What is a TikTok Live?
TikTok Live is an interactive feature that allows users to broadcast live. Once you learn how to go live on TikTok, you can connect with your followers by sharing live video streams and engaging with them through real-time comments, reactions, and virtual gifts.
Learning how to go live on TikTok is helpful for a variety of reasons, such as hosting Q&A sessions, giving glimpses of daily life, showcasing talents, playing games, and fostering more interaction with fans.
Who can go live on TikTok?
You must be at least 18 years old to start a live, or 19 in South Korea. You might also need more than 1,000 followers on TikTok, but that varies by region or country.
Additionally, users are required to adhere to TikTok’s community guidelines, which include regulations about content, behavior, and safety.
Benefits of doing TikTok live streams
Lots of TikTok creators use the Live feature because it brings numerous benefits, both monetary and in terms of engagement.
Here are the main three benefits of doing TikTok live streams:
- Receive gifts and earn money
- Build a strong community
- Get discovered by new TikTok users
1. Receive gifts and earn money
When fans send virtual gifts during your live sessions, you can collect Diamonds, which can be converted into real money and transferred to an external account of your choice.
Diamonds are awarded to creators based on their videos’ popularity, and one way to earn Diamonds is by receiving gifts from viewers during live sessions.
| 🐝 Pro tip: Please note that TikTok Live Gifts are only available for users who are 18 years or older, and it’s important to follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and not solicit gifts or offer incentives for gifting. |
Here’s how you can enable Live Gifting:
- Tap “Settings” on your TikTok profile.
- Click the “Live Gifts” toggle to enable the feature.
- Go to your profile and click “Settings” again.
- Navigate to “Balance.”
- From there, you can withdraw your rewards to your bank or PayPal account. Note that you must accrue at least 2,000 Diamonds (equivalent to $10) before requesting TikTok to pay out your rewards.
2. Build a strong community
Cultivating a strong community is easier when you interact directly with your followers through the TikTok Live feature.
Live streaming allows you to engage with your audience in real time, responding to comments, answering questions, and connecting with your viewers in a direct and personal manner. This fosters a sense of community and connection with your followers.
It also allows you to showcase your brand, sharing your latest products or services, thoughts, and experiences in an unfiltered and authentic manner.
3. Collaborate with other TikTok users
TikTok’s algorithm often prioritizes live streams, which can result in them appearing in the “For You” or “Discover” sections. This increased visibility can expose your content to a wider audience, potentially attracting new TikTok users who may not have otherwise come across your content.
By using relevant hashtags and creating catchy titles for your live stream, you can enhance its discoverability to users who are searching for content related to your topic or niche.
How to do a live stream on the TikTok app
- Tap the Create icon
- Swipe for the TikTok LIVE feature
- Do a live broadcast on TikTok
- Experiment with TikTok Live features
- End your TikTok live
Step 1: Tap the Create icon
To start, open the TikTok app. Next, take a look at the very bottom of the screen. There, you should see a ‘+’ sign, which is the button you should always use to create new content or to go live.
Step 2: Swipe for the TikTok Live feature
Once you tap the plus symbol, make sure to swipe left through the options that are available to you (e.g., Camera, Templates) you can find in the lower part of your screen until you find the live option.
Step 3: Do a live broadcast on TikTok
Now that you’ve managed to find the live option, you’ll be able to select whether you’d like to use your device camera or cast from a PC or a Mac. You can also use filters with the Enhance setting which you can find on the right side of the screen, flip your camera, and more.
Next, tap the big red button that says “Go LIVE” and connect with your followers in the blink of an eye.
Step 4: Experiment with TikTok Live features
There are plenty of features you can experiment with once you go live on TikTok. They can enhance the overall experience, help you get creative, and keep the audience fully engaged throughout the entirety of the live stream.
Here are some of the best TikTok Live stream features:
- Go live together: It allows you to pair up with other users and access each other’s audience.
- Designate live moderators: Hosts can assign a trusted person to help manage their live stream, including the ability to mute and block users.
- Set keyword filters: Hosts have the option to disable comments or use a keyword filter by adding up to 200 terms, allowing them to control and limit the comments in the chat during their live stream.
- Live donations: The TikTok Live Donations button encourages your audience to donate to your preferred charity, which can be set up either before or during your live stream.
Step 5: End your TikTok Live
Is it time to wrap things up? During your TikTok Lives, you will see a power on/off button located in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap on it to end your live stream. Congrats, you’ve just streamed your first TikTok live!
How to go live on TikTok on PC
To go live from your PC, you will need to use TikTok Live Studio. This software is available only for Windows, and is primarily meant for gaming streamers. For this reason, as a gamer you only need 1000 followers to get TikTok Live access, while everyone else requires minimum 10,000.
To go live on TikTok using a PC, follow these steps:
- Download and install TikTok Live Studio software on your PC.
- Run TikTok Live Studio and log in to your TikTok account.
- Adjust your settings and click Start Streaming to go live on TikTok.
You can also use third-party streaming software:
- In the Live Studio, get your stream key and server URL from the settings.
- Copy and paste the stream key and server URL into your streaming software (e.g., OBS).
How to join other people’s TikTok Lives
Follow these steps to participate in someone’s TikTok live session:
- Find the live stream you want to join and tap on it.
- Head to the comments section of the live stream.
- Look for a button with two smiling faces and tap on it to send a request to join the broadcast.
- Once your request is approved, your screen will split into two, and you’ll be part of the live broadcast.
7 tips on how to host a successful TikTok Live
Let’s face it, it’s both exciting and a bit frightening to go live on TikTok, especially when you’re just starting out and you have no idea about what’s expected of you.
Here are the top seven tips on how to host a successful TikTok live video:
- Brainstorm new TikTok live ideas
- Go live at the best times
- Collaborate with other TikTok users
- Have a steady internet connection
- Purchase good lighting
- Engage with the audience
- Promote the TikTok Live in advance
1. Brainstorm new TikTok live ideas
Using AI-powered tools like SocialBee’s AI post generator for brainstorming new TikTok live ideas can greatly benefit content creators.
These tools provide a wide range of prompts that can ignite creativity and inspire fresh and engaging concepts for TikTok live streams.
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Collaborating with AI can bring a fresh perspective to the content creation process, offering unique and innovative ideas that may not have been considered otherwise.
SocialBee’s AI post generator is an example of an AI-powered tool that offers content creation features. With over 1,000 prompts in its library, you can create awesome captions and generate ideas and TikTok live tips.
You can also test SocialBee’s AI generator for free before creating an account.
2. Go live at the best times
Timing can make all the difference in social media. SocialBee’s data-driven insights and analytics can help you identify the best times to do TikTok lives based on your specific audience demographics, location, and engagement patterns.
Leverage your TikTok post analytics and select the best time to go live.
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This way you can strategically plan and schedule your TikTok Live streams for optimal performance.
