In today's world, the screen no longer belongs only to hosts or celebrities — it belongs to everyone. On platforms like Twitch, TikTok, X, and Instagram, people share their lives daily, and many even make a living from it.
Making money through content creation is now widespread; anyone can earn extra income or even become a millionaire. Many platforms are emerging, offering similar features but differing in details. Bigo Live is one such rapidly growing and powerful live streaming platform.
What Is Bigo Live?
You can think of Bigo Live app as a perfect combination of Twitch and TikTok. It integrates Twitch's live streaming features with TikTok's short videos and virtual gifting ecosystem. It has garnered over 500 million downloads on Google Play. You can download the official Bigo Live app through the official website, Apple App Store, or Google Play.
You may not have heard of this platform and are worried about a lack of users (after all, audience size is crucial for live streaming). Bigo Live was actually founded in 2014 as a Singaporean live streaming platform, initially focusing on East Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Bigo Live has accumulated a large user base globally. Initially comprised of 18-25 year olds, its user base has grown to include 25-40 year olds as the platform has evolved into a comprehensive live streaming platform.
How To Use Bigo Live?
Bigo Live Features
Before discussing how to start a live stream, let's look at its features. Bigo Live has 5 main options:
- Live: Browse and watch ongoing live videos.
- Video: Watch user-uploaded recorded videos.
- Go Live: Start your live stream with a click.
- Chat: For private communication. Includes two options: Rematch and Messages.
- Me: Your profile page, where you can edit your profile and view other features.
How To Start A Live Stream?
Bigo Live App allows you to start a live stream anytime, anywhere. Simply click "Go Live" button in the bottom navigation and add a live stream title. After selecting your live stream type: Public, Private, or Key Room, click "Go Live". The livestream will start after a 3-second countdown.
The live stream offers several interactive features:
Comment Interaction: Interact with your audience through the comment area in the lower left corner.
- Receive Gifts: Viewers can send virtual gifts, which is one way to earn money.
- Match Live: Click "Match" option at the bottom, and the system will automatically match you with other online streamers for a joint live stream.
- Invite Guests: You can directly select users from your audience list and click "Guest Live" to send an invitation for them to join your live stream as guests.
How To Make Money On Bigo Live?
Live Streaming And Virtual Gifts
This is the most easily understood and commonly used model. Creators share content via live stream, and viewers send virtual gifts to the streamer through Bigo Live top up. The streamer then converts these gifts into cash income.
This method usually requires you to appear on camera and invest a significant amount of time and effort. Because building a stable audience takes time, you also need to maintain consistency and dedication.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a way to monetize without appearing on camera or doing live streams. You can promote products by creating product reviews and demonstration videos (currently mainly through Amazon Associates). You don't need to stock the products yourself; you just need to showcase them in the videos and provide a dedicated affiliate link.
The advantage of Amazon Associates is its 24-hour cookie period. Once a user clicks on your affiliate link, you'll earn a commission on any product they order from Amazon within the next 24 hours (not limited to the products you promoted).
In addition to the above methods, the platform also offers users ways to earn virtual gifts by completing surveys or watching videos, but these methods are more suitable for ordinary users.
Brand Sponsorship
Brand sponsorship requires cultivating and expanding your fan base by consistently producing valuable content and gaining a certain level of influence.
Once you've successfully built your audience on Bigo Live, brands will seek partnerships. These partnerships typically include sponsorships, shout-outs, and in-video advertising.
How To Succeed?
- Consistent Creativity: Bigo Live's algorithm favors consistently active creators, so you need to stream or post content regularly.
- Provide Value: Your content needs to be engaging for your audience, whether entertaining or informative, and you must genuinely interact with them.
- Stay On Trend: The hottest topics and trends often bring you more followers. If you're a game streamer, you can stream the most popular games.
This concludes the basic introduction to Bigo Live's features and monetization methods. Whether you aspire to be a millionaire streamer or simply want to connect with strangers around the world, Bigo Live app can excel at fulfilling your needs. Sometimes, a new platform and new friends can make a difference in your life.
