Want to reach more viewers on TikTok? With 62% watching live videos daily, why not give TikTok Live a try? It’s a great opportunity for content creators like you to grow your brand fast. But how to go live on TikTok?
Going live on TikTok is easy. Just grab your smartphone, open the TikTok app, and follow the steps in this article. We’ll guide you through the process and offer tips to make your live streaming experience on TikTok even better.
What Is TikTok Live?
TikTok Live is the social platform’s feature for broadcasting live content. It allows businesses, influencers, and content creators to entertain, educate, and interact with their audience.
This feature allows you to offer diverse content beyond pre-recorded videos. You can host Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes footage, tutorials, and more in real-time. This variety can attract new viewers, gain more followers, and keep your existing audience engaged.
Also, when you go live on TikTok, you can earn money streaming, by getting virtual gifts from your viewers. Just like Facebook Stars, YouTube Super Stickers, or Twitch donations, you can turn these gifts into cash.
Interesting, right? But, you can’t start right away as you need to meet the eligibility requirements to host live sessions on TikTok.
What Are The Requirements to Go Live on TikTok?
These are the requirements to go live on TikTok:
- Age — You must be at least 16 years old to host a live stream and 18 years old to send or receive gifts during a live stream.
- Followers — You need to have a minimum of 1,000 followers on your TikTok account.
- Account behavior — Your account must adhere to the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Repeat violations or inappropriate content can impact your ability to go live.
If you’re still wondering, ‘Why can’t I go live on TikTok?’ it’s likely because you don’t meet the criteria, often due to a lack of followers. But don’t worry, we’ll also show you how to go live on TikTok without having 1,000 followers.
How to Go Live on TikTok
If you’re eligible and your internet connection is stable, here’s how to go live on TikTok and connect with your audiences:
1. Open TikTok and tap the Create (plus) button.
2. At the bottom of the screen under the record button, scroll to the right until you get the LIVE option.
3. Fill in your livestream’s details. You can add a cover image, title, topic, and goal.
4. When you are ready, tap Go LIVE to start broadcasting.
That is how to go live on TikTok. During broadcast, you have access to multiple features, including changing between your front and rear camera, adding effects, and starting a poll. Use these features by tapping their icon on your screen.
You even have the option to add up to 20 moderators into your stream. Having moderators can help you mute or even block participants who leave offensive comments. That way, you can keep the live event positive for everyone.
When you want to wrap up, tap the X button on the top left of the screen to end the livestream.
Read: How to Go Viral on TikTok
How to Go Live on TikTok without 1000 followers
The short answer is to ask for help from TikTok’s support team. While it is unconfirmed, there are cases where some users can broadcast without reaching 1,000 followers.
So, if you ask: “How can I go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers?” You can try these steps to claim that you have lost access to the broadcasting feature:
- Go to your profile and tap the hamburger menu on the top-right corner
- Tap Settings and Privacy
- Tap Report a problem under the Support and About Category
- Choose LIVE from the Topics menu
- Choose Hosting Live > How to start a LIVE
- Under the Is your problem solved? question, select No
- Tap “Need more help?”
- Write a report that says you can no longer live stream on TikTok and ask for help to re-enable that feature
- Tap Submit and wait for a response
The steps on how to go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers are worth trying. But, there is no guarantee they will work or how long you may need to wait for a response.
In the meantime, it is always recommended to work on getting more followers on TikTok.
How To Join Someone’s Live On TikTok
If you’re not the one hosting the live stream, but still want to go live on TikTok, here’s what you can do:
- Join the live session you’re interested in
- Once you’re in, go to the comments section
- Find the Multi-guest button, it’s the one with two circles linked together
- Hit Apply to ask to join
- The host will receive your request and can decide to accept, allowing you to join their live session
You can also join someone’s live session by invitation:
- The creator will send you an invite
- You’ll get a notification on your phone
- Tap on it and choose Video Join or Audio Join
- Check your video settings
- Tap Go LIVE to join the stream
You can still go live on TikTok even if you’re not hosting a live stream event. For example when you:
- do a Collab Live — You collaborate with another content creator on a live stream to cross-promote each other’s content or create unique content together.
- become a Guest — You can become a guest on someone else’s live stream to share your expertise on a specific topic or participate in an interview or Q&A session.
- interact with the Streamer — If you are as a viewer, streamers may invite their fans to join their live stream.
9 Best Practices for Going Live on TikTok
Broadcasting on TikTok only requires a couple of taps. However, if this is your first time making live content, interacting with your audience in real-time can be an overwhelming thought.
But as with any other task, practice makes perfect. You will become more fluid in front of viewers once you get the hang of it.
Still, it is better to know some tips on how to go live on TikTok so that you can prepare better. Below are TikTok live best practices that you should follow:
1. Set A Goal
Set your goals before going live on TikTok. This can ensure you create an event that captivates your audience and keeps them coming back for more. Up-and-coming creators often practice how to go live on TikTok to builds trust, which is crucial for promoting exclusive content, merchandise, and more.
2. Choose A Topic to Support That Goal
When learning how to go live on TikTok effectively, start by choosing a topic that aligns with your goal and addresses your audience’s needs. For example, if you create cooking content for aspiring chefs and want to promote your new cookbook, hosting a live cooking demo is a good idea.
3. Set The Flow
Ever wonder how a livestream feels both spontaneous and organized? Having a structured plan is the secret to achieving that balance.
If you want to learn how to go live on TikTok, setting the flow of your event is crucial. Plan out the activities and time slots for each segment so your stream stays engaging from start to finish by
- Welcoming the audience
- Introducing the topic
- Carrying out your agenda
- Question and answer session
- Wrapping up
Read: What Does Nudge Mean on TikTok
4. Avoid Scripts
Organizing your live stream is important, but avoid using a script. Viewers expect authenticity and unfiltered conversations during live broadcasts. Prepare key points to discuss without over-rehearsing.
5. Pick The Right Time to Go Live
How to go live on TikTok successfully? Schedule it when your target audience is most active on the platform. Generally, it is Tuesday to Thursday before 9 AM or after 5 PM.
Remember, the best time to post on TikTok and stream live depends on your specific audience. Use TikTok Analytics to identify their peak viewing times using a pro TikTok account.
6. Announce Your Event
The next step on how to go live on TikTok successfully is to promote it to your audience in advance. Make a video announcing the live stream and share it on TikTok and other social platforms. Include a sneak peek of the topic to generate excitement. it is a good idea to post one or two reminders in advance.
7. Prevent Technical Issues
When you go live on TikTok with your phone, make sure to watch out for any technical problems. Even though the app has good video settings, be careful about things like bad internet or sound issues. Try using an earphone mic for better sound. If you can, get a better microphone for streaming for clearer audio.
8. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
Do you want to know how to go live on TikTok and visually impress the audience? The key is to consider your surroundings.
First, make sure your live stream room is tidy to show your viewers that you’re a professional content creator who values quality. Secondly, pay attention to the lighting. Positioning a strong but diffused light in front of you can create a flattering appearance that viewers will appreciate.
Read: How to Get Verified on TikTok
9. End with A Call to Action
Closing your session with a call to action is an essential step on how to go live on TikTok. It is important if you want to engage your audience and achieve your live stream goals.
Wrap up your live stream by reminding viewers of what they learned or enjoyed. Encourage them to join future streams, subscribe, buy products, or support your goals.
Read: How Much Does TikTok Pay
TikTok Live Ideas
Now that you know how to go live on TikTok and some best practices to do in a broadcast, let’s take a look at some live content ideas that you can try:
- Do a Q&A — You let your viewers ask questions about anything related to certain topics. This makes the content more interactive and genuine, and it helps viewers feel closer to you.
- Host an interview — You can invite experts, or famous community members to discuss important topics and share experiences. This helps you become a leader and build a community.
- Give a live tutorial — You can show people how to use products, explain your DIY projects, or demonstrate talents like dancing or makeup. This way, you can get noticed, gain followers, and become an expert in your niche.
- Chat with the audience while doing a chill activity — You can engage in calming activities like painting, drawing, reading, or enjoying a cup of tea. This break from fast-paced content and showcase your unique personality beyond typical TikTok trends.
- Take viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour — You can show your audience a behind-the-scenes peek at your work or daily routine. Tell your story in a engaging and personal manner to get viewers involved.
Read: TikTok Ideas
How to Go Live on TikTok: Conclusion
Going live on TikTok is an easy feat. As long as you are 16 or above and have at least 1,000 followers, the social platform grants you the access to host a live event.
On top of that, you do not require any advanced devices to start streaming on TikTok. You only need a smartphone, a good internet connection, a decent microphone, and a healthy amount of light for a high-quality broadcast.
There are also no settings needed when it comes to how to go live on TikTok. The social media app already takes care of the technical aspects, so you can just hit the LIVE button whenever you want.
We hope this article helps you understand how to use TikTok live. For more tips and insights about content creation, be sure to subscribe to our blog.
FAQs
How do I go live on TikTok?
Open TikTok and tap the create button. Then choose LIVE in the bottom of your screen. Set the live stream details and tap Go LIVE to start. That is how to go live on TikTok.
Why can’t I go live on TikTok?
You will not be able to access TikTok live if you are under 16 and have less than 1,000 followers.
How to go live on TikTok without 1000 followers?
Going live on TikTok without meeting its criteria is originally unsupported. But you may be able to ask the TikTok support team to enable the feature for you. To do that, file a report that basically tells how you can no longer go live on TikTok.
Can you make money on TikTok live?
Knowing how to go live on TikTok allows you to earn money from virtual gifts that viewers send. You can convert these gifts into real cash.
