If you're active on TikTok, you might have noticed creators promoting something called a TikTok LIVE Subscription and wondered what that's about.
Part of what makes TikTok special is that it allows creators to showcase their personalities, making it easy to connect with them. The video-sharing platform is helping creators and their fans foster more meaningful connections.
TikTok's LIVE Subscription allows fans to support creators through monthly payments. So, how does TikTok's LIVE Subscription work?
What Is a TikTok LIVE Subscription?
A LIVE Subscription is a TikTok feature that helps creators monetize their live content. It was announced in a TikTok blog post in May 2022. Subscriptions are an opportunity for fans to put their money where their mouth is by buying a monthly subscription to show support for their favorite creators.
A LIVE Subscription is one of several features offered by TikTok that are geared toward helping creators monetize their platforms.
Social media apps are known to roll out features inspired by TikTok. In this case, TikTok takes a page out of Twitch's book with the LIVE Subscription feature, which sets itself up as a Twitch competitor.
How TikTok's LIVE Subscription Works
TikTok's LIVE Subscription feature is like a mobile-focused version of Twitch. It allows creators and TikTok subscribers to engage more authentically. The feature benefits both creators and subscribers alike. Creators get subscribers on TikTok and earn a consistent income, while subscribers enjoy perks that give them exclusivity and more visibility during a live stream.
For instance, when you subscribe to a creator's LIVE Subscription, you get a badge, which is displayed next to your TikTok handle in the creator's live stream. TikTok upgrades your badge as you reach certain milestones in your subscription.
Creators can turn on subscriber-only chats so that only their subscribers can comment during a live stream. This makes conversations between creators and subscribers less cluttered. The appeal of exclusive chats can encourage fans to pay for a creator's subscription.
Subscribers also get access to exclusive emotes, which are stickers that are chosen and customized by creators for them to use in live chats. Additionally, they get access to subscriber-only videos and lives.
When setting up their subscriptions, creators can include a bio to introduce themselves to their subscribers and a note to welcome them.
Who Can Get TikTok's LIVE Subscription Feature?
In order to be eligible for a LIVE Subscription as a creator, you must be 18 or older, with a minimum of 1,000 followers. Your content should also not violate TikTok's community guidelines. You should also have live access and have gone live for at least 30 minutes in the last 28 days.
How to Subscribe on TikTok
If you want to subscribe to a creator on TikTok, follow these steps:
- You can subscribe directly from a creator's profile by tapping LIVE Subscription. This will take you to the creator's subscription page.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and hit the Subscribe button.
- Complete the process by following the on-screen prompts. You can choose between a one-month subscription and an auto-renewal plan.
You can also subscribe from within a creator's live video:
- Look for a star icon in the bottom-left corner of the creator's live and tap it. This is an indication that they've set up subscriptions.
- Tap the Subscribe button on the pop-up window. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
TikTok Is Giving Its Creators and Subscribers More Value
TikTok continues to add features that give its community more value beyond the ability to create and consume engaging videos. A LIVE Subscription is one such feature, allowing creators to build a strong community of supporters.
More importantly, it gives them a steady income stream apart from campaigns. And it gives subscribers an opportunity to feel closer to their favorite creators and contribute to their growth and success on TikTok.