TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021. The app allows users to create and share short videos, and has introduced innovative features like Duets and Stitch that encourage engagement.
One way TikTok creators have been building their audiences is through live streaming. TikTok Live allows users to broadcast live videos to their followers in real time. Live streaming opens up opportunities for creators to engage with fans, answer questions, host giveaways, and collaborate with other creators. It also gives brands a way to generate hype for product launches, host Q&As, and create unique branded content.
According to TikTok, live viewership doubled in June 2022 compared to the previous year. Over 200 million users engage with TikTok Live daily. With the rising popularity of live streaming, many creators are trying to understand the requirements and best practices for going live and maximizing viewership. This article will provide an in-depth guide to TikTok Live.
TikTok Live Streaming Requirements
To go live on TikTok, you need to meet certain requirements set by the platform. The most notable requirement is having at least 1,000 followers on your TikTok account. This minimum follower requirement was introduced by TikTok in late 2022 as a way to curb abuse and ensure only established creators can host live streams.
In addition to the 1,000 follower minimum, there are some other requirements to go live on TikTok:
- You must be at least 16 years old to host a live stream on TikTok.
- Your account must be in “good standing” and follow TikTok’s community guidelines.
- You need to enable your account for live streaming in your app settings.
- Live streams are currently only available on mobile and cannot be hosted on TikTok’s desktop site.
The 1,000 follower rule is firm and enforced across the platform. There are no known hacks or workarounds to bypass this requirement, apart from organically growing your follower count. TikTok’s goal with the minimum follower limit is to ensure only established and trusted creators have access to live streaming.
Building a Following on TikTok
Gaining a large following on TikTok is crucial if you want to go live and have people actually tune in. Here are some tips to quickly grow your audience on TikTok:
Post Daily. The more consistently you post quality content, the faster your following will grow. Try posting at least 1-2 times per day to stay top of mind.
Use Hashtags. Include a good mix of popular and niche hashtags in your captions to get your videos in front of TikTok users searching those tags.
Follow Trends. Jumping on trending challenges, sounds, and hashtags is a great way to get more views and follows. Use the Discover page to find out what’s currently trending.
Engage With Your Audience. Reply to comments, do collab videos with followers, and engage with other creators in your niche to build relationships.
Go Live. Already going live regularly is itself a good strategy for gaining followers who want to watch your live content.
Optimize Your Profile. Fill out your bio with relevant keywords, link your other social accounts, and select an avatar and header that represent your brand.
Some great hashtags to try using in 2022 to gain more TikTok views and follows in your niche include:
#fyp #foryou #viral #trending #explore #foryoupage #like #follow #comment #4u #love #tiktok #viralvideo #popular
You can search what’s trending and tailor your hashtags accordingly. Staying on top of the latest viral sounds and challenges can help you capitalize on trends before they become oversaturated.
Promoting Your Live Stream
Notifying your followers ahead of time is one of the best ways to promote your TikTok live stream. You can let your followers know when you’ll be going live by posting a video or making an announcement in your feed. Encourage followers to turn on notifications so they don’t miss when you go live.
TikTok also lets you send out live notifications to all of your followers right before you start streaming. To access this feature, tap the icon that looks like a megaphone in the bottom left corner when you are about to go live. This will send a notification to all of your followers that you are going live soon [1].
Using live notifications strategically, such as right before an anticipated live stream, can help drive more viewers to your stream. You can also promote your live stream on other social media platforms to reach new audiences.
Best Practices for TikTok Live
When going live on TikTok, it’s important to follow best practices to create a high-quality and engaging broadcast. Here are some key tips:
Pay attention to lighting and camera angles for a professional look. Position yourself in a well-lit area and angle the camera at eye level. Avoid backlighting that puts you in shadow. Check the viewfinder to ensure proper framing before going live (Source).
Interact with viewers in real time to build community. Greet viewers as they join, respond to comments and questions, and encourage engagement. Consider inviting special guests or collaborators into your live video (Source).
Plan interactive content like Q&As, tutorials, behind-the-scenes looks, or challenges to get viewers participating. Make the most of live streaming by creating an experience that can only happen in real time (Source).
Avoid distractions and stay focused on your broadcast. Block out background noise, silence phone notifications, and close unneeded apps. Interact naturally while staying energetic and passionate about your topic.
Live Streaming Content Ideas
When going live on TikTok, it’s important to have engaging content that will capture your audience’s attention. Some popular content ideas for live streams include:
Trending topics/challenges – Jump on trending hashtag challenges or topics. This helps expose your content to a wider audience interested in those trends. You can put your own spin on popular TikTok challenges.
Q&As – Let your viewers get to know you better through live Q&A sessions. Invite them to ask questions and have fun interacting with your audience.
Behind-the-scenes – Give your followers a glimpse into your daily life, interests or creative process through behind-the-scenes live streams. These feel more raw and personal.
Collaborations – Go live with other creators through guest streams or through the new Live feature allowing you to go live with someone else. This expands your reach.
Tutorials/how-tos – Share your knowledge by teaching viewers a skill, providing tips, or demonstrating how you create something. Educational content performs well.
Product reviews/unboxings – Reviewing the latest products or unboxing items on live is engaging. Provide your honest thoughts and reactions.
Q&As – Let your viewers get to know you better through live Q&A sessions. Invite them to ask questions and have fun interacting with your audience.
Live performances – Showcase your talents through livestreams of singing, dancing, comedy, playing an instrument, etc. Engage your fans with your skills.
Commentary on trending topics – Give your unique take on a news story or viral topic while it’s buzzing. Capitalize on what’s trending.
Polls/crowdsourcing – Get audience input through live polling questions or crowdsourcing suggestions for things like video ideas or merch designs.
These types of interactive, entertaining live stream concepts can help attract and retain viewers on TikTok.
Live Streaming Equipment/Setup
To create a professional, high-quality TikTok live stream, the right equipment and setup is essential. Here are some recommendations for audio, visual, and streaming gear:
For video, a smartphone on a tripod or stabilizer is the minimum needed. For more polished production value, use a multi-camera setup with a live video switcher like the Yololiv Instream, which lets you switch between different video sources on the fly. Vertical video is required, so shooting with pro-grade vertical cameras like the Sony ZV-1 is ideal.
Lighting is crucial – make sure you have soft, flattering light from the front to avoid shadows. For audio, use a lapel mic or external mic plugged into your phone or camera. This prevents echo and distorted sound. Headphones allow you to monitor audio quality.
For streaming, you’ll need an encoder like OBS Studio to take feeds from your cameras and mics and output a single live video stream. Use a reliable, high-speed internet connection and hardwire your encoder if possible. Testing your setup beforehand avoids tech issues.
Also helpful are teleprompters to stay on script, a stabilizer to keep shots steady, and a computer or tablet for interacting with viewers and managing stream settings.
With the right gear, positioning, and settings, you can create an immersive, glitch-free live streaming experience for your TikTok followers.
Monetizing Your Live Streams
TikTok offers several ways for creators to earn money from their live streams. The main method is through TikTok’s gifting feature, which allows viewers to purchase and send virtual gifts to show their appreciation. There are various tiers of gifts that correspond to different point values. When viewers send gifts, creators receive a percentage of the value in diamonds, TikTok’s virtual currency. Diamonds can then be exchanged for real money.
Another monetization feature is TikTok badges. Fans can purchase badges to show their support and loyalty to creators. Badges start at $0.99 and offer perks like custom emojis. Creators earn a commission when their fans buy badges.
Beyond TikTok’s built-in monetization tools, creators can also leverage their live streams to earn money through affiliate links and sponsorships. Many influencers promote affiliate products during their live broadcasts or collaborate with brands on sponsored content. As long as sponsorships are disclosed properly, this can be an effective way to monetize a TikTok following.
Overall, TikTok provides a variety of options for creators to earn money from live streaming. Combining TikTok’s gifting and badges with affiliate marketing and sponsorships can lead to lucrative monetization of a large TikTok audience.
Rules and Restrictions
TikTok has strict community guidelines and rules around what is allowed during live streams to maintain a safe environment. As a host, you are responsible for moderating your live stream based on TikTok’s community guidelines.
Some key rules for TikTok live include prohibitions on nudity or sexually explicit content, illegal activities, harassment, bullying, hate speech, and violence. TikTok monitors live streams and may remove streams or accounts that violate the rules. There are also restrictions around dangerous challenges and misinformation.
If you see any abusive behavior or content that violates the guidelines during a live stream, you can report it to TikTok by tapping the share icon and selecting “report”. You can also block any users who are disrupting the stream.
It’s important to familiarize yourself with TikTok’s detailed community guidelines to understand what is permitted on live streams. Following the rules helps maintain a safe, friendly and positive environment for all viewers.
Conclusion
Going live on TikTok can be a great way to engage your audience, promote your brand, and potentially make money. But like any social platform, there are requirements you need to fulfill before you can access the live streaming feature.
The most important requirement is having enough followers. TikTok requires users to have at least 1,000 followers before they can live stream. This threshold ensures broadcasters have an established audience to view their streams.
Beyond meeting the minimum follower count, it’s also important to promote your stream ahead of time, create compelling content, and follow TikTok’s community guidelines. With some persistence and creativity, you can build an audience on TikTok and leverage live streaming to take your profile to the next level.
In summary, live streaming presents huge opportunities on TikTok, but you need to lay the groundwork first. Grow your follower base organically, engage your audience, and provide value through your regular short-form video posts. Once you hit 1,000 followers, go live, be consistent, and watch your viewership grow over time.