How to Co-Host on TikTok

Co-hosting on TikTok is one of the fastest ways to get your brand in front of a new, engaged audience, and it’s easier than you might think. This guide breaks down what co-hosting is, why it’s a powerful growth strategy, and the exact steps you need to take to host a successful LIVE with a guest. We'll also cover the best practices to make your collaborative streams stand out.

What is Co-Hosting on TikTok?

Co-hosting on TikTok means bringing another creator into your TikTok LIVE stream for a real-time, split-screen conversation. Instead of just you talking to your audience, you and a guest share the screen, interacting with each other and the viewers simultaneously. This feature, sometimes called "Multi-Guest," turns a standard monologue into a dynamic dialogue, Q&,A session, panel discussion, or collaborative performance.

Think of it as a live podcast or an on-the-spot talk show. It’s an authentic and unscripted way to share ideas, entertain viewers, and introduce your community to a new voice they might love. The core idea is simple: two creators, one screen, and a shared live audience ready to engage.

The Strategic Benefits of Co-Hosting

Going LIVE with a guest isn't just a fun feature, it's a powerful tool for organic growth and community building. When done right, it can supercharge your content strategy. Here are the main benefits.

Tap Into New, Relevant Audiences

This is the most direct benefit. When you go LIVE with a co-host, TikTok notifies both of your follower bases. Suddenly, you're not just broadcasting to your fans, you're broadcasting to a completely new pool of potential followers who are already interested in your niche. If a food blogger co-hosts with a recipe developer, they’re both tapping into an audience of food lovers. It’s a direct and authentic way to gain followers who are genuinely aligned with your content.

Boost Credibility and Authority

By associating yourself with other respected creators or experts in your field, you gain what is known as "authority by association." When you co-host with someone your audience already trusts, some of that trust transfers to you. For example, if you’re a personal finance coach and you bring on a certified financial planner as a guest, your credibility on the topic immediately increases. You’re showing your audience that you’re connected and respected within your industry.

Drive Unmatched Engagement and Watch Time

Live video is already the king of engagement on social media, but adding a second person takes it to another level. The back-and-forth dynamic of a conversation is naturally more captivating than a single person talking. Viewers are more likely to stick around to see how the conversation unfolds, ask questions directed at both hosts, and participate in lively debates. This increased watch time signals to the TikTok algorithm that your content is valuable, which can lead to it being pushed to more For You Pages.

Create Spontaneous and Authentic Content

In a world of perfectly polished video content, live streams offer a refreshing dose of authenticity. Co-hosted streams feel like you're letting viewers in on a real, unfiltered conversation between two people. Mistakes might happen, laughs will be genuine, and the spontaneity makes the content feel more human and relational. This rawness builds a stronger, more personal connection with your audience because they get to see the real you.

Step-by-Step: How to Add a Co-Host to Your TikTok LIVE

Ready to go LIVE with a friend, collaborator, or industry expert? The technical process is straightforward. Before you start, remember that both you and your potential guest need to have the ability to go LIVE on TikTok, which generally requires having at least 1,000 followers.

Here’s exactly how to set it up:

1. Start Your LIVE Stream: Open your TikTok app and tap the create button (the plus icon) at the bottom of the screen. Swipe along the bottom menu until you find the LIVE option.
2. Set Up Your LIVE Details: Before you launch, give your stream a descriptive title. This is your chance to hook people in. For instance, try something like "Financial Q&,A with @ExpertName!" Add a cover photo and select a relevant topic to help TikTok show your stream to the right audience.
3. Go LIVE: Once you’re ready, tap the "Go LIVE" button. Give it a moment to connect. It’s a good practice to greet your early viewers for a minute or two before you bring your guest in.
4. Invite Your Co-Host: When you're ready to add your guest, look for the infinity-loop or chain links icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. This is the guest invitation button.
5. Choose Who to Invite: Tapping this icon will open a menu with a few options. You’ll see a list of friends who are currently watching your stream, as well as a list of suggested creator friends. You can invite someone directly from this list.
6. Wait for Them to Accept: Once you send the invitation, your guest will receive a notification prompting them to join your LIVE. When they accept, their video will pop up, and your screen will split into two, either vertically or as a picture-in-picture. You’re now officially co-hosting!

You can manage your guests from the same menu, allowing you to swap co-hosts during a single stream or remove a guest if needed.

Best Practices for an Unforgettable Co-Hosted Stream

Just going live isn’t enough. To make the most of this feature, you need a strategy. Follow these best practices to ensure your co-hosted LIVE is valuable for everyone involved - you, your guest, and your audience.

1. Choose the Right Partner

Your co-host is the most important ingredient. Don't choose just anyone. Look for a partner who meets these criteria:

• Audience Alignment: Their audience should be similar to yours or a niche you want to break into. The overlap is where the growth happens.
• Complementary Expertise: Find someone who brings a different perspective or skillset. A fitness coach and a nutritionist. A graphic designer and a copywriter. This creates a richer conversation.
• Good On-Camera Chemistry: If possible, choose someone you already have a good rapport with. If not, hop on a quick video call beforehand to break the ice and make sure your energies match.

2. Plan a Topic and Structure (But Don't Script It)

Spontaneity is great, but chaos isn’t. Go in with a plan. Before the stream, agree with your co-host on:

• The Core Topic: What is the main theme or question you’ll be discussing?
• A Loose Outline: Just a few bullet points to guide the conversation. For example: Intro → Guest Welcome → Point 1 → Point 2 → Audience Q&,A → Call-to-Action → Outro.
• Who Leads Which Segment: Decide in advance who will kick things off and who will wrap up.

Sharing a simple Google Doc with this outline helps keep you both aligned without making the conversation feel stale or rehearsed.

3. Promote Your LIVE Heavily in Advance

Don't just hit "Go LIVE" and expect people to show up. Build anticipation. In the 24-48 hours leading up to the stream:

• Create TikTok Videos: Post short trailers announcing the co-hosted stream, the topic, and who your guest is. Tag your guest so their followers see it, too.
• Use Other Platforms: Announce the LIVE on your Instagram Stories using the countdown sticker. Send an email to your newsletter subscribers. Post about it on any other platform where you have a presence.
• Cross-Promote: Make sure your co-host is also promoting the stream to their audience. This doubles your promotional reach.

4. Set Up Your Tech for Success

Technical glitches can kill the vibe of a great conversation. A little prep goes a long way:

• Stable Internet: Connect to Wi-Fi. A spotty connection can cause lags and drop the stream entirely.
• Clear Audio: Don’t rely on your phone’s built-in mic if you can help it. Even a basic lavalier microphone or a pair of headphones with a mic will dramatically improve audio quality.
• Good Lighting: Face a window or use a ring light. Good lighting makes you look more professional and keeps viewers visually engaged.
• Minimize Distractions: Find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted. Let your family or roommates know you’re going live!

5. Engage with the Audience Actively

A co-hosted LIVE is a three-way conversation: you, your guest, and the audience. Don't ignore the third party!

• Acknowledge Comments: Read comments out loud and mention viewers by their username. This small act makes people feel seen and encourages more participation.
• Dedicate Time for a Q&,A: Make it a specific segment of your stream. Announce, "Alright, for the next 10 minutes, we're taking your questions!"
• Let One Person Monitor: If conversations are moving fast, it can be hard to talk and read comments. Mentally assign one person to keep an eye on the comment feed so you don't miss great questions.

Final Thoughts

Co-hosting on TikTok is more than just a collaboration - it’s a dynamic strategy for weaving your brand into the fabric of your community. By sharing your platform, you can accelerate growth, build powerful industry connections, and create content that truly resonates with audiences.

Juggling all the promotional content across TikTok, Instagram, and other channels to announce a live event can quickly become disorganized. It's why we built Postbase with a clean, visual calendar at its core. You can see your entire promotional schedule at a glance, drag and drop posts to adjust timing, and make sure both you and your co-host are aligned for maximum impact. A tool like Postbase helps keep your strategy organized so you can focus on having a great conversation.