This is everything you need to know about TikTok live subscriptions including how to get access, what the benefits for your subscribers are, and some suggestions from my own experiences.
How To Get Your Sub Button
So what are the requirements and how do you get access to this?
It says on the TikTok website "live subscription will initially be available to invite only creators this month and will then become available globally over the coming months".
Then, of course, the question becomes if it's invite-only how do I get access? So here's what I've learned from my own experience and from talking to other people.
Three Methods To Get Access
So firstly, it seems like this feature is currently available to people with over 2,000 followers.
From what I've seen there are three different ways that TikTok is reaching out to these people.
1: Creator Manager
Firstly if you already have a creator manager or if you already know somebody at TikTok they'll reach out to you and offer the subscriber feature.
2: TikTok Notifications
If you don't already have a contact at TikTok you might get offered access through the notifications on your app. You might get a survey somewhere in your notifications or your email and if you fill out that survey somebody from TikTok will contact you and offer you the subscription feature.
So have a good check of the "From TikTok" section of your notis. This seems to be the most common method of getting access.
3: Invite From Another Creator
Finally, I've seen that some large content creators have been given a limited number of invites that they can hand out to other TikTokers. For example, I saw one TikToker on Twitter who had 16 invite slots available.
What To Do If You Can't Get Access
If you're struggling to get access I have two key pieces of advice: keep gaining followers and go live as often as you can. Both of these will increase your chances of being noticed by TikTok.
What Is Live Subscription?
So what is a live subscription? If you're familiar with Twitch subscriptions or YouTube channel memberships it's very similar.
It's an extra way for your viewers to support you and for you to earn money. Currently, TikTok pays $2.10 per sub. This is paid on the 15th of every month into your gift balance.
How Does A Viewer Sub?
If somebody wants to subscribe to your TikTok LIVE stream, firstly they'll have to follow you and once they've followed you they'll see a star icon at the top of your live stream.
What Are The Benefits Of Subbing?
Once you press the star icon, they'll be taken to a page which explains all the different benefits. TikTok says there are three benefits by default which are the subscriber badge, the custom emotes and the subscriber-only chat.
We can see that in action right here on this screenshot from Allenownz. You can see he's got a subscriber-only emote and he's got the sub badge.
Subscriber Badges
You can set the name of this badge anywhere from one to four letters. Mine is set to MOJO because my username is WG_Mojo.
The longer a viewer stays subscribed, the star icon next to the chat badge changes colour and changes shape.
Custom Emotes
You can add up to 10 custom designed emotes to your LIVE. TikTok also gives you 5 basic emotes by default.
How Much Does It Cost?
Currently, it costs £4.99 in the UK and $5.99 in the US.
Subscription revenue is split 3 ways between the LIVE streamer, TikTok and Apple or Google (Android). TikTok takes 35%, Google or Apple takes 30%, which leaves the LIVE streamer with 35%.
This works out at $2.10 per subscription gained. It is paid on the 15th of every month into your live gift balance.
There are two options when subscribing: a one-off sub and a recurring sub. The second one will recur indefinitely until cancelled by the viewer.
Once somebody subscribes the streamer gets a message in the chat telling them that somebody subscribed.
Tips And Tricks From Harry
I was one of the first people to get a sub button so let me share with you some tips and tricks that I've learned.
1: Spread Awareness
The most important thing to point out is that subscribing is so new on TikTok. Many viewers are just not aware that it exists right now.
What I frequently do on my LIVE stream is remind the viewers that I have a sub badge.
2: Add Your Own Benefits
On top of the normal benefits that TikTok offers I add my own benefits. I even show this graphic on my LIVE.
What I typically say to my viewers is they can press the star icon at the top of my screen. On top of the normal chat badge and emotes, I read out my full list of benefits.
3: Make Subs Feel Special
Whenever I see a subscriber in the chat I'll make sure to point it out and tell everybody that they're a subscriber. I thank them once again for being a sub and that just encourages more people to subscribe as a result because of course everybody likes to be shouted out in somebody's stream.
To recap my main pieces of advice: educate your viewers, add some extra benefits and make sure you're thanking your subscribers frequently.
Thanks for reading!
Harry