Five Tips for Going Live!
- Jan 17, 2018
- 4 min read
LiveStreaming is a great way to reach your audience in a truly authentic way. Over the last few years it has become easier to do, allowing everyone the opportunity to connect and share value on a personal level.
I have had the opportunity to produce hundreds of LiveStreams ranging from big budget productions to small, intimate experiences. In that time I have learned what is absolutely necessary, what you can prepare ahead of time, and how to reach your audience.
Before you think about going live, you should think about these 3 Things; What are you going to talk about? Who are you going to talk to? Where will you be reaching them? Once you answer those questions the rest should fall into place.
These are just a few basic tips to get you started with your first LiveStream. No matter what platform you are using, you can use these tips as both guidelines and a checklist.
1 - Know Your Stuff
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but make sure you know what you are talking about. Pick a topic that you are passionate and knowledgeable about and can talk freely. The great thing about LiveStreams is that they can go on as long as they need to. If you are engaged with your audience, keep going. But you wouldn’t want to run out of steam mid way, and leave your audience hanging.
It helps to pick a subject that you can speak about from experience. Something that you do on a regular basis and would consider yourself somewhat of an expert in. This way you can provide value to those who are listening.
Don’t be afraid to rehearse what you are going to say. Grab a mirror and start your “Practice” stream, to get comfortable. It’s a good idea to rehearse, this will help you know what you are going to talk about and not come off as reading.
2 - Know Your Audience
Knowing your stuff is great, but you also need to know who you are talking too. Identify who your audience is and speak to them directly. Talk to them as you would a peer or someone just starting out. Don’t talk down, but share your experience in a genuine way.
Think of the audience as yourself. What do you remember about your topic when you first heard of it? How did you get involved? What is something you wish you had learned in the beginning? How has it affected you? Where did you start? Etc.
Give your audience a chance to ask questions. This will help keep them engaged and feel like they are getting a personal experience.
Once you know your stuff and who you are speaking with, then the conversation should flow freely.
3 - Promote
Now that you know what you are going to talk about and who who are reaching, it is time to get the word out! You need to promote your LiveStream early and often. Set a date, send out a calendar invite, and then remind people as the day gets closer.
Remember, your audience is inundated with content, emails, messages, and what not, everyday. You can’t expect them to drop everything just because you are live. Tell them when you are going live, how long you will be live for, what you will be talking about, and ask them to submit questions. Engaging with your audience early on, is a great way to keep them hooked.
4 - Test, Test, Test
I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Test your gear, test your internet, test your software, and test it often. The last thing you want is to have an issue once your stream goes live.
In addition to testing your connection, do your best to stay away from streaming over Wifi. Use a hard line whenever possible. The connection is more reliable and will create a better experience for your audience.
If you are streaming from your phone, make sure it is at a good height and stable. You also want a well lit area, away from windows. Daylight shifts, and can cause issues with the autofocus on your phone or computer camera.
If you are going to invest in one piece of hardware, it should be a better mic. Most people are willing to forgive bad video if they can clearly understand what you are saying.
5 - Be You
Just be yourself. I know this may sound cliche, but your audience does not want to tune in and see someone else. They follow you, and they want to hear you.
Don’t try to be perfect. Know your stuff, but be real. Don’t read from a teleprompter or note cards; have notes available, but speak freely. Your personality is what makes you interesting, your experience makes you knowledgeable, and your audience wants to see and hear that.
And if something happens, roll with it. Don’t shut down because the stream isn’t perfect. People will forget that you flubbed a word, or the video cut out for a second; all of this is expected when going live. What they will remember is how you made them feel during the stream. The connection they felt, or the tip they learned; that is what they will take away from the experience.
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