Going live on TikTok can take your presence to the next level, allowing you to connect with your audience in real-time, showcase your personality, and build a loyal community. But before you can start livestreaming, you need to meet the platform‘s follower and age requirements.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover:
- The criteria for accessing TikTok‘s live feature
- Step-by-step instructions for going live
- Creative ways to get around the follower requirement
- Tips for planning an engaging livestream
- The latest TikTok Live stats and facts
- Best practices and content ideas for making your streams stand out
Whether you‘re a creator, brand, or casual user, read on to learn everything you need to go live on TikTok confidently and effectively.
TikTok Live Requirements: Follower Count & Age
To unlock the ability to go live on TikTok, you must meet two key requirements:
- Have at least 1,000 followers
- Be at least 16 years old
TikTok implemented these conditions to ensure that broadcasters have a sizable enough audience to interact with and to protect younger users from potential risks associated with livestreaming.
If you want to earn gift points and diamonds from viewers during a livestream, you must be over 18 years old. Learn more about TikTok‘s policies for minors here.
Why 1,000 Followers?
The 1,000 follower minimum may seem arbitrary, but it serves an important purpose. As social media expert Gary Henderson explains:
Requiring creators to have at least 1,000 followers before they can go live helps maintain the quality of streams and prevents the feature from being overrun with broadcasts no one tunes into. It‘s a way to ensure live content is adding value to the platform.
Think of it as a threshold you must cross to prove you‘re serious about building a TikTok presence and community. Consistently posting great content, engaging with others, and promoting yourself can get you to 1K in no time.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Go Live on TikTok
Once you‘ve met the golden 1,000 follower mark, here‘s how to start livestreaming:
- Open the TikTok app and tap the "+" button at the bottom of the screen
- Swipe left to the "LIVE" option in the navigation bar
- Give your livestream a catchy, descriptive title
- Take or upload a cover photo that clearly represents your stream topic
- Tap the "Rotate" button if you want to film in landscape mode
- Choose your livestream settings regarding if you want to:
- Allow comments
- Add effects or moderators
- Enable gifts
- Live autoplay
- Add up to 20 keywords
- Share to other platforms
- When ready, tap the pink "GO LIVE" button to start your broadcast
Your followers will receive a notification inviting them to join your stream. During the livestream, you‘ll see real-time viewer comments and can respond to them directly by speaking or through the chat feature.
3 Ways to Live Stream Without 1,000 Followers
If you‘re eager to start livestreaming but haven‘t quite reached 1K followers, here are some alternative options to try:
1. Go Live with a TikTok Creator
The most straightforward option is to partner up with a TikToker who already has over 1,000 followers and have them add you as a guest on their stream. Here‘s how:
- Find a live video you want to join and tap to view the stream
- Locate the double smiley face icon in the comment section and tap it
- Wait for the host to accept your co-streaming invite
- Once accepted, your camera view will appear alongside the host‘s in a split screen
This method allows you to piggyback off the host‘s reach to access a broader viewership. You can introduce yourself, answer questions through the chat, and direct viewers to check out your profile.
Collaborating with creators in your niche is a great way to grow your own audience and get comfortable with the livestreaming format. Just be sure to find partners whose content aligns with your own for the best results.
2. Buy TikTok Followers (Not Recommended)
It may be tempting to take the easy road and buy your way to 1,000 followers to quickly unlock the live feature. However, we strongly advise against this tactic.
Purchasing fake followers goes against TikTok‘s community guidelines and can get your account suspended if detected. Even if you don‘t get caught, these bot followers won‘t engage with your content, hindering your organic growth.
Focus on creating compelling content to attract real followers who will appreciate your livestreams. It will take longer but lead to a much more meaningful payoff.
3. Contact TikTok Support
If you previously had access to TikTok Live but no longer see the option, you can reach out to TikTok support to make a case for getting reinstated.
- Navigate to your profile page and tap the hamburger menu icon in the top right corner
- Tap "Settings and privacy", then "Report a Problem"
- Under "Topics", select "Live"
- Tap "I can‘t start a LIVE", then "No" when asked if your problem was resolved
- Use the text box to explain your situation and request live access to be restored
- Tap "Submit" to send your request
While there‘s no guarantee support will grant your request, some users have reported success with this method. Remember to be polite and clearly state your case.
7 Expert Tips for Hosting an Engaging TikTok Livestream
Just going live isn‘t enough – you need to deliver a stream worth watching to keep viewers engaged. Here are some tips for making your TikTok Live stand out:
Define Your Purpose
Every livestream should have a clear goal or topic guiding the content flow. Ask yourself what purpose going live serves for your overarching TikTok strategy.
Some potential livestream purposes:
- Educating viewers about a topic related to your brand
- Promoting a new product, service, or piece of content
- Hosting a virtual event (e.g. concert, workshop, fundraiser, etc.)
- Connecting with fans through casual conversation or Q&A
Whatever angle you choose, make sure it makes sense for your niche and target audience.
Write a Snappy Title
Your livestream title is the first thing people will see when scrolling through TikTok – it needs to grab their attention and clearly communicate what your broadcast is about.
- Focus on telling viewers how they will benefit or what they will gain
- Keep it concise – preferably under 60 characters
- Use relevant keywords where it makes sense
- Spark curiosity or excitement
- Include numbers or questions
- Avoid all caps or excessive punctuation
Examples of great TikTok Live titles:
- 5 IG Story Secrets to 2x Your Engagement
- I‘m Moving Back to NYC??
- 3 Easy Outfits for Spring Break
- Let‘s React to YOUR Assumptions About Me!
Schedule for Optimal Reach
Because livestreams happen in real-time, choosing the right day and time to go live is key for driving viewership. You want to pick a slot when your core audience is most active on TikTok.
While peak activity varies by niche and region, data from Influencer Marketing Hub reveals these general best times to go live on TikTok in 2023:
| Day | Ideal Times |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10am, 1pm, 8pm, 9pm |
| Tuesday | 7am, 10am, 9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am, 6pm, 10pm |
| Thursday | 12am, 11am, 9pm |
| Friday | 10am, 5pm, 7pm |
| Saturday | 10am, 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, 10pm |
| Sunday | 8am, 9am, 9pm |
*All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
If most of your followers are located in different time zones, be sure to factor that in when determining an ideal stream time.
Build Hype in Advance
Letting followers know ahead of time when you plan to go live can significantly boost attendance. Start promoting your upcoming livestream across channels about a week in advance.
Some pre-promotion tactics:
- Post a TikTok video teasing exclusive live-only content
- Share eye-catching graphics with the livestream details on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook
- Send a push notification or email to your subscribers
- Add a link in your TikTok bio directing users to the future stream
The more buzz you can generate leading up to the event, the greater your chances of a high turnout.
Prioritize Interaction
One major draw of livestreams is the opportunity for viewers to interact directly with creators in real-time. To keep your audience engaged, you should prioritize responding to comments and questions throughout the stream.
- Greet viewers by name as they join
- Encourage people to submit questions before and during the stream
- Run polls to gather opinions on a topic
- Highlight thoughtful or funny comments
- Set challenges for viewers to complete live
- Ask for feedback on something related to your content
Continually finding ways to involve viewers in the experience will make your livestreams feel like a two-way conversation rather than a stale broadcast.
Invest in Quality Lighting & Sound
While raw and unfiltered content thrives on TikTok, glaring technical issues with your stream‘s audio and visuals can quickly turn viewers off.
Before going live, make sure you have sufficiently bright lighting, whether natural or from a ring light/softbox setup. Your face should be clearly visible without harsh shadows.
Use an external microphone if possible for crisp, clean audio free of distracting background noises. The last thing you want is garbled sound making it hard for viewers to understand you.
Do a trial run before the official stream to test all your equipment and smooth out any snafus.
End with a Strong CTA
Have a clear call-to-action prepared for the end of your livestream directing viewers on what to do next to further engage with you/your brand.
Your CTA could encourage people to:
- Follow your TikTok account
- Check out a new video
- Visit your website or online shop
- Sign up for your email list
- Leave a comment with their thoughts
Whatever you choose, avoid being overly salesy or aggressive with your language. Focus on providing value and giving viewers a natural next step to deepen their connection with you.
Remember, on average TikTok Live videos see 6x more engagement than regular TikTok videos according to TikTok. Seize that opportunity to move viewers along in their journey with you.
TikTok Live Content Ideas for Every Niche
The beauty of livestreaming on TikTok is how versatile the format is. No matter what niche you‘re in, there are plenty of creative directions you can take your broadcasts.
Here are some popular TikTok Live content ideas to consider:
How-to Tutorials & Demonstrations
Teach viewers how to do something in your area of expertise step-by-step, whether that‘s baking a recipe, using a new software, or nailing a dance move.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Give your audience a peek behind the curtain of your business or creative process. Take them on a virtual office tour, share your filming setup, let them sit in on a team meeting, etc.
Product Launches & Drops
Build excitement for a new release by unveiling it live. Showcase the features, explain the inspiration behind it, demo how it works, and offer an exclusive discount code for viewers who purchase.
AMAs & Q&As
Host an "ask me anything" where followers can submit questions for you to answer live. Discuss your career journey, content creation tips, fun facts about your life – whatever you‘re comfortable sharing.
Interviews & Collabs
Bring on a special guest relevant to your niche for an interview or livestream collaboration. This is a great way to tap into their audience while providing your own with a unique perspective.
Challenges & Games
Engage viewers by having them participate in a livestream challenge, like submitting responses to a prompt, or playing an interactive game like trivia or bingo.
Fundraisers & Charity Streams
Use your platform for good by hosting a fundraising stream for a cause you care about. Set a goal and encourage viewers to donate, with incentives for hitting certain milestones (e.g. you‘ll match donations for the next 30 mins).
Webinars & Workshops
Dive deep into teaching mode by hosting an educational seminar or multi-part workshop series. Charge a small fee or make it free to attract leads.
Announcements & Community Updates
Have a big announcement or life update to share? Skip the curated video and make it feel more personal by telling your followers live.
Real-time Commentary & Reactions
Share your live reactions to an awards show, sports event, viral video, recent movie, etc. to foster a sense of community around a shared real-time experience.
The key to choosing a stream format is to make sure it authentically fits your brand, provides value to viewers, and doesn‘t feel overly gimmicky.
TikTok Live Stats & Facts You Need to Know in 2024
TikTok Live‘s popularity and impact continues to skyrocket. To appreciate the true power of the feature, check out these eye-opening statistics:
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TikTok Live usage grew over 900% from June 2020 to June 2022 – TikTok (2023)
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Over 1/3 of active TikTok users watch livestreams on the app daily – Hootsuite (2023)
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The #TikTokLIVE hashtag has accumulated over 3.3 billion views globally – Influencer Marketing Factory (2023)
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50% of TikTok users report buying a product or service after seeing it mentioned in a livestream – TikTok (2022)
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TikTok Live was responsible for 31% of global livestream revenue across iOS and Android apps in 2022 – Data.ai (2023)
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Viral hashtag challenges mentioning "Go Live" or "TikTok Live" increased by 285% from Q4 2021 to Q4 2022 – CreatorIQ (2023)
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The top 5 TikTokers earned a combined $67 million in 2022 largely through LIVE gifting – Forbes (2023)
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Over 90% of TikTok Live viewers have sent a virtual gift on the platform – Sensor Tower (2022)
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77% of TikTok users are interested in watching creator-hosted branded livestreams – TikTok (2022)
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TikTok was the most downloaded app worldwide in Q1 2023 with over 176 million installs – Sensor Tower (2023)
With stats like these, it‘s clear TikTok Live is not just a passing trend but an essential tool for anyone looking to grow their brand and deeply engage an audience on the platform.
Final Thoughts: Ready to Embrace the Power of TikTok Live?
We covered a lot of ground in this guide, but you should now feel fully equipped to not only go live on TikTok, but make your livestreams ones people won‘t want to miss.
Remember, unlocking the live feature is just the first step – what you do with it is up to you. Focus on creating content that educates, entertains, and offers something unique to your audience. Be genuine, have fun, and don‘t be afraid to experiment with different formats.
Pay attention to how other successful creators are leveraging TikTok Live and learn from their strategies. But ultimately, stay true to your own voice and values. Consistency is key for building livestream loyalty.
With the right approach, going live can completely transform your TikTok presence and open up a whole new avenue for connecting with your community. So get out there and start streaming!
