before. Want to give it a try yourself? Here's a sample video Zebracat generated for me in mere minutes:

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Creative Strategies for Faceless TikTok Growth

So now you have the right tools to create videos without revealing your face. But what type of content should you create? Through extensive experimentation, I found these 5 formats to be most effective for faceless accounts to stand out in the crowded TikTok space.

  • Tutorials and How-To Videos: Share your expertise on a subject by creating step-by-step guides.
  • Product Reviews and Unboxings: Provide honest reviews and unboxings of products to help your audience make informed decisions.
  • Animations and Illustrations: Use animations or illustrations to tell a story or explain a concept.
  • Text-Based Content: Use text overlays to share quotes, tips, or stories.
  • ASMR Content: Leverage autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) by creating relaxing audio experiences. High-quality audio production and a variety of ASMR triggers can attract a wide audience, making it a popular choice on platforms like TikTok without requiring personal visibility.

1. Immersive POV Content

POV, or point-of-view videos, are hugely popular on TikTok. They allow you to show life through a novel lens without being on camera yourself. For example, one of my most viral videos was a morning routine filmed from the POV of a coffee mug sitting on the kitchen counter.

Here are some tips to create engaging POV content as a faceless creator:

  • Choose unique perspectives - get creative! Think beyond just human POVs. What's a day in the life of your dog like? How does a slinky feel falling downstairs?
  • Incorporate plenty of movement - use pans, zooms, and camera angles to make static objects feel dynamic. This holds the viewer's attention.
  • Enhance the ambiance with sound effects - add eating sounds from food's POV or furious typing noises from a computer keyboard's POV.
  • Tell a story - show how the POV changes throughout a process rather than just having a static shot. Take viewers on a progression.

The goal is to make your POV feel alive and immerse viewers in a new experience. You can do this without ever showing your own face!

2. Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful tool on TikTok, and you don't need to show your face to be a great storyteller. 

But how do you tell a story without showing your face? Here's my trick:

  1. Use simple animations or stock footage (Zebracat has a great library)
  2. Add text overlays to narrate the story
  3. Use sound effects to enhance the mood

In the past, I thoroughly enjoyed creating such "voice-over" stories fused with relevant doodles, animations, and graphics. Feels strangely liberating like being the unseen Morgan Freeman of TikTok!

3. Text & Typography

Text or written words are no longer limited to the domains of books or blogs alone. They can be utilized wonderfully for faceless videos too on TikTok!

This creator, @texty.stories.daily, has 500K+ followers and 25M+ likes creating text-based videos. Why does it work? It's easily digestible, highly shareable, and perfect for those scrolling with sound off.

To succeed in this niche:

  1. Focus on relatable, everyday situations
  2. Use simple, visually appealing backgrounds (solid colors work well)
  3. Play with typography to add visual interest
  4. Keep it short and punchy – aim for that "laugh out loud" moment

Try these text-based content ideas:

  • Animated quotes that build word-by-word
  • "Unpopular opinions" revealed one line at a time
  • Rapid-fire facts with each fact popping up quickly

Pro tip: Use contrasting colors and dynamic animations to make your text pop. Zebracat has some great templates for this and you can change your text to video via it.

4. Stop Motion & Object Animation

Stop motion is a nostalgic, mesmerizing style perfect for faceless creators. By animating everyday objects, you can create fascinating narratives without showing your face. For example, one of my most successful videos was a stop-motion animation showing dominos falling down progressively and triggering fun chain reactions.

Here are some tips to use this nostalgic style effectively:

  • Start small - choose a simple object or set to animate like a finger tapping or toy car moving. Don't get too ambitious early on.
  • Plan out your storyboard before you shoot. Sketch out the key poses and transitions you want to stitch together.
  • Be patient and take many photos! Move objects gradually and capture hundreds of images from different angles.
  • Add sound effects like footsteps or car sounds to bring your motions to life.

Stop motion is extremely time-intensive but mesmerizing when done right.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Demos

Finally, offer viewers a peek behind the curtain! Showcase your creative process, workspace, or daily routines. These real-world demos make you more relatable without showing your actual face. For example, one of my most-watched videos was an over-the-shoulder shot of me animating a character while sharing tips and tricks. Viewers loved the insider perspective into my world!

You can show behind-the-scenes of:

  • Cooking a new recipe from an overhead view
  • Your desk and computer screen as you edit videos
  • Your hands as you work on DIY crafts/art
  • Your pet hanging out while you brainstorm video ideas

The key is to let viewers feel like a fly on the wall observing your process. Seeing the hard work behind each video also builds trust and authenticity for your faceless brand.

Engaging with Your Audience

Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal following on TikTok. When creating faceless content, it can be challenging to connect with your audience, but there are several strategies you can use to build a community around your account.

Building a Community on TikTok

Building a community on TikTok requires consistent effort and engagement. Here are some tips for building a community around your faceless TikTok account:

  • Respond to comments and messages promptly
  • Use relevant hashtags to connect with your target audience
  • Collaborate with other creators in your niche
  • Share user-generated content and give shoutouts to your followers
  • Use TikTok’s duet feature to engage with your audience

By building a community around your account, you can increase engagement, attract new followers, and build a loyal following. Remember, the more you interact with your audience, the more connected they will feel to your content.

Monetization Opportunities for Faceless TikTok Accounts

You don't need to go in front of a camera in order to make money on TikTok
You don't need to go in front of a camera in order to make money on TikTok

At this point, you may be wondering…

Can you actually make money on TikTok without showing your face?

The answer is 100% yes! In fact, I earn a full-time income from my faceless accounts through a variety of monetization strategies. While there are over a dozen ways to monetize a TikTok video on TikTok, I’ve found these 5 methods to be the most lucrative (with #4 and #5 being my personal favorites):

1: Join the TikTok Creator Fund

This is the easiest way to start earning from TikTok as a faceless creator. You simply apply for the fund, and once approved, you earn money based on views and engagement. The exact amount depends on your niche and audience but ranges from $0.02 - $0.04 per 1000 views.

To join the Creator Fund, you need to:

  • Be 18 or older
  • Have at least 10,000 followers
  • Get 100,000 video views in the past 30 days
  • Follow TikTok’s community guidelines and terms of service

It may not make you rich, but it provides a steady baseline income as you grow your audience. TikTok is investing $1 billion into the creator fund, so payouts will likely rise over time. It's passive income you'd be foolish not to apply for!

2: Explore Brand Partnerships and Sponsored Content

Sponsored content has always been a major money-maker, and TikTok is no different.  In fact, 61% of marketers reported using TikTok for influencer marketing, making it the third most popular platform for this purpose. But you don’t need to be a massive influencer like Khaby Lame to get brand deals.  Brands are increasingly turning to nano-influencers (>10,000 followers) because they have a higher average engagement rate as compared to larger accounts. (Source)

The key here is “Finding Your Niche”. 

Pick your niche, build a community around it, and the brand deals will come.

Pro tip: create a professional media kit highlighting your audience demographics and engagement metrics. This makes it easy to pitch brands and secure sponsorships.

3: Leverage Affiliate Marketing and Product Promotions

This monetization strategy has gotten a bad rap, but it can be highly effective if done ethically. The key is only promoting brands and products you authentically love and use yourself. Don't spam links or try to bait-and-switch people. For example, if you post cooking videos, recommend your favorite cooking tools. If you discuss productivity hacks, share apps you actually use daily. Charli D’Amelio once promoted a clothing brand @Brando by simply wearing a hoodie in a TikTok while dancing.  No pushy sales pitch... just genuine content! Her audience loved it, and the brand made tons of sales. That’s the power of authentic affiliate marketing.

Pro tip: offer discounts or exclusive offers only available to your viewers. Sweetening the deal converts browsers into buyers.

4: Create and Sell Digital Products or Courses

This is my personal favorite because the opportunities are endless. You can use TikTok to promote and sell digital products or courses. Whether you’re a home baker selling an online baking class, a fitness coach offering personalized workout plans, or even a parent creating a masterclass on parenting—there’s a market for it. Faceless accounts can thrive, especially if the content is focused on education or skills. For example, I follow a faceless account that teaches coding. They sell a 6-day boot camp for beginners, and they’ve built their entire brand around their educational content. To succeed in this area, identify your core content pillars (like tutorials, tips, etc.), and build your content strategy around those pillars.  This will make it easier to engage your audience and subtly promote your products.

5: Drive Traffic to External Platforms or Websites

Lastly, one of the most lucrative strategies I’ve found is using TikTok to drive traffic to external platforms - a blog, YouTube channel, or an eCommerce store.

For example, I run a blog that reviews eco-friendly products. 

Using TikTok, I create fun, engaging videos showcasing the products I review on my blog. I include a link to my blog in my bio and encourage viewers to check it out for more in-depth reviews. This strategy works wonders, especially because TikTok’s algorithm can push your content to the right audience. Just make sure your videos are compelling and include clear calls to action. In my case, I’ve seen traffic to my blog grow by 40% month-over-month thanks to TikTok! This method not only brings more people to your site but also creates a fan base that can't get enough of your stuff.

Have you known that we had a blog post about "13 Best Faceless YouTube Channel Ideas For 2024"? It can be constructive for YouTube content creators.

Do I have to show my face on TikTok live?

Absolutely not! I've hosted numerous successful live sessions without showing my face. Here are some ideas:

  1. Screen sharing: Host a tutorial or walk through a presentation.
  2. Object showcase: Focus on your hands while demonstrating a skill or reviewing products.
  3. Q&A sessions: Use the text on the screen to answer questions in real time.
  4. Behind-the-scenes: Show your workspace or creation process without including yourself in the frame.

Get creative with formats that showcase your knowledge, content, and creative process through different media. Learn more about best AI tools to create Faceless Videos in 2024 in our blog too.

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity Without Face Reveal

Your brand identity is your biggest asset
Your brand identity is your biggest asset

A common concern I hear from aspiring faceless creators is:

"Without showing my face, how do I build a connection and trust with my audience?"

It's true that putting a literal face to your brand can help some viewers feel invested in your journey as a creator. However, it is 1000% possible to build strong relationships and credibility without ever appearing on camera yourself. Think of Banksy, whose own face is never visible despite the universality of his brand. Or any of the many wildly successful (and secret) TikTok creators who attract millions of viewers without ever showing their faces. Here’s how you can do it too.

Create a Distinct Content Niche That Stands Out

First of all, zero in on your specialty. People should know what they are going to get when they encounter your videos. When you visit a sushi restaurant, you’re not going to ask for a burger. No one goes to see TimTech looking for a Pretty Good White Rapper type. For example, I focus on lazy person hacks – yes, that means me, I’m lazy! – and I cover everything from crazy quick cooking tips to speed-cleaning shortcuts that save time and, most importantly, effort. People like them because they know what they’re getting – shortcuts.

And there’s more: niche content sticks around. 80% of customers would rather buy from a brand that creates personally relevant content. So if you stick to your theme, you’re not just helping your viewers know what they’re in for; you’re also making them more likely to return.

Invent a Relatable Character or Persona To Represent Your Brand

Now, if you’re camera shy like me (or enjoy a bit of subterfuge), you can cast a character ‘proxy’ to do the heavy lifting instead (like Duolingo). For my main TikTok account, I introduced the Invisible Chef – a cucumberly little character who provides people with cooking hacks with a dash of sarcasm on the side. The fact that he is invisible adds a certain je ne sais quoi (and keeps my fat face out of the picture!). The thing is, they make you feel emotionally invested.

Most consumers feel more positive about a brand if it has a character or persona with which they can identify. People are now coming back to The Invisible Chef even though they’ve never seen my face. They have fallen in love with the personality.

Why not invent your own? Perhaps it’s a cartoonist. Maybe it’s something inanimate you’re going to endow with a life of story.

By the way, we had a blog post related to Camera-Shy content creators and how they can overcome that for content creation, you can give us feedback on that too.

Use Consistent Branding Elements Viewers Associate With You

But consistency is everything. It’s no accident that many brands have colors, fonts, or sounds that you associate with them in an instant. And when you’re a faceless brand, things such as that become even more important. For my Invisible Chef videos, I ensured the same cartoon character, text overlays in the same typesetting and color scheme, and even the same backdrop for every video. After the first couple of videos, it was almost an autograph. Viewers could identify my videos without me even saying a word. It is not hyperbole: an increase in visual consistency across all touchpoints can increase revenue by 23%, according to a report from Lucidpress.

If you remain visually consistent, your audience will recognize and trust you.

Consistency is Key

Consistency is key to success on TikTok, especially when creating faceless content. Consistency helps you build a loyal following, attract new followers, and establish your brand image.

Importance of Consistency on TikTok

Consistency is essential for several reasons:

  • It helps you build a loyal following and attract new followers
  • It establishes your brand image and helps you stand out from the crowd
  • It increases engagement and attracts more views
  • It helps you stay top of mind with your audience and keeps them coming back for more

To maintain consistency on TikTok, create a content calendar and stick to it. Use a video editor to create high-quality content, and make sure to post at least once a day. You can also use TikTok’s scheduling feature to schedule your posts in advance. By maintaining consistency on TikTok, you can build a successful faceless account and attract a loyal following. Remember, the key to success is to keep your audience engaged with regular, high-quality content.

Final Words

If you've made it this far, you now have a complete blueprint for succeeding on TikTok without ever appearing on camera.

Just one more thing!

Don’t overthink it. The most powerful stories are often the simple, relatable ones coming from your unique inner world. If you obsess over “going viral,"  it becomes forced. Stay authentic and let your natural creativity shine through. The world needs more diverse voices, perspectives, and representation. TikTok offers an incredible platform to share your vision without barriers. So grab your phone, open up Zebracat, and start creating! Your first video is just a few taps away. I can't wait to see the creativity you unlock and the communities you build without showing your face. 

Meet The Author
Content & Marketing Specialist

Hey there, I’m Jenny. I’ve been in marketing for almost 10 years and I love marketing tech, AI, and automation. I’ve built several YouTube and TikTok channels—some hits, some misses. I joined Zebracat after being a user myself, ready to share my learnings with the world!

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