TikTok’s Live feature is a blank canvas that creators and brands have adopted in different ways. There are people who play games, using it like one would use Twitch live streams, as well as people who perform or create live.
As is the case with the rest of the platform, the more creative, the better!
Going live on TikTok is a great way to increase your engagement and reach new audiences on the app — which will ultimately help you grow your following.
It’s also a great way to monetize on TikTok. Data.AI estimates that consumers will spend $6.78 billion via social apps this year, and that the majority of this will be spent by fans sending money to their favorite creators. TikTok’s Live's Gifts feature means you'll have a way to earn, too.
If you're curious about how to go live on TikTok, heads up that you'll need to meet some requirements for TikTok Live access:
- Have 1,000 followers; and
- Be older than 18
Once you have these, you’re ready to start streaming! In this article, I’ll explain how to go live on TikTok and start connecting with your audience in a new way.
Why TikTok Lives are a great way to grow your following
If you’re new to TikTok — or looking to grow your following and engage with TikTok audience in an authentic way — live streaming could be just the ticket.
TikTok Lives are displayed in several unique areas on the app, which means your lives are far less likely to get lost in the noise of the regular TikTok For You Page or Following feed.
For one thing, if you’re a regular TikTok user, you’ll have noticed more a more lives popping up on your For You Page. The TikTok algorithm seems to be surfacing lives more and more, which means your lives may have a better chance of being shown to more users than regular videos.
On top of that, creators who are currently live get pride of place in the TikTok inbox, with a little pink circle around their profile pictures.
Anecdotally speaking, I tried TikTok Lives as part of my 30-day TikTok experiment and managed to reach more than 200 completely new people during the random, impromptu coworking session.
While a little intimidating at first, it ended up being really fun! I had some interesting conversations with people who tuned in and netted a couple of new followers, too. It also didn’t require much effort or planning on my part — far less work than my usual content, at any rate — which meant the process offered more bang for my buck in terms of following and engagement.
How to go live on TikTok: 3 ways to stream to your followers
Before we get into the step-by-step guide to how to go live on TikTok, it’s worth noting that there are now three different ways to live stream on the platform:
- Via the TikTok app on your phone
- Via mobile gaming mode (for mobile gamers looking to stream their sessions)
- Via the TikTok LIVE Studio desktop app.
If you’re just starting out (and you’re not a gamer), I recommend trying TikTok Live on your phone with the TikTok app first.
1. How to go live on TikTok on your phone
Kicking off a TikTok live stream on your phone is by far the easiest route. Here’s how to go live on TikTok via the TikTok app, in a few simple steps:
Open the app and tap on the ‘+‘ camera icon.
Next, scroll all the way right to find the ‘LIVE‘ option from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.
You can simply tap ‘Go LIVE‘ to start streaming, but I recommend you first play around with the plethora of settings and options available to you.
Here’s a rundown of the most useful things you can do before you start your TikTok Live (pretty much all of these options will be available to you if you choose TikTok LIVE Studio or the mobile gaming route, too).
- Change your title and profile picture
- Choose the best topic for your live stream
- Turn on filters and add effects
- Tweak your settings (use LIVE practice mode, add an ‘About me’ message that will be pinned to your live, add moderators, turn comments on or off, and a whole lot more).
- Turn on dual camera mode to use both your front and back camera
Once you’re happy with your settings, tap the ‘Go LIVE’ button to get started.
To exit the live stream, press the 'X' at the top-left corner of the screen to stop recording.
2. How to go live on TikTok with mobile gaming mode
This process is very similar to what I’ve laid out above, with a few key differences. Here’s how to go live on TikTok while streaming a mobile game:
Open the app and tap on the ‘+’ create icon.
Scroll all the way right to find the ‘LIVE’ option from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen.
From the live screen, choose the mobile gaming option on the right, just underneath the Go LIVE button.
Tweak your settings as above so you’re happy with your recording view. Don’t forget to tap the ‘Add topic’ button below your live title and photo to choose your game.
Once you have, you’ll be prompted to give TikTok access to screen broadcasting or recording on your device.
When you’re happy with your settings, tap the ‘Go LIVE’ button to get started.
Open your game of choice and start playing! TikTok will stream all the action directly to the app (and anything else you do on your phone, so do turn off notifications if you don't want messages from your mom popping up during your live streaming.)
3. How to go live on TikTok with TikTok LIVE Studio
LIVE Studio is effectively TikTok live studio software, which offers a similar experience to, say, Twitch.
The desktop app can be a little bit trickier to set up, but once you’re up and running, it’s a powerful way to create live videos on the platform. It's also a must for PC or console gamers.
Before we get into it, note that you can only run TikTok Live Studio on Windows PCs (there’s no version that is compatible with Mac).
Here’s how to go live on TikTok using your computer:
Start by downloading TikTok LIVE Studio here.
Once the tool is installed, log in with your TikTok account.
No matter your skill level, I highly recommend clicking the beginner's ‘Set up now’ button, which will walk you through all the necessary steps for checking your setup.
From there, you’ll choose your camera and microphone, then complete a speed test to make sure your internet connection is up to snuff.
Choose your quality settings (you can either opt to optimize your video quality or your PC performance, but LIVE Studio will recommend the best one for you).
Now, choose your ‘Scene.’ You’ll be able to choose landscape or portrait mode, as well as a theme for your live stream, which impacts the color and style of the program.
You’ll be taken to the TikTok LIVE window. It might look complicated, but don’t be intimidated! I’d recommend you spend some time playing around with all the settings available.
TikTok’s Help Center is a handy resource for any questions you may have as you start live streaming, and YouTuber TT LIVE With Harry has an excellent video that will walk you through the platform.
TikTok Live: Tips and best practices
If you want your content to stand out amongst the thousands of other live videos and streams going on at any given moment, you’ll need to be strategic with your live streams. Here are some tips to consider to keep your live stream interesting and engaging:
Choose the right timeslot
Pick a time when your audience will be most active for your live streaming. TikTok’s analytics are pretty robust and help you track follower activity. With this feature, you can see what times and days your followers are most likely to view your content.
To view this data, click on TikTok Studio > Analytics > Followers, then scroll down to 'Most active times' to see when most of your followers are online. (Or check out our guide to TikTok Studio for the most important TikTok metrics).
Our TikTok research data may also be helpful here — these best times to post on TikTok are also great slots for your next live.
Consider the best length
You can go live for about 60 minutes, but TikTok recommends keeping your streams to 30 minutes.
Post consistently
Having a recent video on your followers’ For You or Following page means that they will see a special icon that lets them enter your stream directly. It's even better if this video shows you telling them when you’ll be going live — you can even choose to add a scheduled TikTok Live link to your post by choosing the '+Add link' option.
Set up good lighting
Film in a well-lit area with natural lighting, or consider using a ring light. This helps keep your viewers’ attention on you, not distracted by not being able to see well.
Have a good internet connection
Check your Internet connection beforehand to make sure it’s good so you can avoid interruptions to your streaming.
Have a plan or guidelines
While you don’t need a script, it is beneficial to have a solid set of guidelines in order to stay focused on your live stream.
Engage your audience
The best part of TikTok Live is being able to interact with your followers in real time. Keep an eye out in the chat and respond to comments, questions, or requests to really connect with your viewers.
Moderate your comments
You have the option to filter comments, mute viewers from commenting, and block someone from the live stream if you need to.
5 ideas for your next TikTok Live
Whether it’s through behind-the-scenes content, Q&As, or promoting products — the opportunities for TikTok Lives are endless.
From brands to creators, here are some ideas to use when you go live on TikTok.
1. Answer audience questions
TikTok Live is a great way to engage your audience and answer their questions. If there are questions that come up frequently in the comments, go live on TikTok to answer them! It's the perfect opportunity to interact in real time with your followers and give them answers.
So, if you’re launching a new product or collection, or just want to connect with your audience, opening up for questions in real time on your live stream can help you build strong relationships with your audience.
2. Host live shopping sessions
Although the feature isn’t available to everyone yet, getting acquainted with TikTok Live can give your brand a leg up.
Live shopping will allow brands to integrate the products they share on their TikTok Shopping tab into a live session. This feature connects brands with their audiences in real time while also helping users buy what they discover while watching a brand's stream. Leverage live shopping to give your audience more opportunities to engage with and shop from your brand.
3. Show people behind-the-scenes
An easy idea to execute for TikTok Live is showing what goes on behind the scenes at your office or in a creative process. It allows you to be more transparent with your audience and give them a peek at what it takes to create content or make a product.
4. Fulfill audience requests in real-time
Taking audience requests for creative projects when you go live on TikTok is also a good way to engage and grow your following. Several creators have taken advantage of this format to create personalized items on camera and ship them to their active followers.
You can simultaneously reward your followers while encouraging them to participate in your lives or buy your products.
5. Collaborate with a brand or creator
TikTok Live allows you to bring someone “on stage” with you, opening the door for multiple opportunities for collaboration. Creators can work with brands and vice versa on Live interviews, sponsored content, or takeovers, which are popular on Instagram.
Connect with your community in real time through TikTok Live
Live streaming on TikTok can be a great way to find new followers, increase brand awareness, generate leads, and even drive sales.
But more importantly, it lets TikTok users connect with your community and engage with them on a more intimate level — a level of authenticity that TikTok users have come to expect on the platform.
