If you’re serious about using live video to promote your business, you’ll need to invest in decent equipment. That includes a high-quality camera, a microphone and an encoder. It’s also important to mind your battery levels and have spares on hand. The more prepared you are, the less likely your live stream will be interrupted by technical problems.
Before you start streaming, research your audience and find out what they care about most. Find out what pain points they experience in their day-to-day lives, what keeps them up at night and what goals they’re striving for. Answering these questions will help you create content that resonates with your audience and draws them in.
When you’re ready to go live, head to YouTube’s homepage and click the “create” button in the top-right corner – the camera icon with a + symbol inside. You’ll be prompted to select either “stream now” or “create a live stream at a later date.” If you choose the latter option, you’ll be able to set up the “YouTube Live Control Room” (your dashboard) and configure settings for age restriction, live chat, monetization and more.
To ensure your livestream’s quality is up to par, test your internet connection before you hit the record button. Also, make sure your camera is centered and that you’re not looking out of frame. A good way to attract attention is to design a custom thumbnail for your stream that’s optimized for social media and captures the essence of your video. Finally, add calls to action within your livestream description and video to drive engagement.
Having a co-host or guest can be a great way to add variety to your stream and keep it engaging for your viewers. It’s also a great way to boost your reach and leverage the social capital of others in your niche. However, make sure you do your research to find an appropriate guest with a similar audience to avoid alienating your viewers.
If you’re creating a business-related livestream, you can use YouTube analytics to discover how your viewers respond to different topics. This will give you insights on what type of content is performing well and what needs improvement.
You can further improve your audience engagement by enabling live chat and giving shout-outs to viewers during the stream. This will make them feel appreciated and valued, which will ultimately help you build a loyal following. Lastly, don’t forget to reintroduce yourself and/or any other hosts throughout the duration of the livestream when you see a significant jump in viewership. This will help new viewers understand what your stream is about and what’s in it for them. It will also encourage them to participate in future streams.get youtube live stream views