Blog vs. TikTok: Which Platform Makes More Money & Takes More Work?

Irion Dekov
May 7
4 min read

Intro: Should You Type or Dance Your Way to Income?

If you’re considering breaking into the content world, you might be asking yourself: “Should I start a blog or should I jump onto TikTok?” Both can make you money online, but in totally different ways. One is a slow and steady game with gradual results, and the other could put you in the limelight today and forget you completely by tomorrow. So let’s talk about the true ins and outs of making money from each online and how you can figure out which one is the best path for you.

How Blogs Make Money

There are a lot of videos on the internet, so you might assume that blogging is a thing of the past. But don’t be fooled. You can still make a ton of money blogging, particularly if you’re patient.

There are various methods of blog monetization: display advertising (like Google AdSense or Ezoic), affiliate marketing through which you promote products and get a share of the revenue, sponsored content, and selling digital products such as courses, templates, or ebooks. Even a relatively small blog can eventually gather enough traffic to generate you a steady monthly income. It’s not something that happens in a week or two, but if you’re patient, you can build a really firm future in the blogging business.

According to Productive Blogging, creators with strong SEO strategies often earn passively as their content ranks higher on Google and brings in traffic for months or even years.

How TikTok Creators Earn

TikTok is the shiny new tool in the creator toolbox. The platform rewards creativity, speed, and entertainment, and it doesn’t take long to go viral if your content hits the right note.

How do TikTokers earn money? First, there’s the Creator Fund, which pays based on views and engagement. Then there are brand sponsorships, where companies pay influencers to promote products. Creators can also receive live gifts (virtual donations from fans), sell merchandise, or direct followers to paid offerings like courses or Patreon pages.

But here’s the catch: TikTok’s earning potential can be unpredictable. One month you might go viral, and the next your engagement could dip. It’s thrilling, but it’s a constant hustle.

Sources like Influencer Marketing Hub break down the exact ways TikTok pays out, especially for newer creators.

Time & Energy: What Each Platform Really Requires

Blogging is slow and strategic. It involves researching keywords, writing in-depth articles, editing, formatting, learning SEO, and handling the tech side of website management. You might spend hours crafting one great post, but if it ranks, that post could generate revenue for years.

TikTok is the opposite. You’ll need to film, edit, post, respond to comments, and follow trends, all often in the same day. It’s a fast-moving content machine, and creators are expected to post frequently to stay relevant.

Blogging demands patience. TikTok demands stamina.

Growth Curve: Long-Term Value vs. Viral Hits

When it comes to growth, blogs take time to build traction. It can take months before your content ranks in Google and begins bringing in traffic. But the upside is, once it does, that growth can snowball. A HubSpot study found that some blog posts keep compounding traffic and leads over time, something TikTok rarely does.

TikTok offers instant results. A video could go viral with thousands or even millions of views overnight. But TikTok content has a short shelf life. Unless you’re consistently posting new videos, growth can stall quickly. According to Forbes, many creators struggle to maintain long-term momentum on TikTok due to algorithm changes and content fatigue.

Who Wins: Blog or TikTok?

There’s no clear winner here; it depends on your strengths and your goals.

If you're more analytical, enjoy writing, and want to build passive income, blogging might be your best bet. It’s perfect for introverts or those who prefer to work quietly behind the scenes.

If you love performing, engaging with an audience, and keeping up with trends, TikTok might suit you better. It’s high-energy, high-reward, but requires you to be “on” almost all the time.

Can You Do Both?

Absolutely. Many creators start on TikTok to build an audience quickly, then guide followers to their blog, email list, or online store. Others begin with a blog to build a foundation of valuable content, then use TikTok to promote it in fun, bite-sized clips.

The platforms can complement each other perfectly if you have the time and energy to manage both.

Final Verdict

In the end, it comes down to what kind of creator you are. Blogging is a slower road with lasting rewards. TikTok is the fast lane, with explosive highs and the need for constant creation.

So, type or dance? Maybe do both. Just make sure whichever you choose, you’re in it for the long haul. The content game isn’t about luck. It’s about consistency, creativity, and knowing your own rhythm.