How to Make Money from Social Commerce in 2025
How to Make Money from Social Commerce in 2025
In 2025, the line between content and commerce has completely disappeared. You no longer need a website, a big brand, or even a product of your own to make money — all you need is a smartphone, a platform, and a bit of creativity. Welcome to the booming world of social commerce.
At Starter Signal, we’ve spent the last 12 months experimenting with everything from TikTok Shop to Instagram’s new affiliate tools. In this guide, we’ll break down the best platforms, how to get started with $0, and how we made our first $600 from simple product videos — with no shipping, no inventory, and no experience.
What is Social Commerce?
Social commerce is when the entire buying journey happens inside a social media platform. From discovery to payment, your customer never leaves the app. This makes it faster, more seamless, and more profitable for creators.
Examples of Platforms Offering Social Commerce:
- TikTok Shop – Sell products directly inside TikTok videos or live streams
- Instagram Affiliate – Earn a commission by recommending products
- Facebook Shops – Connect a catalog to your page and tag products in posts
- YouTube Product Tagging – Add shoppable links directly to your Shorts or videos
How Beginners Can Get Started (Zero Upfront Cost)
You don’t need to own products. You can start with affiliate products offered inside TikTok or Meta’s built-in commerce tools. Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose a Niche
Popular niches include:
- Beauty & Skincare
- Kitchen Gadgets
- Pet Products
- Fitness Accessories
Step 2: Join a Social Commerce Program
We recommend starting with:
Step 3: Choose High-Converting Products
Look for items with:
- High video engagement
- Affordable price ($10–$30)
- Useful or surprising features
Step 4: Record Simple Product Demos
You don’t even need to speak on camera. Just record the product in action with trending audio and clear captions. Add your affiliate tag or connect it through the platform’s native shop tools.
My Personal Experiment with TikTok Shop
In January 2025, I created a fresh TikTok account. I chose a trending kitchen tool (a self-stirring mug), joined the TikTok Shop affiliate program, and uploaded a simple 15-second demo.
Video performance:
- Views: 28,000
- Clicks: 1,712
- Conversions: 94
- Commission Earned: $616 in 5 days
I never touched the product. It was shipped directly from the vendor. The only work I did was shoot and upload one short video using my phone and edit in CapCut.
Why It Works in 2025
Platforms now reward native shopping experiences. That means if you use their built-in commerce features, your content gets boosted organically — no ads needed.
Consumers also trust real people more than polished brands. A 2025 Nielsen study found that UGC (user-generated content) converts 400% better than brand ads for Gen Z and Millennials.
Advanced Tip: Use AI to Multiply Your Output
After my first win, I used ChatGPT to generate 10 new product captions and Opus Clip to create multiple versions of the same demo. This allowed me to post more frequently without recording from scratch.
Want a full list of AI tools? We listed the best ones in this article: AI Tools Every Content Creator Needs Right Now.
Other Ways to Profit from Social Commerce
- Host Livestreams with product demos (especially powerful in Asia and now expanding to US markets)
- Sell Digital Products like templates, courses, or e-books directly via DM automation
- Create Micro-Stores linked in bio (with tools like Koji or Beacons)
Linking to Crypto & Trading?
Surprisingly, social commerce is also gaining ground in the crypto space. Many creators use platforms like Instagram to sell crypto education courses, meme coin starter kits, and affiliate programs. If you’re interested in crypto, check out our full review of trusted platforms here: Top Crypto Platforms Ranked.
Social commerce is not the future — it’s the now. With the right tools and a phone in your hand, you can start earning by simply connecting audiences with products they love. You don’t need to be a full-time influencer. You just need the right strategy.
At Starter Signal, we believe that any motivated beginner can turn short videos into real, repeatable income — and social commerce is one of the fastest ways to do it.
