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.
What is social media live streaming?
How to go live on social media
8 tips for successful social media live streaming
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.
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
How to go live on social mediaAt 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.
How to go live on FacebookDepending 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.
How to go live on InstagramOn 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.
How to go live on Instagram and Facebook at the same timeWhile 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!
How to go live on LinkedInAs 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.
How to go live on YouTubeYouTube 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.
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.
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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
How to go live on TwitchTwitch 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
8 tips for successful social media live streaming1. Leverage live analyticsAs 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. 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.
2.
Promote your big momentPeople 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.
3. Make it timelyYour 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.
Get the free guide right now!
4.
Create a dream teamSharing 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?
5. Keep the context clearThe 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.
6. Engage with your audience in the momentThe 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.
8. Optimize your setupWhile 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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While we all practice physical distancing, live streaming can make personal connections happen in real time.
Here’s how to create that shared experience on both Facebook and Instagram Live. With live video, your community can instantly ask questions, comment, react, or just follow along.
Ideas to get you started:
Best practices to keep in mind:
Use of commercial music without proper clearances could result in your stream being removed. Go live and raise money for a cause:
For step by step instructions check out Facebook Live and IG Live.
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You can start broadcasting and chat with your followers in real time. When the broadcast is over, you can post it or find it in the live stream archive.
Start Live on the Instagram app
Instagram app for Android
In the feed, swipe right and select Live from the options at the bottom of the screen.
To add a title, click Title on the left side of the screen and enter it, then click Add Title.
Press at the bottom of the screen. The number of viewers is shown at the top of the screen, and comments are shown at the bottom.
To add a comment, click Comment at the bottom of the screen.
To pin a comment at the top for viewers, click on it and select Pin Comment.
When you're done, tap in the top right corner of the screen and select Finish to confirm the action. You can then click Share to post the live video to your profile.
Instagram app for iPhone
In the feed, swipe right and select Live from the options at the bottom of the screen.
To add a title, click Title on the left side of the screen and enter it, then click Add Title.
Press at the bottom of the screen. The number of viewers is shown at the top of the screen, and comments are shown at the bottom.
To add a comment, click Comment at the bottom of the screen.
To pin a comment at the top for viewers, click on it and select Pin Comment.
When you're done, tap in the top right corner of the screen and select Finish to confirm the action.
You can then click Share to post the live video to your profile.
Note. When you save a broadcast to a profile or download a video from a live stream archive, only the video is saved, not the comments, viewer information, or likes. It may take some time to save the broadcast to your phone, especially if it is long.
Live stream management
Instagram app for Android
To turn off comments, tap the icon at the bottom of the screen and select Turn off comments. If you have applied keyword filters, they will also apply to comments on the broadcast.
To turn off live stream requests, tap at the bottom of the screen and select Turn off live stream requests.
Instagram app for iPhone
To turn off comments, tap the icon at the bottom of the screen and select Turn off comments. If you have applied keyword filters, they will also apply to comments on the broadcast.
To turn off your live stream requests, tap at the bottom of the screen and select Turn off live stream requests.
If you are using an iOS device, tap in the lower right corner of the screen to add a photo or video from your camera roll to live stream. To stop showing a photo or video, swipe right on the camera roll at the bottom of the screen and tap . During a live broadcast, photos and videos in your camera roll are only visible to you. This feature will not be available live in a room with friends.
Note. You may not be able to go live on Instagram if we have previously removed content you posted for violating Community Guidelines.
On Facebook, live broadcasts are live broadcasts that users can start through a personal profile, group or public page.
Contents
To run from the computer version, you need to connect one of the streaming applications capable of playing sound. Therefore, it is easier to connect to broadcasting functions through a mobile application.
Two ways to run:
OBS STUDIO is a free program for launching streams on social networks. The disadvantage is that setting up individual components can be difficult: add camera data, select a stream for broadcasting
From the mobile version, you can create a separate room for chatting with friends or move on to adding a shared broadcast.
How to create from a personal page:
The user can specify which of the page visitors can view and connect.
A shared room on Facebook is a group chat where the profile owner can invite up to 50 people. It is possible to create through the publication of an open page and through a personal one. By logging into your account, the user will see the inscription: "Common room" and friends who are currently online.
How to connect:
If the users to whom the applications were sent answered in the affirmative, the broadcast will start for the specified people. The creator can edit the list of invitees: delete or add new ones. In such a chat they exchange messages, photos.
From a public profile, using Facebook Live is just as easy as from a personal one. The owner needs to go to their account and select: "Create a post".
How to add a stream:
In contrast to the personal profile method, the public broadcast will be started on behalf of the community. The same features are available in and in groups, where subscribers can connect to the live broadcast of the administration.
The feature of broadcasting with two hosts has been removed by the social network. In 2017, a separate option appeared on iOS devices that allows you to stream from two devices at the same time. At the moment, it has been moved to Instagram, and only rooms remain on Facebook.
Solve the double broadcast problem:
The account owner can create posts through a public profile or set up an event: "Event".
Invite presenters to the page:
If the author enters certain people as presenters, they can edit the information and also go live. But this is a separate mode: it will not work at the same time.
During live broadcasts, you cannot use obscene language, show private parts of the body or prohibited products.
Basic rules and requirements:
Possibilities of the broadcaster:
At the same time, the host must also comply with the requirements of the social network and not send offensive comments. If the rules are violated more than three times, the profile owner will be denied the opportunity to create live broadcasts in the future.
The social network can block broadcasts as a separate option (during maintenance) or for an individual user.
Other reasons why the feature is not available: