How to make a livestream on instagram
How to Go Live on Instagram by Yourself or With a Guest
- You can go live on Instagram by scrolling to the "Live" tab on the "New Post" page.
- When you're live, all your followers will be notified and can view your live video in real time.
- You can also go live together with a friend, or request to join a friend's live video.
Instagram launched its live video feature in late 2016. Since then, the social media company has built up the function by adding other features like questions and the option to add friends to the live video, too.
Going live on Instagram can be a fun way to let your followers see events happening in real time, like a concert or special event.
Here's how to go live, go live with a friend, or request to join another user's live video.
How to go live on Instagram1. Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.
2. Tap the plus sign "+" icon in the top-right corner of the homepage. Alternatively, you can swipe left to get to the same screen.
Click the plus sign icon or swipe left. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider3. After tapping the plus sign or swiping left, you'll be taken to a New Post page. In the menu bar at the bottom of the page, swipe all the way to the right to select Live.
Select Live. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider4.
A camera screen will open up. On the left side, tap the icon of four lines to add a title to your live video. You can also tap the icon of a circle with a heart in it to make your video a fundraiser.
5. When you're ready to go live, tap the circle icon at the bottom of the screen and you'll be live. Active followers will be notified that you're now live. As followers begin to watch your live video, you will see their usernames appear at the bottom.
Click the circle icon to go live.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider 6. To end a live video, tap the "X" in the top-right corner and select End Now in the pop-up. Once the live video has ended, Instagram will show you how many people viewed your video and give you the option to share the video for the next 24 hours so those who missed it can see it via your Instagram Stories. Or, you can choose to Delete video.
Click the X in the top-right corner. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider How to go live on Instagram with a guest1.
Open the Instagram app on your iPhone or Android.
2. Tap the plus sign "+" icon in the top-right corner of the homepage. Alternatively, you can swipe left to get to the same screen.
3. After tapping the plus sign or swiping left, you'll be taken to a New Post page. In the menu bar at the bottom of the page, swipe all the way to the right to select Live.
4. A camera screen will open up. On the left side, tap the icon of four lines to add a title to your live video. You can also tap the icon of a circle with a heart in it to make your video a fundraiser.
5. When you're ready to go live, tap the circle icon at the bottom of the screen and you'll be live.
6. Once you're live, tap the icon of a video camera at the bottom of the screen. From here, you can type in the username of someone to go live with, or search for them in the list of viewers.
Select a user to invite them to join your live video.
7. You can only go live with someone who is already watching your live video. But, you can invite someone to join your live video who isn't already watching — to do so, type in their username, tap the circle button next to their name, and select Send Request.
Send a request to your guest and go live in a room. Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider8.
Once they've accepted your request, their video should appear alongside yours in a split screen. To remove your friend from the Live video, tap the "X" at the top-right of their screen.
9. To end your live video, tap the "X" in the upper right-hand corner and choose End Now in the pop-up. Once the live video has ended, Instagram will show you how many people viewed your video and give you the option to share the video for the next 24 hours so those who missed it can see it via your Instagram Stories. Or, you can choose to Delete video.
Note: To use Instagram's Live Rooms feature for creators, you can follow this same process to add multiple guests.
How to request to be in another user's live video on Instagram1. Open another user's live video and tap Request to join.
2. Then, tap Send request to request to be in their live video.
3. You will then receive a notification letting you know if your request has been accepted or denied.
Meira Gebel
Meira Gebel is a freelance reporter based in Portland, Oregon. She writes about business, culture, and technology for Insider. Her work has been featured in Digital Trends, Willamette Week, USA Today, and more. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and San Francisco State University. Feel free to reach out to her on Twitter, where she can be found most of the time, @MeiraGebel.
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A Step-by-step Guide for Businesses
Skip to main contentInstagram Tips & Resources
By Jillian Warren
•
Updated on March 15, 2022
•
10 minute read
Now's the perfect time to experiment with Instagram Live!
Published March 15, 2022
Instagram Live is an incredible channel for driving new followers, engagement, and even selling products.
But there are no retakes on Instagram Live – so preparation is everything!
We’re covering everything from how to kick off your first Instagram Live to our top tips for hosting next-level broadcasts that drive real value for your business.
Ready to jump right in? It’s time to go live!
Why Should Instagram Live Be Part of Your Strategy?Going live on Instagram is one of the best ways to connect with your followers in a direct, transparent, and authentic way.
Unlike pre-recorded Instagram Stories, Instagram Live is a totally unedited stream for your followers to tune into and engage with — which can be a great way of showcasing the more human side of your business for your audience to connect with.
And that’s not all. Instagram Live allows your audience to submit their comments and questions in real-time, making it one of Instagram’s most interactive video platforms.
This can be a hugely beneficial tool for building a stronger connection between your brand and potential customers, allowing you to gain valuable feedback and insight — straight from the people that matter most!
Hosting an Instagram Live can also help boost your discoverability on Instagram.
For example, every time you go live on Instagram your followers will receive an in-app notification, and your Live will be bumped to the front of their Instagram Stories feed.
With all this in mind, Instagram Live is an awesome tool to promote your products, engage with potential customers, and increase your reach.
TIP: Give your Instagram Live a boost by promoting them on Instagram Stories in advance! Storyboard and schedule your Instagram Stories with Later today, available on all paid plans.
How to Go Live on Instagram: A Step-by-step GuideInstagram Live is an incredibly easy tool to use! But before you start broadcasting, there are a few administrative items to take care of.
Step 1: Adjust Your Instagram Live SettingsBefore you jump into your Instagram Live, it’s a good idea to check your camera settings.
To do so, open the Instagram Live mode view. Then, tap the wheel icon in the top right-hand corner to open your controls.
From here, you can select if you'd like to hide your Live from specific people, along with other tools like which side of the screen you want your camera toolbar to be on.
You can also select one of the icons on the left-hand sidebar to add the title of your Instagram Live, set the audience (either Public or Practice mode), or schedule it for a future time and date.
TIP: Practice mode is a great way to alleviate any technical difficulties or pre-show nerves before you go live (more on that later!).
If you’d rather not see inappropriate words in the comments on your Instagram Live, you can automatically hide offensive comments, and manually filter comments that contain specific words or phrases.
Open your Instagram settings, scroll down to “Privacy,” select “Hidden Words,” and then toggle “Hide comments” from “Off” to “On.”
You can even take it a step further by using the "Advanced comment filtering" option, or manually adding words, phrases, and emojis that you don't want to see to a list.
And even better, with Instagram's new "Live Moderator" feature, you can appoint someone to be a moderator during the livestream.
Streamers + Mods = Dynamic Duo ❤️
We’re launching Live Moderator on Instagram Live, where creators can assign a mod and give them the power to:
✅ Report comments
— Instagram (@instagram) March 11, 2022
✅ Remove viewers from Live
✅ Turn off comments for a viewer pic.twitter.com/S9j7s4dInB
Your moderator will have the power to report comments, remove viewers from the Instagram Live, and turn off comments for a viewer — making one less thing for you to worry about.
Step #3: Check Your Live Stream in Practice ModeWith Instagram's “Practice Mode” tool you can test out your Live setup in advance.
Before you go live, select the eye icon on the left-hand corner of the screen. Toggle from "Public" to "Practice." That's it!
This feature is perfect for ironing out any kinks before you go live to the masses.
Once you're happy with your practice session and ready to go live, it's quite simple.
Tap the “Live” icon at the bottom of your screen to start your broadcast, and get ready for your close up!
Step #5: Use Instagram Live's Interactive FeaturesOnce your live is underway, you can choose from a number of features to make your broadcast more engaging:
Share questions from your viewers to the screen by tapping the question mark-speech bubble icon at the bottom of the screen. You can only share a question once a viewer has submitted it during the broadcast.
Send a Direct Message to someone about your Instagram Live by tapping the paper plane icon at the bottom of the screen.
Invite someone to co-host your Instagram Live by tapping the person icon at the bottom of the screen.
Apply an Instagram Stories filter to your broadcast by tapping the filter icon on the right-hand side of the screen.
Tap “Comment” to add a comment to the live stream. You can also pin a comment to the top of the feed by tapping and holding it.
Disable your video feed by tapping the camera icon on the right-hand side of the screen.
You can also share an image or video to your broadcast screen.
First, tap the picture icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen:
Then, choose an image or video from your photo library:
TIP: Use this feature to share educational content like an infographic or a collection of recent photos. Think of it as giving a mini live presentation!
Step #6: End the Live BroadcastOnce your Live is over, tap “End” in the top right corner and then “End Now” to confirm.
From here, you can tap the save icon in the top left to save it to your camera roll to re-use elsewhere. You can choose a cover, write a caption, add a location, and tag other users.
We love repurposed content.
Now that you know how to go live, we can dig into what makes for a really great strategy!
Here are our top 6 tips for hosting next-level Instagram Lives that drive real value for your brand:
Tip #1: Hype Up Your Instagram Live in AdvanceRegularly and strategically promoting an upcoming Instagram Live can make all of the difference when it comes to securing those all important views!
You can now schedule an Instagram Live up to 90 days in advance, which is great for building hype and creating more of an "event" out of your upcoming broadcast.
Going Live hits different when your followers come through 🙌
Live Scheduling lets you schedule your stream up to 90 days in advance and followers can set reminders to tune in ❤️🔔 pic.twitter.com/8t7BWmjEL7
— Instagram (@instagram) October 13, 2021
By scheduling a Live, you can share reminders and countdowns directly to your their Instagram Stories and feed.
Tell your audience what they can expect in the live broadcast, and invite them to share any questions they have in the comments. This can help your followers feel more engaged, and ultimately more likely to tune in.
Tip #2: Go Live When Your Audience is Most ActiveGoing live when your followers are most active is one of the easiest ways to make your Instagram Lives more successful.
But how can you predict when your audience will be online ahead of time? The best way to do this is by studying historical data trends to understand when your audience are typically most active on Instagram.
Take a look at your Instagram Insights. Under the Audience tab, you’ll find a breakdown of when your followers are most active online broken down by day of the week and time of day.
And if you’re looking for even more detail, you can use your Later Analytics to hone in on your audience’s behaviors.
Your Later analytics dashboard has a super-detailed breakdown of when your audience is online — and you can use that info to tailor your Instagram Live schedule.
PRO TIP: Use Later to discover your best time to post based on audience engagement trends! Upgrade now to find the best days and times to post on Instagram for maximum engagement.
Tip #3: Consider Your Lighting and LocationPlanning the location and lighting for your Instagram Live can have a huge impact on how professional your broadcast looks.
Consider how the backdrop of your Instagram Live supports your brand’s message. For example, a minimal white setting with plants will create a totally different aesthetic to a wall with scrapbook-style photos on it.
If your brand is fun and playful, consider how to reflect that with your use of color. For example, a bright pop of pastel can instantly shift the tone of your Instagram Live and make it feel more on brand.
In terms of lighting, natural light is always the most affordable (and often the best) option.
Tip #4: Have a Clear Content PlanAs with any video content, it’s super important to have a clear vision of what you’re going to cover in your Instagram Live broadcast.
Having a clear plan will help prevent any awkward pauses, and will also make sure you’re hitting all the important points for your business agenda.
One of the best ways to plan your live stream is to think of it as having a beginning, middle, and an end — or more specifically, an introduction, focal point, and conclusion — and making a note of the most important messages to get across during the broadcast.
It’s also a good idea to consider what could go wrong in a “worst case scenario.” For example, if your live broadcast relies on viewers’ questions, have a backup plan in case you don’t receive any. This could be a list of questions that you’ve gathered earlier from Instagram Stories, or an alternate talking point.
Tip #5: Introduce Branded ElementsOne of the main advantages of going live on Instagram is that you’re providing an unedited and direct channel for your audience to engage with your business.
However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t introduce some branded elements to make your live broadcast feel more aligned with your brand values.
This could be as simple as having cue cards in your brand color palette, holding a branded mug, or choosing a backdrop that fits with your creative aesthetic.
At Later, we’ve created a range of branded templates especially to use on our Instagram Live broadcasts — with a colored border in exactly the right place for the camera screen to sit on top of in the top right hand corner.
Watch our TikTok video to discover exactly how to do this here:
TIME-SAVING TIP: Add your customized templates to a dedicated folder so you can easily find and select them during your live broadcast!
Tip #6: Keep Your Business Goals Front and CenterThere are hundreds of reasons to go live, so nailing down what matters the most can help keep your broadcast focused, effective, and measurable!
This could be building hype around the launch of a product, spreading the news about an important company update, getting real-time customer feedback, driving sales for an existing product line, or positioning your brand as an expert on a certain domain.
With clearly defined goals, you can regularly step back and make sure your Instagram Live content plan is fully supporting them.
How to Repurpose Instagram Live VideosOnce you’ve ended an Instagram Live, the fun doesn’t have to end there!
Tap the “Share" button to repurpose your Live as an Instagram Video. Live broadcasts have to be at least 1 minute in length in order to be shared.
If you haven’t started using Instagram Live for business yet, now is the time!
Only a small percentage of businesses are going live, so there’s a ton of opportunity to grab your followers’ attention, build brand awareness, and even make some sales!
Ready to jump-start your Instagram strategy? Later makes it easy for you to plan, preview, and schedule your Instagram content!
About the Author
Jillian Warren
Jillian is Later's Editor. A go-to expert in social media strategy and content marketing, she has worked in both London and New York.
Next up? Lisbon and Paris! You can reach out to her on Instagram here: @jillwrren.
Plan, schedule, and automatically publish your social media posts with Later.
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How to start live on Instagram?
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.
How to go live on Instagram.* Instagram step by step instructions* 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.* for promoting goods and services
Highlights of the live broadcast
Conclusion about live broadcasts on Instagram.*
Many people know that Instagram* has live streams 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 you a detailed guide on launching and further interaction with live broadcasts on Instagram.* Let's 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 gives you the opportunity 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.
Advantages of live broadcasts:
- run directly from the Instagram mobile app.* No additional hardware required. 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 Review of IGTV on Instagram.* How to use it to promote your business?
What should be done 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:
-
Broadcast theme and scenario. 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 replies to messages.
You can even "Hide offensive comments" that Instagram.* recognizes itself. -
Preparation of 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 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 :)
Functions 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 mask (6), switch camera (7), mute video (8), mute microphone (9), show users photos and videos live (10), end the 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 broadcast 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 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
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* for promoting 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 TV access restriction settings
You can also immediately hide offensive comments and phrases.
Setting up comments and hiding insults
Conclusion about live broadcasts on Instagram.*
In 2022, and in subsequent years, it is important and necessary to use live broadcasts to promote your idea. This is a good feedback from your target audience, and an increase in brand loyalty, and an increase in the reach of your target audience as a whole.
See also How to promote Instagram * on your own from scratch: detailed instructions
If you plan to master all the tools of social networks, subscribe to our newsletter. Lots of step-by-step instructions and recommendations for promoting on Instagram* and more.
We wish you good luck
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