A 23-year-old made his first $3 selling sweatshirts on TikTok. 2 years later, he's earning 6 figures as an affiliate.

At the age of 23, Talon Krebs started earning his first $3 through TikTok Shop, a program that allows users to earn commissions by promoting products. As a University of Nebraska student, Krebs discovered the affiliate program on TikTok and began creating videos with a modest budget of a few hundred dollars. The turning point came when he posted a video about a digital business card, which gained significant traction, earning him $100 in commissions within a single day.

By the end of February, Krebs had accumulated over $10,000 in commissions, which marked the beginning of his career as a TikTok Shop affiliate. Now, he earns a six-figure income as a full-time affiliate, promoting products in short-form videos and earning commissions on sales. Krebs' journey began with minimal startup costs, around $100 to $200 for products to promote, including a three-pack of sweatshirts he needed anyway.

Initially, filming his videos felt uncomfortable, but when he saw his first sale, he was blown away by the opportunity to make money from his phone. The biggest barrier to entry was not financial, but rather his comfort with being visible online, as he faced criticism from peers. Krebs now dedicates most of his time to posting on his primary TikTok account, where he creates 10-20 videos daily, along with two other accounts for experimentation.

He focuses on creating compelling content with strong hooks and clear product demonstrations. While TikTok Shop has provided him with a profitable income, Krebs sees it as a launchpad for his future brand, a caffeinated bone-broth product, which he plans to launch next year.