Conducting high-quality live streams requires preparation, not just in terms of equipment but also content. It’s crucial to understand your audience and what they expect from a blogger during a live broadcast. There are also several rules on how to live stream successfully, which we will explore in this article.
How to Live Stream: A Step-by-Step Guide
To conduct a live stream on any platform, you need to complete several preparatory steps:
- Prepare the equipment. Live streams do not necessarily require expensive equipment. However, to achieve good picture quality and convey expertise, it is essential to use a good camera (even if it’s on a phone), microphone, and sufficient lighting.
- Create a broadcast plan. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the topic you plan to cover. This involves researching your target audience, current topics, and questions. Before the broadcast, you could conduct a survey to understand the audience’s pain points.
- Announce the live stream. Even if you plan an interesting live stream, few subscribers may attend due to a lack of announcement. You can inform about the event through pre-stories, a dedicated chatbot, a separate post on social networks, or an announcement on the website. Targeted advertising can also be useful.
Now let’s look directly at how to live stream:
- Check your phone or computer for the latest OS version to avoid delays;
- Connect the necessary equipment (light, camera);
- Ensure a stable internet connection (preferably wired);
- Log in to the social network and your account;
- Start the stream and connect the chat for interaction with subscribers;
- Distribute bonuses if they were announced.
On some platforms, it is possible to save the live stream. So, if needed, after the broadcast, you should press the “Save” button.
Streaming Platforms Comparison
Each platform has its own unique characteristics for conducting and live streaming setup. Let’s look at the features of key platforms:
- Facebook. This social network is among the most popular, with about 3 billion users visiting the platform daily. Many are attracted by live streams from bloggers. The platform allows for conducting live streams, saving them, inviting friends, and sending comments during the broadcast. To start a live stream, select the “Live Video” button in the post editor and then “Start”.
- YouTube. This is one of the largest video platforms, with more than 2,5 billion users. It’s convenient for streaming and instantly receiving comments from participants. To start, you need to create an event in the settings and select the time.
- Instagram. With 1,5 billion users, this platform allows for announcing future streams. A unique feature is that subscribers can see live broadcasts currently happening. You can comment, like, and save streams. A blogger can create a broadcast together with another user or invite a subscriber to the stream. To start a live stream from a phone, press “+” at the bottom of the screen and select “Live”.
- TikTok. A fast-growing video content platform with about a billion active users. Only users who are 16 years old and have 1,000 subscribers can conduct streams. Streams are not saved.
- Telegram. This platform has long moved beyond being just a messenger. Today, Telegram has many features of a social network, including live streams. Among the advantages are the ability to plan, save, and connect comments to live streams.
It’s best to do your own streaming platforms comparison by trying out each of the major platforms and finding out which is better for you.
Conclusion
Conducting live streams is stepping up to a new level. If you learn how to present yourself in front of the camera, respond to uncomfortable questions, and provide viewers with genuinely valuable information, live broadcasts will bring numerous benefits. For professional promotion, consider the assistance of Top4smm specialists.