How to Live Stream on TikTok (Even Without 1K Followers) + Tips

Looking for amazing TikTok videos that can make your account go viral? We don’t, but we do have a way to get you close. TikTok LIVE helps you connect with your audience in real-time while attracting new followers to your account.

All you have to do is turn on the camera and start talking – we’ll show you how in this article.

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What is TikTok Live?

TikTok LIVE is pretty much what you’d expect — it’s how TikTok makes live videos, just like we have Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live. According to the platform, TikTok LIVE is a way for users and creators to interact in real time. There are some requirement restrictions:

• You must have at least 1,000 followers to unblock TikTok live (although there are currently hacks – more on that later).
• You must be at least 16 years old to start your own stream
• You must be 18 or older to send and receive gifts during LIVE. Gifts are essentially virtual products offered by your followers during a live broadcast that can be converted into cash.

TikTok Live gifts appear below the live stream and at the top of the video when given.

How to Live Stream on TikTok

If you meet the above requirements, follow these steps to go live on TikTok:

1. turn on a camera.
2. Scroll through the options under the red button until you find LIVE and tap it.
3. Create a title for your live stream.
4. Choose your cover photo, theme and any other filters.
5. Click the pink “Start Streaming” button.

Here are the steps with screenshots and more details – by Kayla Liu on YouTube-Thanks Kayla!

step 1: Click + at the bottom of the TikTok screen to open the camera.

Step 2: Look under the red record button where the recording options are located. Scroll right until you find the LIVE option, and then tap it.

Step 3: Add a title. Keep this super short! You only have about 30 characters.

the fourth step: Choose a cover photo. This can be your profile photo or change it to something else. Choose your theme, filters, effects and more. You can also choose to support nonprofits here.

Step #5: Click “Start Live”

You’ll get a three-second countdown before your video starts playing. If this button doesn’t pop up, make sure you’ve met all the requirements for TikTok LIVE. If there are, there may be too many live streams happening at the same time. Try again in a few minutes.

Step #6: Hit send and you should have access to TikTok Live within 24-72 hours.

Figure out what you want from TikTok LIVE. Do you want to share something specific with your audience? Promote new products, drive traffic to your website, or just connect with your community? The options here are endless, and defining your goals before going live ensures that your livestream is intentional and actually benefits your marketing strategy.

2. Choose a relevant topic

Once you have a goal, it’s time to choose a topic that will help you achieve it. Your topic needs to be engaging. If your goal is to promote your new product, the topic might be how your followers use the product to solve common problems. You may also want to choose a broader topic for the current month, and then stream the subtopics weekly.

3. Build your life

If you want to keep your audience engaged until you exit your stream, you need structure. Before hitting the red “Go” button, plan how you’ll start, transition, and end your stream. It’s usually a good idea to start by saying hello and introducing yourself to a new audience. Once a lot of people have joined, please explain the topic of the live broadcast.

You can structure the middle of your live stream to your liking – it just needs to flow in a meaningful way and keep users engaged. Examples include steps in how-to videos or Q&A sessions.

4. Hold for about 3​​0 minutes

Plan in advance how long you want to spend on your stream. Remember 30 minutes is a good maximum time limit as TikTok is geared towards shorter content (yes, even when it comes to live streaming). You want to have enough time to achieve your goals, but you also want to keep it short so that the audience stays until you’re ready to say goodbye. Planning the length of time in advance can help you keep an eye on the clock as you shoot. That way, you’ll know when you need to hurry to the next segment of your stream.

5. Go live at the right time

Speaking of time, make sure you’re online at a time when the majority of your users are online. You can access this information in the Follower Activity section of TikTok Analytics. The reasoning here is self-explanatory – if you go online while your audience is online, you’ll get more engagement. For more tips, head over to our post >> When is the best time to post on TikTok?

6. Stay away from scripts

Yes, pre-planning is important. That being said, don’t make your video feel scripted. Part of the charm of TikTok is the authenticity of the original content. If your livestreams feel stiff and scripted, they probably won’t resonate well with your TikTok audience. Your lives should be structured so that they provide value to you and your audience, but are casual enough to foster organic connection.

7. Grasp the quality

TikTok should not be overproduced, including live streaming. That doesn’t mean high-quality video isn’t necessary. Make sure your live stream looks as high-quality as possible by shooting in well-lit conditions (it works fine in front of a window), checking sound quality and avoiding loud distractions, and using a stable internet connection.

8. Give your audience the next step

if you include call to action before signing. Reiterate whatever you want viewers to get from the live broadcast, then tell them what to do next to learn more. Examples include asking for attention or directing users to your website.

9. Make it interactive

As we mentioned above, the main purpose of TikTok live is to interact with users in real time. Pay attention to the questions and answer them. Thank your new followers for following you and any gifts you received while recording. Some TikTok lives are based entirely on viewer requests, as shown below.

TikTok Live Ideas and Examples

1. Challenge

Try the challenge live. You can even show a behind-the-scenes look at the actual shooting of TikTok live – you just need to shoot on a different device.

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2. Q&A at the shooting site

Gather questions beforehand or wait for them to appear in your live commentary, then answer the most interesting ones to build stronger relationships with your audience.

example

Heather Ramos

3. Host interviews

Interviewing other TikTok users is a fun way to increase your reach while providing value to your audience. Example below. The author of @ameliezilber is not a live session, but it’s easy to do. Also note that increasing your presence doesn’t necessarily mean interviewing another creator – you can collaborate through shared challenges, joint Q&As, or just chatting about topics relevant to both audiences.

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4. Ask for feedback

Live is a great place to test new content and ideas and gauge audience response. You can even ask your followers directly on the spot if they think your new content idea is a winner (or a loser).

5. Behind the Scenes Tour

Take your audience behind the scenes and show them what it looks like when you create content or run your business.