Live-streaming on social media

To livestream on something like Instagram or Facebook is intimidating. You can’t edit a live or control how it will turn out or your surroundings. It’s like having your own live television show and the more viewers, the more watch yours you have the more nerve wracking it can be. At least on your own show you’re not seeing how many people are watching right in front of you as you’re trying to continue on with your livestream. Regardless of this, if you’re an influencer or content creator of any kind, YOU NEED TO BE GOING LIVE. Rather that’s on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube live-streaming is becoming more and more necessary.

Going live is interactive and allow you to engage with your audience in a more personal light. Engagement is the key to growth as I’m sure all of you Bosses out there know by now. With live-streams your audience is able to directly connect with you in a raw way. It helps build trust. Plus, your live videos don’t just disappear and they can come back and be looked at. Instagram lives stay up for 24 hours while Facebook and YouTube (if you set it up to post as a regular video)  lives are always there to look back on for your audience. There is a genuineness in live-streams that you don’t get in any other way. It’s growing more and more in popularity and your audience loves it. It’s a great way to grow.

So how do you use live-streaming to help you grow?

• Sit down and have a conversation with your audience. Get in there and just chit chat. That’s one of the best ways to start off and get comfortable with live video. Let them get to know you as you talk about your day or try conversing the way you would with a friend. Try and ask questions and get to know your audience as well.
• Teach your audience something. Going live on any platform and sharing your knowledge is a GREAT way to share your reach and engagement. Show your personality and lure your target audience in with your useful information that applies to them.
• Do a Q&A. This is also a great way to engage and allow your audience a look at who you really are. It’s getting personal and building a relationship with your supporters. The more they learn about you, the more connected they’ll feel. Having a following that sees you as more than just a face on their timeline is a great way to gain their trust.
• Livestream a popular event. People will already be interested in seeing the event. This helps attract new supporters who may be interested in what you’re streaming about but will end up staying because of your sparkling personality.

Tips for live-streaming

• Announce you’ll be going live beforehand. Post on your platforms when and where you’ll be live-streaming. Then give a hint about what you’ll be doing to capture their interest. If people don’t know your live-streaming, how will they be sure to tune in?
• Give yourself some notes to follow. It helps to have some sort of basic points to guide you along so that you don’t miss anything and you don’t have to scramble about what you need to say.
• Respond to those watching. When people join, say hello. When people comment questions or thoughts, address them as soon as possible. One of my biggest pet peeves is when there is a livestream with multiple questions being asked and the person doing the livestream is completely ignoring them. That defeats the purpose of connecting with your audience. Connection is a two-way street.
• Be yourself. BE AUTHENTIC. The audience that you want will be attracted to YOU. You are the thing that separates you from the rest of the world so allow that individuality to show.

Hopefully live-streaming is something you plan on doing in the future (Social Peach intends to do it soon as well). If it is, what platform do you think you’ll use? Would you guys like a post comparing live-streams on each platform? What tips do you have for all of our influencers out there who have yet to go live? Comment down below!