How do instagram lives work

Here's Everything You Need to Know

Instagram Live lets you broadcast video to your followers in real-time as part of Instagram Stories — a feature that launched in August and is now used by 100 million people every day.

One key difference between Instagram Live video and existing live broadcasting products like Facebook live and Periscope is that Instagram Live video is completely ephemeral: as soon as the broadcast ends, the video disappears. No replays.

Alongside live video, Instagram has also launched another ephemeral Snapchat-like feature in its direct messages, enabling users to send disappearing videos and photos to individuals and groups within Instagram Direct.

Live video will be rolling out globally over the next few weeks and disappearing messages in Instagram Direct will be live across the globe today. Let’s dive in and show you how you can use Instagram’s newest features.

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Getting to know Live Video on Instagram Stories

Live video on Instagram Stories helps you connect with your friends and followers right now, in the moment.

Going live takes just a couple of steps from the Instagram stories camera, and when you’re done broadcasting, your video will disappear as soon as the stream stops, which could encourage more Instagrammers to jump on and feel more comfortable sharing live content. On the other hand, the fact that the content will no longer be viewable once the stream ends also creates a state of urgency for viewers to ensure that they don’t miss out.

How to share live video

Going live on Instagram is pretty straightforward — just swipe right from the feed to open the camera, select “Live” and tap the “Start Live Video” button to start sharing:

Live videos on Instagram can last for up to an hour, and followers may get a notification when you go live so they can tune in and interact with you during the broadcast.

While you’re live, you can pin a comment for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether. Pinned comments could be a great way to frame the video and let everyone know what’s going on — a pinned comment could also be a great way to encourage interaction and responses from your audience.

Update: You can now start a live video with another person, which is perfect for interviews and collaborations. To invite someone to your live video, tap on the icon with two smiley faces and tap on his or her name. (You can only invite someone who is viewing your live video.) To join someone else’s live video, tap “Request” and then “Send Request”. Have fun!

How to tell when other Instagrammers are live

Since Instagram live videos disappear as soon as the broadcast ends, discovering the best live streams and the streams of Instagrammers you follow is incredibly important. When someone you follow starts a live video story on Instagram, you’ll see “Live” under their profile photo in the stories bar (and you may also get a notification):

Instagram’s Explore tab will also feature current live stories and there will also be an option to tap “Top Live” to see what videos are trending in that moment based on number of viewers, location and engagement. You’ll be able to skip around the trending live videos by swiping right and left, making it incredibly easy to jump between live stories.

P.S. You can get started with Buffer for Instagram for free right here.

5 ways brands could use Instagram live video

1. Office hours / Q&A sessions

Live video is a great way to answer questions from your audience in an engaging way. It’s a perfect way to invite your audience to interact with some of your team and to show the people behind your brand. By opening up to questions in real time, you can use live video to build strong relationships with your audience.

2. Launches and announcements

Social media is a two-way street, and it works best when you’re listening to your audience as well as sharing content with them. Live video provides the opportunity to do both.

With a live video to celebrate a product launch or big announcement, you can let the world know about your big news and also interact with your audience at the same time. For an example of this, Nissan live streamed the launch of one if its latest models at the New York auto show.

3. Take people behind-the-scenes

Many brands have used Instagram stories to take users behind-the-scenes in a myriad of situations, from what’s going on in the office to the set of their latest advert. Live video adds another element to what is already some of the most engaging content shared to Instagram stories.

With Instagram live video, we’ll likely see more brands, influencers, and celebrities taking users behind-the-scenes and sharing a transparent look into their world.

4. Interviews, collaborations and takeovers

When Airbnb partnered with Disney as part of their Live There marketing campaign, they turned to Facebook live as a way to stream interviews from the red carpet at the Jungle Book premiere.

Not all of us have the ability share interviews with famous movies stars from the red carpet, but we could create interesting interviews with influencers from our niche or even other members of our team. For example, you could interview a designer about how they designed your latest feature or link up with a well-known blogger in your niche and run a live interview.

Takeovers have also been extremely popular on Instagram stories, with brands teaming up to create content for each other’s stories and we’ll likely see this tactic transition to Instagram live video as well.

5. Experimental content

One of the most famous examples of live video online is when Buzzfeed took to Facebook live and stretched rubber bands over a watermelon until it eventually burst. This video had the perfect mix of weirdness and unpredictability and kept users engaged.

The video has now amassed over 11 million views on Facebook and at its peak had over 800,000 people watching live. When it comes to live video, don’t be afraid to try something experimental and think a little outside the box.

Disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct

The second feature Instagram have debuted today is disappearing photos and videos within Instagram Direct. In a move that again edges Instagram ever closer to Snapchat, Instagrammers will be able to send disappearing photos and videos directly to groups and individual friends.

Since Instagram made improvements to the way to their direct messaging system worked last year, the number of people who use Instagram Direct each month has grown from 80 million to 300 million — with many of these users turning to group threads every day to stay in touch with their closest friends and family.

How to send a disappearing message on Instagram

To send an ephemeral photo or video simply swipe right into the camera to take a photo or video, then tap the arrow to send it privately:

After clicking on the arrow to send the message you can choose a pre-existing group to send it to or create a new one in just a few taps — and you can also send to individual friends at the same time. These messages disappear from the recipient’s inboxes once they have viewed them once. And you’ll also see if they replayed it or took a screenshot.

It’s also worth noting that, whether your account is set to public or private, you can only send disappearing photos and videos to people who follow you.

Viewing messages in Instagram Direct

Once this update is live for you, you’ll notice a new paper airplane icon at the top right corner of your feed – this will take you directly to your inbox – alternatively, you can also swipe right to get to your inbox. Disappearing photos and videos in a bar at the top, similar to the way stories are displayed in the main Instagram feed.

Within the bar, blue rings will indicate new disappearing messages. Instagram Direct will remember your groups. So if you send an Instagram story to three people, Instagram saves that group in your Direct inbox so you can keep the thread going easily, rather than replying to each person in the group individually.

Another great group messaging feature is that in a group message, you can see everyone’s responses — and who else has seen them — in a slideshow format. Then when you’re done, just tap their faded profile photo to send a quick response.

Over to you

What are your thoughts on Instagram’s latest features? Are you excited to test out live video on Instagram? Will disappearing messages threaten Snapchat at all? Share your thoughts in the comments and I’d be excited to join the conversation.

Share your thoughts in the comments and I’d be excited to join the conversation.

We recently launched one of our biggest product enhancements, Buffer for Instagram, to help you plan, track and amplify your Instagram marketing.

Check out another Instagram release: IGTV, long-form video on Instagram

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How to Use Instagram Live (No Sweating or Crying)

Listen up: You’re going to get on Instagram Live, and you’re going to like it.

In fact, we’re going to make it so easy to go live on Instagram that you might enjoy yourself. We’ll walk you through how to go live, three tips and tricks for planning a successful livestream, and seven examples to inspire your next Instagram Live. We’ve also included how to watch others’ Live content and an FAQ as a little treat.

There will be no sweating or crying. We promise.

Instagram has over one billion monthly active users, all looking for easily consumable content. A 2021 survey showed video viewership reached 92% of internet users worldwide, with Live Streams taking the 4th highest place in popularity. Video content is king of the internet; we know that now.

So, do yourself a favor and start planning your next Instagram Live stream. Wipe your eyes, take a deep breath, and remember, we got you every step of the way.

What is Instagram Live?

How to go live on Instagram in two easy steps

3 tips for using Instagram Live

Instagram Live stream ideas for business

How to watch Instagram live

Frequently asked questions about Instagram Live

Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.

What is Instagram Live?

Instagram Live is a feature that lets you live stream, or broadcast video to your Instagram followers in real-time. Live videos live next to Stories, just above the main Instagram feed.

When you go Live on Instagram, your live feed jumps in front of every Story, which means you can grab your followers’ attention without worrying about being bumped by the algorithm.

How to go live on Instagram in two easy steps

Going live on Instagram is simple.

To start, you need to have an Instagram account (surprise!), and a phone since many of Instagram’s features are only available on mobile.

Then jump into the first step:

Step 1: Tap the plus icon on the top right

From your profile or feed, tap the plus icon on the top right. This will prompt you to choose what type of content you want to create.

Step 2: Tap Go Live

Once you tap Live on the list above, Instagram automatically pulls up the Live option you can see in the screengrab below.

Tap on the recording icon. Instagram will briefly check your phone’s internet connection before starting your broadcast.

Voila! That’s how to go live on Instagram in two steps. See, we told you it was simple.

Pro tip: Your number of viewers shows up at the top of your screen. You will also see all your viewers’ comments as they come in.

Celebrate those flying hearts! That’s your audience showin’ you love.

At the bottom and on the top right of your screen, you’ve got some spicy features you can use to make your livestream even better.

Let’s break ‘em down:

Questions. You can collect questions from your audience by posting a question sticker in an Instagram Story before you go live. You can access your viewers’ questions in the stream when you jump on.

Send. You can send your live video to a user on Instagram during a broadcast. Notice your mom’s not watching your stream? Send it directly to her!
Add a guest. This allows you and another user to share the live video. When you add a guest, you’ll both appear in the video via split-screen.
Face filters. Want a new hair color, facial hair, or to look like a puppy? Entertain your followers with filters.
Change camera. Switch the camera from selfie mode to regular mode.
Share a photo or video. Grab a picture or video from your camera roll and share it with your live audience.
Add a comment. Use this field to add a comment to your stream. Or, if your mom did join and is trolling you, you can use it to turn off commenting.

When you’re done filming your Instagram Live video, tap the X icon at the top right-hand corner. Once your video has ended, you’ll be prompted to either view it in your Instagram Live archive or discard it.

Pat yourself on the back. You just finished making your first Instagram Live stream!

If you’re just getting started on Instagram as a business owner, read this article.

How to start a Live Room

In March 2021, Instagram introduced Live Rooms, allowing users to go live with up to three other people. Previously, it was only possible to co-host streams with one other person using the “Add a guest” option. Now, you don’t have to choose a favorite when deciding between co-hosts!

With Live Rooms, users (and brands) can get a bit more creative with their streams. Inviting more speakers can create an engaging experience for your audience, like:

live games,
creative sessions,
influencer Q&As,
or dance-offs.

These are just a few ideas that can work well with Live Rooms, but the sky’s the limit (well, actually, four people is the limit. But you get our enthusiasm).

Live Rooms are great for businesses. Whenever you invite a guest to join your live video, their audience has access to it, even users who don’t follow you on Instagram. If you can convince three other people to live stream with you, you’ve got three times the exposure.

Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.

Get the free guide right now!

How to start a Live Room:

1. Follow the same steps you would take to set up a regular live stream.

2. Once you’re live, your requests to join others’ Rooms appear in the video icon. You can start your own Room by tapping the Rooms icon beside the live request button:

3. Type in the name of your guests, hit Invite, and you’re ready to go!

You can add all three of your guests all at once when setting up the stream or one by one as your stream progresses.

3 tips for using Instagram Live

Set a S.M.A.R.T. goal

Do you set goals when you’re planning out your content? Your audience will notice when you do. A plan makes your Instagram Live go from zero to hero.

To get there, you need to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal — meaning it’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based.

Specific. Your goal needs to be focused. For example, a bad goal would be “I want to make a fun Instagram Live video.” Okay, but what does “fun” mean? This goal is vague and subjective, making it difficult to measure.Instead, try, “This Instagram Live aims to increase the engagement rate by 25% more than our last stream.” Boom. Specific, quantifiable, and measurable. (By the way, here’s how you can measure your engagement in a couple of different ways. Or, use our calculator specifically for engagement rates.)
Measurable. How will you know if you’ve achieved your goal? Make sure you can actually measure your metrics (see above!).
Attainable. Don’t shoot for the stars and miss the moon! Make sure your goal is within your reach. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure. For example, “I want to have the most followers on Instagram” won’t be possible (unless you’re Cristiano Ronaldo), but “I want 1,000 followers on Instagram” is attainable.
Relevant. Ask yourself, does this goal matter to you and your company right now? Does it tie into your overall business objectives?
Timely. Deadlines help you focus and drive you to pursue your goal. For example, “I want to host three Instagram Live streams with guests by Q4” is essentially a ‘did it or didn’t’ goal. If you say, “I want to continue to host new guests on Instagram Live,” you’ll never be able to cross it off your to-do list.

Create a plan

After you’ve thought of a S.M.A.R.T. goal, it’s time to make a blueprint to get there.

Map out an outline of how your video will go. Then, jot down the points you want to cover with a rough time estimate. Structure will keep you on track, and viewers will appreciate the clarity.

Engage your viewers

Instagram Live is social media marketers’ secret power to engage an audience.

This tool gives you the ability to chat with your audience live. Shout out your followers by name as they join your stream. You can reply to comments and questions in real-time.

You can even use their commentary to inspire content for your next stream. Are people asking or commenting on similar themes? Take the popular comments and use it for new content!

For more, be sure to check out our article on how to increase social media engagement.

Instagram Live stream ideas for business

You’re all set to host your own Instagram Live broadcast. Now, all you need are some ideas. Luckily for you, we’ve put together seven Instagram Live stream ideas for your business.

1. Influencer collaborations

Influencer marketing is all about engaging with your fans so you can share insights on the brands they love or topics they’re interested in. If you choose an influencer that aligns with your brand, you can introduce their audience to what you offer.

Instagram Live is a perfect platform for these collaborations. With the Add a guest and Live Room features, you can bring influencers on for interviews, Q&A sessions with your viewers, or a friendly chat.

If you’re planning to feature more than one influencer in your broadcast, use the Live Rooms feature. You will be able to invite up to three influencers to share the screen with you.

For more, check out our article on how to work with social media influencers.

2. Go live at an event

Stream your industry events, ceremonies, or conferences you’re attending. People love getting an inside look at industry parties from someone in the inner circle.

If you’re planning on streaming your next event, then use FOMO. Fear of missing out can be a powerful tool. People will want to watch and keep up with what’s going on in real-time so as not to miss any exciting moments. Hype up your Live stream event beforehand!

And be sure to post a recap video after the fact. You can download your Live stream, edit it as you like, then repost it to your feed.

Recently, Carrie Underwood performed at the CMT awards. She’s posted a recap of her high-flying performance for fans who might have missed it live.

Source: Carrie Underwood on Instagram

3. Host a tutorial, workshop, or class

Engage your followers with interactive content. Teach a workshop or class, or host a tutorial on content you’re associated with. Your audience will have the chance to ask you questions about what you do, what you offer, or what you’re selling.

Don’t be afraid if you think you don’t have any worldly knowledge to impart to your followers. You can teach your audience literally anything, so long as it’s entertaining.

For example, rapper Saweetie went Live to show her followers how to properly eat the Saweetie meal from McDonald’s. She said, “cause y’all are doin’ it wrong.” She then proceeded to make Nuggachoes, a dish that looks like fries and chicken nuggets covered in sauce.

Honestly, it looks like a solid late-night meal — and we wouldn’t have known it existed without Instagram Live.

4. Q&As

Engage your audience and make them feel heard with a Live Q&A.

Simply hop onto Instagram Live and solicit questions from your audience. If you’re not getting a lot of questions, ask your audience to post some. If you’re feeling brave, turn it into an AMA (Ask Me Anything).

Halle Bailey hosted an Instagram Live Q&A while in Atlanta, Georgia, to film The Color Purple musical movie.

Be sure to announce that you’re holding a Q&A for your followers before you go live. It can be as simple as a quick Story, or you can build anticipation for a couple of days in advance.

Read this article for more information on becoming a Story pro.

5. Product unboxing

If you’re launching a new product, host a Live product unboxing and show your followers what they’re getting.

People trust brands on Instagram. Studies show that “people use [Instagram] to discover what’s trending, research products before buying and decide whether or not to make a purchase.” So, use your Live stream to your advantage, and show off your products while answering real-time questions.

6. Talk to a happy customer

You don’t need to talk to an industry thought leader or influencer to help boost your brand. Chatting with customers about how much they love your products or services is an effective way to engage your audience. Plus, it’s much less expensive than hiring influencers.

And since Instagram gives you the option to save the video after you’re done, you can keep it on your Instagram profile as a video testimonial. Double win!

7. Review

Give your instant reaction to events, news, products, or anything related to your industry. If your audience finds it entertaining or interesting, it’s fair game.

For example, if you watched a talk given by a thought leader in your field, you can go on Instagram Live afterward and share your thoughts.

You can also review different products and services related to your business. Use a new laptop for your business? Or maybe you’ve been trying out a new camera? Review of all those products live.

Check out this article if you’re really looking to grow your Instagram following.

How to watch Instagram live

Watching others’ Instagram Live streams is easy. They show up where you see Instagram Stories, but with a pink box denoting LIVE in it. You can watch them on your phone or desktop.

Frequently asked questions about Instagram Live

Where can I find my Instagram Live video?

Want to relive the magic? If you hit Archive after going live, Instagram saves your video in the Live Archive.

You can repost your video to IGTV so long as it is more than one minute long.

After you’ve shared a live video replay, you can view it by opening your video from your profile in two easy steps:

Head to your page by tapping profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
Tap videos below your bio, then tap your Live reposted video.

Just FYI: the view count on this video only includes people who watched it after you posted it. Not the Live viewers.

Can I restrict who sees my Instagram Live?

Heck, yes! Instagram gives you the option to limit who sees your Instagram Live stream. Get exclusive. Limit those views. If your mom didn’t join your stream, you don’t have to let her see what you’re up to.

The setting works the exact same way as it does on your Instagram Stories, since that’s where your video will live.

Just tap the camera in the top left corner. Then tap the gear or settings button in the top right corner.

Then, go to Live (the third option down on the left). Here, Instagram lets you type in the account names you want to hide your video from.

How do I turn off the comments?

Got a troll? Or maybe you’re monologuing. Either way, you can turn off comments on your stream by tapping the three dots in the chatbox and hitting Turn Off Commenting.

How do I answer questions on Instagram Live?

You can solicit questions from your followers via your Instagram Story for a Q&A.

Create a Story post with a questions sticker containing the question you want to ask.

When it comes time for your Instagram Live stream, you’ll be able to access them all via the questions button. Tap the button, and a drawer appears containing all of the questions you can answer.

Select one of the questions, and it will appear on your stream for your followers to see.

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how to turn it on, save the Live recording, work with comments, etc.

On March 4, 2022, Roskomnadzor decided to block Facebook, and on March 11, 2022, it decided to block Instagram. If you are in Russia, most likely, both social networks are currently unavailable to you.

But we have some useful material for you.

(For those who have social networks working - the text of the article is below, under the list of links)

Telegram:

How to start a channel in Telegram

5 ways to monetize Telegram

How to make stickers for Telegram: a step-by-step guide

VK promotion: a large selection of tips and services

VK targeting: a complete setup guide

Odnoklassniki:

Is Odnoklassniki social network useful for business

Yandex. Zen:

Channel on Yandex.Zen for small business How to write a selling article

for advertising in Zen

8 myths about Yandex.Zen for business

It all started not with Instagram, but much earlier. Periscope, Snapchat, YouTube - every platform has created and developed video formats for their users. And they made their own on Instagram - Instagram Live. Remember the expression "steal like an artist"?

According to a Livestream survey, over 80% of users prefer to watch rather than read. You can put the books aside and say boldly: video formats are taking over the world, and Instagram Live is a great way to show yourself, your company or product to it. We will analyze in stages how to do it right.

Table of contents:

What is Instagram Live

What are the advantages of the tool

What is important in preparing for a live broadcast

How to record a live on Instagram

Things to consider during a live broadcast

Basic live formats

P. S.

Table of contents: What is Instagram Live?0003

P. S.

What is Instagram Live

Instagram Live (live) is one of the Stories tools that allows you to communicate with your subscribers, share impressions, and demonstrate the environment in real time.

Presentation from Instagram

Let's promote your business

In Google and Yandex, social networks, mailing lists, video platforms, bloggers

You do not need to purchase special equipment to start live broadcasting. All you need is a phone with a good camera, a stand or a tripod.
Live is displayed in the first place in the list of current Stories at the top of the news feed. Finally got a chance to forget about the Instagram algorithm and be in the front row!

Welcome to the first row!

Followers who have Instagram notifications turned on receive a notification when a live stream starts.
Ether creates the effect of FOMO (fear of missing out), in other words - the syndrome of lost profits. The audience understands that something important is happening and is afraid to miss it. Back in 2016, TAMHSC concluded that every year social media users are more and more exposed to FOMO.
At the end of the broadcast, you can save it in History, add hashtags and geolocation, post it on IGTV. Subsequently, this will help in attracting a new audience to the account and increasing coverage.
Instagram actively promotes its live broadcasts and, as a result, shows you to more users. It is worth trying to go live every week in order to stay “in the public eye” of subscribers and improve your position on the social network.
Broadcast statistics are easy to track: the number of viewers is displayed after the end of the broadcast, and more detailed data is available in the corresponding section.

Live broadcast is a useful tool that will help you get closer to your target audience and establish effective communication. And it requires consistent preparation.

Everything you need for a good Instagram video: a cheat sheet for an entrepreneur

What is important in preparing for a live broadcast

Purpose. What do you want to achieve with live broadcast? Draw attention to a new product? Strengthen relationships with subscribers? Share important achievements or answer questions? With a marketing strategy in mind, you can set the right goals, choose the right topics, and start preparing.
Announcement/promotion . You can post about the topic of the broadcast, offer several options to choose from, or ask your subscribers a question. Don't forget about motivation: raffle, contest, discount or exclusive offer for participants. The number of viewers can be increased by notifying about the live broadcast the day before in the feed and duplicating the information in stories. If you have a budget, it’s good to connect paid live promotion (for example, using targeted advertising).

Announce the live broadcast in advance. It is better to indicate the topic in the picture for the post

Communication format. Not everyone can quickly figure out how to respond to the witty comments of subscribers, speak freely on any topic, joke like Jimmy Kimmel or Ivan Urgant. Most often, the audience hears lingering "uh." That's why the right communication format is so important, which we'll cover in more detail in the penultimate section.

Remember, the live broadcast has a time limit - 1 hour.

Chamber. Now is the time to allow Instagram access to your camera on your phone.
Settings. Please check your settings before going live. Here you can hide the video from some subscribers, prohibit sharing the video or replying to messages. In addition, the settings allow you to automatically post Stories on the page of a business account on Facebook. If you save space on your phone memory, select "Save to archive", then the video will be available after 24 hours.

Privacy settings are important. Select "Hide offensive comments" to avoid being distracted by them during the broadcast.

Check your live broadcast and phone settings

Atmosphere. What will the audience see when they join the live broadcast? This is easy to find out if you put yourself in the place of the subscriber. Based on the purpose of the live broadcast and the format of communication, you can choose a suitable place or “build a frame”. If you just want to chat with the audience, you can find a cozy cafe, a beautiful place in the city, or communicate from the car. Are you planning to announce something new? Why not place a trademark or company logo in the frame, lay out samples and catalogs?

How to record live on Instagram

So you've set a goal, notified your followers, picked an amazing location, and thought about what you'll be talking about. Camera, motor!

Open the Camera icon at the top of your feed, or swipe to the right.
Choose "Live" at the bottom of the Stories formats. See how many people are online. If there are few people, it is better to reschedule the broadcast to another time. Account statistics will help you in choosing the right air time.
Choose the position of the camera: front or horizontal.
Choose an interesting mask if you wish. Instagram offers a huge selection, from animal faces to sunglasses and arrows on the eyes.

Masks can be selected both before and during the broadcast

Place the phone so that it is convenient for you to communicate with the audience. Try not to be distracted or annoyed by anything.
Press "On air" and welcome!

It is important to remember that live broadcasting is a two-way traffic: you share news/emotions/stories with the audience and get instant feedback, which also requires a reaction.

Things to consider during the live broadcast

Not all subscribers have the opportunity to connect to the live broadcast right away. A periodic reminder of the topic of the broadcast will help new participants to quickly engage in communication. Better yet, pin the comment to the topic.

In a comment, you can also insert a link to a landing page or website, a promo code for a discount, contact information, and other important information.

Pin topics on the air so that your subscribers quickly find their bearings in what is happening

If you asked your subscribers questions in Stories before the live broadcast, use special live stickers. Pick the most interesting ones, pin it live and reply.

It's time to reply

You can reply to comments immediately or turn them off.
If you need to show the audience around, just double-tap on the screen.
When you broadcast in the Q&A format and do not have time to give feedback to all participants, ask them to send direct messages, the answers to which can be posted in Stories.
You can invite guests to the live broadcast. Instagram introduced this feature in 2017. Just click on the icon with two emoticons next to the comment field and select the subscriber you want to add to the broadcast. The subscriber will receive a notification that they can accept or decline. In addition, your subscribers have the opportunity to send a request to participate live. The number of requests is displayed above the icon with two smileys. Click on it and you will see everyone who sent a request.

Invite, your subscribers are waiting!

And you can share the results of the broadcast. After the broadcast ends, you will see the number of viewers on the screen. If the indicator is good, take a screenshot, post it in the Stories and thank all the participants. This is further proof of how much you value communication with your viewers. Live broadcasts can also be saved and posted to, for example, IGTV to increase your reach. Or upload to YouTube Stories, and resizes to other social networks.

Moscow was not built right away

How to collect complete statistics on an Instagram account

Basic live formats

Q&A. The most common format that allows you to get closer to subscribers through feedback - answers to questions. It is better to announce such a broadcast 2-3 days in advance and periodically encourage subscribers to send questions, leave them in the comments to the announcement. Contests for the best question with a good gift will help to make the broadcast interesting. Promote services – offer a free initial consultation; if the product is a discount, a trial sample, a certificate, accrual of bonuses in a mobile application; in the case of a personal brand, an appointment, a book, access to a seminar, etc.

Live Q&A can be conducted together with an invited guest, specialist, colleagues. This will enhance the value of communication.

The main thing is not only the topic of the broadcast, but also your guests

Announcement and promotion of goods, services, events can be accompanied by a series of live broadcasts. For example, the output of a new collection of clothes can be promoted through live broadcasts from a design studio where sketches are drawn; fashion show; presentations in a shopping center or company store.

Important to remember: do not share important news at the beginning of the broadcast. Wait until the number of participants increases, and then report.

Intrigue your audience, discover new facets of your company, make it clear that you have no secrets, and now you are ready to open your virtual doors, lift the veil of secrecy, share your immediate plans. Give your subscribers a sense of belonging and they will love you even more.

Interview. This format, like "Question and Answer", requires preparation and prior announcement. Before introducing a guest, it's worth holding a little contest and giving your followers a chance to guess their name. Stimulate with gifts, ask to leave questions in the comments or send in direct. You can invite a guest to the competitive activity to choose the winner at the end of the broadcast. This will help in keeping the attention of the participants.

An example of a joint live broadcast followed by a prize draw

Excursions. Are you promoting your company? Organize an online tour of the office, introduce subscribers to a team of specialists, invite the most active participants of the broadcast for a cup of coffee or offer to do a free audit.

Create your own format. Whether it's a review of a book, a movie, culinary experiments, psychology, training, a master class - it doesn't matter. The main thing is that the topic should be useful and interesting for the target audience.

Always relevant topics for live broadcasts - sports and psychology

P. S.

Live broadcast gives a feeling of infinity. Chat, share, invite "behind the scenes", talk about how products work, criticize or become the object of criticism. Bold, honest, informative live streams encourage participants to comment, save and share with friends. Often, live broadcasts become trendsetters, motivate, inspire. This is one of the most valuable tools for getting feedback from subscribers and interacting with them. Do not stop, experiment with formats and, most importantly, be yourself.

And feel free to tell us about your experience with live broadcasts. How often do you broadcast? What formats do you use?

And if you don't have time to create, maintain and promote your Instagram accounts on your own, keep in mind that TexTerra has a corresponding service. You will receive a strategy, unique content and design, an active community, and a constant source of sales.

Does Instagram advertising work for bloggers?

how to go live on Instagram

Thinking about going live on Instagram? Do you want to know how to attract more viewers and what technologies to use?

In this article, you'll find four tips for planning, promoting, and broadcasting your next Instagram Live.

Why Use Instagram Live

One of the fastest ways to build relationships with your Instagram followers is to live stream. Live events give viewers the opportunity to interact with you, get answers to their questions in real time, and experience everything that happens as events unfold. A survey conducted by New York Magazine and Livestream (a software company owned by Vimeo) found that 80% of respondents would rather watch a brand's live video than read a blog.

Instagram has one of the most valuable and active audiences online, and here are some reasons why:

The average user spends 53 minutes a day watching Instagram content.
Every fifth story on Instagram published by companies is a direct appeal to the target audience.
83% of users discover new products and services through Instagram.

When you go live on Instagram, your stream will be at the top of the Stories queue for the duration of your broadcast, giving you visibility and priority among your followers.

Saved Instagram Live videos are segmented separately from saved stories, so when a user browses a story, they can easily find recorded live videos. This functionality also applies to dedicated Instagram stories.

With social distancing mandatory, even established TV presenters are choosing Instagram Live for content creation. Here's an example of Oprah using the two-person interview feature to do a cooking special with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver:0003

Your audience is likely smaller than Oprah Winfrey's, so you need a plan for maximum engagement. While Instagram's features allow you to go live from anywhere with the click of a button, keep in mind that a significant portion of the audience will be watching a recorded video, not a live stream. So structure your live just like you would with regular video content.

Now let's figure out how to plan and run a successful live broadcast.

#1: Tips to improve your Instagram Live

With scheduling, you can use more opportunities to engage users in your broadcast. Follow these tips to improve your live stream.

Create a school account

If you're new to Instagram Live video, you might feel a little out of the ordinary when you click on the Go Live button.

A great way to deal with anxiety is to create a fake Instagram account. An alternate account will allow you to rehearse as much as you want, tweak lighting or sound settings until you're happy with your result. Save your practice videos by clicking the download button in the top left corner when the video ends.

Prepare your phone for broadcasting

Be sure to put your phone on do not disturb for any live broadcast from your phone. If you receive a phone call during your video, your broadcast will be interrupted and you will most likely lose viewers as a result.

Place the phone on a stable surface, or if you will be moving around during the live broadcast, find a simple phone tripod. When recording with a tripod, phone shake is reduced by 50% or more. Even the most common entry-level tripod is suitable for this.

Tidy up your presentation

Once you've started live streaming, the last thing you want to do is deal with technical issues or fiddle with unfamiliar buttons. Familiarize yourself with all the components of the Instagram Live interface beforehand.

For example, you can prepare a slide presentation and switch between capturing it and your face using the camera change button during the presentation. You will be more flexible during these transitions and parallel interactions.

If you will use live video to drive traffic, prepare a link to your profile so that users can follow it and stay on the Instagram platform.

Live broadcasts from two people are becoming more and more popular on Instagram. If you decide to try this option, remember that you will first need to go live, have your guest as a viewer, and invite them to join the broadcast.

Improve your technology

Here are some ways to upgrade your technology to improve your Instagram feed.

Strengthen your internet connection

If you are indoors and your Wi-Fi is rather unstable, you can connect your device directly to your router and establish an Ethernet connection. For this you will need an adapter. For iOS devices, you should use Lightning-to-Ethernet. For Android, a USB Micro B-to-Ethernet adapter.

Be aware that video can drain your device quickly. If you're planning on streaming longer, consider plugging in a dongle that allows you to connect to your Lightning-to-Ethernet network and power. For my iOS devices, I use an entry-level device that also has a USB port.

Set yourself free with the Lavalier microphone

Normally, your device acts as a microphone during video streaming. But what if you want to move around while streaming or demonstrate something from a distance or in a noisy place?

Perhaps you are a yoga teacher and want to show the audience a master class. Since you physically need to be a few feet away from the device, a wireless lavalier microphone is the best solution.

Lavalier microphones are an investment. Whether you're planning on broadcasting, making video content, or doing interviews regularly, a quality wireless microphone will take your audio to the next level. I use the RØDE Wireless Filmmaking Kit and SC7 adapter cable. Samson also has a more economical option.

If you choose this audio option or another external microphone for your broadcast, remember that your adapter will also need a port to output audio. I invested in a Belkin adapter as I found that cheaper adapters short out quickly.

It can take a while to set up the microphone, but if you want Instagram to benefit you in the form of brand interest and sales, you'll quickly get comfortable with the connection process. You will also enjoy the feeling of freedom that a professional technician will give you.

#2: Create an incentive to make people want to go to your broadcast

An eternal problem that every Instagram marketer needs to feel is audience procrastination. Why should users come and watch the broadcast right now, and not later? This question is especially relevant when using Instagram Live video. Elements of the game and interaction with the audience on the air will help to attract and retain viewers.

Here are some ways to increase the relevance of your broadcast:

Live Q&A . If you are an expert in a certain area and can freely answer questions from viewers live, then you should use this option to interact with the audience. This type of content allows for dialogue and will be more effective than others.
Deficiency effect . Consider creating an offer or invitation with limited seats. You can offer help to the first five people who send you a direct message, or you can create a coupon code with a limited number of available use cases.
Disappearing incentives . A deficit can also be reached through a time window. Offer people something that has a deadline. This option will be more useful for getting conversions from viewers who watch the recording of the broadcast.

When you go live for the first time, you will see a notification from Instagram telling your followers that you have started a video broadcast. It is worth remembering that during this time you are already on the air, and others can see your recording.

Instead of just waiting for the audience before the presentation starts, go ahead with the plan and respond to the audience's comments as needed. Make sure you have planned interaction so your audience doesn't get distracted.

Invite people to comment or indicate their level of comfort, interest or knowledge about certain topics. This will allow you to receive live feedback from viewers and actually learn about their impression of you.

Schedule your air time to periodically respond to viewer comments throughout the video. It is important to show the viewers that their opinions can influence the course of the broadcast, they will like it. Leave time to answer questions that may come up at the end or during the broadcast, but continue broadcasting even if you don't see interested participants or viewers.

Remember that people will be watching to get some value out of your broadcast, so don't let low viewership turn you off.

#3: Promote Your Instagram Live Before Broadcast

If you want to maximize your Instagram Live video exposure and views, you should create creative content or a slide presentation prior to broadcast to get the message across to your viewers as effectively as possible.

Canva is a free resource that has a database of many formats specially optimized for size. I prefer to use Canva's pre-made templates for Instagram posts and stories to quickly create clean and informative graphics.

Post who/what/where/when/why to inform about your upcoming broadcast, and do not forget to indicate how your live broadcast will be useful to the user and what interesting things he can learn.

If necessary, you can use these pre-rolls as advertising. Keep in mind that Facebook ad images and videos should contain no more than 20% text.

#4: Tailor your live streams for follow-up stories and featured content

Once you've successfully completed your live broadcast on Instagram, send future traffic to your broadcast. If your material contains useful information that is beyond the 24-hour playback, add your live video to a new or existing story.

You can get a link to any story by clicking on the three dots in the bottom right corner of the screen and selecting "Copy highlighted link". Save the link and use it for other marketing resources like your email list or other platforms.

Lecturer of WebPromoExperts Academy, Director of SMM-agency Kiwi agency Victoria Harakhash and Alla Lysenko, Stories maker Kiwi agency:

Live broadcasts have not yet fully realized their potential. Therefore, it's time to use this platform to promote services and products.

We are confident that very soon Live Instagram will become a full-fledged streaming platform that will work separately.

Instagram Live Topics:

1. Live broadcasts from the event.

If you have an interesting event coming up, tell us about it. Conferences, lectures, fashion shows, presentations are a great occasion for a live broadcast. Anyone who cannot come to the event will be able to watch it in real time and ask questions.

Important! It is this kind of content in Live that will help keep the attention of your audience, which is useful for your product / service.

2. Unique content.

During the announcement of the broadcast, mention that the participants will have exclusive content that will not be in the public domain. This is how you build trust with your target audience.

3. Q&A.

Implementation mechanism is simple:

Option 1.

We are preparing a special post where we invite subscribers to ask questions in the comments, to which they will receive answers during live communication.

Option 2.

We prepare stories with a “question” sticker and answer during the broadcast.

Important! Before starting the broadcast, "warm up" the audience. Prepare a post or stories to answer your questions at the beginning of the broadcast.

4. Interview with a famous person.

Invite an expert on the air and discuss an interesting topic with a person who has achieved a lot in your niche.

Important! To engage subscribers, invite them to choose a specialist with whom it would be interesting to talk.

5. Live guide.

Show the backstage, for example, how your product is made and who works on it. This way you can build the trust of potential customers as an expert in your product. During the broadcast, questions and objections will arise, and you can easily answer them - refute or confirm the facts.

6. Monthly findings and news.

Collect interesting features, news, updates, articles in your field and share your findings on Live every month.

7. Live-broadcast the results of the draw and competition.

This decision will help to gain trust from subscribers.

8. Subscriber invitation to broadcast.

Invite people to join the live broadcast and share feedback about the product/service. Or, alternatively, you can play a live online consultation. Analyze the person's problem and show him the solution.

9. Live test drive.

Test drive a product or service in a live stream. This will arouse additional interest among the audience.

Important! Before this heading, launch a selling post or stories in which you invite everyone to the air to test the business product "in action".

10. Giveaways live.

Mention that at the end of the broadcast you will raffle off a gift between the viewers. Such an offer will gather a large number of audience, and most importantly, it will make the subscriber watch Live until the end.

Livestream to connect with your audience.