YouTube live stream is a unique type of content that allows you to connect with your audience in ways that a blog post or podcast can’t. It’s important to have the right equipment and set up before you start streaming.
Before you can click the ’go live’ button, you must verify your channel and make sure that your content aligns with YouTube’s community guidelines.
Getting Started
A live stream is one of the most engaging forms of online content. The combination of real-time video and the ability to interact with the presenter through chat makes it feel like you are part of an event. It’s also a great way to build brand affinity and win new subscribers.
The first step is to plan out your stream. You should always make sure that you have enough material to fill the allotted time. To make the most of your live stream, try to talk about a topic that will resonate with your audience. If you already have a blog or YouTube channel, take a look at your analytics to see what topics are performing well.
Once you have the basics down, you can start with a YouTube livestream. This can be done through a mobile phone, desktop or using an encoder (recommended for games consoles, cameras and microphones). Before you start your stream, create an attention-grabbing title, description and thumbnail image. You should also use YouTube SEO best practices to promote your video.
Equipment
To start streaming, you need a device that can capture video and audio. This could be your smartphone camera, a webcam or a computer with a hardware encoder. You also need a microphone to pick up sound.
A tripod can help keep your camera steady. You may also want to invest in a mount for your microphone, or a lighting kit to create the right mood. For example, using a three-point light setup can help brighten your subject and eliminate shadows or reflections on the skin.
If you plan to make a live stream a regular part of your content marketing, consider creating trailers for each event. These are short videos that play on your channel before the live stream to build anticipation and generate traffic. You can also schedule a live stream in advance to announce it to viewers. In this case, YouTube will display a premiere thumbnail on your channel that’s visible to subscribers and users who follow your channels.
Setup
Creating a successful live stream can take some trial and error. That’s why it is important to be open-minded about your content and willing to experiment. Live streaming is a great way to build brand affinity and increase engagement with your audience.
You’ll need to provide a title for your stream, a description, a thumbnail, and decide whether to add it to a playlist. You can also choose whether to monetize your video.
Finally, you’ll need to pick a time and date. You can go live anytime, but it’s best to do so when your audience is most likely online.
If you’re able to, consider having some media training. This can help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera and make your stream look more professional. Finally, it’s a good idea to promote your live stream on social media. This will help drive traffic to your live stream and increase its reach. This is especially important if you are planning on using ads in your stream.
Streaming
When you’ve chosen your settings click ‘Go live’ to start the stream. YouTube will then take a photo of you to use as the video thumbnail image (you can redo this later) and you’ll be given a link to share across social media. You can also choose to enable live chat, monetization and promotions at this point.
Live streams are different from standard videos in that viewers can pause and rewind them. This allows you to address common questions and issues in real time and gives your audience a more interactive experience.
Consider hosting a regular YouTube live stream at the same time each week to build your audience. For example, ConvertKit hosts a weekly podcast with different entrepreneurs which drives live viewers and traffic to their site and YouTube channel. Ensure you include calls to action in your stream description and videos to encourage viewers to follow up with additional information and resources. You can also promote your livestreams by creating trailers for them which play on your watch page before the event.