How This Couple Makes $1,000 a Month Cooking on TikTok

Trying to make the most of this couple makes 000? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• How This Couple Makes $1,000 a Month Cooking on TikTok Discover how Maddy and JD whip up delicious content on TikTok, earning over $1,000 a...
• Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: April 1, 2025 Home Side Hustles Side Hustle News What began as a fun experiment to recreate iconic state-...
• With backgrounds in photojournalism, restaurant management, and SEO, they had the right mix of skills to build something special , but TikTo...

How This Couple Makes $1,000 a Month Cooking on TikTok

Discover how Maddy and JD whip up delicious content on TikTok, earning over $1,000 a month with their creative cooking videos.

Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: April 1, 2025

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What began as a fun experiment to recreate iconic state-themed sandwiches has grown into a thriving digital brand for Maddy and JD, the couple behind Them Bites. With backgrounds in photojournalism, restaurant management, and SEO, they had the right mix of skills to build something special , but TikTok wasn’t their first choice. It wasn’t until their recipes started gaining traction that they realized the platform’s potential to grow their brand.

Now based in Asheville, the duo juggles full-time jobs with content creation, bringing in over $1,000 a month through the TikTok Creators Rewards Program and occasional sponsorships. Their knack for mixing nostalgia with fun, down-to-earth content has helped them build an audience of 120K+ followers across platforms. What started as a creative outlet has become a blueprint for anyone looking to turn their passion into profit through social media.

Recipe for Growth: How They Built Their Audience

When Maddy and JD first gave TikTok a try, they weren’t impressed. The platform felt chaotic, and the trends seemed impossible to keep up with. But once their videos started gaining traction, they realized TikTok was the perfect place to grow their brand. It offered a way to reach thousands of viewers quickly without needing a big budget, so they decided to go all in. “It quickly became clear that TikTok is by far the best platform for influencers our size,” they said.

Their big breakthrough came from an unexpected spark of inspiration: state sandwiches. JD had the idea while brushing his teeth , simple, but perfect for social media. The series tapped into nostalgia and got people talking, with viewers sharing their opinions and sticking around to see which sandwich would represent their state next.

Their Pepperoni Rolls video, celebrating West Virginia, quickly racked up 3 million views on TikTok, bringing in 10,000 followers almost overnight.

@thembites West Virginia is on to something with these Pepperoni Rolls #westvirginia #pepperonirolls ♬ original sound - Them Bites

On Instagram, the Vermonter sandwich video hit 2.8 million views and fueled a surge of new followers in just a few days.

These viral moments demonstrated to Maddy and JD that success on TikTok isn’t just about luck; it’s about striking the right balance of creativity, simplicity, and consistency. The excitement surrounding their Pepperoni Rolls video on TikTok, combined with the popularity of the Vermonter sandwich video, illustrates how viral content can attract a wave of new followers and create valuable revenue opportunities.

If you’re looking to make money on TikTok, here are some tips to get you started:

• Stay Consistent. Post engaging content to keep your audience interested.
• Leverage Nostalgia. Create content that taps into shared memories to connect with viewers.
• Engage with Your Audience. Respond to comments to build a loyal following.
• Use Trend Analysis Tools. Use keyword tools like Ahrefs to find what’s trending.
• Document Your Ideas. Keep spreadsheets and whiteboards handy to organize your content and ideas.

These tips aren’t just about creating standout content; they also reflect Maddy and JD’s overall strategy for growth. Their success relies heavily on staying organized and planning ahead. By using whiteboards and spreadsheets, they effectively track ideas and manage their content schedule. Additionally, tools like Ahrefs enable them to identify trends and ensure their videos resonate with what viewers are searching for. Working as a team also gives them a unique advantage , when one of them needs a little motivation, the other is always there to help keep things on track.

For Maddy and JD, food content isn’t just about sharing recipes , it’s about creating moments that resonate with people. They make sure their personalities come through in every video, helping viewers feel connected.

“When you tap into people’s memories and make them feel something, they’re more likely to engage,” they said. By mixing storytelling, nostalgia, and smart planning, the couple has built a loyal following across platforms, showing that with the right idea and steady effort, real success is possible.

Related: How This PA Built a $10K/Month Recipe Blog on the Side

How Maddy and JD Build Trust with Their Audience

For Maddy and JD, being real with their audience is non-negotiable. Trust isn’t built through fancy edits or following trends , it comes from being genuine and approachable. “We try to stay true to ourselves, whether it’s how we show up on camera or how we respond to comments,” they said. They’ve learned to welcome feedback, even when it’s critical. “You’ll get your fair share of naysayers, but they’re typically not trying to be mean,” JD shared. “It’s key to go simple on your viewers , and on yourself.”

This openness to feedback has helped them build a strong sense of community. Instead of getting defensive, they use comments and messages to improve and engage with their followers in a meaningful way. This back-and-forth connection has been key to growing a loyal audience that actively participates in their videos and spreads the word.

Consistency is also a big part of their approach , not just in posting videos but in how they present themselves across platforms. At first, neither of them wanted to be on camera, but embracing that vulnerability made a huge difference. “Looking back, it’s funny how nervous we were about showing our faces,” JD said. “But it made such a difference in how people connected with us.”

By staying honest, having a sense of humor, and interacting thoughtfully with their audience, Maddy and JD have created a brand that feels approachable and trustworthy. In a world where influencers frequently aim for perfection, Them Bites stands out by keeping things real and building connections that matter. “When you connect with your viewers on a personal level, they’re more likely to engage and support your work,” JD noted.

Turning Content into Income

Making money online takes strategy, and Maddy and JD have applied the same thoughtful approach to monetization as they do to content creation. Their most consistent income comes from the TikTok Creators Rewards Program, earning $500 or more each month from just four videos.

Maddy and JD also stress the importance of reaching out to brands for collaborations. “Once you start building a following, brands will contact you,” JD explained. “But you can’t just wait around , you have to reach out to them too.”

They’ve landed brand partnerships with companies like Woeber Mustard, Old Westminster, and Explore Asheville , most of which they initiated themselves. “Most of these deals were ones we reached out for ourselves,” JD shared. One of the biggest lessons they’ve learned? Know your worth. “We don’t take free products for sponsored posts , it’s crucial to recognize your worth.”

They carefully evaluate each deal, paying close attention to exclusivity clauses and whitelisting agreements, which can limit future partnerships. “The key is understanding what a brand is looking for and building on that to make the partnership work,” he added.

While TikTok remains their primary revenue stream, Them Bites is about more than just one platform. TikTok lets you drive traffic to their blog, where they use tools like Linktree and respond to comments with recipe links to keep followers engaged. Still, JD sees room for improvement. “Honestly, I could do a better job with calls-to-action on the site to get more subscribers,” he admitted.

The blog isn’t monetized yet, but they’re thinking long-term about ways to enhance it and how starting a blog can eventually lead to income. They plan to explore display ads with platforms like Mediavine or G

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check this couple makes 000 against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at dollarsprout.com.