I fought it for a while but TikTok has me in a chokehold and won't let me go. At all hours of the day, you can find me singing viral TikTok sounds and saying random phrases from popular videos.
The app has grown considerably since booming in 2020 and its features just keep getting better. While the app has offered a live feature for a while, the short-form video platform recently announced new live features, making it a strong competitor for Instagram and Facebook.
In this article, we'll dive into the top TikTok LIVE features, the requirements to go live and a few tips to keep in mind before you start your first broadcast.
TikTok LIVE Features
Going live on TikTok allows you to engage with your followers on the platform and build community. The app offers ways to maximize the experience for both creators and viewers when going live.
Here are some of the top features:
- Q&A – Viewers can submit questions live during your broadcast.
- Multi-user streams – TikTok's "Go Live Together" feature allows you to go live with up to three users.
- Live events – To build anticipation around your Live, you can schedule and promote your live ahead of time to your followers
- Gifts – If you are a part of TikTok's Creator Next Program, viewers can give you badges that hold monetary value during a live stream if they are enjoying your content. Only non-business accounts and users 18 years of age or older can accept these rewards, unless you live in South Korea where the minimum age requirement is 19 or in Japan where it's 20.)
Moderators – When going live, you can assign other users to moderate the chatroom to ensure it's safe and in line with the content you're sharing. - Keyword filters – Another way to protect your live stream is by automatically removing comments that feature words or phrases you've flagged.
How to Go Live on TikTok on an iPhone and on Android
1. Open the app and click on the '+' sign.
2. Slide to the 'LIVE' tab.
3. Add a title.
4. Click 'Go Live.'
After your live, you can access the recording for up to 90 days by going to your "settings and privacy" tab and selecting "LIVE replay." From there, you can download your live video or delete it.
Why can't I go live on TikTok?
There are several reasons why you may not see the option to go live on TikTok, such as:
- You're under 16 years old.
- You have less than 1,000 followers.
- You have recently violated one of TikTok's policies and are under review or suspension.
If you meet the requirements and still can't go live, you can report this issue to TikTok.
Tips for Going Live on TikTok
1. Know when your audience is most active on the app.
When you go live, you want to make sure you're reaching your target audience. This means knowing exactly when most are active on the app.
To find this out, check your "Followers" tab in your Analytics. It will tell you what times and days your followers are most active along with other insights, like videos and sounds that are most popular with your followers.
All of this information will be valuable when planning your live.
2. Set the stage.
There's nothing that makes me click out of a live quicker than bad lighting.
The first thing you want to do is make sure your lighting is arranged ahead of time. This can mean setting up in front of a window that gets great natural light or investing in artificial lights.
The next thing you'll need is a quiet room. Make sure there isn't a ton of background noise as that can distract viewers and make it hard to maintain their attention. You can also invest in an external mic to improve your sound quality.
In addition, consider investing in a tripod. This will allow you to move freely as you are on the live.
Lastly, make sure your wi-fi connection is strong. You can quickly lose viewers if they are struggling to hear or see you on the app.
3. Have a clear goal and outline.
Any time you plan on interacting with your audience, you should have a clear goal. It can be building brand awareness, learning more about your audience, leading users to your website, generating leads, etc.
Once you know what your goal is, outline your broadcast. This will ensure you communicate your key points and meet your end goal.
Here's an example of a simple outline for a brand that's announcing a new product:
- Welcome audience and shout out specific usernames.
- Announce the new product.
- Dive into product specifics, such as benefits, features, and initial customer reviews
- Share discount code.
- Direct viewers to the website for purchase.
- Answer questions about the new product.
- Direct users to the website and sign off.
4. Have a moderator.
A moderator is a user you assign to make sure the chatroom is a safe and enjoyable space during your broadcast.
Chats are notorious for having bots and trolls that can distract users and keep you from seeing important messages from your audience. The moderator will help you manage the live and allow you to focus on engaging your audience and sharing your message.
Going live on TikTok is a great way to connect your audience and strengthen that brand loyalty. If you're not yet at 1,000 followers, gather ideas for broadcasts by looking at your competitors and seeing which live strategy will be most effective in meeting your goal.
This way, you'll be more than ready by the time your account meets the requirements.
