Social Media Live Streaming: How to Go Live on Every Network
Social media live streaming is one of the best ways to engage followers. And you don’t need any special equipment to get started.
Social media live streaming is one of the best ways to engage followers. And you don’t need any special equipment to get started.
From Saturday Night Live and the Super Bowl to celebrity slaps at the Oscars, there’s no denying the thrill of watching events unfold in real time. You just never know what could happen. That’s why social media live streaming is so appealing to viewers and why content creators should be getting in on the action.
Since YouTube’s very first live event in 2008, internet users have grown from lukewarm to fully obsessed with social media streaming. These days, nearly a third of all internet users report watching at least one video live stream each week.
And can you blame them? Live streaming is authentic, engaging, and—we won’t deny it—a little bit thrilling.
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Social media live streaming refers to real-time videos shared on social media platforms (as opposed to videos filmed in advance and then posted to social media). It is sometimes referred to as “going live” and is most often used by creators and influencers, who can tap into features like live chats, polls, and question prompts to invite viewers to participate in real-time conversations with them.
Because most platforms also allow users to give streamers gifts that can be redeemed for cash, creators can also earn a fair amount of money with social media live streaming.
Source: Facebook
At some point, you’re going to get that burning urge to go live on social media.
But the smorgasbord of social media live streaming platforms can be downright overwhelming. Instagram or TikTok? Facebook or YouTube? Is Twitch just for gamers? (Side note: no, it’s not.)
The answer, though, is simple: you should be streaming wherever your audience (or future audience) is hanging out.
Here’s some helpful demographic information on each of the major social media networks to help you address your target audience and figure out where to go live.
Then, read on for details on how to master live streaming on each one.
Depending on your user profile and your device, there are a few different ways to go live on Facebook.
If you’re creating a mobile Live video for a business page:
If you’re creating a mobile live video for a personal profile:
If you’re creating a Facebook Live video on your computer:
Once you’re live, you’ll be able to see the names and number of live viewers and a stream of real-time comments.
When the show is over, the post saves to your profile or page (unless you’ve shared it to your story only).
Source: Facebook
Learn more about how to live stream from Facebook here.
On Instagram Live (available on the mobile app only for now), you can collaborate with guests, ask followers questions, or use filters. When your session’s over, you’ll be prompted to share your stream to your Story if you’d like.
Here’s how to go live on Instagram:
Source: Instagram
Find more tips for how to use Instagram Live here.
While there’s no official way to live stream the exact same content on Facebook and Instagram simultaneously, there are some third-party that can help.
StreamYard, OneStream are a few of the multi-stream platforms that can be customized (unofficially) to broadcast to multiple platforms at the same time.
Though be warned that Instagram does not officially support streaming outside of its own app.
If you want to keep the solution lowtech (and legal), you could also use two devices to record simultaneously: one for streaming to Instagram, and second to stream to Facebook from another angle.
Keep in mind that double the broadcasts also means double the comment streams to keep track of. You may want to enlist an engagement specialist to help you.
Ugh, we get it, you’re popular!
As of September 2022, LinkedIn Live is only available to users who meet certain criteria based on follower count, geographical location, and adherence to LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies.
To check if you are eligible, tap Event from your home page. If you see LinkedIn Live in the event format dropdown, you are allowed to go live on the platform.
Source: LinkedIn
Unfortunately, LinkedIn doesn’t have the same native live streaming capabilities as other social media platforms. Instead, you’ll need to use a third-party tool to broadcast live to LinkedIn.
Note: When your broadcast is over, it will live on your LinkedIn feed to attract even more engagement on the rewatch.
Get the complete guide to going live on LinkedIn here.
A video is the perfect way to stand out from the crowd in the non-stop stream of tweets. When you’re all done, you can share from the beginning to tweet the video in full.
How to go live on Twitter:
Source: Twitter
Here’s the full breakdown for how to go live on Twitter.
YouTube was the first major social network to offer live streaming. Today, it is the most popular place to consume live content.
A webcam or smartphone (if you have at least 50 subscribers) will get you rolling right away. More advanced streamers can use encoders to broadcast from external devices, or screen share that awesome Mario 2 speedrun.
Any stream under 12 hours will be automatically posted to your Youtube channel for future generations to enjoy.
How to go live on YouTube with a webcam on desktop:
Note: you will have to verify your phone number with YouTube before you can go live from your desktop.
How to go live on YouTube on mobile:
Note: Only users who meet certain requirements can go live via mobile on YouTube. You’ll need at least 50 subscribers, have no live streaming restrictions, and be a verified channel.
How to go live on YouTube from an encoder:
Source: YouTube
Find more detailed instructions on how to live stream on Youtube here.
As of 2022, TikTok’s live feature is only available to users who have at least 1,000 followers and are at least 16 years of age.
Haven’t reached the threshold yet? Here’s a potential trick for how to go live on TikTok without 1,000 followers.
If you’ve got access to TikTok Live, here’s how to use it:
Source: TikTok
Twitch is unlike other social platforms in that it was built specifically for streaming, which means it’s a must for creators who want to break into live content.
This also means that going live on the platform is relatively straightforward.
If you want to stream videos of yourself or your surroundings, follow the instructions for how to go live IRL. If you want to stream yourself playing a video game, follow the instructions for how to stream games.
How to stream on Twitch in IRL:
How to stream games on Twitch:
How to stream on Twitch from desktop
Source: Twitch
As with any other kind of social media post, you’ll want to pay close attention to your analytics after you’ve done a few lives. Instagram’s Live analytics, for example, can help you benchmark performance and hone your live strategy.
Make sure you’re posting at the right time to maximize views and engagement. Shameless plug: Hootsuite will tell you the best time to post based on when your followers are the most active.
Make note of views, watch time, average view duration, engagement rate, and reach.
People might happen to catch your video as you press that “go live” button. Letting your audience know it’s coming up is only going to boost those numbers. When you schedule your social media posts, be sure to include information about upcoming lives.
Start a countdown on your various social platforms to hype up the moment: your Twitter crew might need a nudge to migrate over to YouTube when it’s your time to shine.
Your live video is competing for attention with the millions of other videos already out there. Having a timely “why now” hook will give your video an urgency more evergreen content will lack—like a one-night-only event (a holiday concert!), a seasonal special (an interview with Santa!) or an exclusive scoop (Santa’s dropping an album!).
Bonus: Read the step-by-step social media strategy guide with pro tips on how to grow your social media presence.
Sharing a live broadcast with another influencer or expert in your field is one way to attract attention.
Whether it’s an interview with someone you admire or a more collaborative production, it’s a great way to leverage your guest’s audience into your own new followers. Sharing is caring, right?
The hope is that viewers will be watching from the very beginning, but the reality (or maybe magic?) of live streaming is that your audience will come and go throughout the broadcast.
Make sure it’s clear what they’re tuning into by occasionally reiterating the topic. A watermark, text or logo that clarifies who is on screen and what’s going on can be helpful, too.
The whole reason you’re doing your video live is to connect with your viewers, right? So make sure they know they’re a part of the show.
Say hello to commenters, welcome new viewers who are just joining the stream and answer questions on the fly if you can.
The beauty of a live stream is that anything can happen. But that isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have a goal of what you want to happen.
Financial expert Josh Brown may have been responding to viewers live on Twitter, but the Q&A format gave the off-the-cuff show some structure.
Jot down your key points or segments before you go live to keep yourself on topic. Think of it as less of a script, more of a road map.
While on-the-fly filming definitely has its charm, videos that are inaudible or poorly lit can be a struggle to stick with.
Set yourself up for success by doing a sound check before you go live. Seeking out bright, natural light whenever possible, and using a tripod if a shaky arm is too distracting. (Why do they make those phones so heavy?)
Promote your live videos in advance with Hootsuite, an easy-to-use dashboard that lets you schedule posts to all the major social networks from one place. Then, engage with new followers and track your success. Try it for free.
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