Looking to go live on TikTok? It’s an exciting way to connect with your community on the platform and work with the TikTok algorithm to show your page to more people. But going live on TikTok has a bit more strategy to it, so take a look at our tips below to get started.
Tips to successfully go live on TikTok
TikTok has some rules and tips for going live on the app. The most crucial part of going live on the app is your age: You need to be at least 18 years old. Secondly, you need to have at least 1,000 followers for the Live feature to show up.
TikTok Live is a great way to connect with your followers in real-time. People can watch you packing orders for your shop, ask you questions or see what you’re getting up to. It’s a personal way to connect with those who are following you and potentially bring in new followers.
Preparing to go live on TikTok
Once you’ve reviewed TikTok’s rules, it’s time to get your space ready. If you have a plan for your Live, it can help you avoid making any mistakes once you’re on, especially since there are no ways to edit a real-time video. Make a plan, have a couple of bullet points written down that you’d like to focus on, and get set up.
If you want to do something like a Q&A session or show how to do something, make sure your lighting is ideal and you’ve got everything you need. You can make TikTok Live as professional or off the cuff as you’d like based on your audience’s preference.
How to go live on TikTok
Now it’s time to go live. Here are the steps to get started:
- Tap the “Post” Icon on TikTok at the bottom of your screen.
- Swipe to the “Live” button.
- Choose a catchy photo and title for your stream.
- Add a topic to your stream.
- Add a Live goal.
- If necessary, flip the camera before you start your livestream.
- Add any effects you would like.
- The screen will show options to Enhance the video, change settings, launch a poll, go to the Live Center or share the live.
- If you want to share mobile gaming, you must enable screen recording permission.
- Press “Go Live” and get started.
- End your Live by clicking the “X” in the top left-hand part of the screen.
Tips to be successful on TikTok Live
While going Live on TikTok may seem simple, planning what you will talk about or show is wise. This is the best way to make sure you have a way to keep people engaged and interested in your video.
You can also tell people you’ll be going live at a particular time and place so those who follow you are more apt to show up. Cross-promote it on any of your other channels, like Instagram or YouTube, to get followers from other platforms to join. Find a time in your analytics when your followers are the most active, and try to go live within that time frame.
Interaction on TikTok Live is a crucial way to be successful. Make sure you’re showing exciting content that your followers will love, but try to interact with viewers. The biggest bonus of a live stream for those watching is the ability to interact with their favorite influencer in real-time.
With that, not all interactions will be positive. If you happen to get hit with negative comments, it may be tricky to not get flustered. You can ignore the comments, ask the people to stop, or block and/or report the profile.
We don’t recommend interacting with them to the point that it starts affecting the rest of the Live or making it uncomfortable for those watching.
Finally, use the features and effects that TikTok offers. Things like filters, effects, backgrounds and other things will add to your video.
Making the most out of TikTok Live
Tips to make the most out of your TikTok Lives are:
- Stay consistent
- Collaborate
- Encourage gifting
- Try to convert followers to customers
First, make sure you’re being consistent with TikTok Live. You can add this to your overall posting calendar, whether going Live every other week or something in between. Consistency is always key in content creation.
Secondly, collaborate with other TikTok creators. This is an easy way to not only connect with those doing the same things as you but also tap into another audience that will most likely be interested in your content. Find other creators in a similar spot as you with similar audiences and go Live together.
The next way to make the most of TikTok Live is the Live Gifting feature. Live Gifts allow your followers to show their appreciation and support in real-time. Thank anyone who sends a gift, but never ask people to give you money to receive a shout-out or a “follow for follow.” These are against TikTok’s guidelines and can take away your Live privilege.
Brands can use TikTok Live to connect with customers. Small-business owners can often be seen packing their orders on Live so people can see their orders get packed. Another idea is to share hints about new products or Live-only discounts. That will keep people returning to your Lives, feeling connected with the brand, and wanting to become a paying customer.
Common mistakes to avoid when going live
Some common mistakes when going Live on TikTok are not being consistent, not setting yourself up for success and ignoring your audience. Staying consistent with Live can be as simple as going live on the same day and time every week or doing a specific Live once a month. This will encourage your audience to come back and be ready for a Live at that time.
Going into a Live without a plan can set you up for disaster. To keep people engaged, have a plan, have everything you need and even have a few talking points to get the conversation started.
As we’ve said above, TikTok Live is the perfect place for connecting with your audience, so make sure you’re doing just that — connecting. Engage with the comments, answer people’s questions, take people’s feedback and let your followers feel like they’re a part of your community.
In conclusion, going Live on TikTok doesn’t have to be difficult if you focus on creating a safe space for your followers with consistency, communication and purpose. No matter your niche, there’s always something to discuss on TikTok Live.
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