In two short years (that also feels like an eternity), “going live” has become more commonplace than anyone could have imagined. A medium once reserved for news broadcasts and New Years Eve specials is now used daily by influencers and heavy-hitters alike. Even Apple has transitioned their sought-after press gatherings into swanky livestreamed affairs. In case you’ve been eager to make the jump, here are some tips on how you can livestream on social media.
Decide Which Platforms Work Best For You
While few may remember Periscope, the brave app that took the first steps into the live waters, every major platform now allows users to go live. The usual suspects probably popped into your head just then, but even platforms like LinkedIn have seen the usefulness of enabling their users to connect directly to their audience.
You may be tempted to decide based on numbers alone, but it’s best to choose the platform that offers you the best engagement for your content. Your Facebook page may have amassed a sizable number of likes over the years, but do those users engage with your posts? Most likely the platform you are most active on will have users who follow suit.
Use the Right Equipment
Depending on the type of content you produce, the “right setup” for you can range from your smartphone to a full studio setup. If you produce makeup tutorials for example, it could be an interesting treat for you to go live and have a chat with your followers as you show them how it’s done in real time. Your cell phone and simple ring light setup would suffice.
If you are a Twitch streamer playing video games for a few hours, your setup will need to be more involved. Using a dedicated camera along with a PC that is powerful enough to support your gaming while streaming and interacting with viewers would be ideal.
The nature of your content will naturally dictate the complexity of your equipment and setup. With some trial and error, there should be nothing stopping your first livestream on social media.
Announce When You’ll Be Going Live
No one wants to play to an empty room. In a real world setting, if you want people to show up, you’ll generally need to give them a heads up. The same goes for livestreaming, unless you have an immensely dedicated following. This not only creates hype for your stream, but gives your audience ample time so they can be sure to set reminders.
Stream to Multiple Platforms at Once
Though this method won’t be easy for beginners, there are quite a few ways to stream to multiple platforms. Some combinations work better than outers, i.e. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch play nicely with one another, while mobile-first apps like Instagram and TikTok are a bit more difficult.
Popular programs like Restream have user-friendly interfaces that allow you to connect your accounts and stream with the click of a button. You may however, find it difficult to engage with each platform’s live chat but depending on your team you may find a solution. The ability to reach your audience wherever they may be by utilizing simulcast programs is definitely one to remember for your livestream on social media.
Add Background Music
This won’t be applicable for every use case, but there are plenty of moments when even adding a minute of music can be beneficial to your livestream. For example, you can have background music playing while you wait for your audience to join your stream. This helps to alleviate some of the anxiety or early awkward stages of a room that’s filling up.
If you’re a video game or long-form streamer on Twitch, playing music in the background is the best way to keep viewers entertained while adding another layer of engagement. Try creating a playlist of tracks from your favorite royalty-free music library for you and your audience to vibe out to.
No matter your follower count or level of experience, taking the chance to livestream on social media will only bring you closer to your audience in a way we’ve never been able to before.
