How to facetime on instagram live


Introducing Instagram Video Chat & More

Last month, we announced that new updates were coming to Instagram to bring you even closer to the people and things you love. These updates — including Video Chat, topic channels in Explore, and new camera effects for Stories — are rolling out today.

Video Chat in Instagram Direct

Now, you can video chat in Instagram Direct, either with just one person or a group. Video chat gives you the experience of realtime video in a private space and helps you feel close and connected to friends when you can’t be together. Your friends are already on Instagram, and with video chat, you can seamlessly connect across iOS and Android and without a phone number.

To start a video chat, swipe into your Direct inbox and open any message thread. Tap the new camera icon in the right corner, and the video chat will ring your friends’ phones so they don’t miss it. While on the video chat, you can minimize the video and multitask on Instagram, sending messages and photos in Direct, browsing your feed, posting a story and more.

Video chat is perfect for groups. You can video chat with up to four people at a time, and the video will expand as more friends join. If there’s an active video chat in a group thread, the camera icon will turn blue. Simply tap the camera to join in the fun. You can video chat with your friends for as long as you’d like. When you’re ready to leave the video chat, tap the red phone icon at the bottom.

You can video chat with anyone you have an active Direct thread with. If you block a person, they will no longer be able to video chat you. You can also mute a person if you don’t want to receive notifications from them. To update your video chat notifications, tap the gear icon on profile and find the new video chat control in Push Notifications.

Topic Channels on Explore

Topic channels on Explore give you new ways to discover your interests on Instagram. Over 200 million people visit Explore every day to discover new ideas and find inspiration. Now it’s even easier to browse through posts you want to see and accounts you want to follow.

With topic channels, you can be more intentional about how you navigate posts on Explore. When you open the page, you’ll see a tray at the top with personalized channels. This includes a ‘For You’ channel, which has a mix of posts tailored to your interests. You’ll also see channels on topics you might like such as Art, Sports, Beauty or Fashion – as well as a list of hashtags, giving you more ways to explore your interests. Now, when you want to get inspired by the latest fashion trends or discover a new travel destination, you can easily find posts you’re looking for and follow those accounts or hashtags.

We’re also giving you better ways to control what you see on Explore. You can browse through a variety of interests by swiping from grid to grid, or you can go deep into a specific interest by tapping on a channel and scrolling up. If you’d like to remove a topic channel, press and hold the channel and select ‘Mute’ from the menu. This sends the channel to the end of the tray, giving you the option to unmute it at any time.

New Camera Effects

Lastly, you’ll now see the first batch of new camera effects designed by Ariana Grande, Buzzfeed, Liza Koshy, Baby Ariel and NBA in the Instagram camera. Whether you want to make your friends laugh or add some glam to your selfies, you now have more ways to express yourself and feel closer to your favorite accounts.

You’ll see a new effect in your Instagram camera if you follow any of these accounts — just tap the face icon at the bottom right corner. If you aren’t a follower but you see an effect that you love, you can tap to try it on and add it to your camera.

This is just the beginning. We’re excited to bring new effects from more of your favorite accounts to Instagram soon.

All of these features are available on Android and iOS starting today.

How to Video Chat on Instagram Through Your Messages

  • You can video chat on Instagram through the direct-messaging feature.  
  • It's easy to video chat with one person or a group of people by going to your existing direct messages on Instagram — but you are limited to six people at a time.
  • Here's what you need to know to video chat on Instagram. 

Though not everyone is aware of it, Instagram's direct messaging feature has a video-chat option available, provided you have the latest version of the app installed. 

Before you get started, be aware that you can only video chat with up to six people. And as long as you're able to direct message someone, you should be able to video chat with them.

Here's how to do it, whether you want to video chat with a single person or a group of Instagram users.

How to video chat on Instagram

1. Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android phone and log into your account, if necessary.

2. Tap the paper airplane icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Go to your direct messages. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

3. Select the username of the person you want to video chat with — or to video chat with multiple people (up to six), select a group name. 

4. Tap the video icon in the top right corner of the screen to begin your video chat.

Click on the video chat icon in the direct message. Devon Delfino/Business Insider

Your screen will immediately convert to a video chat, which you can shrink if you need to look at other things on your screen during your conversation.  

If you want to add another user to the conversation after you've set it up, simply swipe up on the video chat, and tap "Add" beside their username (you may have to search for their username it if doesn't appear in the suggested list).

 

  • How to save your Instagram stories in 3 different ways

  • How to go live on Instagram, to broadcast video in real time to your followers

  • How to repost a video on Instagram using the Repost app for iPhone or Android

  • How to get verified on Instagram, if your account meets these 4 standards for verification

  • How to save Instagram videos to your iPhone or Android phone

Devon Delfino

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.

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How to go live on Instagram: step by step instructions Instagram Live

Contents

What is Instagram Live - live broadcasts.

Advantages of live streaming

What should be done before the broadcast?

How to go live on Instagram

How followers see your live on Instagram

Popular formats of broadcasts on Instagram to promote goods and services

Highlights of the live broadcast

Conclusion about live broadcasts on Instagram

Many people know that Instagram has live broadcasts or Instagram Live. But few people understand that a live broadcast can be not just a way to tell how your day went or show how you “shop” in a shopping center, but also an effective sales tool.

Instagram Live has many advantages, and we will talk about them in this article. We will also show a detailed guide on launching and further interaction with live broadcasts on Instagram. Go...


What is Instagram Live - live broadcasts.

Back in 2017, Instagram joined the ranks of advanced applications and launched the live broadcast function - real-time video broadcasts. This tool is located in the Stories section. It makes it possible not only to communicate directly with your subscribers, but also to broadcast together with another Instagram user. Live broadcast time limit - up to 4 hours.

Pluses of live broadcasts:

  • are launched directly from the Instagram mobile app. No additional equipment needed. Ether can be launched at any time;
  • your followers see the live stream in Stories in the first place. Stories of other accounts are displayed after your broadcast, as usual, in chronological order;
  • at the start of a live broadcast - subscribers receive a notification about this;
  • commercial accounts use ethers to tell some unique information, which is then not always saved or duplicated. Therefore, subscribers get the impression that they can only benefit at the time of broadcast, or they will be the first to receive up-to-date information;
  • live broadcast can be saved in your account in the "Video" section.
  • regular broadcasts increase reach as Instagram promotes its service and shows them in recommendations;
  • broadcast statistics are easy to track: after the end of the broadcast, you will automatically be shown the number of your viewers.

See also IGTV review on Instagram: how to use it to promote a business?


What should I do before the broadcast?

A good commercial air is obtained only when you prepare for it. Before going live on Instagram, take care of the following:

  • Theme and scenario of the broadcast. What will you talk about, what questions will you answer, what will be in the frame. Most importantly, always keep in mind the purpose of your broadcast.

  • Announcement of the broadcast. Tell subscribers about the upcoming broadcast in advance. Announcements need to be made several times: a week before the broadcast, a day before, and day-to-day. To make video communication as useful as possible, conduct a survey among subscribers in advance, find out their preferred topic. Then they won't miss it.

  • Broadcast format. Select the broadcast format (more on formats later in the article).

  • Smartphone technical preparation. Just in case, we check that the Instagram application has access to your camera and microphone on your phone. You will also need free space on your device if you decide to download the broadcast to your phone.

  • Air settings in the application. You can hide the video from some subscribers, prevent the video from being shared or reply to messages. You can even "Hide offensive comments" that Instagram recognizes itself.

  • Preparing the location and angle. You give quality to a picture of an ether! What will be in the frame: your face, product, switching plans, background. Everything matters, therefore, think over where you will sit, from what angle to shoot, what will be behind your back (there are awkwardness here).

How to go live on Instagram

In order to go live on Instagram from your phone, click on the "Create" button in the upper right corner. Then select "Ether" from the menu. Before starting the broadcast, we recommend that you immediately add a title so that subscribers who connect to the broadcast after it starts will immediately understand the topic.

Live broadcast launch

In the live camera settings, available by pressing the "gear", you can:

  • Allow broadcast reposts;
  • Hide live broadcast from individual users;
  • Set up automatic saving of air to the archive;
  • Set up automatic use of the front camera;
  • Select how the toolbar is displayed.

Live camera settings

Before starting the broadcast, we recommend adding a title and using other settings options.

Adding a Live Header

For example, if you use the "Audience" - "Training" option, you can start the broadcast in test mode. This is a great feature to prepare for the broadcast, check the lighting, the quality of the picture and the Internet, set up the camera, rehearse the speech.

Audience selection in live broadcast settings

You can also schedule a live broadcast for a specific date and time.

Live broadcast planning

To start the video broadcast, click on the button in the center and the broadcast starts.

Congratulations, you are live :)

Features available during live broadcast

During the broadcast, the following functionality is available to you: the ability to write a comment (1), requests to join the broadcast from other users (2), invite a guest to broadcast (3), a window with questions from subscribers (4), the ability to send a live broadcast to your subscribers (5), select and apply a mask (6), switch camera (7), mute video (8), mute microphone (9), show users photos and videos live (10), end live broadcast (11).

Window with questions from viewers

Sending an invitation to broadcast to your subscribers

Adding photo/video to the air

To end the broadcast, click on the cross in the upper right corner.

Live end window

We confirm - "Finish" and Instagram offers several options:

  • View broadcast statistics.
  • Watch the broadcast in the archive of live broadcasts. The video will be saved on Instagram.
  • Do not save video.

Choice of options after live broadcast ends

After selecting the option "Watch live in the live archive" you will be prompted to save the video.

Save live

After saving, the broadcast will appear in the "Video" section on your page.

Saved live broadcast in the "Video" section

How followers see your Instagram Live

An automatic notification is sent to your subscribers when a broadcast starts. In Stories, they immediately see the ether. If this is a joint broadcast, there will be two icons at once.


Live broadcast button

When a subscriber turns on your live broadcast on his phone, he sees it like this:


Watch live TV

Subscribers can send quick reactions (1) or write comments and ask questions (2), share your broadcast (3) and like (4).

Also, the "Submit a request to participate in live" window automatically pops up with the "Become a guest" button. If you agreed in advance with the owner of the broadcast, then you press the button and the broadcast becomes joint, in the format of an interview. Although, a joint broadcast is not always planned, for example, as in the case of Nastyushka Ivleeva, who accidentally stumbled upon Jared Leto live. Important: only two users can participate in a video broadcast.


Random joint broadcast of Nastya Ivleeva and Jared Leto

And you can watch the broadcast on the desktop in the browser. To do this, log in with your account on the instagram.com website and go to your feed or the profile of the author who will broadcast live. You will see a note that the broadcast is already on.


Active live tag

This is what broadcast looks like from the desktop:


Viewing live broadcast on a desktop device

Popular formats of broadcasts on Instagram to promote goods and services

Question and answer

Collect the pains of your subscribers in advance and, live, answer their questions. You can collect questions in the comments under posts or post special Stories with a question box. During the broadcast, it is not always possible to follow all the comments and questions. In order not to miss anyone, ask participants to duplicate questions in Direct if they remain unanswered.

Interview

This format implies a joint broadcast of two profiles. It looks like a question-answer, only the questions are answered not by you personally, but by the guest, he is the expert whom you invited. Usually, they invite professionals from industries related to your business. This revitalizes subscribers and causes them additional interest in your company. For example, if you have an exclusively female audience, you sell children's products or professional online courses for women, a psychologist, nutritionist, or cosmetologist can become a guest of your broadcast.

Backstage or backstage

Show the life of the company from the inside. An online tour of the production or a live picture of how you sew shoes, cook cakes. So subscribers will not only immerse themselves in your field, but also appreciate the reality and stability of your company.

Master class

Only the laziest sloth does not watch master classes. For you, this is an opportunity to show expertise and attract a new audience: how to assemble a kitchen or make a design project in a 3D moderator. In the end, look at what your colleagues (they are competitors) offer.

By the way, third-party services are now working that allow you to download other people's saved broadcasts to a computer or phone.

Live highlights

  • Not all users are in time for the very beginning of the broadcast, so during the broadcast, remind about the topic. Also indicate the title of the broadcast.
  • During the broadcast, users write comments and questions. You can pin any comment or attach a sticker with a question from Stories to clearly show what is being said now.
  • Don't ignore comments. Choose your message processing option:
    • respond immediately;
    • at the beginning of the broadcast, comment on when and how you will answer questions and, of course, fulfill your promise;
    • during the broadcast, ask to duplicate unanswered questions in Direct.
  • If you want not all subscribers to see the broadcast, you can make a restriction in the account settings in the "Privacy" - "Live" tab. You're just hiding the story from certain followers.


Live access restriction settings

You can also immediately hide offensive comments and phrases.


Learn more