Knowing how to go live on TikTok can help you boost engagement and attract new followers. If you haven’t done a live broadcast yet, then you’re missing out.
But not everyone can go live. The Live tool is only available to people that meet specific requirements.
If you don’t want to spend ages editing the perfect video or want a fun new way to engage with your audience, then TikTok Live is an excellent solution.
Follow this guide to learn how to go live and how to use it for better results.
1. What is TikTok Live?
2. Requirements to Go Live On TikTok
3. How to Go Live On TikTok: Step by Step
4. 10 Tips for a Successful Stream On TikTok
5. Why is Going Live On TikTok a Good Idea?
6. Ideas for TikTok Live
7. How to Make Money With a TikTok Live Stream
8. How to Go Live With Someone On TikTok
9. How to Promote Your TikTok Live Stream
10. FAQs
What is TikTok Live?
TikTok Live is a feature that lets you create live stream videos for your audience.
You can make these videos only available to your followers, or you can make them public – which is an excellent way for new people to discover your account.
TikTok is all about short video content, but TikTok Live offers a great opportunity to create longer videos.
Instead of just trying to go viral and posting about what’s trending, TikTok Live lets you create a new type of content for a more intimate connection with your audience.
Requirements to Go Live On TikTok
Not just anyone can start a TikTok live stream. To go live on TikTok, you will need to meet two criteria:
1) You need to be at least 16 years of age to access the live feature. This is determined by the birth date when you first created your TikTok profile.
2) You need to have at least 1000 followers to unlock the live feature.
If you can tick off these two requirements, creating live TikTok videos is easy.
How to Go Live On TikTok: Step by Step
Follow these four simple steps to learn how to go live on TikTok.
1) Open the TikTok app and tap on the create icon (plus sign +)
2) Tap on LIVE from the menu that appears at the bottom of the screen
Image: Later
3) Now you’ll see a preview of your live video feed. This is where you can customize your live stream. Some options include:
- Adding a title to your TikTok live stream
- Adding a thumbnail to your live stream
- Adding effects and filters
- Turning comments on or off
- Sharing your live stream through other connected social media platforms or messaging service
- Choosing a charity to raise money for in your live stream
4) Once you’ve set everything up and you’re all ready, tap the Go LIVE button to start your live session
Image: Later
Top Tip: Once you go live on TikTok, you can still add effects, flip the camera, filter comments, and add up to 20 moderators.
When you’ve finished the live stream, just tap the power button at the bottom of the menu screen to end the stream.
The video recording will disappear as soon as you finish your live event. It won’t be added to your TikTok feed like other videos that you can carefully shoot.
This means two things. First, you can just have fun with your live stream because if you “mess up,” nobody will see it when it’s finished. Don’t worry about making the stream “perfect” because once it’s over, it’s over.
Secondly, because nobody will be able to watch your video after you’ve finished streaming, you’ll need to make sure you have a decent audience. If you don’t have many viewers ready to watch, going live on TikTok might not make sense.
10 Tips for a Successful Stream On TikTok
If you want your live content to stand out, never start a video without being fully prepared. Here are ten simple tips to captivate TikTok users with engaging content when you’re live.
1. Choose the Right Time
To get a lot of viewers, you’ll need to go live when your audience is most active on TikTok. This will help you land on the For You page when your audience actively watches content.
If you have a TikTok Pro Account, you can use TikTok analytics to figure this time out. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the TikTok analytics page
- Tap on Followers
- Now you’ll see the top territories your followers are from and the times they’re most active. Choose the busiest time for your stream.
2. Make Your Live Video the Right Length
All live videos on TikTok have a 60-minute limit. Depending on your event, you could take up the full hour.
However, according to TikTok, the best video length for a live stream is around 30 minutes. This is the sweet spot for maintaining engagement and attracting a big audience without boring the viewers.
3. Be Active Before Going Live
Always post a regular TikTok video before you go live.
If a user sees this video during your live broadcast, a special icon appears that lets them join your stream directly. This is a great way to send more traffic to your live event.
4. Use Good Lighting
Using good quality lighting is one of the easiest ways to make your content look amazing.
When setting up your live stream, make sure you’re in a well-lit area full of natural lighting. If you want more control over your lighting, a ring light is a great option.
Always check your lighting and try a few different angles before going live. Lighting might be subtle, but it makes a huge difference.
5. Be Aware Of Sounds
Try to shoot your video somewhere quiet with minimal background noise. Your audience should be able to hear you clearly without distractions.
Some common things to be aware of include wind, traffic, crowds, and nearby construction if you’re filming outside. Even a barking dog can totally distract viewers from your content.
6. Get the Camera Angle Right
The best way to go live is to use a tripod or a steady surface that can lock your camera into place. You don’t want a shaky live stream with angles that crop out essential details.
Some movement during your broadcast can be good, but make sure the camera remains steady when you do this. Using a selfie stick works well.
7. Have a Stable Internet Connection
This seems obvious, but you have to have a steady internet connection for a quality live broadcast. Always check the wifi connection in advance and ensure it won’t drop while you stream.
8. Have a Plan
Your stream will be very awkward if you go live and don’t know what to say.
Always have a plan mapped out before you start. You don’t need a word-for-word script to follow, but know what direction your video will take.
Cue cards or a timeline of talking points are always a good idea. You can map these out on paper and stick them up above the camera.
9. Use Moderators
It’s always a good idea to moderate your live stream. You can add moderators to do this so that you can focus on your content.
Moderators can filter comments, mute viewers, and even block people. You never know what will happen, so it’s always good to be prepared.
10. Engage With Your Audience
The thing that makes live sessions exciting is that creators can interact with their audience in real-time.
Ask your audience questions or advice, and keep an eye on the chat to respond to any comments or requests. Your audience will love it if you connect with them – it makes them feel like they’re there with you.
Why is Going Live On TikTok a Good Idea?
Streaming a live broadcast lets creators and brands connect with their audience in real-time. It’s a great form of content to directly engage with users and show off a more realistic side of your TikTok account.
If you want your audience to get to know you a bit better, then going live is the best way to do this.
Live broadcasts are also more exclusive, so you can use them for unique moments and events.
With TikTok live, you can provide a behind-the-scenes perspective to create a more intimate connection with TikTok users. It’s also just a fun way to break up the regular TikTok videos that users see on their feed.
Ideas for TikTok Live
There are infinite possibilities for you to use when you go live on TikTok. Here are some ideas that always work well:
- Live Q&A sessions
- A behind-the-scenes look at your business
- A live contest announcement
- A live session that shares tips and tricks
- A conversation with another creator or brand
- Live tutorials (workout videos, cooking lessons, etc.)
- A live music performance
- Promoting a product/product demo
How to Make Money With a TikTok Live Stream
Creators can use live streaming as a way to make money on TikTok.
With the platform’s gifting feature, followers can support you by sending virtual donations. These can be exchanged for cash.
Your audience can’t directly send you money. They have to purchase TikTok coins, which they can send you as a tip.
People can purchase coins in bundles that range from 100 to 10,000. These are used to buy and send virtual gifts. When you earn gift points, you can turn them into diamonds, which are worth half the value of the coins. Each diamond is worth $0.05.
The downside is that TikTok keeps 50% of everything you earn.
How to Go Live With Someone On TikTok
You don’t just have to broadcast your live videos solo. You can also invite people to share the space. Each event allows up to 20 moderators at once.
This is a great way to expand your reach and tap into the audiences of co-hosts.
Here’s how to do this:
- Follow the steps listed above on how to go live
- There is a circular blue/pink icon at the bottom left when you’re live. Tap on this to invite others to join your room as a co-host
- Now you’ll see a list of people who have requested or are watching your live broadcast. Choose the people you want to invite to join the live session and tap Add
Viewers can also join someone else’s live stream.
To do this, tap on the two-smiley icon near the comment box. This sends a request to join the live video. If the host accepts, you’ll connect on the live stream with the host, and your followers will be notified that you’re streaming live.
You must promote your live stream in advance to make sure you get viewers.
Always do a TikTok post about the broadcast, notifying your audience when you will be going live.
You can also advertise your live stream on your other social media channels for maximum viewers. If it’s an important event, you could even mention it in your email marketing strategy.
And remember to go live when your audience is most active. Your followers will receive a notification when you start your broadcast, so try to time this when they’re already on the platform.
It’s Time to Go Live On TikTok
If you meet all the requirements to go live, what are you waiting for? TikTok Live is an excellent way to ramp up your engagement and create a deeper connection with your followers. You can also use live streams to make some money too!
Follow the four simple steps and have fun. Live might just become your new favorite TikTok feature.
FAQs
How many followers do you need to go live on TikTok?
You need to have at least 1000 followers to access TikTok Live.
Can you go live on TikTok without 1000 followers?
TikTok doesn’t give you access to live streaming without having 1000 followers. However, there is a possible way around this. You can make a request to TikTok for your live feature to be turned on. To do this:
- Go to the Support section from Settings
- Tap on Live/Payment/Rewards and choose Live Host
- Choose “I can’t start a live,” then answer the question “Is your problem resolved?” with no
- Now you can write a request to TikTok to enable Live on your account
- You will receive a reply in 2 – 3 days
Why can’t I go live on TikTok?
You have to have at least 1000 followers and be 16 years of age to access the TikTok Live option.
What makes a good live stream?
A good TikTok live stream should be fun and engaging. Always be yourself, and don’t focus too hard on looking “perfect” – you want to offer a more authentic connection through live content.
Some top tips for a TikTok Live include:
- Go live when your audience is most active online
- Make your video around 30min long
- Post about your live stream before going live
- Use proper lighting
- Find a quiet place
- Get the camera angle right
- Have a stable internet connection
- Have a clear plan for your video
- Use moderators
- Engage with your audience
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