Whether with elaborate technology in a professional setting or quickly with a smartphone from the palm of your hand – Stream1 gives tips for the perfect livestream.
A smartphone with a camera, a fast internet connection – preferably mobile – and a social platform: the recipe only needs a few ingredients. This means you are already equipped for the big social media trend: live streaming. This field is growing incredibly quickly, as the above requirements are already met by the vast majority of users.
But how does a livestream actually work? What needs to be considered for a private audience? And what rules apply when using it for business purposes? The team from Verlag für Rechtsjournalismus has thought about these questions and written a helpful guide article: https: //www.anwalt.org/streaming/.
Depending on the desired purpose, a great deal of useful advice can be found. We have compiled the most important principles for you:
1. pick up your viewers – again and again!
As the name suggests, live streaming is one thing above all: live. Not all users are involved in the live broadcast right from the start; many users only join in during the broadcast. This creates an information deficit almost by itself – what else is planned in the stream? Where exactly is it taking place? Who else can be seen in the stream apart from me?
As a presenter, you should therefore answer the classic W questions – sometimes directly, sometimes hidden – similar to a radio show. A livestream is not a classic film production: many things will happen spontaneously. And if we’re honest, that’s also the reason why livestreams are so exciting!
2 Involve your audience!
Interaction with viewers is everything. Live streaming offers unbeatable advantages compared to traditional direct broadcasting, for example on television. One of these great benefits is the ability to involve users directly via comments. Do you have questions for the presenter or one of your interview guests? No problem! Your audience’s questions or comments can be answered directly, for example with the help of a tablet in front of you or a few cards put together by an assistant.
Such approaches have of course always existed in the traditional transmission media, i.e. radio and television. The difference now: Even without a “test of courage”, such as a phone call directly to the studio, really every viewer can be involved – livestreaming democratizes topics “live” and makes them accessible to everyone. User questions are collected in the comment function and the theoretically unlimited length of the broadcast guarantees that all relevant topics are actually addressed.
Ideally, if possible, a third person should act as a “side kick” and ensure continuous editing. This way, the livestream can be interesting and smooth.
3. advertise your livestream!
Announce your live appearance in the social network, preferably via several channels at once. Because of all the measures to increase reach, one is the most effective: advertising!
First of all, the direct version: platforms such as YouTube or Facebook offer the option of setting up the livestream in advance. The advantages: On the one hand, the whole thing saves you work in the immediate run-up to the broadcast. On the other hand, the livestream from Munich is visible to everyone in good time, can be shared and also has the advantage that your viewers have the opportunity to take the time they need to “tune in”! This way you avoid surprising or missing your users. Both are frustrating: your followers would have liked to watch, but either couldn’t or didn’t know about the upcoming livestream. By preparing, you ensure that users don’t tune out after just a few minutes or even ignore you.
However, not all platforms allow you to set up a live stream at an early stage, such as Periscope. In this case, you can and should switch to other networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and become active there. The announcement should always be available on several channels. After all, the more people are informed about the livestream, the better!
4. find your own format!
You don’t want your livestream to be a one-off or at best an occasional affair? Then there’s one thing you can’t avoid: setting up your own format. If you’re really diligent, you can even create several formats.
Such fixed formats offer many advantages and, above all, often come naturally. We humans are creatures of habit: we adapt to certain patterns of behavior and like to get used to consistent processes. To ensure that your viewers don’t become subconsciously accustomed to this and possibly go in the wrong direction, you should think about a few points in advance: How do you want your show to run? In what setting will your livestream take place? How long should the stream last on average? What language would you like to use and which guests could you invite?
Other, fixed elements can also be helpful – for example, a short, snappy intro ensures recognition value. Being aware of your viewers’ trust in fixed formats is therefore particularly important for you. By committing to a fairly fixed broadcast time, your viewers will know how long they should take to watch your show. Another cornerstone for building a stable fanbase: the well-considered selection of your program content.
Always question and analyze where and how your channel format can develop – the constant review process is extremely important. Your viewer comments in particular can be extremely useful in increasing the relevance and appeal of your format.
If you want to regularly vary the content, duration or setting of your format, you should create a second format. This will accommodate your followers and give you more opportunities to promote yourself. However, viewers will always accept rare exceptions or deviations from your normal schedule, for example for specials.
5. prepare your livestream afterwards!
Let’s assume you are now broadcasting regularly and your viewers have taken a liking to you – but what happens to the live material you produce? Here we come to one of the most time-consuming, but also most important tasks: Creating a summary. After all, many of your followers can’t always follow your stream live. Especially if a stream has lasted longer than 30 minutes, one thing is absolutely worth its weight in gold: a best-of cut. Even users who have tuned in and watched live will tend to want to share a summary of the topic with their friends.
And there’s a reason for that: livestreams just “happen”. Highlights can rarely be planned: funny mishaps, snappy sentences or unplanned jokes don’t happen all the time. A best-of, of course with all the highlights, is all the more convincing for new users. In addition – and almost exclusively – a few other elements can be integrated in post-production, such as background music with sound, introductions or a voice-over.
These tips apply to anyone who wants to do live streaming more frequently and in a targeted manner. Another chapter deals with questions about the right equipment, the necessary budget and much more. Of course, there are no upper limits, but nobody can avoid the rules for live streaming in Munich described above!
Do you produce livestreams yourself and are looking for active support? Or are you interested in a livestream in Bavaria? We at Stream1 are the right streaming professionals for this and are also happy to be your contact. We look forward to your call on 089 / 41 41 453 10
