Find out how to go live on TikTok and promote your live stream, and learn about popular TikTok live mistakes you should avoid.
Going live on TikTok has the same benefits as going live on any social media channel: it’s your chance to connect with your audience in real time.
When you’re live on TikTok, viewers can ask questions and engage with you right in the moment. There’s a spontaneity and authenticity that comes with broadcasting live—after all, you’re uncut, unedited and uncensored! Anything could happen, and the chaos is thrilling (not to mention, live streams are a great way to drive social commerce, too).
Whether you’re hosting a series, having a conversation, sharing a tutorial or putting on a performance, live streams create opportunities to flex your skills and build your brand.
One unique benefit of going live on TikTok: if you’re over 18 years old, viewers can send you virtual gifts, which you can then exchange for cash. You can use this feature to raise money for charity, too—though the “exchange rate” isn’t great, tbh.
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The TikTok live stream function isn’t automatically available to all accounts. TikTok users need to be at least 16 years old to have this feature enabled.
TikTok also has limited the Live feature to accounts with 1,000 followers. But that being said… we have heard rumors about a workaround for accounts with fewer followers. We tried it ourselves and it didn’t work, but maybe you’ll have better luck? More on that below!
Here’s how to go live on TikTok if you have access to the platform’s live streaming capabilities.
Source: TikTok
Let your followers know you’ve got an upcoming live stream with TikTok’s events feature.
Another way to build buzz is with a Live Countdown sticker. Record a TikTok, pull up the sticker panel and customize the Countdown sticker with the date and time of your event. Viewers can opt in for a reminder when you go live.
Source: TikTok
When you’re recording a Live, at the bottom of the screen, select Add co-host or Add guests.
Source: TikTok
To go live on TikTok on a tablet, follow the same procedures as with the mobile TikTok app above.
We’d been hearing some rumors that there was a workaround to go Live, even without 1,000 fans. Though we wouldn’t want to endorse non-TikTok-approved hacks, we thought it was worth putting to the test.
Basically, the alleged workaround involved filing a support ticket (a.k.a., a lie) claiming that you used to have Live access, and asking the customer service rep to “reinstate” this privilege.
But, bad news: long story short, when we tried this hack, it didn’t work.
That being said, maybe if you have a more active TikTok presence, you’ll have better luck? Here’s the suggested protocol:
…or maybe they won’t, as was the case when we tried this trick.
If it doesn’t work for you either, you’d better get to work building engagement to drive up your fan count organically.
Live videos may be uncut and unedited, but to produce a memorable stream still takes time, thought and planning. Avoid these common rookie mistakes:
Download the full Social Trends report to get an in-depth analysis of the data you need to prioritize and plan your social strategy in 2022.
Get the full report now!Sure, a spontaneous live stream can be a fun surprise for followers, but to really maximize the number of people tuning in, aim to go live when your audience is usually online, scrolling and active. It’s your best chance at landing on their For You page.
While Live sessions can be as long as 60 minutes, TikTok suggests aiming for about 30 minutes maximum. That’s right: when it comes to live streams on TikTok, less is more.
Posting a regular TikTok video ahead of your live stream is a savvy way to promote your broadcast, because any user who sees your video will also see a special icon that lets them know you’re streaming. This icon will let them pop into your stream directly from their For You feed to scope out the action.
Poor lighting makes it tough for viewers to see what’s going on—a bit of a problem for a visual medium.
Take the time to make sure your lighting is decent before you go live. Seek out a well-lit space with plenty of natural lighting or even grab a ring light.
Background noise can be distracting and disruptive to your broadcast, so make sure to find a quiet place for your stream.
It’s pretty hard to run a successful stream with a wonky internet connection. If you’re cutting in and out, it’s tough for your audience to really engage.
Test your connectivity before you go live, and if your wifi is consistently patchy, it might be worth investing in a higher speed or stronger signal.
A little action or movement can certainly punch up a live stream, but too much motion or shaking can make for a dizzying experience. Instead, aim for a steady position, propping up your phone or using a tripod for the best angle.
Part of the joy of a live stream is definitely the spontaneous, anything-can-happen energy. But if things are too meandering or unfocused, your audience might begin to wonder what, exactly, they’re doing here.
A general plan of attack (talking points jotted down, or a rough outline) can help keep you on track and on message so your viewers are getting maximum value out of their time with you.
The beauty of a TikTok Live is that it’s interactive: you can engage with your audience in the moment, responding to requests or answering questions in real time.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on your chat as it’s happening so you’re not missing a chance to build your relationship with your fans.
Not trying to victim-blame here! Just saying that it’s a mistake to not take advantage of the moderation tools TikTok has in place for live streams.
Creators can filter comments, and mute or block viewers if need be. You can also assign moderators to handle any pesky trolls, so you can just focus on creating great content.
You know we’re obsessed with metrics over here at Hootsuite HQ—so we’re thrilled to see that TikTok now has Live analytics in addition to its other analytics. Review your data to see quantitatively how your broadcast went, so you can tweak, iterate and improve for next time.
Now that you know what not to do, explore tons of tips for creating great Live content in our ultimate guide to social media live streaming here.
Social media live streaming is dynamic, authentic and engaging. And you don’t need any special equipment to tap into the world of self-broadcasting.
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